Five Frugal Things -- Darned Socks & Stain Removal
1) I spent a couple cozy hours darning socks and watching back-to-back episodes of Star Trek: Voyager.
The mend on this hand knit sock is my favorite. You can tell that this sock leans towards "never ending craft project" rather than "functional sock" at this point, but I refuse to give up!
Once I wash the socks, the wool will tighten and felt up to transform into a solid fiber rather than a weave.
I have a lot of thrifted wool that I use for darning and prefer the "visible mending" aesthetic, which is good as it gives me chance to make full use of the various colors.
2) I finally listed my late mother-in-law's expensive painting canvases on Facebook Marketplace. My husband has been avoiding this last step, as it's upsetting for him. These sell new for hundreds of dollars apiece.
It would nice to recover the money we spent paying for their storage unit.
3) Listing the canvases put me in the mood to sell other things, so I gathered a couple items and got to work. I picked up this black and orange Trader Joe's tote at the Goodwill bins a few months ago, only to discover that it's not one of the valuable ones.
I listed it on Facebook for $10. No interest yet.
I thrifted this faux butcher block vintage clock while my sister was in town and listed it for $20. This garnered a couple interested buyers and I supposedly have someone coming by for it this afternoon.
It's exciting and fun to list high profit items, but the lower price sales eventually add up.
4) I watched an Instagram reel where someone demonstrated how to remove grease stains using baking soda, parchment paper and an iron. I somehow spattered oil on this T-shirt, so thought I'd give it a try.
Kind of enjoyable in a weird way.
I had to lighten the photo to make it show up, but there's still a light oil stain. It's certainly lessened, so I plan to repeat the process and see if I can get it fully erased.
I give this stain removal hack a B-.
5) My husband switched jobs around a year ago, and is now working for the city instead of a privately owned company. He's paid less, but his benefit package almost makes up for the difference.
This "Hop" card came in the mail the other day, which was a surprise to both of us. This is Portland's public transportation pass and would cost $1,100 were he to purchase it on his own! My husband mostly rides his bike to work, so it's unlikely he'll use it to commute. However . . . . it appears transferable. I like to take the bus when I go downtown and might have to give it a spin.
Now your turn, what frugal things have you been up to?
Katy Wolk-Stanley
"Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without."
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The most effective grease removal technique I’ve found is to apply Dawn dishwashing soap directly to the grease spot.
Speaking of stain removal, I recently bought some of Costco’s OxiClean dupe, and used it liberally in some laundry loads that had my husband’s work clothes mixed in. Now I have eczema all over! So, for those of you with sensitive skin, stay away from that stuff!
I’ve continued canning things for my future self and it’s nice to see my pantry filling with goodies!
P.S. Did your mother-in-law leave any of her art behind? I’ve discovered that my mother-in-law went through an “art phase” in the 70s and now we have quite a few poorly executed amateurish landscape paintings that the heirs are unwilling to part with (but don’t want to display either). It’s an interesting dilemma!
I use Dawn dish soap plus a bit of baking soda on grease spots, then wash in warm water. Works well for me, and has saved a few favorite tees. Also: I wear a bib apron when doing messy stuff in the kitchen to prevent spots in the first place!
Yes to wearing a bib apron to avoid getting the grease splatter on my clothes. I wear one whenever I fry or saute anything. It's probably saved many, many shirts.
Yes on using Dawn to remove grease stains. Rub it in with a toothbrush. Wash as usual.
I agree about Dawn applied directly to the stained being the most effective stain remover. I have a little brush with stiff bristles I use to work the Dawn into the material. Works great.
I agree Dawn is the best! If Dawn doesn't get it nothing will.
I tried the Costco version of Oxi-Clean - and returned it because the stuff smells foul and required four wash cycles to remove the strong scent. The desk worker at my Costco told me he didn't like it either.
In my experience nothing beats Blue Dawn for grease stain removal.
We entertained our grandchildren this weekend with a playhouse made from a huge cardboard box, games of hide and seek, games I saved from my own children, curb picked activity books, library books, water table from buy nothing and a dollar store bag of balloons. I sent them home with all the kid specific snacks and $200 from selling their things on fb marketplace (they'd already received $150+ by venmo).
We ate at home as small children don't love restaurants.
We visited my mother in assisted living and picked figs there (residents and guests are encouraged to pick).
