Best Stain Removal Tips #MomsCheckIn #DreftClean

November 8, 2014 by Jenni 137 Comments

Looking for some of the best stain removal tips?

Honest to goodness….sometimes it’s harder than heck to get stains out of clothes, especially kids’ clothes. I’ve learned over the years how to tackle some of the worst ones but it has always been trial and error. Between mud, dirt, grass and who knows what all else…well, you know. You’ve got kids too, right?!

Here are some of the best stain removal tips from our awesome-sauce Moms Check In mommas! If you have any great tips, PLEASE leave them in a comment below! We want to hear them! P.S. We have an awesome Twitter party coming up next week with Dreft and you could win some awesome prizes. Make sure to RSVP below!

“Cold water! As soon as you can with a stain get it in some cold water and use a little stain remover. Hot or even very warm water can set the stain.”

– Amanda is the mom to Joshua and owns It’s a Fabulous Life. If you are looking for a one stop place for all things mom, It’s a Fabulous Life is it! Full of recipes, fashion, DIY projects, recipes and parenting articles it’s the place for all of Mom’s favorites to come together! Follow her on Twitter here!

“ I pre-treat everything that needs it, but if it’s going to be awhile before it gets in the washer…I keep a small pail with a lid filled with water and stain remover or detergent. That way it doesn’t dry out on me before I can get the stain out. Once the stain dries, you’re in trouble!! I also keep an old toothbrush in the laundry room to scrub out any gunk!“

– Jenni is the mom of one and the author of Sweet Pennies From Heaven. A hearth and home website, Sweet Pennies From Heaven focuses on recipes, crafts and creating a comfortable home. Follow her on Twitter here!

“My best tip, and one I’ve learned the hard way (multiple times – I’m a slow learner) is to make sure the stain came out in the wash before you put the garment in the dryer. Once you dry it, it’s kind of set in there and really hard, if not impossible, to get out.”

– Lindsay is the mom of 2 and author of See Mom Click. She shares great deals, Disney happenings and recipes. You can follow her on Twitter here!

“Oh my word I am the one that needs tips. Never buy white shirts? Eat with a bib? Hope for the best? I have learned over many ruined clothes to look for stains and pre-treat them, check pockets twice for tissues and use good quality cleaning products.”

– Stephanie is the mom to Sam and the author of Spaceships and Laser Beams. If you ever need party ideas her site is the place to visit! Specializing in all things boy, it’s full of inspiration! Follow her on Twitter here!

“I’m the mom of two non-stop kids, one who likes to make mud pies and one that likes to wear her food. Both together give me a run for my money on dirty laundry. So, what do I do at the end of the day when their clothes are covered in stains? My best laundry stain removal tips are relatively simple, because I like easy. My first tip is to put a stain-treating spray on it as soon as you can. Even if you aren’t going to wash the clothes that day, put the stain-treating spray on it first and leave it until you’re ready to wash. My next tip is to soak the clothes for a few minutes in the washing machine. Most washing machines have a Pre-Wash or Soak setting and that’s what I’d do after pre-treating the stain and before running through the regular wash cycle. I have a few more tricks up my sleeve, but these are my go-to favorite tips for battling the laundry stains.”

– Sherry is a stay-at-home, homeschooling mom to two little ones and has been married to a wonderful man for the last fifteen years. Join her on her journey to celebrate family, rant about anything and keep it all positive. She writes about family, travel, recipes, kids, reviews & fun. Come, join her controlled (sometimes uncontrolled) chaos at Family Love, and Other Stuff. You can also find her on Twitter at @FamLuvStuff.

What is Moms Check In?

Who are the moms of Moms Check In? We’re 4 moms who are also professional bloggers. We chat about a new topic each week. We talk about things from dirty diapers to date night, and everything in between. Moms love to talk to other moms and let’s face it…MOMS know everything!! If you happen to be a blogger also, and want to be a guest host one week, please fill out this form.

Before you leave, let us know…

What’s your best laundry stain removal tip?

