After Hernia Surgery: Best Abdominal Binder for Recovery

I shared in a recent post about the 5 Products that helped me the most after having a hysterectomy. 

Unfortunately, 8 months after my hysterectomy, I was in the hospital again having hernia surgery, to fix a hernia caused by my hysterectomy. A long, frustrating story for another day.

Since one of the vital parts of healing from hernia surgery is wearing an Abdominal Binder, it is very important to find the best abdominal binder that is the right size, right comfort and right fit for you. I thought it might help to share my favorite abdominal binder in case you are going through a hernia surgery yourself (and if so, I'm sorry about that!)

 [*Disclosure: This post contains Amazon links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.]

Finding the Best Abdominal Binder After Hernia Surgery

[Disclaimer: This advice is based on my personal experience. Always consult with your surgeon or physician to discuss what's best for you.] 

Why You Need An Abdominal Binder After Hernia Surgery

An abdominal compression binder helps hold everything in place, while applying pressure where it is needed, to keep the area as stable as possible while it heals. FYI, I am still wearing mine as I write this post. One more month to go!

All Abdominal Binders Are Not Created Equal - Size & Fit Matter

I was initially give an abdominal binder at the hospital after my hernia surgery, but it was far too large for me. The measurement from the bottom of my abdomen up to my rib cage was shorter than the length of the binder, so it didn't fit right nor did it apply the centralized pressure needed. 

My surgeon tried cutting panels off to make it shorter, but by the time I left the hospital, it was literally falling apart. I needed a high quality, properly fitting abdominal binder, that I could count on once I got home from the hospital and started to heal from my hernia surgery.

I jumped on Amazon and ordered 3 different abdominal binders / belly bands / compression bands but ONLY

>  THIS Abdominal Binder on *Amazon fit the best (click to purchase) Not only was it the most comfortable, it also fit the best and offered the right kind of support that I needed. If you are a female having hernia surgery, trying this binder is a great place to start! (*As an Amazon associate I earn a small commission from purchases made through my link)

Abdominal Binder Product Details:

• 6", 2-panel compression wrap 
• Support belt for hernia, back pain and muscle strain (my sister also wore one after child birth) 
• Latex free 
• Made in the USA 
• Choose the right waist circumference for the length that fits you best

More about why this is my FAVORITE post-hernia surgery abdominal binder:

• It is my favorite abdominal binder after comparing it to 3 other binders!
• It got to me quickly, which was important after surgery
• It is 6" and fits me perfectly and offers compression in the exact area needed
• It is made of what feels like a comfortable stretchy material, almost like a really wide piece of gentle, comfort stretch elastic (other brands were very stiff and uncomfortable) 
• The velcro closure makes it easy to adjust
• It stays in place well and doesn't roll or shift
• I choose to wear an undershirt and put the abdominal binder on top of that (not directly on my skin) and that makes it comfortable for me
• Highly recommend!

Having Hernia Surgery it hard enough, so make it that much easier on yourself and have the right abdominal binder at home waiting for you when you get home from the hospital (or better yet, bring it with you so you'll have it on hand in the hospital!). 

This is a great abdominal binder, so buy it now so you'll have it on hand. 

I hope you find it helpful for you too! 

Best of luck with your surgery and healing!

If you have any questions, drop it in the comments!

DIY: How to Clean Toilet Stains and Look New Again!

If you are wondering how to get stubborn toilet stains out of your toilet bowl, you've come to the right place! 

[*Disclosure: This post contains Amazon links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.]

How to Clean Toilet Bowl Stains So It's Like New Again!

Stains can form on the inside of your toilet bowl over time, that are just too hard to get out with regular cleaning products. 

On the well water system where we live, our toilet bowl consistently ended up with dim brown residue that stained the toilet bowl. We tried to get these toilet stains out with natural products, regular cleaning products, and even scrubbing our toilet with bleach cleaners, but nothing really seemed to make a difference. The stains didn't budge and we figured eventually we would just need to replace the toilet.

It was only after my husband found the right product to deep clean our toilet with, that our toilet bowl looks almost new again! I was shocked!

