Useful guides for clothing care, grooming, crafts, sewing, etiquette and everyday routines.
To get shinier hair, wash away buildup without scrubbing harshly, condition every wash, use a weekly mask if your lengths feel dry, and reduce high-heat styling. After drying, smooth a small amount of lightweight serum or oil over the mid-lengths and ends. Trim visibly split ends, and stop any product that causes itching, burning, flakes, or a greasy coating.
To get rid of static in hair, lightly mist or apply a small amount of leave-in conditioner, smoothing cream or hair spray, then brush gently with a wide-tooth or anti-static brush. Add moisture during dry weather, reduce rubbing from hats and synthetic fabrics, and avoid over-drying your hair. Stop using any product that causes itching, burning or a rash.
To get thicker-looking hair, focus first on preventing breakage: handle wet hair gently, limit damaging heat and tight styles, and use a suitable conditioning or protein treatment. Eat a varied diet with adequate protein, and treat sudden or persistent shedding as a reason to see a healthcare professional. Scalp massage may help, but evidence remains limited.
To get dry erase marker out of clothes, place a clean towel behind the stain and dab the front with a small amount of rubbing alcohol. Work from the outside inward, replacing the towel as ink transfers. Rinse with cold water, wash according to the care label, and air-dry. Do not use a dryer until the stain has disappeared.
Start with the garment dry. Press fresh tape over the residue and lift repeatedly, then work a small amount of dish soap or liquid laundry detergent into the remaining film. For washable, colorfast fabric, rubbing alcohol can help with stubborn glue after a hidden-spot test. Rinse, wash as directed, and air-dry until you confirm the residue and stain are gone.
To sew a button, thread a needle, knot the thread, anchor it on the garment’s inside, then pass the needle through each buttonhole several times. Keep a small thread gap beneath a flat button so the fabric can close around it. Finish by wrapping the thread beneath the button, tying several secure knots, and trimming the tail.
Check the care label first. If washing is allowed, hand-wash the blanket in cold water with a wool-specific detergent, or use a machine’s gentle wool cycle if the label permits it. Do not wring, twist, use hot water, or tumble-dry unless the label specifically allows it. Press out water and dry the blanket flat.