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.

Fun with Laundry Baskets

Get creative with your laundry baskets!

• With your pet inside, invert one plastic laundry basket over another and tie the edges together for a handy transportation cage.

• Store your coiled garden hose in a round laundry basket.

• Set a baby who can sit up, in a plastic laundry basket to provide more stability during bath time.  This works for small pets, too!

• Make cleaning fun for the little ones by using a laundry basket as a train engine.  They can play "choo-choo" as they push it from room to room collecting their toys and belongings.

• Sand and paint a piece of plywood, 1/2 inch thick and big enough to extend a foot or so beyond your laundry basket on all sides.  Place the finished wood on top of a basket, either round or rectangular, and use it as a table for youngsters.  When they are finished playing, they can now store toys and games inside the basket! 

• When shopping and running errands, place one in the trunk of your car to hold all of your bags and packages.  You can now simply carry the full basket inside when you get home.

• Guests arriving and you're short on time?  Grab a laundry basket and run through each room picking up all the clutter, magazines, dirty clothes, or whatever you have laying around.  Now stash that laundry basket in a closet.
  

Can you think of any other uses for a laundry basket?