Dear Home-Ec 101,
Could I throw a plastic shower curtain in the washing machine? Mine’s really dirty and needs to be washed, but it’s too cold to take it outside and wash it like I have before.
Thanks,
Bummed in Buffalo
Ivy says:
Short answer: yes.  I usually use a warm water cycle and I throw a towel in the [...]

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Hey ladies!
We are getting a sofa and two chairs from my brother-in-law today. I know they will be covered in cat hair. I’m allergic to cats. (As is my mother who will be here tomorrow for a four day visit! Eek!) Do you have any good tips for getting as much cat hair as possible [...]

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Ivy says:
From Twitter this morning:
Geriatric cat peed on relatively new couch. Cushion doesn’t feel wet to touch, but when you sit down, you get a surprise. I think it’s all soaked into the middle of the cushions. they don’t detach completely. Argh.
Twitter only gives you 140 characters, so you have to be concise. That’s [...]

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Dear Home Ec 101:
Seems like all my colored T-shirts come out of the washer with a few faint stains on the fronts. It looks like I spilled a drop or two of water on me when I put them on. It’s on them all, no matter what load they went into or what they were [...]

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Dear Home-Ec 101,
What is the best way to clean the tops of ceiling fan blades? That dust gets sticky!
Love,
Grungy in Grange-Over-Sands
Ivy says:
Oddly, I enjoy cleaning fan blades. My kids get all grossed out and squeal at the nasty “worms” coming off the fan blades. It’s the awesome. Cleaning fan blades is one of those times [...]

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