Blog Posts by Woman s Day

By Arianne Cohen

Allow me to predict your future: At some point in the next year, a special person in your life-perhaps someone you married or birthed-will dump food all over your favorite sofa/carpet/chair. It's inevitable. But what if your favorite sofa/carpet/chair were stain-resistant, and you could simply swoop in with a rag and clean up the stain, leaving nary a trace? Here's your guide to preventing stains…or if it's too late, what to do once they hit.

For a guide to choosing stain-resistant fabrics for every part of your home, watch this video.

Carpet

The deal: Carpets are designed to last 10 to 20 years-but many need to be replaced after 5 to 7 years due to staining. You can save bundles by planning ahead. Most new carpets (with the exception of all-natural fiber carpets, like wool) come coated with stain-resistant chemicals like Stainmaster or 3M Scotchgard-but no carpet is stainproof. Natural-fiber carpets aren't usually worth pretreating because their

By Arianne Cohen

No matter how conscious you are about cleanliness, sometimes there's no good way to avoid common household spills. But with a few stain-busting tips, fighting back can be a cinch. From what kind of paper towel to use to the amount of stain remover that's really necessary, read on for our quick guide on how to start winning the battle against your toughest cleaning woes.

Watch WD editor-in-chief Elizabeth Mayhew explain stain-proofing in even more depth.

1. Treat immediately. Always. The longer you wait, the longer you'll have the stain-potentially forever.

2. Check the tags. All furniture and rugs come with cryptic tags that actually tell you exactly how to treat stains! (Imagine that.) You'll see one of three letters, W, S or X.

W: Clean only with water-based cleaner (detergent or dish liquid).

S: Use dry-cleaning solvent only.

X: Clean only by vacuuming or brushing; don't use liquids.

3. Attack from the back. If you can access the back, such

By Arianne Cohen

When I recently mentioned to my mother the idea of winterizing her home, she said, "All that stuff is a bit of a drag." Well, no. A drag is receiving an unexpected $600 heating bill in January. Or waking up in the middle of the night to a burst pipe. Or realizing in March that your patio furniture is ruined. Those are drags, and winterization prevents them. And it's easy. Here's a master checklist for prepping your house for cooler weather.

Tips for Tackling the Outdoors

Patio Furniture

Clean: Mix warm water with a car wash solution, which is designed to cut through outside grime. Follow the package instructions, scrubbing furniture with a soft brush. Rinse with water and let air-dry.

Derust: Rub off rust with a scouring pad to stop it in its tracks (always test in a corner first

By Olivia Putnal

Clutter-Free Closet

If your closet looks anything like ours, it's overflowing and totally disorganized. Your shoes are mixed up on the floor, you can never find the belt you need and your handbags are smashed in a pile. But not to worry! WD rounded up some of the best products out there to solve common closet problems and help you get organized.

Photo: © iThinkstock

Problem: Lost Gloves

Does it always seem like you can never find a matching pair of gloves? This two-drawer shelving system is a cinch to hang, and the easy-access compartments are great for storing gloves as well as hats and other small accessories. Plus, with a small rod attached below, you won't lose out on any hanging space. $14.99; BedBathandBeyond.com.

Photo: © Courtesy of BedBathandBeyond.com

Problem: No Room for Sweaters

Hanging sweaters distorts the shoulders, and if you store them in dresser drawers, you'll run out of space fast. This six-compartment

By Ayn-Monique Klahre

Make Room for Quilts

Remember that quilt you never quite finished? Or the one that's been sitting up in the attic for ages? It's time to display it with these creative ideas. Use one or all to show off those less-than-perfect projects as well as your favorite spreads.

Photo: © Laura Moss; produced by Eddie Ross

As a Pillow

A small quilt or an unfinished piece begs for a new life as a bolster pillow-and you don't even have to cut it to make one. Center a 4x4-foot piece (the quilt at left is designed by Blue Nickel Studios with Anna Maria Horner's "Good Folks" fabrics) on a 36 x 18-inch pillow. Fold the sides over the back of the pillow, secure with diaper pins, then fold over the top and bottom and pin. Tip: If your sofa is patterned (say, navy stripes), make a pillow out of a quilt that has contrasting prints in the same color family (like an aqua floral).

Photo: © Laura Moss; produced by Eddie Ross

As a Bed Canopy

By Alexandra Gekas

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, a phobia is an anxiety disorder that is "a strong, irrational fear of something that poses little or no actual danger." While the majority of phobias are relatively commonplace-a fear of heights, spiders, public speaking-there are those rare folks with more unusual, specific frights. From the fear of opinions to the fear of peanut butter sticking to the roof of one's mouth, learn about some of the most unconventional phobias on the books.

Panphobia-Fear of Everything

Having one phobia can be crippling, but at least if it's about a single thing-dogs or snakes, for example-you can easily avoid it and live in relative peace. But for those suffering from panphobia (a.k.a. pantophobia), there is no escaping. Sufferers experience "a state of anxiety or fear not related to any one particular thing," according to WrongDiagnosis.com-which causes them to spend their lives afraid of everything. Photo: Karen

By Woman's Day Staff

Denim by Shape

With so much denim to choose from this fall, finding the jeans of your dreams is no easy task. So our WD staffers stepped in to do all the legwork for you. From boot-cut to control-top, they put an impressive 271 pairs to the test, in search of the most flattering fits out there. Here, our true blue guide to the best jeans for every body type.

Photo: © Sergio Kurhajec/Woman's Day

Boyish

"These Lee jeans fit my legs well and give me a better-looking bottom. I felt more confident the minute I put them on."-Donna Meadow, Associate Food Editor

Create the illusion of curves with a bootcut hem and a deep yoke (the V-shaped section on the seat area) to emphasize your behind. This comfy pair will keep its shape after wash and wear thanks to its premium yarn and extra elastane. Lee Slender Secret bootcut jeans, $27.99; Lee.com

Photo: © Sergio Kurhajec/Woman's Day

By Jennifer Tzeses

You've got your daily beauty regimen down to a science-wash, rinse, repeat. Your attention to every pore is immaculate, yet why oh why does it seem that, despite all that pampering, your looks are lacking luster? Unbeknownst to you, a few faux pas may be foiling your grooming routine. Here, eight bad beauty habits and how to break them.

Falling Asleep with Your Makeup On

When you forget to wash your face, your skin has the chance to marinate in a day's worth of debris and oil overnight. "The skin is unable to breathe, regenerate tissue, exfoliate dead surface cells and heal itself," says skincare expert Pratima Raichur, owner of Pratima Ayurvedic Skin Care Spa in New York City. This can lead to breakouts, excessive oiliness, a dull complexion or even dry skin. "Nighttime is when the skin rejuvenates itself, so it's very important to purify and cleanse before sleeping," she says.

Always Sleeping on the Same Side of Your