Weekend recap: My first visit to Charming Charlie, a run-in with the escalator, and a fun evening with friends!
I had the privilege of speaking at Teach Them Diligently in DC this past weekend. It was held at the Gaylord at National Harbor and it was just gorgeous there! The views were amazing — and the area was so nice!
After a busy day of speaking, my business manager (Joy) and road manager (Liz) took me to Charming Charlie… And they helped me find a replacement purse for my diaper bag that I had been using as a purse for far too long (it was falling apart at the seams — as evidenced by this picture). They are taking the roles of manager and road manager to a whole new level — and I really like the bag they helped me pick out! 🙂
We have a running joke that every time I give my Say Goodbye to Survival Mode talk, there is always unexpected chaos or crazy on that day. And well, something crazy happened again… right after giving that talk, I got my dress stuck in the escalator!
I was so grateful part of my dress didn’t rip off and that I didn’t trip and fall down the escalator! Yikes!
Word to the wise: maxi dresses and escalators don’t mix. The good news: after a lot of scrubbing and stain remover, I may be able to salvage the dress. If you have any advice how to get the remaining grease out of the dress, I’d welcome it!
I flew home on Saturday night… it’s always so good to be home! I made up for lost sleep that night. And then we spent a really evening with our friends the Smiths and the Acuffs on Sunday evening.
All the kids tried to get on the slackline at once and it was quite hilarious to watch! We topped off the night with roasting marshmallows and great conversation and laughter around the campfire.
We continue to be so blessed by the friendships, authenticity, and community here. We are humbly grateful for all the folks who have reached out and opened up their hearts and homes to us. We are learning a whole new definition of “community” by being here and it’s a beautiful thing!
How was your weekend? Did anything exciting or interesting happen at your house? And any tips on getting the grease stains out of my dress?
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102 Comments
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Wow! What a crazy adventure, so glad you were ok! Good luck with the stains. Maybe Norwex detergent? I’ve never used it on grease stains but I have heard that it can work miracles.
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A road manager is basically someone who handles all of the details related to a speaker’s travel and the logistics of events. Liz works out the details of booking the event, works with the event coordinator for all the logistics, books my travel, travels with me to events, handles all the details of our booth set-up and running the booth, and takes care of all the behind-the-scenes details so I can focus on speaking and interacting with attendees. I’m so very grateful for Liz. In fact, the reason I’m able to speak regularly without it exhausting me or being a burden to my family is because of all she does!
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Kim says:
I have a friend that uses Palmolive Dish Soap on cooking grease stains. I don’t know if it would work on your dress or not.
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I have a friend whose husband is a mechanic who comes home with black grease on his clothes every day, she says original dawn (blue in color) poured directly on the stain and then scrubbed into it and then tossed into the washer using tide vivid to wash takes out almost all the grease he ever gets on his clothes so hopefully that will work for your dress.
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I’ve used Dawn plus scrubbing with baking soda (to really get into the fibers) to remove even a dried-in cooking grease stain. Might help on yours too!
If not, and you really want to salvage the dress, there is a product called FleckenTeufel (Dr. Beckmann) that my brother brought me back from Germany. They are a line of stain removers designed specifically for certain stains, and he brought me the one for grease (and a couple other things). It has taken many grease stains out for us too 🙂 I’m sure you could find a way to order it online if you need a last resort 🙂
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I was going to suggest Dawn also. It’s the hand dishwashing soap and it works great on grease – even after an item has been washed and dried.
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Joanne Peterson says:
Try Lestoil, or Dawn dish washing liquid. Rub it into the fabric gently with an old toothbrush, let sit for 5 to 10 minutes, and rinse with the hottest liquid your fabric can withstand. Then launder, examine and repeat the Dawn or Lestoil if necessary. Lestoil does leave a smell, so you will want to launder again with baking soda and vinegar to get out the smell.
That sort of stain is really difficult to remove. If it is a cotton garment, you have the best chance of removing the stain.
Zout, also is very good on many stains, it may work on machine grease.
I surely hope this works for you Crystal.
