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Zap kid stains. With back-to-school time at hand, Whirlpool’s Institute of Fabric Science compiled this advice for tackling common kid laundry problems. More tips at .
To remove pencil, pretreat fabric with liquid detergent and wash in the warmest water safe for your garment. Repeat treatment if necessary. Air dry and check the garment for any remaining stain. Make sure the garment is clean before placing in a dryer.
To remove crayon, scrape the affected area with a spoon or the back of a knife to remove any excess wax. Place the stained area face down on a white paper towel or a brown paper bag, and place another paper towel on top of the item. Run a warm iron over the paper towel — the heat will melt the wax, which will be absorbed by the bag or towel. Keep changing the paper towels until no more stain transfers. Pretreat the stain, and wash in the warmest water possible for that garment. Line or air dry. Just be sure all the wax has been removed before you place the garment in the dryer.
For water-soluble glue, remove by rinsing with cool water, then wash according to the care label on garment. For waterproof glue, consult the garment’s care label or take to a dry cleaner.
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Store closing sale. Two Denver-area Pier 1 Imports stores are closing. Now through mid-September, everything at those stores will be 25 percent off. The stores are located at 1201 E. 20th Ave. and 9430 Sheridan Blvd. After the stores close, customers who frequent those stores will still be able to shop Pier 1 stores, at Larkridge near Interstate 25 and Colorado 7, and at FlatIron Crossing.
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Seasonal patio care. Studies show that Americans spend nearly $50 billion a year remodeling outdoor living areas, and moisture-induced mold damage is a major reason. Moldex, which now offers an EPA-registered protectant spray designed to seal out moisture from virtually any surface, has this patio furniture winterization advice. More at .:
Clean before covering. Tidy outdoor furniture and refinish it if necessary to prevent rust and damage from freezing. Never use pool chlorine, household bleach or solvent cleaners for removing stains.
Know how to cover up. Go with a tear-resistant, heavy-gauge vinyl or a high-thread-count plastic to cover outdoor furniture for the winter. Make sure the material is breathable so it doesn’t trap moisture.
Take it inside. Store items in the lowest-moisture environment possible. Leaking pipes, cracked foundations, floods and improperly installed dryer vents can make basement storage less than ideal.