Now back to my own life. They brought more stuff to sell (kids outgrown stuff is a constant flow). I have a list of all the things to catch up on before adult daughter #2 has surgery on Saturday. She will be recovering for 2 weeks at our house. Borrowing a bed wedge from nurse friend.
1. I sold several items on Ebay and packaged them up in recycled boxes and packaging. I requested a pick up from the post office.
2. I spent a couple days listing items on Ebay and a considerable amount of time sorting my two youngest daughters American Doll outfits. One wants to sell hers and the other doesn't.
3. I returned from my trip to my oldest daughter's house a week ago and I still haven't made it to the grocery store. I'm eating odd meals. I had a peanut butter, jelly and bacon sandwich for dinner one night and just cheese for lunch today since I'm out of crackers.
4. I sold an item on Marketplace that I received for free many years ago at an estate sale. My youngest used it in her college apartment for a few years and it's been gathering dust since. Money in, crap out.
5. I skipped going to estate sales this week. I have too many of my own and my kids items to list.
1. I picked up an easy mystery shop on my way home from my parents' house to my house (2+ hour drive), paying for my lunch, and making $19, which will cover the gas and tolls. I also stopped at Ocean State and found some great stuff on the "food for free" shelf (where you get a gift certificate back in the same amount that you spent), but their computers were down, so they couldn't process it. I'll stop by my local OSJL and see if they have the same food on offer. Came home to another mystery shop that was for about $40 worth of groceries.
2. I picked up another easy mystery shop that is by BJ's and OSJL, so I'll get some gas tomorrow and make $21, and see if I can get some free food.
3. I did only spend $11 out of pocket on food for my dad's 85th birthday, and I got rid of 2 bottles of red wine that had been languishing on my shelf. After the 2:00 festivities ended, my dad actually took us out for lobster rolls, and today I brought home some leftovers from the party, which included shrimp cocktail, raw/unused puff pastry, 2 ears of corn, and a 12-pack of fancy-brand seltzer. I think this means it was a complete wash financially, and of course, I'll save the cans for $0.05 each.
4. I forgot my medicine when I went to my work apartment this week. My partner overnighted it, costing $36!!! (for nothing but 4 pills!), but it did NOT arrive the next day, but rather the day after, so I think I'm entitled to a full refund. I'll stop by my local post office tomorrow to see.
5. Cooking up another batch of tomato sauce, which I'll can tomorrow. The tomatoes were from the free CSA box that my partner gets from work.
I sprinkle baking soda on oil stains and them roll the item up in a towel for 24 hrs and then wash as usual. I also have used Dawn. Both have worked.
A free transit card is the best! I can't even calculate how much mine has saved me over the years.
I am on my second day of taking antibiotics, and I'm thoroughly worn out. But I have to say I was already worn out before this particular problem started, so what can I expect? I'm just glad that the side effects are less than I suffered under Paxlovid.
I am watching the Marlow Murder Club, using my $5 monthly PBS passport. I'm reading a book called Maine Characters, which has potential so far. I have had two holds come into the library, but I haven't been well enough to pick them up. So I'm relying on books from LFL's, which can be a mixed bag.
Today I ordered some toe protectors for the new shoes I bought last month (they keep my big toe from wearing a hole in the upper mesh). And I ordered some wet wipes. I am realizing that my Amazon membership has been a lifesaver during this health saga, and for that reason I probably won't let it go like I thought I would when it's time to renew.
My appetite is returning. I even made some nachos for lunch, though I didn't finish them. I wouldn't mind if I lost a few pounds during this ordeal.
I have never heard of toe protectors! And I always wear a hole in the top of my shoes, I'm going to have to look for them. Thank you
Lost my comment! Again! I am sure it is me… lol.
1. Power bill is $101.00 and only that low bc I am gone 13 hrs a day five days a week.
2. I am still replacing my wardrobe from the fire almost two hrs ago. I broke down and bought two black Target shirts to go with my skirt suits, and my pant suits, for $8.40 a piece.
3. I walked an hour.
4. Gas is high again,$3.92 gallon.
5. I don’t know, maybe I don’t use a hair dryer and let my hair air dry?
1. I traded seeds at our library. Donated a book and borrowed a book.
2. Bought sale items at the store.
3. Processed and froze basil
4. Put a celery end in water to regrow
5. Took home a toothbrush, paste and floss sticks from the dentist.
6. Left a coupon at the store that I don't want.
more here: https://practicalwalk.com/2026/09/13/frugal-five-library-dentist/
Katy, I hope the challenges with your in-law's estate are over very soon.