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Busy Mama says:
My dad was an auto mechanic and regularly came home with grease on his clothing. My mom always used a little go-jo to remove the grease, and it worked like a charm. Then she just washed the clothing in the washer as normal. Go-jo is designed to clean grease from hands, and it doubled up quite well on clothing.
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Oh, thanks for telling me about this product! I’ve not heard of it before!
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It looks like you guys are having a fantastic time in your new community! I agree with previous comments, dish soap should get the stain out! My husband is a plumber and we keep a bottle in the shower for him to use after work!
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Grease stains are my arch-nemesis, so I’ll be checking this post for ideas!
This last week and weekend were crazy with all the fires in San Diego. We were only a couple miles from the blazes, and spent most of the time indoors to avoid all the smoke. Despite packing an evacuation bag (again, for the 3rd time in 11 years), our home ended up being just far enough away from the fires. But I cannot say the same about many in our community who lost their homes. I just posted some photos of our view of the flames.
http://www.savemoneylivejoyfully.com/2014/05/my-view-san-diego-2014-wildfires.html-
Yikes! I’m so grateful you all are okay, but how awful for those in your community! 🙁
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Jay Kay says:
That escalator accident is something that would happen to me! Whatever you use to treat the stain, wait at least a day before you wash it. I think the extended treatment time really helps remove stains.
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Becky says:
Tried and tested grease removal. Spray stain with WD-40 and let sit for at least a half hour. Then treat that entire area with Dawn and let sit for another 1/2 hour. Launder as normal and you should be good to go. I’ve used this time and time again with great success!
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Anna Rose says:
My kids tried the slackline this weekend too at the Dominion Riverrock Fest in RVA! It was a blast. We got to see real athletes do triple somersaults on those things like this one:
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Original blue Dawn dish soap is my go-to for greasy stains.
Did you show us your new purse? We need these very important details! 😉
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I promise to try to remember to snap a picture for my next newsy update posts since multiple people have asked… I didn’t even think to do so!
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dame says:
I agree with the others, try some dish soap applied liberally. Let is soak, hand wash and repeat. You can also try a dish soap and baking soda paste too.
If you get to the point where you are going to toss it, try a baking soda and peroxide paste. Thats gotten out some major residual stains for me but I may bleach some of the stripes. If you are going to give up I think its worth a shot to try as a last resort. (Dont want you to risk bleaching out the stripes otherwise.)
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Did you try Dawn dishwashing liquid? It is the best I have found for cutting grease.
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I’m going to try it now that so many have recommended it — thanks so much!
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Try Dawn dish soap (takes grease out). If that doesn’t work, try soaking it in Greased Lighting. Those are my 2 laundry room staples!
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Joyce Bulmer says:
Dawn dishsoap (the blue kind) with some peroxide and baking soda will take grease out of the clothes!
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Melanie E. says:
LOL, I think I’d just chop it off and re-hem it. It would still be plenty long! 🙂
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Elizabeth says:
I agree! You could still salvage it to be a nice mid-length or tunic-length dress if the stain just won’t come out.
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Can you believe that I hadn’t even thought of this?? You all are *brilliant*!
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My hubby parked a little too close to the wall the other day, and got some grease on his favorite shirt from the garage door when he tried to squeeze through. I used a mixture of hydrogen peroxide and Dawn to remove the stain. I usually keep a spray bottle of this on hand for moments like this. 16 oz of hydrogen peroxide + 1 tsp Dawn. It’s a cute dress … hope you can get the stain out. 🙂
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I realized that I forgot to share a picture of my bag! I’ll try to do that in my next update post — for those of you who love those kinds of details. 🙂
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Shannon says:
The first time I went to Charming Charlie, it was the one in National Harbor near the Gaylord. I love how everything is arranged by color! The Gaylord is absolutely beautiful.
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Anna says:
Didn’t know you were at the National Harbor this weekend! I live right near there. Dang, would have gone to see if I had known! 😉
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Kelcie says:
My maxi skirt got caught in an escalator last month! I was sooo glad it didn’t get ripped off! But, I did have to be cut free.. So glad your dress may be salvageable!
