Category: How To

Want to learn how to make hand sanitizer for free at home? Well below is our infographic that shows you how to do this easily. Download and share

You can also download this same infographic in pdf format here.

In this short guide I will be sharing tips on how to remove wax from your clothes.

To be on the safe side, consider the type of fabric you are working with before you attempt to use the method wax removal method for all materials. Of course, there are methods that work on all types of fabrics, but there are others that require heat and steam, which can damage delicate materials like silk.

As such, it is better when you find a method that removes wax on the specific fabric you have. The care symbols on your garment ought to guide you when dealing with delicate garments.

This method works for all types of fabrics. The amount of heat used should be low, and you must have a paper towel over the fabric while applying heat.

Below are the steps.

Give the wax spill a few minutes to dry. If you attempt to scrape it off when it is still wet, it will spread over the surface very fast and you’ll be dealing with a bigger mess.

Give it time to harden, which will also make your work easier. However, if you are already late and need to remove the wax fast, you can press some ice cubes over the wax to harden it.

Scrape off the wax using the back of a knife or another blunt object. The type of fabric should guide you on the amount of force needed to scrape wax. If you are dealing with light fabrics, be careful or you might stretch the material when you apply too much force.

Be gentle as you work on the garment to avoid tears or getting the object caught up in the fiber. Take your time, starting from the edges of the wax inwards.

Lay the garment on an ironing board. Place a paper towel over and another one under the wax. You can use blotting papers too. Place a clean cloth over the paper towel on top of the garment.

The purpose is to steam the wax and make it stick to the paper towels. The piece of cloth will protect the fabric and also increase moisture under the paper towels. The trapped moisture will cause the wax to melt.

Heat an iron, and apply the heat to the area above the wax. This will remove the wax left behind after you scrapped off. When using heat, take note of the type of fabric you are ironing.

Keep the heat low, and press the paper towel gently without staying in one section very long. After a few rounds of ironing over the paper towel, the wax will melt and transfer to the towels.

Remove the piece of cloth and the paper towels. Check for any traces of wax on the garment. If there is wax, repeat the process. If it’s spotless, leave it on the ironing board or hang it to let it dry.

Wear it or wash it the normal way along with other garments. Overall, removing wax should take you about half an hour or one hour.

Your morning can change from good to bad in minutes when you get lipstick all over your garment. If the garment is a dark colour such as black or the color of your lipstick, you can proceed with the day’s activities without a wardrobe change.

However, if the lipstick stain is visible, you need to take care of it or get another outfit altogether. Ideally, don’t leave the stain on for long; remove the stain while it’s still fresh. Here’s what to do to get lipstick off your clothes.

1. Use alcohol

Scrape the lipstick off your garment with a blunt object such as the back of a knife. Scraping prevents smudges over another section of the garment as you clean the stain. Additionally, scraping the excess also makes it easier to remove the stain underneath.

Wet a clean piece of cloth or a cotton ball with rubbing alcohol. Test the fabric by dabbing an inconspicuous section with the cotton ball. If there is no visible damage on the fabric, work on the stain.

Dab the cotton ball on the stain without applying too much force. If you rub it, the stain will set and spread. You can start around the edges towards the center of the stain.

Rinse the garment in cold water to remove traces of the alcohol and the lipstick. Wash the garment the normal way if the stain removal process was a pre-wash procedure.

2. Use dish washing soap or laundry detergent

These two are perhaps the most readily available solutions when you want to act fast. They are also safe to use on various fabrics unlike bleaching agents that damage fabrics when used in large amounts.

The soap works because it break downs oil which is one of the main ingredients in lipstick. Here’s what to do.

• Lay a clean piece of cloth or paper napkin over the working surface.
• Next, lay the stained garment on the cloth with the stain in direct contact with the cloth/paper napkin. On the back of the garment, since the stain is facing down, dab a generous amount of soap.
• Give it about 10 minutes to penetrate the fiber then blot the stain out with a damp, clean fabric. As you blot the stain gently, the paper napkin absorbs the water and lipstick residue.
• Change the napkin severally so that the stain does not spread as you blot.
• When all traces of the lipstick fade away, wash the garment the normal way.

