Yay, October! On the 17th, be sure to tilt your pretty little faces up to the sky and watch as the Hunter’s Moon begins to stalk its way across the cosmos! This third supermoon of 2024 will reach peak brightness on October 17th at 6:26 a.m. CDT. It is thought that its name stems from the fact that during this time animals begin to fatten up for winter, signaling hunters that it’s time to murder them and store their meat. Foxes, wolves, and other carnivorous mammals also partake in this plumped-animal smorgasbord. Being that this natural Earth satellite is the harbinger of a full-blown animal massacre, it is sometimes called the Blood or Sanguine moon. The name Sanguine might also be related to the changing color of leaves during autumn. According to The Old Farmer’s Almanac, there are certain days of October that are better for procurement of different sources of sustenance. Need to gather some above-ground crops? Schedule this activity on the 9th or 10th. Want to go trawling for sea creatures? Cast your nets from the 2nd to the 17th. Planning on selling the most delicious half-sour pickles ever produced, Dan Stein? Make sure the fermentation begins on the 22nd or 23rd! The Hunter’s Moon is the first full moon after the autumnal equinox and therefore can take place in October or November. Way to be the host with the most this year, October! As the Hunter’s Moon ushers in winter, it brings with it longer nights. Personally, I use this extra darkness as an excuse to get into my bed earlier and stay there longer. Since I’m spending more time in my boudoir, I like to make sure that it’s clean. So in honor of the Hunter’s Moon, wipe off that ceiling fan, wash that duvet cover, flip that mattress, and get ready to hibernate in your comfy sleeping den. Below you will find cleaning advice.
How do I remove Play-Doh from my carpet?
Y’all ever ate Play-Doh? Gross, me either! When I was a child, my mom made an imitation Play-Doh (let’s call it Janine-Mush) that was always food-colored green for some reason. The squishy, yummy-smelling glop was originally created as a wallpaper-cleaning putty in the 1930s by Noah and Joseph McVicker of the Cincinnati-based soap manufacturer Kutol Products. Once home heating transitioned from wallpaper-staining, sooty coal to natural gas, the need for the smooshy cleaner declined. McVicker’s sister-in-law Kay Zufall, after noticing that her preschool students loved playing with the non-toxic putty (it initially consisted mostly of flour, water, and salt), convinced him to market it as a children’s toy. She and her husband came up with the name Play-Doh! While super fun, it does have the tendency to end up in hair, on clothes, and yes, in carpet. It’s easier to remove Play-Doh once it’s hardened, so you can either wait for that to happen or you can speed up the process by freezing it. Grab a plastic bag and put some ice cubes in it. Place the bag over the blob until it’s hard. Use a comb or dull knife to lightly scrape the Play-Doh off of the carpet fibers. Once you’ve removed all of the hard bits, you can work on the stain. Make a mixture of half white vinegar and half water, and saturate the stain. Let this sit for 10 or so minutes. Blot the stain in a brushing motion with a clean, dry cloth until it begins to lift. You might have to spray, then blot the spot a few times to eradicate it. Another handy-dandy solution to banish that blemish is dish soap and water! Fill a spray bottle with water and a few dollops of soap. Spray the stain and blot or lightly brush. I hope one of these suggestions work!
How do I get crayon off of my walls?
You ever eat crayons? Me either. Anyway, I have personally dealt with this problem, so I feel your pain. When I moved into my house, I found that someone of child-height had used the inside of my closet as a canvas for their crayon art. Thankfully, removing the colored-pigment-paraffin medium is relatively easy. Firstly, test your cleaning agent or technique on a discreet area of the wall to make sure that your remedy isn’t also damaging. Sprinkle some baking soda on a damp sponge or white cloth and lightly rub the crayoned area. Wipe with a damp cloth to remove the baking soda residue. Another handy-dandy trick is toothpaste! What’s good for your chompers is good for your wall, y’all! Squirt some toothpaste (not the gel kind) on a soft-bristled toothbrush, dip this in water, and use light pressure to remove the crayon spot. If your wall paint isn’t acrylic, you can use isopropyl alcohol on the wall. Pour a little alcohol onto a rag or cotton ball and lightly wipe. Godspeed!
Got cleaning questions? Email isabel@antigravitymagazine.com
illustrations by Ben Claassen III | @dirtfarm