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I was sure it was going to eat up my dress and have to be cut free, too! So I felt really grateful when that wasn’t the case. So sorry about your dress!
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Laura says:
Try non gel shaving cream. Just google “how to get grease out with shaving cream”. Here’s a link http://www.stain-removal-101.com/remove-grease-from-carpet.html
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Karen D. says:
Best thing for grease – Shout Advanced – in the aerosol can only! (Not pump) I find it only at Walmart here in Central Florida. It takes bike grease out of clothing so well that my husband keeps an extra can for when he wants to strip the grease from the bicycle chains.
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I didn’t even *know* they made Shout in an aerosol can! Thank you so much for the tip!
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Karen says:
This weekend, I walked my 6th 5K and set a new personal record! It also happened to be the hilliest course I’ve done. Super excited! Then, I got together with nanny friends to put together ideas for some weekly themes for the summer. School’s out on Friday and I’ll have 4 to keep occupied. ; )
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4 to keep occupied is a LOT! It sounds like you are such a great nanny! And way to go on setting a new personal record!!!
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Oh my goodness…last year the same thing happened to me at the Gaylord in DC when I was there for the National Spelling Bee!!!! I still haven’t gotten all of the grease out of my maxi, but I wear it sometimes still. 🙂 Must be something with their escalators?!?!?
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I’m so sorry about your maxi, but can I say it kind of makes me feel a little relieved that I wasn’t the only one who has done it??
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A product called De-Solv-It is my go to for greasy stains. Spray on, scrub with an old toothbrush. Wash in Tide with Bleach with warm water. This stuff works great! I have even used it on grease stains that have already been dried and I succeeded in removing the stain! Good luck!!!
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Katie M says:
Dawn power foaming dish soap is the best for getting out grease! The original dish soap works well too but I got out a grease stain from my husband’s shirt that had been dried in 5 or 6 times with the power foaming kind. Hope it works for you!
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Julie Bedrosian says:
Hi there. 🙂 I did not read other comments, so if my answer was already suggested, I apologize. The best stain remover I have ever used is called Soil Love. When I lived in California, I could get it at the 99 cent store, or Ralph’s Grocery Store (west coast version of Kroger- and owned by them). I have had a hard time finding it since we moved to the south, but if not available in your store; I am betting you can order online from some place. It is a very plain simple looking bottle (green generic looking), but this stuff gets out blood, grease,chocolate really well-even older stains that have been washed and dried!
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carol Laduke says:
From Grandmas laundry teachings – use white grease to get out the dirt and grime (so rub crisco/cooking shortening) into the grease stain that you have right now until it is clear of all the nasty dirt. Then the next step is to remove the grease – so use baby powder or corn starch to absorb the oily mess. Shake it on and let it sit, dust it off and continue until the grease is done. (you can even safely rub it into the stain if necessary) Then launder.
It’s a two step problem and takes a two step solution.
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Bethany F says:
Ho man!! What I wouldn’t give to spend a night hanging out with two of my favorite bloggers! Jon Acuff and Crystal Paine in one place!? Too good to be true. Looks like you guys had a blast 🙂
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We did! The Acuffs and the Smiths are not only hilariously fun, but we also talked a lot of marketing, blogging, and strategy, too — which I find fascinating!
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Suzanne says:
Murphy’s Oil Soap gets out almost any stain, even old stains that have been through the dryer. It also gets out dry erase marker. Put it on without diluting it and let it sit for a day or so. Rinse and if it isn’t completely out, just repeat the process.
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I love hearing about all your adventures in your new location. We’ll be traveling through Tennessee this summer, and I keep waiting to hear about new places you visit in case it is somewhere we’d want to stop. 🙂
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martina says:
Take some chalk and rub it over the stain, so the grease gets absorbed, then the next day put dish liquid on top of the stain on wash.
