I received the following question from Dianne, a reader. Check out my response for handling your own stains:

"We've got a new puppy in the house and last week she jumped on me as I was sitting down with coffee. Of course the coffee went everywhere, but mostly on my white 45% Modal shirt. The shirt was promptly stuffed into the laundry bin and forgotten about so it sat for about a week before it was washed. To make matters worse, I forgot to check to see if the stain came out before I dried it! Now I've got a stain (very faint) on this white shirt, do you have any tips or pointers about how to get it out? This is also my first time dealing with this fabric, so I'm not sure what it can and can't handle. Please help!"

Don't you just love puppies! They bring so much happiness, yet, when you least expect it, there's a mess to clean up.

I had to do a little research on the Modal fabric as I was not familiar with it. It's made from beech tree bark and is supposed to make the item lighter and softer on your skin.

To address your problem, you should try something a little stronger to get the faint spot out. My recommendation would be either the Clorox Bleach Pen or our new Clorox UltimateCare Premium bleach. They have lower bleach levels than Clorox Regular-Bleach and they are thicker, easier to control for spot pre-treating. Simply apply a small amount, wait 1-2 minutes and then wash in the warmest water recommended for the item.

It was also nice to notice that you recognized a couple of things you had done incorrectly. Rather than immediately dealing with the problem, placing it in the hamper and allowing the coffee stain to dry out probably made it much more difficult to remove. Also not checking at the end of the wash cycle for complete removal, and then drying may have set the stain.

Anyway, give the stain another try with the Bleach Pen or UltimateCare and let me know if they work.

Good luck and thanks for posting your problem.

Ok, I’m baaack in the office and ready to roll for 2007! Since a lot of my colleagues are still away this week, it is relatively quiet at work, making this a great time to reflect on the past year and gaze into the future.

Here are some random thoughts on both:

• 
  I am really proud of my blog and what we have accomplished since it launched in May. Thanks for all your well-wishes and questions along the way! My goal was to provide a resource for people to get laundry-related information and have a forum to answer questions. I think I have done that in an entertaining way and plan to continue this approach this new year.

• The blog has also allowed me to share both professional and personal moments.


• My Holiday Stain Hotline provides information on removal of the Top 10 holiday stains. It was so successful that we have done it for two years in a row.


• The Clorox® UltimateCare™ Premium Bleach introduction was challenging and exciting as I co-hosted several introductory events with Robert Verdi and met a large number of editors from around the country.


• This led to interviews with newspapers, magazines and Web sites, all of which I enjoyed. There is a certain thrill to see yourself quoted in various newspapers and magazines!


• It was exciting to throw out the first pitch at the Sacramento Rivercats (Minor League Baseball team) game and attended the Busch race at Fontana.


• When my brother-in-law passed away in July, I eulogized him here. It definitely helped my grieving process. Over the holidays, my family gathered on the big island of Hawaii to honor Marshall’s last request that his ashes be spread over the waters of the island he loved to visit. The family also followed a Hawaiian tradition by creating a large memorial to Marshall. If you drive north on Highway 11 toward the Kohala Coast and just pass the Waikoloa turn off, you will find this fitting tribute to a truly unique individual on the side of the road.

So here’s my toast to the great start in 2006 and that 2007 will not only continue the tradition but take us to new heights!

Also, I know a lot of you have written in with questions for me over the holidays, and I plan to take the beginning of this year to get back to each of you. Sorry for the delay!

What would the holidays be without candles? They seem like a natural way to brighten your home and set that special mood during the holidays. Whether scented or fragrance-free, candles add that special touch to the table centerpiece or mantel. Amid all the hustle and bustle, it can be easy to forget about them, and once they have burned down, it’s not uncommon to discover a waxy mess left behind.
Here’s an approach to help you deal with the mess:

• The keys here are getting the mess from liquid to solid ASAP and then dealing with the waxy material.
• First, resist your impulses to wipe or blot it up right then and there. This will only drive the material further into the fiber and make removal more difficult than it will be. Harden the molten liquid by either placing the stained item in the freezer or placing an ice cube on the area.
• Once the wax hardens, crack the stain and use a dull knife to gently scrape away as much material as possible.
• If it is dry clean only, get it to the dry cleaners within 48 hours and let the pro work on it.
• Now we can start treating the residual material, which is very waxy. If you have dry cleaning solvent, try applying it from the backside and gently force the stain onto a clean cloth or paper towel.
• When ready to wash, use hot water if possible; if the item is white and the wax is colored you may want to pretreat with Clorox® Bleach Pen ™ Gel; also consider washing the item separately since the hot water is going to “melt” the wax off from the item. It is possible for that residue to redeposit on other items in the wash. For colored items consider pretreating with Clorox2® Bleach for colors.
• Finally always check for success BEFORE placing in the dryer. This is definitely a stain you do not want to set by drying.