How to Clean Toilet Bowl Stains Fast 

CLR Brands® Calcium, Lime & Rust Remover (*BUY HERE) is hands down, the best cleaning product we have found to remove toilet bowl stains. (*Amazon link: As an Amazon associate I earn a small commission on purchases made through my link) 

Try it and you won't be disappointed.

Here are some tips that helped us get our toilet bowl so clean, it looks almost new:

FOR BEST RESULTS YOU NEED-

• Bottle of CLR (linked above) 
• Disposable gloves
• An old rag you can throw away

How to clean your toilet bowl stains with the BEST results:

CLEANING METHOD 1:

• This method gave us the best results. If possible, empty your toilet bowl and let it dry. Do this by turning off the water to your toilet (or the main water) and then flush the toilet so it's empty of water. Let the toilet bowl dry before applying the solution. 
• Put on your disposable gloves
• Pour some of the CLR on your rag and wipe the dry, stained toilet bowl directly. You will immediately see a difference as you wipe the solution on the stains.

CLEANING METHOD 2:

• If you are not able to empty your toilet bowl water, you can- 
• Put on your disposable gloves and 
• Pour some of the CLR solution directly into the toilet bowl (read instructions on the bottle) and
• Let it soak for about an hour and use a toilet brush or rag to wipe the bowl as needed. 

Did you try it? 

Leave a comment and let me know if it's the best toilet cleaning product you've ever used, to finally get rid of those annoying toilet stains!

++++++

Is your Toilet Seat also in need of a fix? See our Popular Post: DIY Fix: Paint your toilet seat so it's like new again!

How to Cut Multiple Layers of Fabric Faster: The Electric Fabric Cutter I Use

If you regularly cut multiple layers of fabric, you already know how much time the cutting process can take.

When I first started making Fairface Washcloths, I stacked about four layers of flannel together and cut each square with a handheld rotary cutter. It worked — but as my sewing business grew and I needed to cut more and more fabric, cutting just a few layers at a time became painfully slow.

I needed a faster way to cut fabric in bulk.

That’s when I switched to an electric fabric cutting machine — and it completely changed my cutting process.

Disclosure: This post contains Amazon affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

The Problem: Cutting Multiple Layers of Fabric Took Too Long

A rotary cutter is great when you’re cutting a few pieces of fabric.

But when you need dozens — or hundreds — of identical pieces, repeatedly cutting a few layers at a time becomes a major bottleneck.

That was exactly what happened to me.

As orders for my Fairface Washcloths increased, I needed to prepare much larger quantities of fabric for sewing. I could sew faster than I could keep up with the cutting.

My little handheld rotary cutter just couldn’t cut it anymore. Pun intended. :)

What I needed was a way to cut thicker stacks of fabric at one time.

The Fabric Cutter That Changed My Cutting Process

The solution for me was an electric fabric cutting machine like this one.

[SEE THE FABRIC CUTTER ON AMAZON]

Instead of manually rolling a rotary cutter through a few layers of fabric over and over again, an electric fabric cutter allows you to guide the machine through a much thicker stack.

That meant I could prepare dramatically more pieces of fabric in the same amount of cutting time.

If you sew the same item repeatedly, make products to sell, batch-sew gifts, or simply have a project that requires cutting lots of identical pieces, this is where an electric fabric cutter can be incredibly useful.

Before: Cutting Fabric With a Handheld Rotary Cutter

When I started my business, I would lay approximately four pieces of flannel on top of each other and cut my washcloth squares with a handheld rotary cutter.

There was nothing wrong with that method when I was making smaller quantities.

The problem came when I needed more.

And more.

And more.

Four layers at a time suddenly meant a LOT of repeated cutting.

On a productive day, I might cut around 50 fabric squares by hand.

That was fine in the beginning, but it simply wasn't efficient enough once I began producing my washcloths in larger quantities.

After: Cutting Thick Stacks With an Electric Fabric Cutter

Switching to an electric fabric cutter was a game changer for me.

Instead of cutting just a few pieces at a time, I could work with much thicker stacks of fabric and prepare hundreds and hundreds of pieces for sewing.

That was the difference that mattered.

I wasn't spending nearly as much of my production time doing the same cutting motion over and over again.

I could batch my cutting, prepare a large quantity of pieces, and then move on to sewing.