3. Use Hairspray

Get a hairspray with high alcohol content so it can be effective as quickly as possible. Spray the stain area generously and leave it for about 10 minutes.

Dab the stain residue off using a damn piece of cloth. Wash the garment the normal way.

When choosing a method to use, consider the type of fabric you have so that the materials used do not damage the garment. Additionally, always test the corrosiveness of the materials, and also read the manufacturer’s care symbols on the garment.

The Sunbeam Steammaster, a product of the Sunbeam Corporation, proudly displays the ‘Made in China’ label as it blasts away wrinkles. When you purchase this iron, you are guaranteed quality, value for money and a steam iron that works!

Features of This Iron

1. Anti-calc self-cleaning system – keeps the iron free of mineral deposits that may interfere with its performance
2. 15 steam microholes on the soleplate – these holes ensure that steam is distributed evenly across the fabric during ironing.
3. 1400 watts – powerful enough to do both big and small ironing jobs.
4. Steam shot/vertical steam feature – for removing stubborn wrinkles in hanging garments and freshening drapes
5. Anti-drip system – no more unsightly water spots on your garments!
6. 8-foot retractable power cord –stays safely out of the way as you do your ironing.
7. Large stainless steel soleplate – covers a wider area of garments when ironing.

What I like about this iron

1. The 15 microholes under the soleplate release steam and balance steam production during the ironing process, making my job easier and faster. Also, the soleplate is large enough to cover larger areas while ironing, thus saving me lots of time.
2. I like the steam shot feature because it’s perfect for removing tough creases on my clothes, as well as on hanging garments. I can also use it freshen my drapes and suits.
3. The anti-drip system is one of the best features of this iron. I no longer have to worry about my delicate fabrics getting stained by drops of water.
4. This iron comes with an 8-foot retractable cord that safely stays out of the way during ironing, and winds up easily when the iron is in storage. I don’t need to worry about tripping over it and dropping the iron in the process – an important safety feature.
5. With this iron, I can comfortably select the exact amount of steam that I want for each fabric. As a result, there is no steam wastage, and I get to reduce the amount of electricity I use to iron.

Any Cons?

1. User reports indicate that sometimes the iron overheats, causing the front end to melt.
2. Other users say that with time, the microholes gather iron dust, and this dust causes staining during ironing.

Questions Asked

1. Question: Can I use tap water with this iron? Answer: No, this iron does not use tap water.
2. Question: Does this iron have a removable water tank? Answer: No, it doesn’t have a removable water tank.

Where to Buy

Anyone who is looking to buy a household appliance from a trusted eCommerce site should try Amazon, a company that has satisfied millions of customers over the years.

Amazon features product pages for each item displayed on its site. These product pages contain information on price, product features, shipping information, user questions and reviews, as well as detailed product descriptions.

Once you get to the product page, go through it so that you are completely convinced that this is the iron you want. After that, go ahead and make your purchase by clicking on the button below!

In this short guide i’m going to teach you how to get chewing gum of jeans. When chewing gum sticks on your best pair of jeans, you don’t have to stash it in the garbage bin. There are easy, quick ways to remove gum without leaving a tear on your jeans.

Here are two solutions that work fast.

1. Freezing The Gum

Ice cubes are readily available in your home. They can help you take that gum off jeans in a few minutes. Here’s the procedure.

Freeze the gum

When frozen, gum hardens and you can yank it off without ripping your jeans apart. The easiest way to freeze the gum is stashing the jeans in a freezer. It will not only freeze the gum but also freeze the area around it so that you can pull off the gum without tearing the fabric.

To freeze it, place the jeans in a plastic paper bag. The area with the gum should not fold into the garment or it will stick somewhere else. Let the jeans stay in the freezer for about two hours.