Candles color and fragrances add a homey atmosphere to any festive gathering or dinner, and with these stain removal tips there is less reason to worry about clean-up. Red, green, blue, or white, decorate with candles to your heart’s delight!

Turn out the lights… the party’s over!
Great, now the cleanup begins!!
Tell me again why having that party was such a GREAT idea.

Now that the guests are gone and the flurry of holiday activities have officially concluded, hosts and hostesses are often left wondering what hit them. There are mounds of linens, tablecloths, sheets and towels to wash, along with cleanup of other leftovers from the good times.

Often, people run into a little trouble with the sheer volume of work to be done. In the interest of preserving your sanity and keeping as light a load as possible (pun intended!), I suggest you break up the laundry task into several days. Trust me, it doesn’t have to be all done in one night/day. Avoid the temptation to do everything in one huge load, especially when you have such a high volume of similar items. Like any other laundry day, follow a few simple rules to success:

• Sort and separate out items with obvious stains. Tackle these first. The fresher the stain, the better the chances for removal. Need help? Don’t forget to try the Holiday Stainline (1-877-STAIN 411).
• Ask "what items will I need next" and "what is just going to get folded and put away"? This helps decide the order for washing everything.
• Check the care labels for proper laundering techniques.
• Try starting some loads later in the day. They can dry overnight while you sleep.
• It’s best to not overload the washing machine—separate heavy and lightweight items. (This also helps cut down on drying time.) Also use the recommended amount of product for the load size.
• Finally, check stained items thoroughly before you put them into the dryer, because stains will “cook” into fabrics if heated/dried.

With “delicate” care items, it’s best to always do a product compatibility or bleachability test to determine whether you can use the product without harming the item. Some tablecloths and garments especially will be marked as delicate care or hand wash. Again, remember to check the care label if you have any doubt about the type of washing/drying conditions or products that are appropriate to use.

A cup of Joe, cappuccino or soy latte, coffee gets your day started. For lots of folks, it’s not the last one you may have during the day. Whether driving in your car, reading the newspaper at home, or sitting at your desk (as I am now), drinking coffee is a social ritual for many. However, this routinely relaxing activity can spoil your day with a bump in the road and a spill on your nice white shirt.
Here are some coffee stain removal tips so you can keep your calm.

• If you happen to spill coffee on your clothing at the office, rinse it right away with cold water. Resist the urge to use that bar of soap in the restroom on the stain. Using bar soap may cause the stain to set, thus making it much more difficult to remove. Wait until you are home again to treat the stain properly.
• Once safely in the laundry room, if the dried out stained item is a white, bleachable fabric, try a quick pre-soak in ¼ cup of Clorox® Regular-Bleach per gallon of cold water for 5 minutes. Wash the article immediately in the hottest water setting recommended on the label using a regular detergent and an additional ¾ cup Clorox® Regular-Bleach or our new Clorox® UltimateCare™ Premium Bleach.
• If you happened to be wearing a colored or patterned item of clothing when the spill occurred, apply Clorox 2® Bleach for Colors and rub into the stain. Wash the item in the hottest water recommended using regular detergent and more Clorox 2 for Colors to ensure the stain is fully removed.
• Be sure to inspect the item while it is still wet after washing, and if some coffee still remains, repeat these steps before drying.

Go ahead and pour yourself another cup, or head down to your local coffee shop. With these stain removal tips, you can sip without fear of permanent coffee stains ruining your favorite outfit or your morning routine.

Dark chocolate, milk chocolate, hot chocolate, chocolate cake, chocolate pudding… so many forms but so little time to eat them all. While chocolate something is always a decadent dessert choice for a holiday party or even for an evening at home, it always amazes me how often in ends as a mess on me. To save your nice linens and khaki pants this season, here are some chocolate removal tips to help solve your laundry problems and keep your sweet tooth satisfied.