Did you know that Dreft has more than just laundry detergent? They also have the most amazing stain removers! The To-Go Instant Stain Remover Pen removes stains, well, instantly and it’s the perfect size for keeping in your bag. The Laundry Stain Remover is sure to find a permanent home in your laundry room. It will become your best friend for getting out the toughest stains! I really love the Laundry Stain Remover also comes in a smaller spray! Perfect for taking with you on the go! Want to know more about Dreft products and have the chance to win some amazing prizes? Join us for our #DreftClean Twitter Party! It will be Thursday, November 13 from 1-2 PM (Eastern). You will need to RSVP here to be eligible to win some fantastic prizes (including: Dreft prize packs, copies of Scary Mommy’s new book and even a Kindle Fire!)

Dreft, Kandoo and Boogie Wipes are all working together this year with Scary Mommy to help feed 100 families this Thanksgiving. You can read more about the Scary Mommy Thanksgiving Project and find out how to get involved!

You should also Follow Dreft on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest to stay connected!! RSVP for the Twitter party below!

Laundry Tips to Save Your Sanity AND Your Clothes #SimpleGreenSelfie

June 25, 2014 by Jenni 406 Comments

Thanks to Simple Green for sponsoring this post on laundry tips and how to save your sanity and your clothes!

I used to love to do laundry. That was before I had a child. I loved to wash, fold and put away. Now, we’re lucky if the clothes even MAKE it to the closet! As long as they smell good and are clean, that’s all I care about. I’m one of those, “ahhh, throw it in the dryer for a minute and the wrinkles’ll just fall right out” kinda moms!

The husband welds, so you can imagine the stink and nastiness on his clothes every day. Not to mention, the grass and dirt stains all over little mans clothes. It IS summertime, so there’s plenty of that! Me? I stay clean as a whistle, most times. We’ve been using the Simple Green laundry detergent, and it smells AH-mazing. I’ve also been pre-treating stains with the full strength Simple Green All-Purpose Cleaner.

Simple Green is an environmentally friendly laundry detergent and has been trusted in homes for over 35 years. Now, they offer their laundry detergent in the Sunshine Fresh scent. It really smells soooo awesome. It’s tough on dirt, grease, grass, food, coffee, wine and more.

For those of you with HE washers, you’ll be happy to know that one 100oz bottle washes up to 100 HE loads! It works perfectly in hot, warm, or cold water and is great for people with sensitive skin too!

Laundry tips to save your sanity… AND your clothes:

Start a load every morning
(after shower and coffee, of course). This keeps your weekends free of PILES of laundry.

Don’t let clothes sit in the washer overnight (in the summer months)
or you’ll have to re-wash. Nasty, stinky musty clothes are not appealing.

Use peroxide to get blood stains and/or wine out of clothes

Pre-treated stains that don’t come out, re-treat and wash again. Don’t put them in the dryer…yet!
Once dried, stains are even more difficult to get out. Keep treating and washing till stains are gone.

Keep a container with soapy water in your utility room to stick baby clothes/bibs/onesies in instantly after stained.
This is a time saver! It’ll keep the cloth from drying out before you can pretreat. Just change out often.

Keep dirty clothes baskets in each bedroom and bathroom, and once they’re full – wash’em.
1. This keeps your utility room from overflowing and 2. it helps the kids become a little more independant. Have them bring the clothes TO you for washing!

Use vinegar as a brightener and fabric softener.
It’s also excellent at helping to get super stubborn stains and smells out.

Pay the kids an allowance to fold or hang, and put away clothes.
That way your clothes won’t end up where mine usually does. On the couch. This is a tip I need to use myself!

#SimpleGreenSelfie Photo Contest: (<– Click there to enter!)

My washer and dryer are dinosaurs. We’re not talking the age of washboards, but pretty close! So I was pumped to hear about this #SimpleGreenSelfie photo contest. Through July 31st you can enter to win:

• Daily Prize: One (1) $50 GAP gift card
• Grand Prize: One (1) LG ultra large capacity, high efficiency, front loading washer & dryer set featuring LG’s Steam Technology.

Please Note:
The #SimpleGreenSelfie Photo Contest is open to US residents only.

I kiss it because I {heart} it!

