Bar Soap

Who would think that a plain old bar of soap could be used everywhere from the laundry room to the workshop? Well it can, I'll show you!

1. Keep a bar of white soap by your washing machine. It is a great pre-treater for stains, especially make-up. Dampen the bar; rub it into the stain and then wash according to the garments directions.

2. It will also remove fabric softener stains; those greasy stains on your clean laundry, just rub some soap into them and launder again!

3. If you're potting houseplants or working in the garden, scrape your fingers over a bar of soap; the slivers will collect under your nails and wash away easily when you're done with your planting.

4. Sticky drawers or windows? Rub a bar of soap along the sliding parts, to get them moving smoothly again.

5. Soap can be both an insect repellant and air freshener so store bars of opened soap in drawers, closets and suitcases.

6. Soap is also indispensable in the summer when you get those nasty insect bites. Dampen the soap, and rub it over your bites for an instant anesthetic effect.

Beautiful Stains

Beauty products are a part of life, but they can also cause spills and stains, I have some tips to get rid of these "beautiful" stains. If you think hair dye stains are permanent, think again. If you act quickly you can get rid of them. Spritz liberally with hairspray and allow it to dry for a couple of minutes. Then rub the area with some shampoo and wash it in cold water. For make-up stains from foundation to mascara grab a bar of soap. Put the stain face down on an absorbent white cloth, an old diaper works great for this. Dampen the soap and rub it into the back side of the stain. This will push the make-up out of the fabric rather than sending deeper into the fibers. Move the stain to different parts of the diaper so it doesn't re-absorb them. Wash it in cool water. For greasy stains like lotions and baby oil, blot as much as you can with a cloth and sprinkle with some cornstarch. Let it sit for ten minutes, shake it out and dab with white vinegar to break up the grease. Then launder. For hairspray build-up on walls, floors and mirrors dip an old washcloth into some rubbing alcohol and wipe it away. Remember the two primary rules of stain removal: Always test for colorfastness in a hidden area first, and never put your item in the dryer until you're sure the stain is gone.