The fine cocoa particles, emulsifiers and milk proteins that make chocolate so delicious add up to make chocolate stains so difficult to remove. The order of attack is important when you have a mixture of problem makers. First, we want to attack the proteins then the emulsifiers and finally the cocoa particles.

• Start by pretreating the stain with a good liquid detergent, then soaking the fabric in cold water for approximately 30 minutes to help loosen the protein and emulsifier in the stain.

• If the stain is on a white bleachable fabric, gently rub the chocolate stain with Clorox® Bleach Pen™ Gel before laundering. Immediately wash in warm water with regular detergent and ¾ cup of either Clorox® Regular-Bleach or try our new Clorox® UltimateCare™ Premium Bleach.

• If the stain is on a colored or patterned fabric, removing it requires different products. After pretreating and soaking for 30 minutes in liquid detergent, apply Liquid Clorox 2® Bleach for Colors to the stain. Rub the stain gently, wait 3-5 minutes to loosen the particles then wash immediately in warm water using regular detergent and Clorox 2® Bleach for Colors.

• As always, inspect the stained item after treatment to ensure that the stain is gone. If some chocolate still remains, repeat the above steps prior to drying for best results.

For all you choco-holics out there, have no fear this holiday season! With these stain removal techniques, you can have your chocolate and eat it too.

I received the following from my boss (thanks, Adrianne) and it really made me stop and think how far we have come. I remember my grandmother detailing her washing process and parts of the following were included.

Maybe "the good ole days" were not really "the good ole days".

Washing Clothes Recipe

(Given a Young Bride by her Grandmother)

'Washing Clothes Recipe' - imagine having a recipe for this!

Years ago, a Southern grandmother gave the new bride the following recipe: This is an exact copy as written and found in an old scrapbook - with spelling errors and all.

Washing Clothes

Build fire in backyard to heat kettle of rain water. Set tubs so smoke wont blow in eyes if wind is pert. Shave one whole cake of lye soap in boilin water.

Sort things, make 3 piles

     1 pile white,
     1 pile colored,
     1 pile work britches and rags.

To make starch, stir flour in cool water to smooth, then thin down with boiling water.

Take white things, rub dirty spots on board, scrub hard, and boil, then rub colored don't boil just wrench and starch.

Take things out of kettle with broom stick handle, then wrench, and starch.

Hang old rags on fence.

Spread tea towels on grass.

Pore wrench water in flower bed. Scrub porch with hot soapy water.

Turn tubs upside down.

Go put on clean dress, smooth hair with hair combs. Brew cup of tea, sit and rock a spell and count your blessings.

(For you non-Southerners... wrench means rinse.)

Paste this over your washer and dryer. Next time when you think things are bleak, read it again, kiss that washer and dryer, and give thanks. First thing each morning you should run and hug your washer and dryer.

And finally, a cute joke to finish off the post...

One day my housework-challenged husband decided to wash his sweatshirt. Seconds after he stepped into the laundry room, he shouted to me, "What setting do I use on the washing machine?"

"It depends," I replied. What does it say on your shirt?"

He yelled back, "University of Oklahoma..."

And they say blondes are dumb!

I love a good red wine, but the spills that result from it are tough! From Two Buck Chuck Merlot to Rosenblum Zinfandel to Silver Oak Cabernet Sauvignon, red wines always find a prominent place in my holiday festivities. When spilled or splashed onto a fabric like tablecloth or, even worse, a shirt or pants, they can put a real damper on the party mood. While tannins help develop complexity to the flavor of the wine, they also add difficulty to stain removal.
Here are some easy tips for saving your tablecloth or T-shirt.

• First and foremost, quickly blot the spot as soon as possible after the stain occurs with a paper towel or cloth to absorb excess red wine. I like using club soda to bubble up the stain and help prevent it from setting. Treating the fabric immediately greatly increases your odds that the stain will be successfully removed.
• Bonus tip: Do NOT rub bar soap on a red wine stain. It may set the stain.
• If the stained item is a white, bleachable fabric, grab a Clorox® Bleach Pen ™Gel and rub the stain gently before laundering. Do not apply to the item while wearing. Wash immediately in hot/warm water with regular detergent and ¾ cup of either Clorox® Regular-Bleach or try our new Clorox® UltimateCare™ Premium Bleach.
• If the stained item has a color or pattern, the stain removal process is a little different. After blotting the excess wine, apply a small amount of Liquid Clorox 2 for Colors to the stain, gently rub and wait 3-5 minutes for it to start working. Then, wash the fabric immediately in the hottest water recommended for that fabric (check the care label) using regular detergent and Clorox 2 for Colors.
• Most importantly, before you toss the item into the dryer, check to ensure that the stain has been fully removed. If the stain remains, repeat the appropriate process above until the stain is gone. If you dry a stained item, the stain may be set into the fiber making subsequent removal much more difficult.