1. Put my sister's unused peanut sauce at a restaurant in my own container. At home I added it to jasmine rice along with other ingredients (edamame, chickpeas, soyaki sauce, sriracha sauce, peanut sauce and cilantro) to make a delicious dinner over multiple days.
2. Helped myself to several tomatoes and a cucumber from my neighbor's "please help yourself" box. She also provided large Ziplocs for toting goods home.
3. Went to the American Swedish Institute with four friends. I've been there before and hoped to score some free advance admission tickets from the library, but no such luck this time. Worth the price of admission ($15) to be with friends.
4. For our six-year-old great nephew's birthday, my sister and I purchased an annual membership for him and a guest to the Sacramento Museum of Science and Curiosity, which he loves visiting. In the past, we've always ordered toys online, had them shipped, and had our niece wrap everything. So he had something to open this time, I created a fun gift certificate on my laptop with the museum logo, etc. I emailed it to my niece and then she printed it out, rolled it up and tied a ribbon around it. Everyone's happy!
5. Went to a funeral and the luncheon afterward featured food from Chipotle. There were also bags of mixed popcorn (cheddar, caramel and plain) as the deceased was known for popcorn night.
Oh, the American Swedish Institute! We visited it while in Minneapolis in 2018. Such a beautiful old building. The woodwork is absolutely amazing. While there we met an elderly Swedish woman who was still wearing clogs in her nineties! Such a great place to visit. I agree with you: well worth the $15 fee.
Does anyone have any advice on getting out blood stains from coloured linens? A guest in my cottage let me know her husband had cut himself shaving, then unknowingly managed to spray small blood droplets all over the sheet and duvet cover. I used hydrogen peroxide before laundering, but alas it didn't get it all out. They were expensive linens (all cotton) and because of the colours I can't bleach them. They have now been through the dryer, so I don't know if its possible at all to remove it. Anyone?
Re: bloodstains: The first thing my mother taught me after I first got my period (60 years ago now!) is that getting bloodstains under cold water as soon as they occur is the best approach. The type of soap doesn't matter as much as the cold water and the fast action. I'm afraid that this advice may be too little too late for your dilemma, but perhaps it will help others.
Related but not pertinent to Allie: I think that was why my Mom got my sisters and me wildly colored and patterned bed sheets. Even for the 70's, they were rather over the top, and if something didn't quite wash out, it didn't show much.
Sunshine is supposed to help clear up stains.
You might try a stain stick, the blue gel stuff you rub on the fabric, let set for a few minutes, and then wash. It can lighten khaki-colored fabric, but I have never seen it harm anything else.
An unsung hero in stain removal is a bar of old fashioned fels naptha soap. It's not expensive, lasts forever, and does a great job, especially on fresh stains.
I was able to remove and/or greatly reduce some blood stains from cotton/poly tee shirts and mostly cotton sheets that had been washed and line dried by going through repeated applications of soaking/light scrubbing with hydrogen peroxide and then machine washing. We can’t really get any truly cold water in our laundry system, but it wasn’t hot water at least.
I like to soak the area in peroxide and then use a paste made of baking soda and blue Dawn to cover the stain and surrounding area. I usually let it sit for 15-20 minutes or until my washer is ready for the next load. Wash on cold and dry in th sun if you can, or dry as normal if you can't. Repeat as needed for really tough stains.
You can always use a bar of fels-naptha soap to scrub at the stain before a wash. That's how my grandma taught me to tackle period stains.
This is my crazy blood stain advice. I find that the enzymes in my saliva help, so I spit on stains and it really helps. (And it’s frugal!)
I recommend dabbing Dawn on the stain. Then soak the garment with laundry soap, Borax, and Oxyclean. After the garment has soaks for two hours or more, take it out and see if the stain remains. If it does, spray it with Shout and use a bar of Fels Naptha soap on the stain. You can use an old toothbrush to really scrub it. Good Luck!
FFT, Vitreous Detachment Edition:
(1) My vision in my right eye has been fuzzy for the last several days--and when I awoke at my usual ungodly early hour this morning, I became aware of flashes of light in the corner of that eye as if someone was trying to send me a Morse code message, plus a huge "floater" resembling the map of Italy, plus increased fuzzy vision. Having read enough on Dr. Internet already about the perils of a detached retina, I called my eye doctor's answering service, and was able to set up an emergency appointment with the doctor on call for 11:30 this morning.
