Have you ever spent hours scrubbing a stubborn stain, only to watch it barely budge? What if I told you there’s𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐬𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐤 that can make even the most stubborn stains vanish like magic — without endless effort, harsh chemicals, or frustration? Today, I’ll show you the secret that professionals swear by! 𝑺𝒕𝒆𝒑 𝟏. 𝑼𝒏𝒅𝒆𝒓𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒏𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑾𝒉𝒚 𝑺𝒕𝒂𝒊𝒏𝒔 𝑺𝒕𝒊𝒄𝒌. Before removing stains, it’s important to know why they cling so stubbornly. Whether it’s coffee, wine, grease, or ink, most stains adhere because they penetrate fibers or surfaces over time. Understanding this allows us to approach the problem strategically instead of blindly scrubbing. This one trick targets the stain at its core, breaking it down efficiently and saving you time. 𝑺𝒕𝒆𝒑 𝟐. 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑶𝑵𝑬 𝑻𝒓𝒊𝒄𝒌 𝑬𝒙𝒑𝒍𝒂𝒊𝒏𝒆𝒅. The secret is combining baking soda with a little vinegar or lemon juice for a natural, powerful reaction. Baking soda works to lift and absorb the stain, while vinegar or lemon acid reacts with it to break down the stain molecules. This is how professional cleaners tackle stains without harsh chemicals, and it works on almost any surface — from fabrics to countertops. 𝑺𝒕𝒆𝒑 𝟑. 𝑷𝒓𝒆𝒑𝒂𝒓𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑨𝒓𝒆𝒂. Start by blotting the stain lightly with a clean cloth to remove excess liquid or residue. 𝑵𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒓𝒖𝒃 𝒂𝒈𝒈𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒔𝒊𝒗𝒆𝒍𝒚 — 𝒊𝒕 𝒄𝒂𝒏 𝒆𝒎𝒃𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒊𝒏 𝒅𝒆𝒆𝒑𝒆𝒓. Next, sprinkle baking soda generously over the area. For stubborn stains, add a few drops of vinegar or lemon juice. You’ll notice a fizzing reaction — that’s the chemical magic at work. Rhetorical question: Isn’t it amazing that something so simple can outperform hours of scrubbing? 𝑺𝒕𝒆𝒑 𝟒. 𝑳𝒆𝒕 𝑰𝒕 𝑾𝒐𝒓𝒌. Leave the mixture on the stain for 5–10 minutes. During this time, the fizzing action penetrates fibers or surfaces and begins 𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲. Patience here is key — rushing this step can reduce the effectiveness of the trick. 𝑺𝒕𝒆𝒑 𝟓. 𝑾𝒊𝒑𝒆 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑹𝒊𝒏𝒔𝒆. After waiting, gently wipe the area with a damp cloth. You’ll notice the stain disappearing almost immediately. For tougher stains, repeat the process or let the mixture sit a little longer. This method works beautifully on carpets, clothing, countertops, sinks, and even stovetops.

Hi, ladies! Just a quick note to inform you that I have to cancel tomorrow's Coffee at My House. We are also cancelling the remainder of the sessions for December, 2025, and will resume the sessions beginning January 12, 2026. Check your calendar for your local time. Sorry for the short notice, and any inconvenience this may cause! I would like to wish you and your loved ones a safe and happy holiday season! I hope to see you all on January 12, 2026! Warm Regards, Kelly M.

The original painting is in Milan, where our adventure began. Seeing this painting was a deeply spiritual experience. I have never felt anything like it before! The painting was too big to get the whole thing in the shot. Flash photography was not allowed here, and there was only natural light in the room. It was a cloudy day, so not the best photos.

For the last little while, I have been working 𝑽𝑬𝑹𝒀 𝑯𝑨𝑹𝑫 on a project that I think will be of great value to all of you here. It is a 𝑭𝑹𝑬𝑬 𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒎𝒖𝒏𝒊𝒕𝒚 that gives you information in a blog format. You can read, comment, and chat with each other. You can make suggestions for future content and share ideas or your own secret tricks! I would love to have all of you as members.  Click here to check out The Big Sweep! Warmest regards, Kelly P.S. 𝑰 𝒉𝒐𝒑𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒔𝒆𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆!

The ship's Chef showing what he purchased at the market for lunch and dinner that night. The view from our table at dinner that night. The famous Rialto Bridge in Venice.