The Square Life

Whether the stain on your shirt came from an over enthusiastic greeting from your great aunt at the annual family party, or some extra time under the mistletoe, lipstick is near impossible to get off those collars. Here are some tips on getting out that, and other stubborn stains.

-Lipstick Blot-don’t scrub- a dollop of shaving cream on the offending mark. Scrubbing will rub away at the cotton, creating a worn look. Then rinse the shaving cream with club soda.

-White Shirts If your white shirts aren’t looking so white, especially the embarrassing under arm pits, rinse the shirt with 1 tsp. white vinegar mixed with ½ c. of water. Keep in mind that some stubborn stains will never come out. This same concoction works great with chocolate or mustard stains as well. Just increase the vinegar ratio.

-Gum on the bum If you sat in gum, rub the stuck gum with an ice cube until it is hard. Then scrape it off with a dull knife. Pre-wash the area with a stain remover, then just throw it into the washing machine as usual.

-Spilled juice Pour salt onto the affected area, be it the couch or the carpet. This will absorb any excess juice that hasn’t already been saturated. Then blot (again, no scrubbing!) the affected area with a wet rag, using 1 tsp. Dishwashing liquid and 1 c. warm water. Blot until no juice is seeping into the rag.