How to Store Blankets Without Inviting Mildew

Dear Home Ec 101, I have a serious problem with the old lady, musty laundry smell. I keep my sleeping bag, electric blanket and my baby blanket in a chest at the foot of my bed. Since these are all seasonal items, they quickly get musty in my chest (which isn’t cedar). I’ve tried potpourri, …

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I’m All Alone With My Musty Drawers

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 …

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Deciding what to keep

Dear Home Ec 101, I need a strong person to help me resolve to get rid of old shoes, belts, purses and scarves, even though I don’t use any of them. Some of the scarves and bags are really nice ones (if a little bit old lady-ish) inherited from my m-i-l. Some I bought in …

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Spring Cleaning: Bedrooms

We’re going to talk about spring cleaning your bedrooms. A clean bedroom is a place of rest, where we go after a long day to allow our bodies to reset and refresh themselves. Sleep hygiene is one of the most important things we can do for ourselves, and taking care of the bedroom, and all …

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How About Some Pillow Talk

Dear Home Ec 101, I have two boys and a husband, and their pillows usually only last a year. I get the heebie-jeebies when I start noticing stains. I think they occasionally drool in their sleep, have sweaty heads, and the preschooler is prone to midnight nose bleeds….ew. (My pillow is pristine, of course.) When …

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Spare sheet storage

Ivy says: My husband usually does the laundry in my household. However, that wasn’t working out for us, and since he had surgery last month, I’ve been taking over the laundry responsibilities. I’ve learned many amusing things while doing the laundry, but the overwhelming thing I have learned is just the fact that we have …

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My mom rolls fitted sheets up in a ball, too.

Dear Home-Ec 101, Now that our teen is helping with the laundry, I would like to show him to fold a fitted bedsheet. I usually just roll it up into a ball. (bad, I know) Signed, Life Skills Teacher to Growing Son Ivy says: The person who actually showed me how to fold a fitted …

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