Ivy says: Good morning, Home Eccers. I sincerely appreciate all the good wishes you all sent last week about my grandmother. She is, at this moment I’m writing, still alive, but weakening. If you’re at all interested, I did write a long post about the situation yesterday over at my parenting blog. Here’s a link. …
Hello! I do alterations and repairs on bridal wear and I recently returned some dresses that ended up absorbing the smell of kerosene. How would someone remove the smell of kerosene from un-washable clothing? Please Help!!! I can’t afford to pay for their dry cleaning! Thank you! Down and out in Indiana Ivy says: My …
Hi Ivy and Heather, Long time reader, 2nd time emailer. 😉 I was squealing with delight when I saw Barkeeper’s Friend at my local Bed Bath and Beyond. I know in many of your posts, you recommend using it for cleaning various things. Of course, now that I have it, I can’t think of one …
Dear Home Ec 101, My 4 year old son absolutely refuses to clean up his toys! I’ve tried making it a game, I’ve also tried taking his toys away when he doesn’t clean them up. He still refuses to clean. Any ideas for getting him to clean up after himself? Signed, Messy In Muncie Ivy …
Dear Home Ec 101,An old roommate of mine borrowed a dresser from me and used it while we lived together. After she gave it back, the drawers had a musty smell that I couldn’t get rid of. If I put any clothes in the drawers, they come out smelling funky and musty too. What should …
Dear Home Ec 101, How do you clean ceiling fans? I’m especially wanting to know how you manage to clean them without dust bunnies falling down onto the furniture. Signed, A fan of fans Ivy says: I suppose, theoretically, if you cleaned your ceiling fans constantly that there’d never be any little bits of dust …
On Saturdays, we like to take the day off and spend it with our families. Sometimes. When they’re behaving. Here’s a blast from the past: Dear Home-Ec 101, How do I remove blood stains from fabric? Signed, Lizzie B. Ivy says: Turn yourself in, Dr. Michael Baden‘s on the case now, I hear. I’ll answer …
Ivy says: Dangit all, have a few days of confusion, sickness, meetings, and general disarray, and you wake up to what I woke up to this morning: a house that would undoubtedly earn the Home Ec 101 Seal Of Disapproval. Yes, my darling Home Eccers, while I do generally keep my home in some semblance …
Ivy says: My mom always said there’s something very spiritual about washing your windows. Her theory on this is that the windows are the eyes of your home and by washing the windows, you’re opening up those eyes to let the sun shine in. It’s a newish year, and if you’re an American, we have …
Ivy says: It’s interesting how many people I know that had problems with their house getting piley over the holidays and now they’re scrambling to catch up on their household chores and routines. I’m included in that group- I’ve been doing a ton of laundry since this weekend and I still have laundry to do. …