One part vodka, two parts water. It’s not a drink–it’s a quick, easy way to defy those infuriating “dry-clean only” labels on your clothes. Combine the alcohol and water in a spray bottle, then spritz any less-than-fresh areas–like the underarms or collar–with this mixture colloquially known as French cleaner. “There are times when we use straight vodka,” says Helena Marriott, who’s been working with costumes for over 30 years and heads the wardrobe department at Neptune Theatre. She says that if garments get particularly sweaty, it’s common to increase the alcohol concentration. The theory is that vodka sprayed onto a piece of smelly clothing will kill bacteria that cause odour, then evaporate quickly. While this trick won’t make your clothes clean (sorry, that coffee stain isn’t going anywhere), if you just want to deodorize a blazer between meetings or a favourite dress between parties, this is your cocktail.
This article appears in Apr 17-23, 2014.
