I made a mess of the place. Bolognese all over my shirt (hey, it was good! I was probably eating way to0 fast and spun out of control. Not uncommon). I immediately jumped on google to look for an answer – what’s the best way to get tomato-based stains out? About.com was the first search result, and very helpful. Here’s the tip:

Stain Removal Step 1.

Remove as much of the excess tomato as possible from the fabric.

Stain Removal Step 2.

Run cold water through the back of the tomato stain as soon as you can. This will force the stain back out through the fabric.

Stain Removal Step 3.

Rub a liquid detergent into the stained portion of the fabric. Work it in gently.

Stain Removal Step 4.

If the garment is white, or you have tested it for colorfastness, apply a mild bleaching agent like hydrogen peroxide or white vinegar with a sponge. You can also use lemon juice on white fabrics. Rinse well.

Stain Removal Step 5.

Repeat with the detergent followed by mild bleaching agent until the stain no longer appears.

Stain Removal Step 6.

Apply a stain remover stick, gel, or spray, and allow it to sit for at least 5 minutes.

Stain Removal Step 7.

Washed the stained garment normally with detergent. Before drying double check the stain.

Stain Removal Step 8.

If the stain remains, rub detergent into the stain and soak in warm water for 30 minutes. Rinse well.

Stain Removal Step 9.

If the stain remains apply stain remover stick, gel, or spray and wash according to directions.

(They’re swimming in a tomato puree at the Tomatina Fest in Buñol, Spain)

On a separate topic, have you guys noticed the outrageous price of tomatoes nowadays? It’s insane.

Always wear socks. Clean socks. And if your shoe smell has already taken a turn, here’s a simple solution that doesn’t require throwing them in the wash (and I’ve tested this. Works like a charm).

1). Load up the insides of your gym shoes with backing soda. This will cut the odor and soak up any remaining moisture.

2). Stick them in the freezer overnight! I know it sounds weird, but this is necessary to kill the bacteria that causes the smelliness. And don’t put your shoes directly on top of your ice try. Stick them in a ziplock.

So after tonight’s celebratory wine-fest, you’ll have some stains. It’s cool. Everybody’s doing it. But not everyone will know how to handle those stains when they wake up tomorrow morning. Since you’re here reading this post, you’ve got the inside info. How, Dry Cleaner’s Secret blogger? How do you get wine stains out? eHow! That’s how. At least that’s where we found this fantastic step-by-step solution:

1. Blot the stain immediately with paper towels. If it is a dry clean only garment do not pretreat the stain and get it as fast as you can to the cleaners. Pretreatment of the stain can cause irreversible damage and the dry cleaner may not be able to remove the stain.

2. Combine 1 teaspoon laundry soap or pretreatment (or dish soap, like Dawn) and 1 cup hydrogen peroxide in a small bowl. Soak a clean sponge in the mixture, squeeze it halfway dry, then gently blot the stain.

3. Place a dry towel or washcloth between the front and back of the garment if the stain has not penetrated through to the back of the fabric. This will prevent staining on the back of the material.

4. Review the washing instructions on the label of the fabric. Heed any special care instructions.

5. Wash in cool water and air dry if the fabric is machine-washable.

6. Wash gently in the sink with a mild detergent if the fabric is hand-wash only.

Okay, so you filled out all of your tax forms during your lunchbreak at work and you managed to get some pen stains on your favorite button up. Whoops. Before you head to your local professional cleaner to ask them get the stain out, try this tip:

For pen on washable fabric, hairspray ususually works. You might also try rubbing alcohol on the stain and follow up with one part liquid dishwashing detergent (like Dawn) and one part water, work into the stain and rinse clean. For lead pencil stains, first try erasing as much as possible. Then rub a little Dawn into the stain, followed up with a few drops of ammonia, rub in, rinse and launder immediately.

Her simple fix: Switch from anti-perspirant to deodorant! The aluminum-based chemicals in anti-perspirants are the cause of the problem. But, it’s sort of a double-edged sword. By switching, your shirts may stay brighter longer, but you’ll probably be rocking s0me massive pitstains most of the time if you’re a heavy sweater. Choose your poison, I suppose!

And please check out the rest of Laundry Goddess’s website. Tons of helpful tips to dig through.

1). It cuts down your dry cleaning bill per item from an average of $5.75/garment at a professional dry cleaner, to $.50/garment with Dry Cleaner’s Secret.

2). Your clothes last longer, thus helping you cut down how often you have to buy clothes.

How rad, right? Cool. Click here and get your free sample today!

Tip 1.
Try to wait until you have a full load before running your washer or dryer.

Tip 2.
The clothes dryer is one of the most energy hungry home appliances. To improve the energy efficiency of your dryer, frequently clean out the lint trap, and once or twice a year, unplug the dryer, remove the front lower panel, and vacuum out the cavity beneath the lint trap. It is amazing how much lint escapes from that trap into the dryer cavity. Not only does this lint buildup cause your dryer to need longer to dry clothes, it has also been known to cause fires.

Tip 3.
Wash in cold water whenever possible. You do not need to wash with hot water unless you are trying to sterilize your laundry. Always set your rinse on the cold water setting. This saves the energy necessary to heat the water. Washing in cold water can save the typical family over $120 a year!

Tip 4.
Plain white vinegar is a good substitute for fabric softener. Environmentally safe and nonalergenic, just add ½ to ¾ cup as you would a liquid softener.

Tip 5.
If you use softener sheets, a half sheet works as well as a whole one. Keep an empty tissue box near your dryer for used softener sheets; use these for dusting furniture.

Tip 6.
Using ½ to ¾ the recommended amount of laundry detergent will get clothes just as clean and leave less soap buildup.

Tip 7.
Many garments labeled “Dry Clean Only” can be safely hand washed using mild soap like Woolite and cold water.

Tip 8.
When washing dark clothes for the first time use cold water and put 1 tablespoon of salt in the water. The salt helps set the color. To brighten dark clothes after they have been washed several times, repeat the procedure.

Visit DryCleanersSecret.com and order your free sample of Woolite® Dry Cleaner’s Secret. Dry clean your Sunday bests at home to keep them in tip top shape for the holidays!

Illinoisans, don’t fret – there are other dry cleaning options available to you! Naturally, this is where we pitch our very own (and very environmentally friendly) product: Woolite® Dry Cleaner’s Secret. Not only will you be reducing your carbon footprint, you’ll save money on your dry cleaning without ever having to leave home. Visit DryCleanersSecret.com for your free sample.

Now you can remove those deep-dish Chicago-style pizza stains (hey, it’s messy) from your Bulls jersey by simply tossing it in the dryer with a Dry Cleaner’s Secret dry cleaning cloth. Simple, safe and convenient. And you won’t have to worry about the EPA cracking down on you.

Step 1

Take the laces out of your shoes, and remove any inserts. Pull the tongue of the shoes out, to expose as much of the surface as possible.

Step 2

Brush any loose dirt or mud off your gym shoes with a terrycloth washcloth. Spray especially dirty areas with laundry pre-treater.

Step 3

Set the washing machine to maximum capacity and the water temperature to warm. Start the water running.

Step 4

Add the recommended amount of detergent and color-safe bleach for the laundry cycle you are running. The bleach will kill the bacteria that makes the shoes smelly. Put the shoes, laces and inserts in the washing machine, and let the cycle run until finished.

Step 5

Set the dryer temperature to warm, and tumble dry the shoes for 10 minutes. Remove the shoes and stuff the toes with crumpled white paper, and place them in a well-ventilated area to air dry.