Household Hacks
Natural Stain Removers
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Anyone who has ever spilled wine, ketchup, or Kool-Aid on a handcrafted, white crochet tablecloth knows that one stain can destroy hours of painstaking work. They will also know that commercial stain removers do not work. Each stain remover and pre-treating product I have tried includes a disclaimer on the packaging that it may not and probably will not work. Even though the label was not very encouraging, it did hold a wealth of information about what stain removers will work—right on the label under the heading: Ingredients.
You do not have to rush to the local shopping center and hope that you find something that works when a spill or stain happens. Everything you need to live stain-free is right in your kitchen or bathroom.
Ink or Paint Stains: Soak in rubbing alcohol for 30 minutes or (ink only) spray with hair spray and wash out.
Tea or Coffee Stains: Immediately pour boiling water over the stain until it is gone, or if it is already set, scrub with a paste of borax and water and wash immediately.
Grass stains: Scrub with liquid dish soap or treat with a 50/50 Hydrogen Peroxide (3%) and water mix
Mud stains: Let dry and brush off what you can, then scrub with a borax/water paste and wash immediately
Tomato Based Stains: Treat with white vinegar directly on the stain and wash immediately.
Dingy Whites or Underarm Deodorant Stains: Soak the stain directly in a mix of 50/50 hydrogen peroxide and water for 30 minutes and then add 1 cup of hydrogen peroxide to the wash water. For really tough yellow stains, make a paste of 3% hydrogen peroxide and baking soda and rub into the stain. Leave on for 5 minutes before laundering.
Other Food Stains: Treat with a mix of 50/50 Hydrogen Peroxide and water and soak.
Grease and Oil Stains: Sprinkle the stain with dry baking soda to remove any loose oil or grease and brush off. Then, soak in undiluted white vinegar for 15 minutes, rinse and scrub with liquid dish soap before washing
ï‚· Vomit, Urine, Poop, Blood, Egg, Gelatin, Glue or other protein based stains: DO NOT WASH IN WARM WATER!!!!! This will set in the smell. Soak in cool water and then wash with an added mixture of 1/2 cup hydrogen peroxide and 1/2 cup baking soda in the washing machine
Soda Bottle Chair
Inspired my youngest grandson’s Captain America theme bedroom, I made the center of the chair navy blue and the sides a bright red. But now, it is time to make it a Captain America chair. I crocheted a simple circle out of red yarn edging it in white. Then I crocheted a five-pointed star from white yarn and appliqued it to the circle. I slip stitched it to the back of the chair, but it still needed something. I took the white yarn and crocheted a 2” strip, which I attached around the base of the chair back. Now, the soda bottles I rescued from the trash was a functional, fun Captain America chair for my grandson’s room.
