How do I remove massage oil from sheets and towels? Oily stains benefit from more concentrated cleaning solutions.  Larger items like sheets and towels that have the stains spread over them can be presoaked for more complete stain removal.  To do this, use powdered Clorox2® Stain Fighter and Color Booster. Fill the scoop to line 3 and add to 2 gallons of very hot water (or the hottest water recommended on the care label) and stir to dissolve.  Fully submerge the sheets and towels Read More...

Today is Armed Forces Day and what better time to send some cookies to someone who is serving our country. Or, invite a veteran over for a cup of coffee and a cookie! If you happen to spill some of the ingredients on yourself, just follow the links to remove the stains. Citrus Iced Oatmeal Cookies 1 cup butter or margarine, softened 1 cup confectioner’s sugar 2 teaspoons vanilla 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour 3/4 teaspoon salt 1 cup steel cut oats Heat oven to 350 degrees F. In a mixing Read More...

I’ve been using OxiClean for years and love the way it works on stains that seemed impossible to remove. Now, the folks at OxiClean offer single dose paks. I gave them a try and love them. They are great for soaking in a large sink or bucket. Easy to use in the washer. Take a look at my review and you may just need to find a space on your laundry shelf for these! (Photo: MML) Read More...

Americans are obsessed with odor. Think about how many products we have in our homes to make them smell differently – sprays, candles, bamboo absorbing sticks, plug-ins and on and on. Stinky laundry is also a problem. Sometimes it is body odor, sometimes mold or mildew, sometimes smelly stains. I just tried a product that promises to remove odor – Odor Xit… Read Full Post Read More...

It has been a busy time at my house – my son purchased his first home and moved. And, I’ve been redoing his bedroom to become a guest room. So, there has been plenty of laundry at his house and mine – lots of bed linens! It is the perfect time for me to do product testing and my latest trial was for Arm & Hammer Crystal Burst Power Paks. The single-dose detergent made it easy to take some over to his house and they are easy for him to use as he handles the laundry for Read More...

How do I get strawberry stains out? For strawberry stains, start by blotting away any excess (if the stain is fresh) and then rinse the stain with cold water.  What you do next depends on the color and fiber content of the item with the stain on it.                                                        For white, bleachable items (always avoid bleaching wool, silk, mohair, leather and spandex) apply Clorox® Bleach Pen® Gel to the Read More...

Who wants to reduce their utility bill? I think I see everyone raising their hand or nodding in agreement. One of the easiest ways to save money is to wash the majority of your laundry in cold water. Heating water is quite expensive and uses lots of energy; so it is time to explore using cold water detergents. I’ve given Tide Coldwater a try and written a product review. Take a look at your utility bill for the summer….cold water is looking good! (Photo: MML) Read More...

Q: I used Clorox2® Stain Fighter & Color Booster to remove a stain and it bleached my white shirt where the stain was. How do I fix the shirt? Is this a side effect of the product that sometimes happens? A: It sounds like the white shirt may actually not be as white as it used to be; fabrics can become dingy over time when washed in cold or lukewarm water, especially if you have hard water.  You should be able to unify the appearance of the rest of the shirt with an overnight Read More...

Q: How do I get mold out of outdoor patio cushions? A: There are different treatment options depending on the type of fabric the cushions are made of (polyester, cotton, etc.) and brand. If they are made by Sunbrella®, there is great cleaning information on their website, which you can check out at http://www.sunbrella.com/cleaning/upholstery.php. Note that for general mildew removal on machine launderable textiles, we recommend a solution of ¼ cup Clorox® Regular-Bleach per gallon of Read More...

Every week I get questions from readers about how to handle laundry stains and problems. I’m sure that many of us have experienced the same problems and asked the same questions. So, I’m sharing a Laundry Q and A every Monday, the traditional laundry day. Hope you find it helpful! … Read Full Post Read More...

Here are the laundry deals I found on sale this week. Check your Sunday newspaper for a P&G BrandSAVER. Walgreens: Purex Laundry Detergent 33 loads or Purex UltraPacks 18 ct. $2.49; Shout Stain Remover 22 oz. 2 for $6.00; all Laundry Detergent 84-96 loads $9.99 with $1.00 reward … Read Full Post Read More...

Here’s a great recipe for Mother’s Day that can be made ahead so Mom can have breakfast or brunch before she faints from hunger! If you happen to splash a bit on yourself or drop some on Mom’s sheets, just follow the links to remove the stains. Make Ahead Peanut Butter Caramel Pancakes 2 cups pancake mix 1 1/3 cup milk 2 eggs 6 tablespoons vegetable oil 1 cup firmly packed light brown sugar 1/2 cup butter 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter 2 tablespoons light corn syrup 6 large Read More...

I sometimes wonder “Is this clean?” when I look for something to wear. You know the dilemma, you’ve worn a shirt and it really isn’t dirty but it has been worn so, is it clean enough? Well, an entrepreneur has come up with a system to help you determine how many times you’ve worn a garment and even when you wore it last. My Clothing Helper is a simple idea but may just be what you need. Read my review and decide for yourself. (Photo: MML) Read More...

When I read the results of Wisk’s latest laundry survey, all I could say was “YUK”. But then I settled down and realized that we all have some dirty laundry secrets. (I don’t always treat stains immediately…I sometimes don’t bother to fold undies since they don’t show wrinkles.) Here are some secrets survey takers revealed: Having worn the same socks or underwear for several days Taking dirty items out of the laundry basket to wear Going more than a Read More...

With Mother’s Day coming up this weekend, Mom should be on your mind. You can be thinking about gifts she would love, all the great things she’s done for you and all the wisdom she has imparted. I’ve put together the best of Mom’s Laundry Tips or things everyone should know about laundry. Hope you find it useful…maybe you can share it with your Mom! (Photo: Micorsoft Word) Read More...