As we’re in full swing of holiday season, it is tough to find the time to clean house! You should be all caught up from the Thanksgiving laundry. Luckily, doing a top-to-bottom home cleaning may not be needed but you should always concentrate on a handful of spots that contain the most germs. Over the years, my company has done a lot of research that showed the following five areas are the germiest places in the home. Using our Basic Bleach Solution* is a great way to tackle these problem areas. Specific approaches for each area:

Plastic Cutting Boards – The place where raw meat, chicken and fish often touch. If not cleaned properly, cutting boards can serve as breeding grounds for salmonella, E. coli, and other nasty germs. Soaking in the sink with the basic Clorox® Regular-Bleach solution* for 5 minutes, then rinse and dry will do the trick to get rid of the bad stuff.

Kitchen Sponges – Scary fact: the average kitchen sponge carries 7.2 billion bacteria! Sanitizing kitchen sponges can fight harmful food-borne bacteria. Soak kitchen sponges in the basic Clorox® Regular-Bleach solution* for 5 minutes daily, wring them out and they’re ready for action again.

Kitchen Sink Drain – Between all the food preparation and cleanup that pass through here, it is no wonder the kitchen sink drain makes this list. It’s the perfect breeding grounds for common household bacteria that can thrive for days in your drain. After you have cleaned out the sink with the basic Clorox® Regular-Bleach solution*, pour 1 cup of Clorox® Regular-Bleach down the drain to kill germs and control odors.

Kitchen Faucet Handles – It would make sense that faucet handles would make this list as they one of the most frequently touched areas—and most overlooked for cleaning—in the kitchen. It should be cleaned at least three times per week. Simply wipe the handles using the basic Clorox® Regular-Bleach solution* to help finish the kitchen cleaning.

Bathroom sink drains – Like the kitchen sink drain, the bathroom sink drain needs to be cleaned at least weekly. Use the same procedure; After you have cleaned out the sink with the basic Clorox® Regular-Bleach solution*, pour 1 cup of Clorox® Regular-Bleach down the drain to kill germs and control odors.

Keeping in front of those pesky germs is important to help break the cycle of germ transmission. Following these tips will certainly help you do that successfully.

*The Clorox® Regular-Bleach solution is 3/4 cup of Clorox® Regular-Bleach diluted in one gallon of water.

As the holiday season kicks off, so do the big family dinners and the arrival of important house guests. If you're like me, you love the festivities, but dread the aftermath - stained linens, cranberry and gravy-spotted shirts. Well, once again my holiday hotline is up and running for those of you who could use a little help tackling the post-party messes. You can get quick tips on removing the seasonal stains, from red wine splashes, to pumpkin smears on my toll-free

Holiday Stain Hotline: 1-877-Stain-411
(1 877 782 4641)

Here’s a couple of quick tips to get you rolling....

• Deal with the stain as soon as you can; the sooner you get to it, the greater the chance the stain will come out.


• Blot up as much of the stain as possible; try not to rub and force more stain into the fabric. Removing a little is much easier than trying to remove a lot.


• Pre-soaking or pre-treating the stain for 10-30 minutes before washing will jumpstart stain removal. Make sure you’re using the right product for the type of stain. Check my removal procedures on the hotline.

A couple of our products that should come in handy over the holiday…

• You can also use Clorox® UltimateCare™ Premium Bleach – a unique bleach that can be poured directly on to bleachable fabrics; as a bonus, this powerful stain and soil remover has a terrific fresh Soft Cotton scent.


• I love the Clorox® Bleach Pen Gel. It has 2 tips to help control the bleach and get it exactly where you want it.

Remember every stain is treated differently, so feel free to write in and ask me about your specific questions.

I hope you all enjoy a healthy, happy, stain-free Holiday season!