Stains. Ew.

BLOOD:
Pre-soak in cold or warm water for at least 30 minutes.  If stain remains, soak in lukewarm ammonia water.  Use 3 tbs ammonia per gallon of water.  Rinse.  If stain still remains, work in a laundry detergent, and wash, using color safe bleach.

CANDLE WAX:
Use a dull knife to scrape off as much wax as possible.  Place fabric between 2 pieces of parchment paper or wax paper and press with warm iron.  Remove a tinted wax stain with non-flammable dry cleaning solvent.  Wash with detergent in the hottest water safe for fabric.

CHEWING GUM:
Rub area with ice, then scrape off with a dull blade.  Sponge with dry cleaning solvent  or kerosene  allow to air dry for about 30 minutes.  Rinse well with hot sudsy water.   Wash in detergent with hot water.

CHOCOLATE & COCOA:
Pre-soak stain in cold or warm water.  Sponge with hydrogen peroxide then wash in hot water.

COFFEE:
For a fresh stain, sponge or soak with cold water as soon as possible.  Wash, using detergent and color safe bleach. For a set in stain beat an egg yolk and then with a terry cloth, apply it to the stain.  You'll need to work the yolk into the stain for a minute or so.  Now rinse it thoroughly with water. The stain will disappear.

CRAYON:
Scrape with dull blade.  Wash, alone,  in hot water with laundry detergent and 2 cups of baking soda. Or,
turn the stained fabric inside out and spray the back of the stain with WD-40. Let this sit on the stain for about five minutes. Apply liquid dish washing soap to the back of the stain with a paper towel, and work it into the fabric.  Wash in hot water and air dry.

DEODORANT:
Sponge area with white vinegar.  If stain remains, soak with denatured alcohol.  Wash in hot water.

PERSPIRATION:
Dissolve two aspirins in 1/2 c of water. Pour onto the stain & let it soak for 2 hours or so. Now add a few drops of clear liquid detergent & massage between your fingers.  Wash as usual.

EGG:
Scrape off dried egg with dull blade. Now sponge off as much  of the stain as possible with warm water. It is really important that the water is warm and not hot because hot water sets the egg and will make it smell really bad.  ew.   If stain is still present, make a paste from water and cream of tartar. Mix in one crushed aspirin.  Apply this paste and leave on for 30 minutes. Rinse with warm water.

 LIPSTICK:
Spray stain with hairspray. Allow the spray to set for a minute or two, then wipe it with a clean white washcloth. Or massage a dab of extra whitening toothpaste on the stain—not the gel variety, but the old fashioned, original white paste, gently between your fingers. Rinse with cool water.

MILDEW & MOLD:

Take the garment outside and brush off mildew/mold with a stuff brush.  I'd recommend wearing rubber gloves and a dust mask so you will not breath in any spores or get it on yourself.  Sponge with lemon juice and salt.  Heat and sun will kill mildew so leave fabric in the sun to dry out. Launder using hottest water, detergent, and color safe bleach.

NAIL POLISH:


RUST:
Rub stains with salt and lemon, and leave in the sun to dry. Wash as usual.  Or, wet stain and dab with a bit of cream of tartar.  Let it sit for 30 minutes and launder as usual.


SCORCH MARK:

Cover stain with another cloth that has been soaked in hydrogen peroxide.  Iron on low until mark disappears.  Rinse well.

Beauty On A Budget

For almost 2 decades I worked in the cosmetic industry and had all the hook ups to the top of the line department store skin care and makeup lines.  

Well times have changed and

I am now a penny pinching housewife on a strict budget. 

 

I've done my research, gotten creative, and have replaced Bloomingdales with Walmart.  No worries.  It's all good.  Here are a few tricks I've picked up.

• No need for fancy smancy exfoliants.  Miracle Whip salad dressing removes dead skin just fine.  Now I'm talking Miracle Whip brand ONLY.  Regular Mayonnaise will not work.  Begin by washing your face and patting it dry.  Now rub a small amount into your skin and let it dry a few minutes.  While the skin is still slightly moist, start massaging your face with your fingertips, rubbing vigorously.  You will be surprised at how much dead skin will roll right off.  Ew.  This treatment also works great on feet, elbows, and knees.
• Toners smoners.  Restore the natural Ph-balance or acid mantle to your skin with apple cider vinegar.  Pour some into a basin of warm water and splash your face thoroughly.  Let it dry without towel drying.  Do this every morning before applying moisturizers or makeup.   Misting a thoroughly clean face with mineral water is great too and if you prefer, mix up a cup of water with 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar, place the mixture in a spray bottle and use this to mist your face.
• After you've applied your makeup, spray your face with mineral water or soak a tissue in mineral water and lightly dab it all over your face.  This will set your makeup and keep it fresh longer than usual.
• If you're grossed out by the Miracle Whip suggestion, a paste of oatmeal and water makes an awesome facial scrub and exfoliant.  Apply to face and allow to dry until it feels tight.  Rub off with your fingers in a back and forth motion.  Not only will this slough off dead skin, it will help get rid of blackhead.  Concentrate around the nose area.
• Tried and true, a teaspoon of sugar with soap lather is another great method of exfoliation.
• Did you know that the fastest way to dry up a blemish is with lemon juice?  Well, it is.  Dab it on your juicer a few times a day and it will clear up in no time.  
• Castor oil, in its odorless form, makes a seriously good eye cream.  I've learned that plastic surgeons use it on their patients following surgery.  Before bedtime, apply a light amount of Castor oil around your eyes.  
• Everybody should know that placing fresh cold cucumbers on your eyelids will rid them of redness and puffiness.  Well, cold teabags work well too.  I recommend green tea teabags

As for facial masks, I could go on and on and on.  There are oh so many yummy facial mask recipes you can whip up right in your own kitchen that will do wonders for your skin.  One of my favorites is simply applying an egg white to my face.  After it hardens and drys, I rinse it off and my skin is unbelievably smooth and firm.

How about one of these?
http://www.beauty-soap-and-bubbles.com/homemade-facial-masks.html
 
Rose and Honey

Honey and oats are used in the beauty industry to soften and heal the skin tissue and help attract moisture to the skin

• 1-2 tbs of honey
• 1 cup porridge oats
• 1 tbs of rose water

Mix ingrediets together adding more honey if required. Avocado Face Mask Choose the ingredients which feel most suitable to your skin today.

• half ripe avocado
• 1 tbsp lemon juice (normal or oily skin)
• 1 egg yolk (normal to dry skin)
• 1 tbsp plain yoghurt
• 1 tsp olive or avocado oil

Peel and mash the avocado half in a bowl Beat in the remaining ingredients and use immediately. Banana Face Mask

• half medium size banana
• 1 tsp honey
• 1 tbsp plain yoghurt (oily skin)
• 1 tbsp cream (normal to dry skin)

Peel and mash the banana in a bowl Beat in the remaining ingredients and use immediately. Pineapple and Cornmeal Pineapple is a natural exfoliate.

• 1 slice of pineapple half an inch thick
• 2 tblsp plain yoghurt
• 4 tblsp cornmeal

Puree the pineapple. Put the puree in a bowl and mix in the yoghurt and enough cornmeal to make a thick paste. Leave it for 5 minutes before using to let the cornmeal soften.

Here are a few more links for reference.
http://www.wittyliving.com/recipes/facial-mask-recipes.html

http://www.skin-care-recipes-and-remedies.com/facial-mask-recipe.html