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Charity says:
Crystal, I am so glad you weren’t hurt on the escalator. I am terrified of those things, partially because of my fear of heights, and partially because as a child I saw a woman fall on one, and her hair got caught and most of it was ripped out. It was a horrid thing to see especially as a small child. She was hurt badly. 🙁
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Julie says:
I have used old-fashioned lye soap on grease stains and it works. Just go to a Farmer’s Market or historical festival. You can usually get a block for about $1-$2. Shave the lye soap into an old saucepan and add water. Heat until the soap flakes have melted. Pour onto stain and rub in.
I have tried Lestoil on grease stains, but depending upon the fabric, it may leave a residue stain.
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Sarah Mahan says:
If all else fails and you can’t remove the stain, you can always hem up the dress and turn it into a skirt.
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Tara G. says:
Sometimes hand sanitizer rubbed in with a toothbrush helps. I’ve used a good Oxy dish soap before. You can try soaking it in water with color safe bleach and a color catcher sheet. Or a paste of baking soda and water. My mil gave me a book called Haley’s Cleaning Tips and it’s been a fantastic resource for stains! 🙂
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Starla says:
Maybe I’m the only person to say this, but if you’re moving to Nashville, and hanging out with Jon Acuff, I hope you’re joining Dave Ramsey’s team! 🙂 That would be outstanding!
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We aren’t — but we love both Dave & Jon! Both have been so instrumental in our lives and we’re grateful for them!
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As contrary as it sounds, oil is the only true way to remove other oils from fabric; removing oil with solvents only removes surface stains but still retains bacteria and can still deteriorate the fabric itself. I use one part vegetable oil to two parts baking soda, left to sit on the stain for ten minutes, and it will come off as good as new. This also works for metals, car interiors, and paint on hands as well!
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Cindy says:
Greased Lightening for the dress. My husband is an industrial maintenance mechanic. We would have to throw his work uniforms away every day if it weren’t for that stuff. Just spray it on and throw it in the washer on warm (or hot if the fabric will be okay.)
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Abigail's Mommy says:
I would try strait blue dawn on it. It works on my husband’s work uniforms. He works with greasy machines.
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Jana says:
I’ve used grease remover that we have to use on hands for grease on laundry before.
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Sarah says:
Crystal, I have used Sol-U-Mel by Melaleuca to get out lots of difficult stains including permanent marker on clothes. If you know someone who has some (if you don’t have a Melaleuca membership) you should try it out. I would use it full strength without diluting. Leave it on for a little while before washing it in the machine.
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Sheri says:
Different things to try, but not necessarily together:
-shampoo undiluted- worked on French fry oil when something fell in the vat and splashed on my clothes, it also worked to get grease out of my dress when I helped my husband move his tools to a new shop.
-mechanic’s orange hand cleaner- works, but check for color change,
-Naphtha soap,
-rub dry borax into it- I heard this at the cut table at the fabric store,
-rub a clear vegetable oil into it to take out the black, then use something else to get rid of the oil. At least it won’t be black anymore! I use that trick on my hands. Never tried it on fabric… But, it’s an idea…Do not use a brush! It did a number on the print on my fabric. The grease came out, but so did the print!
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Diane from Maryland says:
I would try the local grocery store and get the Carbona made for grease. They are small yellow bottles that work on different stains. They are amazing!! http://www.carbona.com/stain-devils/
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I so enjoy reading your posts about your family : ) They make my heart happy <3 Especially because things are going so well. But I have to say, the picture of you pulling your dress out of the escalator caused some anxiety. I am sure were being safe, though. I'm so glad you were not hurt. Hope your week is going fabulous! xoxo
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Aw, thank you for your sweet encouragement! The escalator incident was a bit unnerving… I didn’t realize all of the things that could have gone wrong until *after* it was over with. And I’m so grateful that only my dress suffered in the incident — it could have been much, much worse!
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Corey says:
Regular dawn! Not the off brand. Best thing to get any grease stain. Always work after one or two times. Put in on run it in and let it sit. If it doesn’t look like it got it out first time do it again but DO NOT dry it in dryer till you are sure you got it out. Dawn is what they use to wash animals after oil spills so it is safe and works great! You usually can get a small bottle of it at the dollar section of target and there is always a coupon!
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