If you don’t want to put your jeans in a freezer, use ice cubes. Ice hardens the gum and also adds moisture that makes it easy for you to rip the gum off the fabric.

Stuff a considerable number of ice cubes in a polythene bag. Place the plastic bag on the chewing gum and let it stay there for about half an hour.

Scrape it

Use the back of a knife or another blunt object to scrape the frozen gum off the jeans. Work along the grain of the fabric, and start from the edges of the gum. Scrape gently without pulling the material too much. If you’ve frozen it properly, the gum should scrape off easily.

Brush it

Remove any remaining pieces of the gum on the jeans using a brush, such as an old toothbrush. Wash the jeans the normal way once you are sure there are no pieces of gum left.

2. Using Vinegar

Vinegar is a versatile household product and its acidic composition will loosen the gum.

Pour vinegar into a bowl. You can use an ordinary kitchen bowl and measure about one and a half cups of vinegar.

Heat the vinegar in a microwave for less than a minute. Alternatively, use a stove if you don’t have a microwave. On the stove, pour vinegar into a cooking pan and heat it for about two minutes.

In this short guide I will give you advice on how to remove ink stains from your clothes. An ink stain shouldn’t worry you. There are various effective ways to remove it without damaging your garment. First, identify the type of stain.

It could be:-

• A stain from a water-based pen
• A stain from a permanent marker

1. How to Remove an Ink Stain from a Water-Based Pen

Removing stains using water and detergent is perhaps the most popular solution. It is easy and inexpensive. Here’s how to do it.

Place a clean, absorbent cloth under the stained garment to prevent the ink from spreading to the clean back of the fabric. Next, place another absorbent cloth over the stain and tap it lightly.

The cloth should not bleed or it will leave its colour on your garment worsening the stain. Since the stain is fresh, most of the ink will stick to the piece of cloth.

Apply a stain remover to the garment if you are dealing with a large area. This will break the stain down quickly. Next, blot the stain with a cloth after the stain remover has broken the ink.

Wash the garment in a washing machine. Wash it separately to avoid transferring ink residue to other garments.

2. How to Remove an Ink Stain from a Permanent Marker

Simple methods using water and detergent don’t work on these stubborn stains. Permanent marker stains need more tact but they also come off. Instead, they need an ink remover.

2.1 When using rubbing alcohol

• Blot the stain with a piece of cloth. Avoid using paper napkins because they leave traces of the napkin on the garment.
• Lay the garment over a surface covered with a towel or other fabric. Spray rubbing alcohol on a small part of the garment, a place that is not conspicuous, to test corrosiveness.
• ext, spray the stain surface generously.
• Blot out the stained surface with a piece of cloth and the ink will stick to the cloth.

2.2 When using hairspray

Get a hairspray that contains alcohol. This ingredient is actually the one that breaks down ink on your garment.

• Separate the stained surface and the back of your garment with a clean piece of cloth.
• Spray the hemline just to be sure the hairspray will not damage the fabric and give it half a minute. If the fabric shows no damage, you can now spray the stained area. However, if the color of the test area changes, it means the hairspray will damage the fabric.
• Spray the stained patch, holding the hairspray a considerable distance from the fabric.
• Give the hairspray about a minute to break the stain.
• Next, blot the wet stain with a piece of cloth. Dab the garment until most of the ink sticks on the piece of cloth.

DON’TS

1. Do not rub the garment or the stain will spread.
2. Do not let the stain set. Remove it when it is still fresh.
3. Do not iron the garment or subject it to any other kind of heat before you remove the stain.

In this blog post I give you ideas on how to iron without an ironing board..

An ironing board is essential in any household, but it is an investment that some homeowners may not want to spend on. A board also needs some changes to the arrangement in your laundry to have it available for use any time.

If you decide to pin it to the back of the door or to fold it after use, there is the set up process to go through every morning.

