Thinking outside the Tub. The many uses of Wet Ones.

Here’s something almost every Film and TV Wardrobe person has in their bag of tricks, if you’re a Mom or Grandma you probably have it in your bag as well: Wet Ones. Yes, those towelettes you use to clean and sanitize your children’s face and hands can also get that grease stain out of your blouse. The secret lies in the active ingredient Witch Hazel contained in the product. My Mom always had a bottle that she used as an astringent for those minor scrapes my sisters and I got as well as other little household tasks. Though it is a low growing shrub native to North America, our British cousins have long recognized the plant’s efficacy as a cleanser and spot remover.

When using you should gently rub the spot as soon as possible, but I have had success applying it within two hours. My husband stopped for a grilled cheese sandwich on his way to the gym and saw that he brought some of that bacon fat with him on his new tee. It was over two hours before he got home and successfully got the grease spot out with the towelette; obviously, the sooner the better. While Witch Hazel has anecdotally been proven to help with everything from hemorrhoids to the kids booboos, it isn’t a panacea. Do NOT use it on silk, it will “ring” (wardrobese for that ugly circle left behind); It is, however, effective on cotton, tencel, wool, rayon and polyester.

Playtex does not acknowledge this use in its’ literature, my colleagues, and the British Empire, however, have seen it work. I’m waiting for a company representative to return my calls. I’ll update as soon as I here from them. (CHERYL with Roger Kimpton)