Ivy says: Since the weather is finally changing from hot to cold, now’s a good time to go through all your kids’ clothing and get rid of the stuff that doesn’t fit or just generally looks like crap. I use two methods to do this: at the source (drawers and closets) and during laundry time. …
Dear Home-Ec 101, I’m getting ready to go on vacation and I couldn’t find my swimsuit. Well, I finally found it, but the situation is not good. I found it wrapped in a towel in a backpack. The good news is, the backpack’s fine, but the swimsuit smells horribly funky. Can you help me make …
Dear Home Ec 101: Recently my son spilled a bottle of Downy on the wood floor in our den. Now, no one in our family can go in that room because of the smell. What can we do? ~Fumin’ in Fullingham Heather says: What a headache! The perfumes responsible for your odor problem are suspended …
Dear Home Ec 101:So, uh, how bad is it if I add a little liquid dish detergent when I’m running out of laundry detergent? I swear my momma didn’t raise me this way.~Bubbling in Beaumont Heather says: Chances are if you have some laundry detergent to add to a load of laundry you probably have …
Ivy says: So much I wanted to write about, but alas, I’ve been spending all night dealing with a crayon in the dryer disaster. Anyway, my loss is your gain, since I’m sure you’ll remember this and make sure to apply the lesson I learned: always check the pockets of every item that goes in …
Dear Home-Ec 101, My daughter has a grass stain on her pretty little, made with love by Grandma, Easter dress. How can I get it out before we see Grandma again? My 13 year old dog has recently urinated on our carpet, for reasons unknown to us. How can I get that horrible odor out …
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 …
Dear Home Ec 101:OK, here is a gross one for you ladies. How do I fix my smelly washer? It smells so nasty that it’s embarrassing. I have tried wiping it with bleach and water, and it just comes back. Should I air it out? Is it mildew or something worse? Signed,~Smelly in Smyrna Well, …
Dear Home-Ec 101, How do I remove blood stains from fabric? Signed, Lizzie B. Ivy says: Turn yourself in, Dr. Michael Baden‘s on the case now, I hear. I’ll answer the question anyway, though; I hear we have quite the following in prisons all across the nation. Most everyone knows the old peroxide trick to …