Instead, invest in an ironing blanket, and you can iron your clothes on any surface in the home. You only need to find a surface that can stand the heat of an iron and give you ample space to work on your clothes.

Sometimes, you just want to remove some creases and setting up the ironing board is a process. That’s why you should identify another ironing area that has no clutter and there is nothing you need to set-up or fold to use the space. For instance, a table is always ready for use.

The most important factor to remember when looking for an alternative to the ironing board is finding a surface that is flat, sturdy, and heat resistant. Even though it is heat resistant, you will use an ironing blanket to protect the surface from excess heat.

Your choice should be close to a power source so you can connect your iron. Preferably, it should not be across the room such that the power cable runs along the floor where it can trip other occupants.

The surface you choose should be larger than the clothes you are ironing. Additionally, the blanket or towel to layer the surface with should be larger than the clothes you want to iron.

Here are a few options when an ironing board is not available.

A Floor

As we began by saying, the surface should be sturdy and flat. A floor is flat and sturdy. Every house has a floor, and you don’t need any preparations or other resources to access one.  Floors are heat resistant.

The most popular flooring materials are wood, tiles and cement. A floor is also comfortable because you can seat as you iron a lot of clothes. Some tiled floors have patterns that may show on your ironed clothes. Therefore, find a thick towel or ironing blanket to lay on it. If there’s a carpet on the floor, it will add extra protection for the surface.

How to iron clothes on the floor

1. Clean the floor. If it is made of cement, sweep, mop it, and let it dry. For a wooden floor, just sweep it and it is ready for use.  Choose a section of your house that has less foot traffic or you will inconvenience everyone when you iron clothes. An area with a lot of foot traffic is also dirtier.
2. Cover the floor with a towel or a woolen blanket. This layer protects your floor from an iron’s heat, and also prevents any dirt marks on your clothes from the floor. Whatever you choose should be clean or it will leave prints on your clothes.
3. After ironing, store the iron box away from occupants. Do not leave it on the surface you were working on.

A Table

If a floor is too low for you, a table is the next option. You don’t have to bend or kneel to iron your clothes on a table. There are different types of tables but the best is a wooden table.

If is strong, and the surface may not be affected in case you bang an iron on it as it is the case with a glass counter table. Wooden tables have great edges just like an ironing board so you can iron shoulders easily.

However, tables have a smaller surface compared to floors. Therefore, you may have to iron a portion of your garment at a time. Ensure the garment you are ironing does not hang and touch a dirty floor or surface.

How to iron on a table

1. Choose a table with a good height so that you can iron regularly without back problems. The best tables to iron on are tables with a wooden top.
2. Find a table that is close to a power source or move it close to one to avoid having a cable crossing the room. With the power source close to you, it is easier to switch it off if you need to get clothes to or from the other room.
3. Wipe the surface, place a blanket on it and iron your clothes. If you wipe it with a wet item, let it dry before you place a blanket on it. If the blanket is rough, add a table cloth or a bed sheet over it so that the blanket’s pattern does not leave prints on your clothes.
4. Store the hot iron away from occupants once you are done ironing.

A Kitchen Counter

It is one of the best alternatives because there is a power source next to it and it is a large working surface. Most counters are made of tile, which is heat resistant and strong. However, some counters might be a bit high and you may have to stand on tip toes to reach the furthest corners of your garment when ironing. If your counter has dents or cracks on the surface, find a thick blanket that can even the ironing surface.

How to iron on a kitchen counter

1. Choose a section of the counter that has less traffic or is rarely in so you work on a surface that has no dents.
2. Clean the surface. The grease stains may not stick to your clothes because you will have a blanket between the surface and your garment, but it will leave a mark on the blanket. Grease will also make the blanket or towel slide as you iron. Ensure the surface is dry and there is no water on it. Stay away from a surface that is close to a tap being used by the rest of the household as you iron.
3. Lay a blanket or towel over the surface you need. Add a bed sheet if the blanket is rough. The more layers of fabric you have, the higher the height of the surface. If the counter is already too high to work on, just use a thick towel instead of an ironing blanket.
4. Fix the iron in the power source. Preferably, the power source should be on the wall next to the counter you are using. Avoid running the iron’s cable across the room to get some power lest anyone trips.
5. Work in an area with sufficient lighting because your back will be to the room. You should be seeing what you are doing. If your kitchen counter is an island, you have greater advantage because of the lighting.
6. Unplug the iron and place it in a corner once you finish ironing your clothes.

