Dear Home Ec 101,
I received a duck down comforter as a gift last Christmas. The tag says to have it taken to the dry cleaners, but not only would it be a pain, it wouldn’t be easy on the wallet. Now, I love my comforter. But I’m so terrified to wash it on my own that it hasn’t been washed in a year and a half. I know. I am ashamed. And I need help. On top of that, the feathers continually pop out, so I’m afraid if I wash it, instead of returning to its fluffy state, it will flatten like a pancake. Is there any hope for my comforter and me?
Comfortless in California
Heather says:
You could wash your down comforter on the gentle cycle with an extra rinse and then pop it into the dryer with a couple of clean tennis balls on low. However, there is a trade-off, the lifespan of your comforter may be significantly reduced. As the cost of dry cleaning can vary by region (and local competition) the home care option may or may not be more cost effective.
A high quality, dry cleaned comforter can be expected to last five to ten years. Quite the spread, eh? Har, har. There are home dry cleaning kits, but they are best for spot and odor management and probably won’t get a heavy article like a down comforter as clean as you would like. If you choose to wash your comforter, carefully inspect it for any small tears before putting it into the washer. A clogged drain line is not the frugal option if you end up having to call a repairman.
My personal experience? I have had a cheap comforter for five years, but it is well past its prime. It creates lovely fuzzy dusty bits that I must enjoy vacuuming or I would have gotten around to replacing it by now.
Finally, a good quality duvet cover will help keep your comforter from needing frequent cleaning.
Good luck!
Submit your domestic questions to helpme@home-ec101.com.
Tags: laundry
Dear Home Ec 101,
For a few weeks I’ve occasionally noticed a musty smell. At first I thought it was something in my house, but I couldn’t ever pin it down. I finally realized it was my favorite pair of jeans! I think they sat too long in washer, but I’ve washed them several times since and they still smell. I’m not ready to part with these pants.
Signed,
~Little Suzy Stinky Pants
Heather says:
It sounds like you have a case of detergent build up. This sticky residue can trap all kinds of funky odors. This usually happens with heavier fabrics and more commonly in high efficiency washers. The easiest solution is prevention. Always use the least effective amount of laundry soap possible and add vinegar to the final rinse.
In your case, it’s a little too late for prevention. If you have a progammable washer use hot water, place vinegar in the prewash dispenser, borax powder in the main wash and add an extra rinse. If you have a standard washer, run with vinegar in the wash water, rinse, then use borax in the next wash cycle, and finish with a plain water rinse.
Dry your jeans thoroughly and you should now be stink free!
Send your domestic questions to helpme@home-ec101.com.
Tags: laundry odor · musty odors · smelly jeans · sour smell pants
Heather says:
If you have fallen behind on laundry and have several loads to do, start with the one that requires the most obnoxious amount of folding. In my house that’s the light colored load, it’s crammed with toddler clothes and other piddly items that are annoying to fold. Finish off with towels which require the least effort to sort, fold, and put away.
Tags:
Dear Home Ec 101:
I recently made fabulous folders with pretty paper and also a great magnetic memo board with fabric on a silver tray all thanks to decoupage. But I’m a bit of a mess and the decopage is all over my favorite yoga pants and a cute t-shirt. How can I get it out?
Signed,
Decorative Decoupage Disaster
Heather says:
Luckily for you decoupage glues, like Mod Podge are fairly easy to remove. Scrape off as much as you can, then work plain petroleum jelly into the stain. Remove the petroleum jelly with dishwashing liquid. I prefer Dawn (don’t get fancy, the original unscented formula is the best for situations like this). Use the hottest water tolerated by the fabric to rinse it clean.
Do not dry the articles of clothing until all traces of the stain have been removed.
Good luck!
Submit your domestic questions to: helpme@home-ec101.com.
Tags: remove decoupage stain fabric · stain removal · water based glue
Dear Home Ec 101,
Here’s my situation…Mr. Knots has a tie that needs some attention. It has a few stains but he needs to wear it Saturday night and I don’t necessarily want to take just a tie to the dry cleaner. It’s a satin like material. Do think Dryel would work for that?
Signed,
Mrs. Knots
Ivy says:
I like Dryel’s ability to make things look nicer and smell nicer, but I do not think it has good spot removal abilities. I think your best bet in this case is to work on removing the spots by using something like Shout or, if the spot is greasy, use something like Dawn Dishwashing liquid.
The key here is to make sure you’re not getting the tie too wet or too soapy. I’d put a bit of whatever you’re using for spot removal on a slightly damp washcloth and gently rub the stains. Test it first on the back of the tie first for colorfastness.
I’ve had some good luck with stain removal on ties and some horrible disasters, so just remember: if all else fails, JC Penney is having a fabulous sale this week. 
Tags: tie stain removal
