Hello! I do alterations and repairs on bridal wear and I recently returned some dresses that ended up absorbing the smell of kerosene. How would someone remove the smell of kerosene from un-washable clothing? Please Help!!! I can’t afford to pay for their dry cleaning! Thank you! Down and out in Indiana Ivy says: My …
Hi Ivy and Heather, Long time reader, 2nd time emailer. 😉 I was squealing with delight when I saw Barkeeper’s Friend at my local Bed Bath and Beyond. I know in many of your posts, you recommend using it for cleaning various things. Of course, now that I have it, I can’t think of one …
Ivy says: Some days, it seems impossible to get anything done. Sometimes it’s for legitimate reasons, like you intended to clean your car out, but you had to take a kid to the doctor and when you got home your dog had shredded every piece of paper in your house and your cats thought it …
Ivy says: This one will be short and sweet. I missed my alarm today, so we missed church. Then, a bit later, I laid down and took a four hour nap. Hey, Sunday’s supposed to be a day or rest, right? Unfortunately, my kids totally trashed the house while I slept, so I have quite …
Ivy says: Even though I’ve been avoiding the news like the plague to keep from being worried about the economy, I’m still hit with reminders nearly every day that the recession is here in full force. Friends and family are losing jobs, having hours and/or pay cut, you name it. Seems like everyone is struggling …
Heather says: If you have a wilting bunch of cilantro or parsley you can perk it back up by cutting 1/2″ off the stems and placing the bunch in a glass of water, just like a bouquet of flowers. Place the glass in the fridge and please, try not to knock it over. Alternately, you …
Dear Home Ec 101, My 4 year old son absolutely refuses to clean up his toys! I’ve tried making it a game, I’ve also tried taking his toys away when he doesn’t clean them up. He still refuses to clean. Any ideas for getting him to clean up after himself? Signed, Messy In Muncie Ivy …
Before I took the training wheels off my Internet, I used to hang out on AOL’s Kitchen Frugality message board. This soup recipe came from one of those fine ladies and has become a standard in our home. Even if you think you can’t boil water, I promise you can make this soup while standing …
Retro Saturdays give us a chance to spend time with our families. Enjoy this blast from the Home Ec 101 past, originally published in January of 2008. Ivy says: If you’re trying to live on less money and you are not yet acquainted with the joy of thrift store shopping, let me introduce you. Reader, …
Dear Home Ec 101,An old roommate of mine borrowed a dresser from me and used it while we lived together. After she gave it back, the drawers had a musty smell that I couldn’t get rid of. If I put any clothes in the drawers, they come out smelling funky and musty too. What should …