Your Bed

Your bed is a great alternative to an ironing board for so many reasons. Most importantly, it is close to your closet so you can get anything you need to iron out and back into the closet. Secondly, it has a large working surface that you can work front either side.  You can seat while ironing.

You can iron a bed in the morning just after a shower when you need to press a garment fast and dash to work. There is no movement of furniture needed and no preparation work such as cleaning the surface. The only disadvantage is if your mattress sinks and the surface looks warped and you won’t iron the shoulders of shirts and blouses as you would on a table.

How to iron on your bed

1. Remove the duvet or any lacing bed spread to reveal your bed sheets. The duvet is puffed and it will not give you a firm base. Additionally, if your ironing towel is not thick, you might damage the surface of your duvet or lace bed cover.
2. Place an ironing blanket over the bed sheets. Add a clean bed sheet over the blanket to even the surface. If the surface still feels warped, fold another blanket and use it as the first foundation over the bed sheets before you lay the ironing blanket.
3. Store the hot iron in a corner of the room after you iron your clothes.

Some homes, such as studios, do not have the space to add an ironing board including storage space. In addition, it is not an ideal investment for people who are always relocating and living in small spaces. You might damage the ironing board as you move.

With these examples of places to iron your clothes, it is clear that you can wear ironed clothes without buying an ironing board.  You only need to find a spot that works for you in terms of the kind of clothes you want to iron and the height you need in an ironing surface.

LuLaRoe clothes are rapidly gaining popularity, thanks to their unique designs, soft buttery feel and trendy patterns and prints. These comfy knit fabric items, made exclusively in the United States, need the best care so that they do not shrink or lose their softness.

As such, it is essential for you to know how to wash LuLaRoe clothes! Below are the steps to follow when washing your LuLaRoe collection!

1. Preparation

• Get the correct laundry detergent: Gentle or non-concentrated detergent works best for LuLaRoe clothes.
• Clean the sink: Your kitchen sink should be free of any greasy residue. If you are using the bathroom sink, clean it to remove any traces of skin care products.
• Separate your garments: Light and dark-colored clothes should be washed separately to prevent color damage.
• Turn garments inside out: Check for stains before you turn the clothes inside out so that you can pay special attention to those spots. In addition, if you intend to dry your clothes outside, they should be turned inside out to prevent sun damage.
• Get the drying area ready: Get your pants hangers, drying rack and clean towels ready.

2. Washing Your LuLaRoe Clothes

• Prepare the washing water: Fill your kitchen or bathroom sink with lukewarm water, to just about ¾ full.
• Put in laundry softener: If the water you are using to wash the clothes is hard water, you will need to use laundry softener. Two ounces of laundry softener pellets are sufficient.
• Pour in the detergent: A ¼ capful of laundry detergent should be enough.
• Mix the wash water well: Stir the washing water until both the detergent and laundry softener are completely dissolved. If you omit this step, you may find soap residue on your clothes after rinsing.
• Put the clothes in the water: Submerge four to five items of similar colors in the washing water until they are completely soaked. Leave them to soak for at least five minutes.
• Agitate the garments: Agitate or swish your clothes in the water so that they can get clean. If the clothes have stains or heavily soiled sections, scrub these areas lightly.
• Soak for a few more minutes: Let the clothes sit in the water for ten to fifteen minutes, so that any residual dirt comes off.
• Gently agitate the garments in the water once more: Swish the clothes again to make sure they are clean.
• Remove the garments from the washing water: Take the garments out of the water one by one, as you hold each one in a ball and press out the water. Do not squeeze the garments.
• Drain out the soapy water: Drain all the soapy water out and rinse the sink in preparation for the next step.
• Rinse your clothes: Fill the sink with clean rinsing water and then put the garments in. Swish them gently to remove any traces of soap. Remove the clothes from the water, and drain the rinsing water in preparation for the next rinse. Repeat this step until there is no visible trace or scent of soap in your clothes.
• Prepare your clothes for drying: Gently press out excess water from the clothes one by one, and place them on a clean towel as you prepare to hang them.
• Dry your clothes: You can choose to hang your LuLaRoe garments outside, lay them flat on a towel inside or outside, or put them on the drying rack.
• Machine washing: If you feel confident enough to put your precious LuLaRoe clothes in the machine, choose the delicate or gentle wash cycle. Be sure to use cold water and a mild detergent.

