FabSugar

Style for Style: How to Properly Wash Jeans

FabSugar — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 08:00:22 PDT

We all have a pair of favorite jeans that we want to last a lifetime. Unfortunately dry-cleaning is expensive and handwashing is a pain. The problem with machine washing and drying jeans is they tend to fade and lose their stretch over time. Fab to the rescue!

To learn how to care for jeans

read more Wear jeans a couple of times before washing - unless of course, they're dirty or have a stain. Less washing will help preserve the color of your jeans. Invest in a detergent that specializes in color washes such as Caldrea's Dark Wash ($12). Don't forget to wash in cold water - hot water will melt that gorgeous dark stain away. Also, set your dryer to low or medium heat to avoid over drying, which can cause your jeans to lose Lycra and thus, lose that precious stretch.

The How-To Lounge: Hand Wash

DearSugar — Wed, 25 Jul 2007 10:00:00 PDT

All clothing is made differently -- things like jeans and sweatshirts are durable enough to survive many a wash and dry whereas silk blouses or knit delicates need a little more TLC. If you're new to hand washing, here are some simple tips to keep in mind the next time you stain your favorite white blouse.

Click here to

If you are hand washing non-delicates, fill your sink up with hot water (unless your care label calls for cold water) and add 1/4 cup detergent
If you are looking to bleach your clothing, add bleach to the water before your fabric is added to the mix
Immerse your clothing until it's saturated and soapy. If you have nasty stains, you might want to let your clothing soak for a while
Knead your fabric together and rub out any stubborn stains
Drain your sink and rinse thoroughly with the same temperature water until you no longer see suds
Wring dry and then lay flat to dry. Do not hang unless you want your fabric to grow
If you're handling delicates, aim for lukewarm water to prevent shrinkage and use a mild detergent like Woolite
Instead of kneading your fabric, simply swirl it around the sink gently until the water and soap mixture has had a chance to soak your garment
Once you feel your garment is clean, drain your sink and rinse thoroughly with cold water until all suds are gone and the water is clear
Pat dry with towels as opposed to ringing your garment dry. Lay flat and air dry

If you're unsure of your hand washing abilities, I advice you to send your delicates to the dry cleaner and leave the hard work to a professional! Good luck! Source

Do You Hand Wash When It Says Hand Wash?

FabSugar — Mon, 28 May 2007 01:22:22 PDT

Source

Savvy Tip: Save Money by Hand Washing Your Clothes

Savvy Community — Thu, 09 Jun 2011 15:00:49 PDT

This How Do You Save post comes from SwissMelis who is studying abroad in Switzerland. In order to deal with the unexpectedly high cost of living, she decided to start hand washing her clothes. So far, she finds it to be a really effective and simple saving trick! Read on for tips on how to do it yourself.

Hello my frugal friends,

As an American studying in Geneva, Switzerland, I am struggling to survive. The sticker shock I experienced here was worse than any city I've ever travelled to. ie. ONE school book costs more than an entire class at Penn State. Not kidding. So what does that have to say about the cost of rent, food and leisure? . . . let's not even talk about it.

One thing that I've turned to in order to cut down the cost of living is hand washing anything I can. This includes undies, bras, shirts and workout clothes. (I leave jeans, sheets and towels to the expert . . . the machine)

Its really, really easy! I use my sink and fill it up with warm water, add the detergent and clothes and let the garments soak for about five minutes. I massage the clothes around a bit, rub out any stains, and voila! Hang dry.

The other option is to take your clothes into the shower with you. Squirt some shampoo on your head and while you're at it, add some to your clothes because shampoo works just as well! This is great for multitaskers!

Not only is this WAY better for the lifespan of my clothes, but its free! (besides the cost of detergent) It also fills my room with nice fresh smells.

To read about or spill similar savvy revelations, post in my How Do You Save group.

6 Things to Do With Scallions

Susannah Chen — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 04:23:26 PST

Ever buy a bunch of herbs for a recipe, only to use a scant stem and find the rest wilted with dehydration a week later? This has admittedly been a long-standing problem in my kitchen, and I've been determined to cultivate a solution for it. This week I'm addressing an aromatic I have a chronic problem forgetting about: scallions.

When they're fresh, green onions have a biting smell and are resilient to the touch, but days later, the exact same stalks will take on a muted brownish hue, made slimy thanks to dehydration, and hunched over in sadness and neglect.

Since they age quickly, the key is to make sure you use them up before they get to such a sorry state! Thankfully, there are plenty of ways to do that; scallions have a mild pungency that's versatile enough to go into just about every savory dish. A few examples:

Slice green onions as thinly as possible, then toss a handful into a garden salad.
Make a four-ingredient ginger scallion sauce to drizzle on eggs, chicken, and fish.

For four more suggestions, keep reading.

Snacking Good: Natchitoches Meat Pies

OnSugar Blog — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 12:07:39 PST

We've always wanted to take a stab at rolling out a few Natchitoches meat pies. Thanks to an easy recipe from Food Orleans, this might be a dream realized sooner rather than later.

[Baked or fried? You decide.]

Natchitoches meat pies are one of those special little treats with a name as fun to say as they are to scarf down. Nackadish - that's how you say it - is a small town we drive through on our way north to visit Alexandria or Oklahoma, and it's where Steel Magnolias was filmed, and it's famous for these little pies. It's a beautiful little place, with a picturesque riverfront lined with shops and restaurants that have their own sort of French Quarter-ish wrought iron balconies (remember the Easter scene where Jackson slapped Ouiser? That's the riverfront!). But you don't have to go into the actual town to get yourself some meat pies; just stop at any gas station right off I-10. They all fry them up and they're all pretty wonderful.

