How to Sew a Button: And Other Nifty Things Your Grandmother Knew (15 page)

Step 1:
Mix ¼ cup white vinegar with ¼ cup cold water. Stir in 1 teaspoon laundry detergent.

Step 2:
Apply the solution to the stain and dab with a paper towel.

Step 3:
Rinse with cold water.

Step 1:
Assess whether or not you are bleeding at the moment. If so, forget your clothes and get help. If not, proceed.

Step 2:
Mix 1 teaspoon mild laundry detergent and ½ teaspoon clear ammonia in ½ cup ice-cold water.

Step 3:
Dab with a paper towel and rinse with cold water.

Step 4:
If it persists, add 1 cup salt to 2 quarts cold water and soak the garment in it.

Step 1:
Bring a kettle of water to a boil.

Step 2:
Spread your stained clothing over the top of a bucket.

Step 3:
Stand back and, holding the kettle a foot above the bucket, pour the boiling water through your stain. The heat, coupled with the force, should drive any reds or purples straight into the bucket.

Step 1:
Squeeze a lemon onto the stain.

Step 2:
Set your garment out in the sunshine.

Step 3:
Repeat as necessary.

Step 1:
Examine the lipstick if it’s not on your own shirt. Is it the same color you wear? Better be!

Step 2:
Apply the teeniest bit of clear petroleum jelly on the spot, and dab it with a paper towel.

Step 3:
Rinse it with mineral spirits or, if color-safe, hydrogen peroxide.

Step 1:
Allow the mud to dry and then gently scrape as much of it off as you can.

Step 2:
Apply rubbing alcohol (or denatured alcohol) to the dirt stain, and dab with a paper towel.

• When in doubt, soak in cold water.
  

• Need some bleaching? Try sunshine first. It’s free, it’s cheerful, and it can often whiten better than any bleach.
  

Step 1:
Wipe down your shoes, especially the heels and soles, with a soft, cotton cloth to remove all dust and dirt.

Step 2:
Wrap a soft, cotton rag or old sock (ahem, a clean one) around your index and middle fingers.

Step 3:
Dip your rag into a cup of room-temperature water, dab it into your shoe polish, and dip it back into the water. It should be damp, not soaking.

Step 4:
Placing your opposite hand into your shoe for stability, start applying polish, tip to heel, using a tiny circular motion. Make several passes over the same small area before moving to the next.

Step 5:
After polishing the entire shoe, dampen a clean cloth and make one even pass over the shoe to prevent drops or streaks.

Step 6:
Allow the shoe to dry for 10 minutes.

Step 7:
Buff both sides of the shoe with a horse hair polishing brush or a buffing cloth. (If you have neither, a pair of panty hose works surprisingly well.)

Step 8:
To enhance the shine, from a seated position, place a shoe between your knees and, holding panty hose or a buffing cloth with both hands, slide it back and forth over the toe. To be super cool, snap the cloth. (Warning: The snap doesn’t work so well with panty hose.)

• If you get rock salt on leather shoes, add a tablespoon of vinegar to a cup of water, soak a cotton ball or paper towel, and gently wipe the salt away. Allow the leather to dry before polishing.
  

• Buff scuffs with a dab of non-gel, non-whitening toothpaste and a moist rag. Wipe clean.
  

Step 1:
Take a deep breath before you rush to the cash register. However magnificent the sale or fancy the label, you want your clothing to last more than just a few wears.

Step 2:
Give the garment a once-over, eyeballing for any holes, tears, or stains.

Step 3:
Eyeball the material. If it’s textured or patterned fabric, make sure the grain and design match up on each side of the seam.

Step 4:
Give it a gentle tug. If the seams hold and the garment returns to its original shape, keep going. If it rips or morphs, put it back, slip your hands into your pockets, and slink away, whistling softly. Try not to let your eyes bug out of your head. They’re a dead giveaway.

Step 5:
Peek inside to check out the seams. They should be straight, not crooked, and the edges of material should be finished, not raw. If it looks like a child cut the pattern with a pair of garden shears, that’s probably true. Put down the garment and immediately
send money to some anti-sweatshop charity.

Step 6:
Check out the fasteners. Try the zipper. Tug any hooks. Buttons should be secure and able to fit into the appropriate button holes. (Make sure they do, and make sure the holes are finished, not just cheapo slits in the fabric.)

Step 7:
Try it on. Well-made garments just fit better, and you’ll get much more wear out of something that flatters your figure.

Step 8:
Put it on hold, and take a walk. If you still want it, need it, and can afford it, make the purchase, confident that you’re buying quality.

• If there’s a lining inside, make sure it hangs straight and allows for some give.
  

• Check the length of the hem to ensure that any necessary alterations are possible.
  

Step 1:
Check the weather of your destination, and know your itinerary.

Step 2:
Set out your wish list. On your bed, gather all the clothes you’d like to bring with you. Don’t forget undies, socks, a bathing suit, PJs, a belt, a going-out outfit, and a couple of sweaters to layer if a chill sets in. Assuming you’ll wear your comfy shoes to travel, include at most one or two more pairs (e.g., sandals and going-out shoes). Then ogle your handiwork for a minute and take a deep breath, knowing you won’t really have to carry all that you see.

Step 3:
Thin the pack. Ruthlessly, put each piece, with the exception of your undies, socks, and favorite going-out dress, to the mix-and-match test. If any item can be worn only as part of a single outfit, put it back in your closet. You can wear it again when you get home.

Step 4:
Place all of your toiletries in a plastic bag and lay it in the bottom of your suitcase. Note: If you plan to carry your suitcase
onto an airplane, place your toiletries in a 1-quart plastic bag (with no more than 3 ounces of liquid per container) and carry it in your purse until you pass through security.

Step 5:
Fold each of your pants in half lengthwise and stack them on top of each other from most wrinkle prone (on the bottom) to least (on top). Starting at the bottom of your pants, roll them together, until they form a tight cylinder. Place the roll, seam-side down, in your suitcase. Repeat process with any T-shirts, tanks, or sundresses.

Step 6:
Fold any dressy shirts or jackets and lay them flat on top of your rolls.

Step 7:
Stuff your shoes with socks and any other small accessories, like belts, film, or batteries. Then place your shoes in a plastic bag and lay them on top.

Step 8:
Roll your undies and tuck them into any remaining available space, preferably not in your shoes.

Step 9:
Zip it up and happy trails!

• Wear your bulkiest clothes and shoes when traveling to save space in your suitcase.
  

• Always pack
  less
  than you think you should. You’ll probably end up wearing your same favorite jeans or dress on most days anyway. And you shouldn’t be saddled with stuff when you’re out exploring the world.
  

• If you don’t plan to unpack upon arrival at your destination and instead you plan to live out of your suitcase, consider rolling individual outfits together instead of pants with pants and shirts
  with shirts. That way, you can just pull out one roll at a time without making a mess.
  

• When in doubt, pack neutral-colored solids rather than patterns so you can mix and match more easily. Too boring? Spruce it up with accessories.
  

• If you plan to bring home any souvenirs, pack a small, empty duffel. You can fill it up and carry it with you on the way home.
  

• Avoid packing valuables, and stow any cheapo jewelry in a tiny ziplock pouch in your shoes. Leave the necklace clasp out of the bag to prevent knotting.
  

Nesting
Take pride in your surroundings. Use your imagination, and make our house a home
.