Labor-Free Laundry

Labor Day picnics are supposed to be fun and relaxing. So if your hot dog hoedown goes haywire, and you or your guests wind up with globs of mustard or ketchup on your clothing, don’t worry—just try one of these quick and easy fixes:

• Scrub MUSTARD SPOTS with a solution of 1 teaspoon each of dishwashing liquid and white vinegar in ½ cup of water. Lay the stained area on top of an old absorbent towel, pour the solution onto the stain, and let it soak for about 10 minutes. Rinse the area with hot water, and then launder the item as usual.
• KETCHUP STAINS are some of the easiest to remove. Just wet a sponge or paper towel with lukewarm water, add a dab of dishwashing liquid, squeeze the extra moisture out, and blot the spot. But whatever you do, don’t rub the stain—it’ll just drive it deeper into the fabric.

For more terrific grime-fighting secrets, check out our bestselling book, Speed Cleaning Secrets! This A-to-Z guide is chock full of super solutions that’ll help make any mess disappear right before your eyes! Try it out for 21 days with our Free Preview, and don't forget to sign up for our Free E-Newsletter for more amazing offers and first looks.

Goodbye Grass Stains!

Ahhh, summer! The flowers are blooming, the sun is shining, and the grass is oh-so green. Unfortunately, so are the stains that are ground into the knees of your kids' favorite clothes! Here’s a laundry-basket-full of cleaning tricks that are sure to mow down grass stains:

• Pour rubbing alcohol onto the stain, and let it soak for an hour. Then rub the wet spot with a sponge that’s been dampened with more rubbing alcohol, using a circular motion to lift the dye out of the fibers. Next, rub in some liquid detergent with color-safe bleach.
• Rub some Karo® syrup directly into the stain with your fingers, and let it sit for about 15 minutes.
• Soak the spots in a small bowl of whole milk for about 15 minutes. Scrub it with an old toothbrush, and let it soak for another 15 minutes.
• Mix 1 cup of laundry detergent, 1 cup of ammonia, and 2 cups of water in a handheld sprayer bottle. Apply this solution directly to the stained area before tossing the clothes into the wash.

No matter which trick you try, always wash the item ASAP. Don’t let it dry, or the stain could set back in. Don’t wash a grass-stained item before you treat it, or that green may never disappear. And whatever you do, don’t put the clothing in the dryer until you’re sure all of the green is gone.

For more stain-bustin’ secrets, check out our bestselling book, Speed Cleaning Secrets! It’s jam-packed with smart tips and fast tricks that’ll make any mess disappear in a flash. Visit our website to try it out FREE for a full 21 days! And don’t forget to sign up for our Free E-newsletter—you’ll be the very first to find out about new products and exclusive offers. Plus, first-time subscribers get a special discount right off the bat!