Posts by Heather Solos
How to Care for Fleece to Prevent and Reduce Pilling and Matting
Dear Home-Ec 101, I’ve read different thoughts on this, but none that I would consider authoritative. So I’m hoping you can help. I have a brand new fleece that I actually dropped some decent coin on (read: not Old Navy). Actually, it’s not all that new, truth be told. I just haven’t washed it at all since I bought…
Read MoreThe Home-Ec101.com Family Is Growing
Our blended family is going to get a bit bigger. Remember how I mentioned that I was recovering from mono and taking some time to rest? Well, I went straight from mono to morning sickness. Consequently, productivity has not been at an all-time high around here. Throw in a couple of hurricanes to monitor, a…
Read MoreBad Disaster Advice
I’ve been paying a lot of attention to the information being spread with regard to how to prepare for a disaster, like a hurricane. Bad Advice I’ve Seen Circulating Hotels must take your pets in due to a law passed after Hurricane Katrina. No. This is patently false. Hotels and motels are private businesses and not…
Read MoreVinegar as Laundry Detergent?
Dear Home-Ec 101, I really appreciate all the advice on your website. I was wondering if you would know whether it’s alright to use white vinegar as a laundry detergent. Thank you very much. Sincerely, Tart in Tahoma Dear Tart in Tahoma, The short answer is not if you want to have clean, fresh smelling…
Read MoreWhy Is the Ice in my Ice Machine Melting?
Dear Home-Ec 101, I have a fairly new ice machine at the beach, a house we use roughly every other weekend. Lately, the ice machine does not seem to be cold enough to keep the ice it makes frozen. I have vacuumed the coils, ran a “Clean cycle” with the cleanser, turned it off and…
Read MoreOff-Topic: Checking In
Hey there, I hope all of you are well. I know things have been pretty quiet here on the site. Initially, things were just getting quite busy at work, but one thing is never enough. Very recently my father was in the ICU with sepsis, but he’s home and doing much better. That unexpected trip…
Read MoreRemoving Body Soil and Other Grunge from Furniture Upholstered with Microsuede
Dear Home Ec 101, In 2006, we bought several pieces of microsuede furniture in a chocolate brown. Over time, the arms and headrests have become oily and dirty. The code on the label is “WS”. Can we remove the grime from our couch and recliner? How hard is it to clean microsuede without damaging the…
Read MoreA Day Late, A Dollar Short, No More: Life Skills are Frugal
Heather says: I was once asked how I could call Home-Ec 101 a frugal site when overall money isn’t mentioned. The short answer? I believe life skills are some of the most underutilized assets of the general population. Use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without. This is the mantra of…
Read MoreHow Does Your Water Affect Your Laundry?
Dear Home-Ec 101, I have well water and found out that using bleach in the wash will turn my cloths brownish. And yes they have become dingy and not as bright. What can I use, if anything, to make them white again or keep this from happening again to newer cloths I get? And also…
Read MoreRemoving Peanut Butter from Nubby Upholstery/Fabric
Dear Home-Ec101, My husband dripped peanut butter on our nubby weave couch and rubbed it in when he tried to clean it off. Can you tell me and your readers how to get messes like this out without further ruining the upholstery? Signed, Excuse the Mess, We Just Live Here I dream of the day when…
Read MoreHelp, how do I get rid of drain flies?
Dear Home-Ec 101, I have three window wells in my finished basement. I am forever finding little black dead flies. I have sprayed, thrown gallons of bleach and ammonia down the window wells. In the window wells I found something like yellow cocoons that I think they have built. There were several in each well. …
Read MoreHow Much Vinegar Should I Use in the Laundry?
Dear Home-Ec 101, I read your information on why liquid fabric softener causes stains on dark clothing and that you use white vinegar instead. I have a front loading machine. How do I add the vinegar and how much? Sincerely, Washing in Walhalla Dear W.W., To add the vinegar to your washer, use either the…
Read MoreWilted Spinach Salad with Peppered, Candied Bacon
Spinach salad: 6oz fresh baby spinach 1/2 sweet or red onion sliced thinly 1 granny smith apple cored and cut into bite size pieces (if you are making this ahead of time, store in cold water with lemon juice to prevent browning) 4 hard boiled eggs cut into wedges 7 slices candied peppered bacon Toss…
Read MoreHome-Ec101.com Is turning 10
Home-Ec101 is turning 10 and it’s about to get personal. If you don’t want to know the back story, we’ll see you next week. We could just talk about the numbers, more than 16 million people have visited and read more than 30 million pages of this site. I can no longer wrap my head…
Read MoreCan I Mix [cleaning product] with Bleach
Dear Home Ec 101, I love your site! Love the 50’s look! I want to mop with bleach once a month to help keep our grout white, but mopping with bleach and water does not seem to clean the floor well. Your site came up when I googled which cleaners/soaps can safely be mixed with…
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