Anti Martha's Problem Page

Dear Anti Martha

My girlfriend came home with lipstick on her collar and it’s my turn to do the laundry this week. Help!

Signed,

Lost in the Laundry Room

Dear Lost in the Laundry Room,

Yikes. Lipstick is grease and pigment, and that makes it tough to get out. Here’s what Clorox’s expert, Dr. Laundry, recommends. First of all, don’t rub the fabric. That will push the lipstick into the fibre.

Instead, take a cloth that’s been dampened with water and a few drops of dishwashing liquid. Put the cloth on the back of the fabric and push the dishwashing detergent into the stain. That will help separate the lipstick from the fabric.

At the same time, take a dry cloth to the front and blot the lipstick away from the fabric. Do this several times with a clean cloth.

Then, use a separate wet cloth to gently flush the remaining stain and excess dishwashing detergent from the item. Pre-treat and then wash.

And if your sweetie continues to come home with lipstick on her collar, may we suggest you talk to Ellie Tescherin the Toronto Star’s Living section for another kind of advice?