Everyday Cheapskate

Consider for a moment how much money you spend to replace clothing, linens and bedding that are serviceable but hopelessly stained. Add up how much you spend at the dry cleaner each month. Shocked? This week's collection of reader-submitted tips just might help you keep a lot of money in your pocket.

COLOR CARE. When my colors get mixed up in the laundry and I accidentally dye a load because the color bled, I reverse it with Rit color remover, available wherever Rit dye is sold. It works every time, even on red! — Lou, Florida

DOWN COMFORT. I finally got my nerve up to wash my feather quilt in the washing machine. It turned out beautifully! I washed it in warm water on the gentle cycle. Then I fluffed it in the dryer with three tennis balls. The balls bounced around and kept the comforter from getting all bunched up. — Eve H., e-mail

DRAIN BRAIN. Whenever I get a mesh bag — such as one that holds citrus fruit — I cut it up and thread a string through the mesh. I attach it to my washer's outtake hose to catch the lint and other debris to prevent the drain from clogging. It works just as well as those lint catchers that cost up to $2 each and have to be changed often. — Diane S., Ohio

CATCHING COLORS. I keep the colors in my clothing from running with Color Catchers, from Shout. They are like dryer sheets, and I use them all the time in my colored laundry. They absorb any dye that runs in the water so that it doesn't affect the other clothing in the load.

SUDS SAVER. I make sure that I get every last drop of laundry detergent out of each bottle. After I have used as much detergent as possible, I get at least two more loads' worth of suds by adding water to the container to rinse it out. — Kim H., e-mail

WET CLEANING. The cost of dry-cleaning my suits is breaking my budget. Recently, I experimented on an older suit. The label said "Dry Clean Only," but it also said the suit and the lining were 100 percent polyester. I pre-treated the soil on the collar and put it in my washer on the gentle cycle with mild detergent. I put it in the dryer on low heat for a few minutes and then hung it up to dry. To my amazement, the suit came out nicer than it did after it was dry-cleaned. I saved at least $15. — Sally P., Ohio

STAIN MAVEN. I've removed serious stains of both red wine and olive oil from clothing with Lestoil, which is a household cleaner known for cutting grease. I pre-treat the tough stains by applying the Lestoil (available at Amazon.com, if not locally) directly to the fabric. Then I wash the items as I normally do. I always have had success removing challenging stains with Lestoil. — Sarina, e-mail

Would you like to send a tip to Mary? You can e-mail her at mary@everydaycheapskate.com, or write to Everyday Cheapskate, P.O. Box 2135, Paramount, CA 90723. Include your first and last name and state. Mary Hunt is the founder of www.DebtProofLiving.com and author of 18 books, including "Debt-Proof Living" and "Tiptionary 2." To find out more about Mary and read her past columns, please visit the Creators Syndicate Web page at www.creators.com.

COPYRIGHT 2010 CREATORS.COM