She's tall, slender, buxom, and blonde. The perfect recipe for landing a rich husband. Or 4 husbands in this case. Some call her opportunistic, others refer to her as trash, but her friends just call her Lucille. Not Lucy, but Lucille. Her latest conquest was Ira Goldstein. He was known for his sharp temper, hostile takeovers, and in this case, a weakness for bombshell blondes. His feisty 5'2" frame was dwarfed by Lucille's majestic silhouette. Throw on some Louboutin stilettos, and it becomes very apparent who wears the pants in the relationship and that Ira gets off on his vixen dominatrix.
'Twas the premier of the San Diego ballet's 30th anniversary year, a party to behold, set on the Goldstein's tented and heated tennis court. Ballet dancers fluttered about on an elevated catwalk, all-the-while party revelers drank moody Manhattans, ate lobster spring rolls, and twirled elegantly beneath the disco lights. The Sellinger Band played late into the evening, well past the Fairbanks Ranch light and sound curfew. Let's just say the covenant looks the other way when Ira gets out his checkbook. Everybody who is anybody was there, including Jim and Sally Horton. Sally wore classic Dior. Janice Scripps slipped into vintage Chanel, and her unknown hottie sidekick dressed up quite nicely in his Walmart suit. Jeanie and Earnie Sharp showed up late, so Jeanie's Robins-egg-blue silk Valentino didn't get the proper entrance it deserved. Her dress was stunning and almost went unnoticed as it got lost in the crowd. Laundress Lucca, on the other hand, arrived fashionably late and wowed the crowd in Chloe brocade and Cartier bobbles.
Also on the guest list were Laurence and Clyde Wentworth. Recently married, Laurence took Clyde's last name to represent the type of relationship they have. Laurence stays home and preps for their adopted baby's birth. Currently being carried by a surrogate, baby Tabatha is scheduled to arrive in late April. Clyde, on the other hand, spends his days in the courtroom, where he is a master litigator and partner at Wentworth, Silverburg, and Glick. Both were dressed impeccably in their matching Tom Ford suits, pink satin hankies, and Helmut Lang loafers with no socks. A little out of season for shoes without socks, but these boys can pull it off. Turns out they just hired Crissy Snow to design the nursery. She's done their Manhattan pied-a-terre, their Napa Valley ranch, as well as their Mission Hills home. Everyone's invited to the baby reveal party when it's time to bring Tabatha home. With two fastidious, doting fathers, there is no question their daughter will be entitled and a spoiled brat.
On the 14th, Laundress Lucca hosted her annual Valentines Day bash called "I hate Valentine's Day". Nevertheless, it's a swell time for those that attend. She pours on the goo with plenty of sappy heart decorations, dozens of red roses, tulips, and white Casablanca lilies. Next, tray passed oysters Rockefeller and smoked salmon timbales paired with a lovely yet feisty Taittinger Brut. Following the tray pass were brown butter scallops over wilted greens, and the star of the show was a classic beef wellington accompanied by a decadent Jordan Reserve Cabernet. Finally, a sumptuous chocolate tart with a vanilla sauce brought the meal to a climax.
Cicy and Colin Trident crashed the party as the Wrigley's out-of-town guests. What a pleasure they were, and will undoubtedly be added to Laundress Lucca's future guest list. Jackson Hole is where they call home, yet they often spend several weeks a year in the Wentworth's Guest House on Camino de la Costa. Cicy pulls off that 'Carmel meets Wyoming life-on-a-ranch vibe'. She donned a cognac suede skirt, a tight black cashmere turtleneck, and camel-colored fur boots. The Tridents were the heirs to the chewing gum empire, and both are experts on the unique art of removing gum from your clothes. The Laundress knew most of the techniques but was open to learning anew. And while no one knew exactly how it happen, The Laundress found herself in a sticky predicament. Perhaps it was following a tumble in the grass or an unfortunate run-in with a guest's previous wad disposal...
When you find gum on your favorite shirt or skirt, learning how to remove it sometimes takes a little trial and error. However, with patience, persistence, and a few everyday household items, you can erase the sticky substance safely from all kinds of fabrics, from denim jeans to silky dresses. The best part of these secret recipes is that they are mostly all organic and utilize just one ingredient or process.
Placing gum-stained clothing in the freezer is one of the most popular methods. It is effective because you can peel the gum off in large chunks rather than picking and scraping at it bit by bit.
This method for removing smeared gum is safe for all fabrics:
1. Place the clothing with embedded gum in a freezer bag and ensure the gum is on the outside of the folded fabric and not sticking to the bag.
2. Let the bagged clothing sit in the freezer for at least two hours or until the gum is hard.
3. Remove the clothing from the freezer bag and set it on a hard, sturdy surface.
4. Use your fingernail to remove the gum immediately.
5. Try scraping the gum off the fabric with a blunt tool like a credit card if you can't get it off with your fingernail.
6. Whala! It will pull up all in one piece. Add the garment to your regular pick-up-and-delivery subscription order from www.Pacifica-Laundry.com.
How to use ice cubes to get gum off clothes:
If you don't have the means to place the entire article of clothing in a freezer, ice cubes can do the trick. This method works well with smaller pieces of gum and thinner fabrics.
1. Place the clothing on a hard surface that can get wet.
2. Place a couple of ice cubes in two baggies
3. Place one ice cube bag on the underside of the fabric directly opposite where the gum is stuck and one ice cube bag on top of the gum.
4. Leave the ice cubes in place until the gum is hard, which may take up to 30 minutes.
5. Remove the ice cubes. Peel off as above.
How to Remove gum from clothing with a hairdryer:
While it may seem counterintuitive given the cold method above, use heat. This method is best for sturdier fabrics and fabrics that can handle high-temperature drying. You should not use this method if the clothing label says to dry flat, hang dry, or dry on low.