For her recipe, continue reading.

Best Practices: Extend the Life of Your Workout Wear

Jenny Sugar — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 16:37:43 PST

You splurged on $70 capris, but since they make such a difference in the way you feel during workouts, you'll never go back to cheapo clothes again. Because you've shelled out a lot of dough for these items, it's best to know how to take care of your workout clothes so they'll last. Always check the label or the brand's website for care instructions, and to answer a few common concerns about washing wicking-wear, we spoke to a few of our fave brands to get the skinny on the matter.

Go With Cold
We spoke with Zobha, Lululemon, and SmartWool, and they all agree: wash your technical and wool workout garments in cold water. No need to hand wash either! Just drop your clothes into the machine. But Lululemon adds "avoid washing with fluffy clothing (i.e. big cotton sweatshirts)" so your favorite leggings don't end up with a bunch of unwanted lint as decoration.

Say No to Bleach and Fabric Softeners
Bleach does not play nice with technical fabrics, so these brands say to avoid it. When it comes to your woolens, SmartWool recommends avoiding fabric softeners "because they coat the merino wool fibers and reduce the fibers' ability to naturally manage moisture and regulate your body temperature."

To Tumble Dry or Not
When it comes to drying your gear, all these brands agree: it's perfectly acceptable to tumble dry your clothes on low. Lululemon does provide the caveat that "hanging to dry will help prolong the life of the garment." I find using the dryer helps lessen the stink factor that affects some of my workout wear. Plus it saves time - I hate when I grab a pair of air-drying capris for my morning workout and they're still damp.

If you have more questions on washing your fave pieces of gear, read up on how to wash workout clothes for more tips.

David Beckham Takes His Seat Courtside at the Lakers With Scott Disick

Allie Merriam — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 07:23:55 PST

David Beckham was courtside last night to watch as the two LA basketball teams battled it out on the court. The Lakers ended up beating the Clippers, and judging from David's happy faces, he was pleased with the result. David sat next to Kourtney Kardashian's boyfriend, Scott Disick, throughout the match. Afterward, the guys shook hands and parted with their respective friends. David had his latest sporty outing after recently hitting the field with the Galaxy. He renewed his deal with the soccer team, and we can look forward to a couple more years of David in his jersey. Victoria, meanwhile, is focusing on outfits of her own. She's prepping for not one, but two shows during the upcoming New York Fashion Week. She's storing up energy with the help of a new snack. Victoria tweeted about kale, writing, "I'm addicted to kale! Wash, break into small pieces, sprinkle a little salt and roast - it's so good and amazing for you!"

Bacteria Is Not Bliss: How to Keep Your Yoga Mat Clean and Germ-Free

Jenny Sugar — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 09:36:17 PST

We're knee-deep in cold and flu season and although practicing yoga is a great way to strengthen your muscles and your immune system, doing Child's Pose with your face pressed into a dirty, germy mat is a surefire way to sign yourself up for a case of the sicks. You can protect yourself by keeping your mat clean with these tips.

Bring a towel to class to absorb your sweat, and also wear long pants. The more sweat you can absorb and not allow to pool on your mat, the cleaner it will be.
Choose one side of your mat to practice on. That way, one side always stays clean and only the other side comes in contact with the germs on the floor.
Before you practice, be sure to wash your hands thoroughly to avoid passing germs onto your mat. Then after class, roll up your yoga mat and place it in a mat bag or tote to protect it from outside germs.

Don't let your mat make you sick. Keep reading for more essential tips to keep your mat germ-free.

4 George Lucas Revelations on Star Wars and Blockbusters

Kelly Schwarze — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 05:24:40 PST

Remember your first dose of cinematic geekdom? Whatever your age, it's likely the story of warring galaxies battling an evil Empire with something called "the Force" served as initiation to a lifetime of science fiction fandom.

George Lucas, the master behind the epic saga of good vs. evil in Star Wars recently gave an interview to the New York Times, in which he discussed his feelings towards devout Star Wars fans, and more about the popular films that made him a legend.

Blockbuster Retirement - After decades of involvement with pricey studio films, George is committing his cinematic focus to the more art-house, experimental filmmaking he worked on in film school and the years before Star Wars changed his life.
Indiana Jones 5 - Despite putting the star character in a refrigerator during the most recent Indiana Jones film to the audience's horror, Indiana Jones will make one more appearance on the big screen. Before he washes his hands entirely of Hollywood razzle-dazzle, George is contractually obligated to the fifth installation of the Indiana Jones story.
Star Wars Revisited - Considered by many fans an affront on their beloved films, the director's revision of an early Star Wars: A New Hope scene where Han Solo shoots bounty hunter Greedo in self defense was a necessary change, because it didn't blend with his view of Han as the saga's lasting hero.
On Fanboy Outrage - Further edits to the original Star Wars trilogy during the 1997 special edition release of the films left fans casting George to be just as much of a villain as a science fiction character. He now counters their criticism: ". . . My movie, with my name on it, that says I did it, needs to be the way I want it."

As George himself admits he's drawn to stories with "corn" and heroes at the forefront, it will be interesting to see how his future films follow the same themes of his big-budget work. Will you miss his blockbuster films?