LuLaRoe clothes will give you excellent service if you treat them well. Take good care of your LuLaRoes, and they will continue to look as good as the day you bought them!

Did you know that hand washing can make your garments last longer? Hand washing is the ideal option for cleaning delicate clothes, or when you have just a few items to wash at a time. Coming up are the steps to to help you learn how to hand wash clothes.

1. Preparation

• Check the garment care label: On the care label, you will find instructions for washing, drying and even ironing the garment. Some labels also have instructions on the type of detergent to use and the ideal water temperature for washing.
• Clean the sink: Traces of grease in the kitchen sink or traces of skin care products may damage your garment. Clean the sink before you begin.
• Test the colorfastness of your garment: Get a white cloth, dip it in water, and then dab it on a corner of the clothing to see if the color runs.
• Sketch the shapes of knitted garments: Sketching the shape of your knits will help with reshaping them after washing.
• Separate the light and dark items: Light and dark clothes should not be washed together, as the chances of a dark item damaging a light-colored one are high.
• Get the recommended detergent: The garment care label usually has recommendations on the best soap for your garment. If there are no suggestions on the label, use a mild detergent.

2. The Hand Washing Process

• Fill the sink or tub with a sufficient amount of water: Use cold or tepid water – a maximum temperature of 85oF or 29oC. Note that hot water makes colors run, and causes some materials to stretch. Put in the water before you add the clothes, as the force of running water may damage them.
• Put in the detergent in the water: Add a teaspoonful of the soap or liquid detergent to the washing water, and then stir until it dissolves completely. If the water does not have enough lather, you may add a little more of the detergent.
• Soak the garments in the water: Submerge the garments in the water, and let them soak for between two and five minutes. Lightly soiled clothes will only need a two to three-minute soaking.
• Swish the garments in the water as they soak: Delicate items require minimum handling during washing, so swishing is ideal. For your knits, a light kneading action will do. Swish the garment gently through the soapy water until it is clean. Avoid scrubbing, rubbing, twisting or wringing your garments.
• Drain and Rinse: Lift the garments out of the water as you let the soapy water drain away. Do not squeeze or wring the items of clothing. After the soapy water is all gone, fill the sink with clean rinsing water, put the garments back in, and gently swish them in the water. Repeat this process with clean water until all the soap suds are gone. To confirm that your clothes are well rinsed, sniff them to make sure the soapy scent is all gone.
• Fabric Softener: If you want to add fabric softener to the rinse, pour two teaspoonfuls into the rinse water. Check the care label first, though, so that you don’t damage your garments.
• Drying the garment: Depending on the material your clothing is made from, you can choose either to drip dry or towel dry. Light, delicate garments can be hung up to drip dry or laid flat on a towel to dry. Knits should be put on a towel, rolled up in the towel to absorb the water, and laid flat to dry. Make sure you reshape knitted items before they start to dry.

Hand washing a garment is easier than it looks. Once you get the hang of the whole process, you will find it only takes a few minutes and saves you money on laundry bills! Happy hand washing!