1. Lay the clothing on a hard, flat surface that can handle the heat.
2. Aim the hairdryer directly at the gum.
3. When the gum is very soft and almost melting, start to scrape it away from the clothing with your finger nail or a blunt tool
4. Add the garment to your www.Pacifica-Laundry.com weekly order and relax.
How to use an iron to remove gum from clothes:
For materials that are safe to iron, try using your iron and some cardboard to remove the gum. This method is best for fabrics that can be ironed and are small enough to put on an ironing board:
2. Set the iron to medium heat.
3. Place the material gum side down on top of the cardboard.
4. Iron the back of the clothing where the gum is stuck.
5. Every minute or so, check the status of the gum.
6. Move the iron around gently over the affected area for a few minutes until the gum softens but is not melted.
7. Peel the garment slowly from the cardboard. The gum should stick to the cardboard.
8. Send the garment to your weekly www.Pacifica-Laundry.com pick-up-and-delivery order.
How to remove smeared gum with vinegar:
One pantry item that works wonders on gum-stained garments is white vinegar. This process is recommended by cleaning experts, like the Tridents, but is only safe for colorfast materials.
1. Test your fabric first by using a cotton swab to apply a little hot vinegar to a hidden area of the material.
3. Leave the vinegar on for about 3 minutes, then blot it with a paper towel. If any color is on the paper towel, it's unsafe to use this method on that fabric.
3. If your fabric is colorfast, heat a bowl of white vinegar in the microwave for about 1 minute.
4. Soak the gummy area in the hot vinegar for up to three minutes.
5. The gum should start to loosen from the fabric.
6. Remove loose bits of gum with a spoon.
7. Repeat if there is still gum stuck on the clothing.
8. If needed, use an old toothbrush to help loosen the rest of the gum.
9. Wash the clothing according to the instructions on the tag.
10. And then, of course, include it with your next recurring pickup and delivery order at www.Pacifica-Laundry.com.
How to get smeared gum out of clothes with toothpaste:
Toothpaste is another go-to when it comes to gum removal. And it smells much sweeter than the acrid vinegar option. Further, it's not going to hurt most items of clothing.
1. Flatten the gum wad using a ruler or credit card.
2. Smear a dab of toothpaste on top of the gum wad.
3. Let the toothpaste air dry.
4. When the toothpaste is dry, the gum should be hard enough so that you can peel or scrape it off.
5. Kick your garment to the curb, and add it to your www.Pacifica-Laundry.com order.
How hairspray can help get gum off clothes:
Hairspray is another household item many swear by for removing gum from clothes. The hairspray can instantly harden the gum, making it easier to scrape away. However, some hairsprays, especially those containing oils, can stain clothing, so avoid using oil-based sprays.
1. Administer the hairspray directly on the gum. Try not to get too much on the fabric.
2. To protect your fabric, you can place some cling wrap on top of the material (all around the gum).
3. Wait for the hairspray to dry. The gum should be hard.
4. Use a blunt tool to scrape the gum away from the fabric.
5. Include the garment with your recurring pickup and delivery order at www.Pacifica-Laundry.com.
How to remove smeared gum from clothes with rubbing alcohol:
Rubbing alcohol also helps to harden the gum. It is safe to use on all fabrics because you're primarily applying it directly on the gum only:
1. Flatten the gum gently using a credit card or other flat object.
2. Dip a cotton swab in rubbing alcohol.
3. Rub the alcohol-saturated cotton swab on the surface of the gum. Try to avoid getting any on the fabric.
4. Allow the rubbing alcohol to dry completely.
5. Cut a square of duct tape slightly larger than the gum wad.
6. Place the sticky side of the tape over the gum and press down gently.
7. The gum should peel away with the tape.
8. Include the garment with your recurring pickup and delivery order at www.Pacifica-Laundry.com.
Remove gum from clothes with peanut butter:
Some prefer chunky, others prefer smooth, but either way, it's in your pantry and pairs nicely with jelly. When it comes to gum removal, using peanut butter might not be your first thought. But it works to get rid of gum in a snap.
1. Apply a thick coat of peanut butter on the gum. Try to avoid getting it on the fabric.
2. Allow it to sit for 1 to 2 minutes.
3. Scrape the gum off.
4. Add a stain treater on the area as a precaution and to aid in removing the oil from the peanut butter.
That's right, you know the next step, schlep it out to the curb/front door and conveniently place your pick-up-and-delivery service order from www.Pacifica-Laundry.com.
While many people suggest using sharp knives to scrape off wads of frozen gum from clothing, the Tridents and the Laundress agree that using a dull tool is better to prevent damaging your garment. Sharp knives, scissors, metal scrapers, and ice picks can accidentally tear, rip or shred your clothing as you try to remove gum.
Use soft strokes of these safer tools:
Plastic spoon
Plastic ruler
Credit card
Blunt edge of a butter knife
Scrub brush
Toothbrush
Large pink eraser
A big part of chewing gum stain removal from clothing is understanding the fabric you're working with. While you can find dozens of cleaning tips for removing gum and gum stains, not all are safe on every material. Read the garment tag instructions to see if things like heat can be used on the item, and look for advice on specific fabrics from trusted experts.
While the Valentine's day party was a smashing success, The Laundress looks forward to being a guest at the Trident's next gathering. You see, she hit it off so well with them that the Tridents insist she attends their upcoming ski soiree. It's to be held at their Jackson Hole Ranch. Its setting comprises sprawling acreage of which pure decadence & mischief are had! Something to look forward to, indeed...
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