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Stain destain. Dry cleaners are gearing up for an uptick in gravy-splattered lapels and wine- dotted silks. Pretreat holiday stains with these tips from The Drycleaning & Laundry Institute.
Wine and coffee — Lightly touch the stain with an absorbent towel to draw up liquid; blotting can spread the stain. After dinner, rinse with cool water and treat with a mild detergent and white vinegar.
Cranberry — Rinse with cool water and treat with a mild detergent and white vinegar before washing.
Salad oil — Cover a big spill at the table with absorbent powder and shake off after supper. Apply a mild detergent mixed with household ammonia as soon as possible. Wait 5-10 minutes and wash in the hottest water safe for the fabric.
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Firepit safety. Cooler temperatures draw some people outside to sit by a fire. Firepits and outdoor fireplaces are a popular landscape design feature, according to the American Society of Landscape Architects and UniFlame. Follow these suggestions to stay safe.
Never use a fire pit inside.
Keep children and animals away from the firepit.
Always have water and a garden hose ready nearby.
Use all-natural products to light your fire. Never use lighter fluid, kerosene or gasoline to start a fire.
Do not burn pressure-treated wood. It may contain toxins. Good firewood options include pinion wood, alder, cedar, oak, hickory, mesquite, pecan and fruit woods.
Know what poison oak and poison ivy look like. Burning these can release harmful irritants.
Do not overload your fire.
Use a spark guard to control burning embers.
Avoid using firepits in windy conditions.
Allow the fire to burn itself out. Do not use water to extinguish a fire as the extreme temperature change can damage the firepit.