To Enter:

1. Purchase a 100oz bottle of Simple Green Sunshine Fresh Scent Laundry Detergent at The Home Depot (in store or online).

2. Take a photo of yourself, the product and your receipt from The Home Depot.

3. Post the photo on Instagram or Twitter tagged #SimpleGreenSelfie and @SimpleGreen.

4. Make sure to follow @SimpleGreen on Twitter and Instagram so that you can easily be notified if you won.

Photos are judged on creativity so be original!

You can also get a Simple Green Sunshine Fresh Laundry Detergent Mail-In Rebate!!

Get an $8.98 mail-in rebate when you buy a minimum of two 100oz bottles of Simple Green Sunshine Fresh Laundry Detergent from The Home Depot (in store or online) between 06/11/14 and 07/31/14.

To Redeem:

1. Download the rebate form at simplegreen[dot]com/special-offers/rebate

2. Complete the form in its entirety.

3. Mail the completed form, along with the original store cash register receipt (with your product purchase and price circled) to the address on the form for receipt by 08/15/14.

Homemade Laundry Soap | Only 3 Ingredients (Just 2 Cents per Load!!!)

January 25, 2013 by Jenni 1,506 Comments

Homemade Laundry Soap Recipe

I decided awhile back to try my hand at making our own homemade laundry soap. It’s cheaper than buying brand detergent and I know what’s going in it. Plus, it sort of makes me feel like Super Woman knowing that I can make my own!! 😉 I’ve tried a handful of recipes in smaller batches and I found one that I really like. I had always preferred liquid detergent and I’ve tried a homemade liquid detergent recipe BUT it didn’t clean the clothes nearly as well as the powder so this is what I’m sticking with! My husband is a welder and he has some pretty stinky and grimy work clothes and this detergent does a wonderful job! I’ve done the math and if I’ve figured correctly, it costs around $1 or so a batch which would give you 48 regular loads coming to about $0.02 per load.

WARNING: Make sure to keep all ingredients with your other cleaners – locked and away from children. Small kids like to imitate, so if they see you playing in it…they may try to play in it too.

NOTE: This detergent works perfectly in HE washing machines. From what I gather, powder detergents work better in HE machines than liquid detergent. This is just what I’ve read on several other articles online.

Homemade Laundry Soap Ingredients:

All of these items can be found at your local grocery stores, Walmart, Target, etc.

NOTE: Previously, even when I made this post, I was using Ivory Bar Soap. I’ve found that I like Fels Naptha MUCH better! That’s why the photos below show white shaved bar soap instead of the yellow color of Fels Naptha.

1 bar of Fels Naptha, shaved (I use an old cheese grater)
1 Cup of Arm & Hammer Washing Soda Laundry Booster
1 Cup of 20 Mule Team Borax (in the laundry aisle)

This is a really simple process. First, just shave the bar soap, I just use an old cheese grater and grate it into a bowl. Then in the same bowl combine the soap with the borax and washing powder. Stir really well until it’s all combined and in a course powder. Try to break up any clumps.

Another thing that I suggest is adding your powder and bar shavings to a food processor to make the powder really super fine. Use 1 to 1 and a 1/2 Tbsp. for a regular load or 2 to 2 and 1/2 for larger or heavily soiled loads. Depending on your water softness, you may need to use more or less. Just find what amount works best for your clothes.

Store your powder detergent in an airtight container with a lid. I personally use an old diaper wipe container to keep mine in. You can also use a coffee can or old baby formula can with the lid.

I also add about a 1/2 to a whole cup of vinegar to my wash cycle as a fabric softener, plus it helps to brighten and whiten and take away any stinky smells in your clothes. It also helps to rinse any leftover residue from the powder on your clothes.

My friend, Alea from Premeditated Leftovers, also has some great laundry tips that you can check out. She mentions how to get rid of mildew, reducing night time allergies, and she has some great tried and true ways to organize, sort and put away your laundry!

Don’t miss these other fan favorite tips!

Rid your dog of fleas, the natural and thrifty way!

Make your own DIY Homemade Frappes – taste just like McDonald’s!

Save TONS of money on cleaning supplies, just use this ONE to do it all!!