Ashamed No More

I am coming clean.  Literally.  Something I find incredibly embarrassing is.....

Well, before I just jump in and air my dirty laundry, I want you to know I am willing to put it all out there so that others may find freedom.  I know it's such an iffy subject, but someone needs to speak out against it.  You are not abnormal. You are not gross.  Your tshirt might be, but remember, you are not alone.

Yellow Armpit Stains.  There, I've said it.  :) 

Common', I know you've wondered how come your white shirts turn yellow in the armpits. So have I! You've switched deodorants wondering if that was the cause, haven't you?!  You thought "Gee, I don't dare wave at anyone....they'll think I make fresh lemonade by using my armpit as a lemon press!"
You know you thought about going without deodorant, but as quick as you thought it, you said, "never mind, I'd buy a new tshirt before someone wondered if I had danced with a skunk while eating an onion."  (OK, maybe that was a little random.....) 

 It's so frusterating isn't it!  You may have tried bleach like I have...and it didn't work.  I know I have wondered what kind of toxic brew my armpits concoct in order to create such nasty stains!  Well, wonder no more....there is a cure.  The results....MIND BLOWING!  This won't keep your pits from staining your shirts, but this will take the yellow right out of them!

Here's what I did:

Mix 1/2 C Hydrogen Peroxide with 1/4 C Dawn Dish Detergent (the blue kind is best)

I poured mine into a spray bottle and SOAKED the armpits.  You don't have to use a spray bottle if you don't want....just make sure the armpits are completely soaked with the solution.  I did add a little boost by sprinkling some Washing Soda (found in the laundry soap isle) on it and smooshing it around a bit just to "help",  but from the research I found online, this step isn't necessary.  Then you let it sit for a couple of hours before you wash it all out. 

The results?  CHECK THIS OUT......

Here is the before:

And here is the after:

My kids think I have lost it...I've got both arms in the air, waving at anyone and anything....I'M FREE!

Sour Milk. A Stentch Worth The Fight.

There aren't many smells that are as repulsive as sour milk.  I was reminded of this just this morning when one of my handsome little men came clean about sneaking a kid sized milk jug (the "health" food store this came from will remain nameless. **insert sarcasm here**) up into his bedroom ....a week ago....and hid the unfinished container with its contents under the bed. 

I'd like to say that when it was discovered, it was immediately disposed of...however, that was not the case.  There were a couple of brave younin's that proceeded to open it, ingest some of it and...yes, spill some of it....somewhere.  But no one could tell me where. 

The funny thing about sour milk is that it's pungent smell lurks EVERYWHERE without prejudice.  Finding the source of the problem was like an out of control search and rescue mission.  I assumed the Tracking position - that is, nose to the ground, and like a Hound Dog hot on a trail, I sniffed every inch of that bedroom.  That's when I went into full Bird Dog point.  The search was over.  You could tell this was the originating area when my breath was stolen from me, my stomach began to convulse and my gag reflexes were in full force.  My brain was screaming Abort! Abort!

Ah, yes, the excitement of a stay at home mom.  If the Border Patrol only knew how refined my sniffer was....they'd be recruiting me for sure.  HA! 

The mission isn't one I EVER want to repeat, but I did learn a few valuable cleaning tips from it all.  That's really why I'm sharing this with you.  You get to learn  "How to get sour milk out of a carpet."

Here's how I did it.

Vinegar:  A frugal mom's best friend and Baking Soda = Wonder powder!

(Do you like the prop for the bed?)

I found the "area" needing attention and I mixed 1 part vinegar to 2 parts water. I sprayed till it was WET. (you want it to go through all of those fibers and penetrate what may have even leaked onto the sub floor.)
I waited 15 minutes after spraying before I came back with the backup protection - the baking soda.

(The piles on the floor aren't necessary.  I just wasn't very proficient in photography to be able to shake the soda on the floor while taking a picture.....and it not be blurry.  My camera skills are less than desirable.)

Because I made piles instead of shaking it all around on the stinky spot, I then had to spread it around with my hand BUT ** the key here** is to make sure it gets rubbed down into the fibers of the rug. 

I waited another 15 minutes to ensure the nasty stench was fully combated by my 2 multipurpose friends Vin & Soda, then vacuumed it up. 

SSSSMMMMMMMM! (deep breath) yes.  Stink free. 

Ingredients Needed:

1/2 Cup Vinegar
1Cup Water
1/2 Cup Baking Soda
Vacuum and a spray bottle

The Miracle Kitchen Cleaner

Or should I say How To Get Grout REAALLLLYYYY Clean

I like tile.  I like it's durability and I really like the look tile brings to a kitchen.  Something I really dislike though, is nasty, stained tile grout.  We have tile counter tops in our kitchen.  One thing I would love to renovate, for sure.  They've been here for years and I'm assuming they didn't have Epoxy grout (which is supposedly stain proof) back when they were installed because they didn't use it. 
We drink coffee.  I cook a lot.  We have 4 kids.  Are you getting a picture of how easily it would be to have the bubonic plague lurking in your grout lines? (yes, I do disinfect as well as clean the counters several times a day, but over time the grout turns a nasty brown color.) 

I normally bleach them, but I have a knack of getting bleach on my pants or the bottom of my shirt...this makes me a tiny bit angry!  Today I tried something different.  I was reading on One Good Thing's blog about a miracle kitchen cleaner so I thought I would see if it could in fact perform a miracle on my grout.

The solution is so simple...a little baking soda and a little hydrogen peroxide mixed together to form a paste. 

Here is my before picture: (no judging)

I told you it was nasty!

And here is the paste I spread over it and left for 15 minutes:

And here is the final result after 15 minutes:

 Not bad, eh?

Well, I didn't stop there.  I did a bleach section at the same time.  Just a really strong mix of bleach and water and sprayed it on just before I started the other mixture. 

Here's the before using bleach:

 and the after:

It did a decent job as well, but not as good as the "miracle kitchen cleaner" and hey...no harsh chemicals and no bleach spots on my clothes is always nice bonus!

Stay tuned for the results of my Homemade Fabric Softener.