The Best Stain Remover EVER!

This is no joke!

I LOVE me some white clothes. In fact, it just may be my favorite color to wear. But, as everyone knows white don't say white for long. I hang on to my old, armpit and NYC-street-water stained clothes out of sentimentality. But I was just coming to terms with the fact that I'd probably have to stop buying white - it was becoming too expensive and wasteful - and throw out my prized pieces.

But then, as a last ditch effort, having scoured the internet over and over again for some kind of miracle whitener I gave it one, final, google: Best Stain Remover Ever?

And I found this:

Best Stain Remover Ever

July 17, 2008 in Homekeeping

You’d never know that a toddler ate played with blueberries in this shirt.

When our white t-shirts start to look a little grungy by midsummer, it’s time to freshen them up. For stains that don’t go away after trying other stain removers, here is what works for practically anything:

1. Heat up some water in a big pot on the stove. Make it hot, but not boiling.
2. Add 2 scoops of an oxygen base cleaner and a small squirt of liquid dish detergent.
3. Put the clothes in the pot and cover it with the lid.
4. Turn off the heat and soak for 4-6 hours, or more if needed.
5. Wash clothes as usual in the washing machine.

Tip! The generic brand of oxygen cleaner at the dollar store works just as well as Oxi Clean. It’s the same thing.

I like that it doesn’t fade colors (but it wouldn’t hurt to test a small spot first, just to make sure). It can remove the yellow storage stains from vintage linens. It can even help to lighten perspiration stains. I’m not kidding, I tried it.

[This is the link to the actual site: http://smallnotebook.org/2008/07/17/best-stain-remover-ever/]

I had a go. Collected my old, dingy, yellowed, nasty, used-to-be-whites and did the procedure on them. IT WORKED!

Some things to keep in mind though:

1 - Put the Oxiclean in a bit at a time. I threw both scoops and the dishwashing liquid in as soon as the water was hot, gave it a stir then watched as the foam grew and grew eventually spilling out over the rim and all over my stove and, as I moved the pan to the sink, all over the floor. So take heed, it gets VERY FOAMY at first.

2 - The clothes will naturally float to the top so you should a) make sure that you saturate them in the solution, and b) give them a good stir a few times over the course of their soak.

3 - if you use an aluminum pan the solution will react with the bolts that attach the handles, which, in turn will stain your clothes.. don't fill the pan too high.

4 - If you're soaking an item which has an iron-on logo or any other kind of non-ink logo it will peel off.

I also left my clothes in the water for about 10 hours as I had to go out. I don't know if that extended time had anything to do with my success. In addition, I gave the clothes a good rinse in cold water before washing them primarily because I don't own a machine and didn't want to ruin the other clothes in the laundry bag as i took them to the laundromat.

But, sincerely. This works.

2 thumbs up to the lady who wrote the blog that saved my whites.

Now to figure out how to do my bed sheets!

The Best Facewash

Epicuren Citrus Herbal Cleanser

It's made from organic ingredients. It's gentle. It actually cleans your skin.

The only downside is that is't pretty expensive. $24/2oz

But you don't need a lot of it to make it work.

I've tried every other face wash I can find that'd be OK with my sensitive skin. But this is the only one that actually cleans my face AND protects it (i.e., doesn't irritate it).

Highly recommended.

The BEST MASCARA - I swear!!

MAC Mascara X

Why isn't this the top-billed mascara in every magazine in the word?

Forget everything you've heard about every other mascara out there. This stuff truly NEVER CLUMPS and it always looks natural. It comes in a number of colors and is basically what every woman has always wanted in a mascara.

It's $14 but you will use it happily from the moment you buy it until the bitter end.

You know when you get a new mascara and it takes a few weeks for it to get to the consistency you want it? Well not this. From the get-go it's perfection.

Thanks to Shannon for telling me about this truly great product!

The Best Lip Balm in the WORLD!

Josie Maran Argan Oil Moisturizing Stick

Generally, lip balm is made with a petroleum-based product which always make my throat tickle and my lips crack. This is not. It's all natural and just simply heavenly. You can use it for a number of things and I always carry it in my purse. It has a rough texture to it when you've had it for a while and under the delightful, citrus scent it can smell a little like weed.. BUT it is a miracle product. I hope Josie Maran continues to make this and the Argan Oil even if everything else fails because it is pure magic - cosmetically speaking.

The BEST moisturizer in the world!

Josie Maran 100% Organic Argan Oil

Expensive ($48/50ml btl), but WORTH IT!

Put a couple drops straight on to skin or mix it in with a cheap cream moisturizer like Cetaphil and you're in business. It's amazing. My skin loves it. You can put it straight on your lips, on your hair, you can even eat it (although I never had and feel weird about it). It smells a little like olive oil. I don't think I could live without this stuff.

The Best Blusher

Vincent Longo Day Play Cheeky Cherub Compact Blush

Again, thanks to Kevin and Nicola for exposing me to this stuff.

I'm not sure if VL still makes this color combo (Cheeky Cherub) so ask them. I don't like the look of the colors in the image above - too orangey - but it might be worth a try.

The Cheeky Cherub color combo is perfect for me. A little more of a blue base to the pinks and it looks so lovely - just like I'm ever so slightly flushed. Old school french-style cheeks.

As with the other products I mentioned, VL is on the expensive side. I've gone through this blush over about a year and a half, so in that time frame it sort of makes up for it.

The Best Cover Up IN THE WORLD!!

Vincent Longo Creme Concealer

Thanks to my friends Kevin and Nicola I discovered this product.

It is amazing. You only need the teeniest amount and the whole pat lasts for ever.

The coverage is perfect and it's so creamy that you can use if for varying degrees of issues: under-eye circles, a pimple, a little redness, etc.

There are also a good number of shades to choose from - I use #1

It's $28 which seems like a lot for this tiny little thing, but it's worth it because you'll have it for ages.

The Best Foundation

Vincent Longo Liquid Canvas Dew Finish Waterproof SPF15

This stuff is amazing. It's light but covers well without looking like you're wearing foundation. It's build-able so you can have varying degrees of coverage. And there is a light shimmer to it. It's not like it has sparkles in it or anything, I actually don't know what makes it do this, but it does hold light on your skin somehow so that it looks like you're fresh. Love it!

My face drinks up makeup, but because this stuff is waterproof, I get a little more play from it than other products.

Only downside is the price! $50 and it doesn't last long so use sparingly if you can.

Erdaicate that stinky fart or wafty poop smell!

Grapefruit Mate Mist

This is THE most effective product for toilet smells. Seriously.

In fact, it is my wish for the world that every public restroom have a can. Grapefruit scent in particular. The others are fine, but for some reason grapefruit just cuts through that stench better than anything.

Thanks to my brother for having some in his crapper 3 years ago!