(2) The doctor on call proved to be a no-nonsense but humorous chap who (a) was amused by my description of my symptoms and (b) was able to diagnose my problem as "vitreous detachment" rather than a full-blown detached retina. Vitreous detachment happens when, as your eyes get older, the vitreous gel in the eyeball starts getting a little messy and leaky; see this link (https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/14413-posterior-vitreous-detachment) for further details. Not much to do about it except monitor the situation--but I was very glad to be seen promptly and reassured that it was no worse.
(3) The doc also turned out to be the son of a famously curmudgeonly biology prof emeritus at the local university, who is now in the same assisted living facility as NDN1. I told the doc about this afternoon's SPCA event at the facility, and he actually did turn up to try to get dear old Dad out of his room for the event, which I thought was very good of him. (Dad wasn't having any, but NDN1 did enjoy meeting the one model canine citizen who appeared and giving him a treat.)
(4) And on my way to the appointment (which was on the other side of the county), I was able to gas up for $4.17/gal., which is 8-10 cents cheaper than any gas inside the city limits at the moment.
(5) Finally, I didn't threaten any of the few who attended a midterm election rally for my party with hell if they didn't vote for my party, or make them pledge allegiance to me personally.
That happened to my right eye a few years ago. It resolved except for having left behind two floaters so large that they are very visible in bright sunlight. Scared the dickens out of me at the time.
I had something similar happen to my eye some time ago now. Like yours, not an actual detached retina. When it happened it looked like sparkly stars going across my upper field of vision. I told DH I had experienced my own personal light show.
Your #5...can you believe this guy?! Actually, no we can't because the lies just keep spewing out every time he opens his mouth. I'm at the point of having to turn off the TV whenever his voice assaults my ears.
A. Marie, I'm so glad you didn't have a detached retina! I've had two vitreous detachments - one in each eye about five years apart - and they're scary as hell. The first time happened around 9:00 p.m. and my eye doctor said to meet him at his office immediately. The second one happened while traveling and I was seen pronto at an eye clinic in the middle of Kansas. They don't mess around.
I've had both of my retinas partially detached and got surgery on them some years ago next year I'm going to have to get probably cataract surgery next year very good thing you got your doctor quickly.
When we were with a WWII living history group we had to clean oil off the plane while wearing vintage uniforms. The group's hack for cleaning oil from fabric was to rub the spot with waterless hand cleaner - the kind mechanics use to clean their hands - then let it sit, and then wash the hand cleaner out with detergent. It works pretty well on fresh stains and not quite a well on ones that have been through a normal laundry first.
To remove grease of fabric : if you have Sunlight dish washing soap in the USA (might work with other dish soap), just saturate the fabric with it prior to regular washing. Works every time!
1) Spent time this weekend organizing my packing list & attempting to pack all of my stuff for our upcoming anniversary trip (lots of hiking in Utah, followed by Las Vegas). Those destinations are pretty different, and I do not want to check a bag. Hiking boots also take up quite a bit of room. I think I've gotten it to a place where I won't need to check a bag.
2) DH grilled chicken this weekend, and I added a bag to the freezer. DS19 has asked for DH to bring more (frozen) grilled chicken when we come for family weekend in a month or so.
3) I'm on my last week of full time employment! I go part time after this Friday, and then I'm done at the end of the year. This is made possible by lots of savings & planning, as well as well paid jobs. I am very excited for the next phase.
4) Used up leftovers in our dinner on Thursday.
5) DS20 has been driving my electric car to & from work quite a bit to save on gas.
Congratulations on having only ONE MORE WEEK OF FULL-TIME WORK!! I'm green with envy!
Thank you!!! I'm also SO excited about this!
I have an olive oil spattering problem with tshirts and my oil removal method is more "lazy adjacent" if you're not looking for an ironing project - the cheap blue Dawn dish soap. Squeeze a decent layer on the whole stain with a bit of a border, forget about the Tshirt for a couple of days and wash in cold water with a regular load of clothes. It generally comes right out. I've even had success in getting washed stains out - better half is bad at letting me know if he spills during the day and sometimes I don't catch it before it heads to the washer. In my opinion, it works better than any of the fancy stain treatments they sell in the stores for far more per bottle than I am willing to pay - and I've tried a fair amount of them. I'd rather buy a few bottles of the cheap stuff that really works.
We're a spilling family, oh mustard - how we enjoy you so but end up wearing you so often.