Lipstick
melted in
my purse.
THE FIX: For stains on
fabric lining, turn the bag
inside out and remove
the lipstick with the edge
of a credit card. Gently
dab the affected area
with a clean cotton cloth
dipped in micellar water,
says Melissa Maker,
founder of the website
Clean My Space. Be sure
to blot lightly—rubbing
may make the stain
spread. If you don’t have
micellar water, baby
wipes or rubbing alcohol
can work in a pinch. For
bags with a leather inte-
rior, mix a cup of water
with half a teaspoon of
dish soap. Dip a clean
cloth into the solution
and lightly wipe the stain,
then blot dry. If the lip-
stick leaves an oil spot,
cover the spot with corn-
starch for an hour to help
soak up excess oil, then
brush off the cornstarch
with an old toothbrush.
If the stain persists, take
your purse to a bag-
cleaning professional. My window is stuck.
THE FIX: Changes in heat and humidity are the most
common cause of stuck double-hung windows, says
Hunter Macfarlane, Lowe’s project expert. Spray a
silicone-based lubricant, like Blaster Silicone Lube
($4; lowes.com), where the sash—the movable panel
that goes up and down in the frame—meets the tracks
on the inside and outside of the window. (If the window
is on an upper floor, you may need professional assis-
tance.) After you spray, apply upward pressure in the
center of the rail to open. The lubricant should also
keep your window from sticking in the future. Leave
specialty windows to the pros.
SMART FIXES FOR LIFE’S LITTLE DISASTERS
By Mary Honkus
Now What?!?
School is back
in session,
and my kids’
bedtime is a
nightmare!
THE FIX: It’s best to grad-
ually adjust bedtimes
and wake-up times, says
Valerie Crabtree, PhD,
chief of psychosocial ser-
vices at St. Jude Chil-
dren’s Research Hospital
in Memphis, Tennessee. If
your child’s sleep sched-
ule has changed by only
an hour or two during the
summer, begin readjust-
ing one week before
school starts. Move bed-
time and wake-up time
by 15 minutes each day
until the ideal sleep
schedule is reached. If
sleep schedules have
changed drastically over
the summer—which
often happens with
teenagers—begin this
process at least two
weeks before school
starts. Keep in mind that
children ages 6 to 12
should sleep for 9 to 12
hours per night, and
teens should sleep for
8 to 10 hours per night.
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THE REALIST
42 REAL SIMPLE SEPTEMBER 2019