For someone who was producing the same sewn product repeatedly, that was HUGE.

Why I Think an Electric Fabric Cutter Is Worth It

If you only occasionally cut one or two pieces of fabric, you probably don't need one.

But if you regularly find yourself standing at your cutting table thinking:

“There has to be a faster way to do this…”

this may be the tool you're looking for.

An electric fabric cutter can be especially useful if you:

• Cut multiple layers of fabric at once
• Make the same sewn item repeatedly
• Sew products to sell
• Batch-sew gifts or craft-show inventory
• Spend a significant amount of time cutting fabric
• Have outgrown cutting everything with scissors or a handheld rotary cutter

For me, the biggest benefit was simple:

I could cut much more fabric in much less time.

And once you've experienced cutting thick stacks at once, going back to cutting four layers at a time feels VERY slow.

Is an Electric Fabric Cutter Worth Buying for a Sewing Business?

For my sewing business, absolutely.

One of the biggest lessons I learned while producing Fairface Washcloths was that sewing faster wasn't always the answer.

Sometimes the bigger opportunity was finding the step in my process that was slowing everything else down.

For me, that step was cutting.

The electric fabric cutter helped remove that bottleneck.

It allowed me to prepare large batches of fabric much faster so I could spend more of my time actually sewing and completing products.

And although I originally bought mine because I was producing products to sell, you certainly don't need to own a sewing business to benefit from one.

If your projects regularly require lots of repeated fabric cutting, the time savings alone may make it worthwhile.

The Electric Fabric Cutter I Recommend

If you're ready to stop cutting a few layers at a time, you can see the electric fabric cutter here on Amazon:

[CHECK THE CURRENT PRICE ON AMAZON]

This is the type of cutter I used when I needed to dramatically increase the amount of fabric I could prepare at one time.

Of all the tools I added as my sewing production increased, a powered fabric cutter was one of the tools that made the biggest difference in how efficiently I could work.

If bulk fabric cutting is the part of your sewing process you dread because it takes forever, this is one tool I'd seriously consider.

You may find yourself wondering why you didn't start using one sooner.

Happy cutting and sewing!

How to Prevent Foggy Car Windows: Best 2 Products that really work

If your car windows keep fogging up, like ours did, making it hard to see while you're driving, you need to read this post. 

[*Disclosure: This post contains Amazon links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.]

Don't Drive Without This

One night while driving across a dark, snowy maintain pass, the snow and cold were so relentless, it kept fogging up our windshield to the point that the heater's defrost just could not keep up. All that was left to see through, was a small area on the windshield, which made for a very scary, dark and unsafe drive. 

Immediately after getting home, my husband started looking up products that could help us to never encounter that dangerous situation again. 

Thankfully, my husband was able to find and test 2 products that not only- 

• help keep the windshield and other car windows clear from fogging up
• but also minimizes the moisture inside the car 

We have never driven without these 2 products again. And because they worked so well at keeping our car windows from fogging up, I knew I had to share them with you! I hope they give you the same peace of mind (and added safety) they have given us. 

How to Prevent your Car Windows from Fogging Up (best 2 products that really work!)

1. Rain-X AF21106D Glass & Mirrors Anti-Fog Treatment, Prevents Fogging & Steaming on Windshield and Visors, Improves Visibility, Great for Auto & Home (*Amazon link)

This has to be my very favorite product for preventing foggy car windows and increasing safety while driving! You wipe it on the inside windshield of your car (+all the windows if you want to) and as if by magic, it keeps the windshield from fogging up! I am a HUGE FAN of all Rain-X products and this did not disappoint!!

2. Moisture Absorbers (Fragrance Free) (*Amazon link)

I was surprised by these little moisture absorbers. We've used them in closets before, where they worked well, but I never thought to put one in our car. Turns out, they work just as well in cars!

The filter draws in and traps excess moisture, over time the beads dissolve into liquid, and the moisture collects in the base of the container. Once all the beads have dissolved into liquid, you replace the container with a new one.

**I prefer the fragrance free moisture absorbers, but there are options for scents if you choose.

3. Chemical Guys Professional Grade Premium Microfiber Towels for Cars (Optional extra) (*Amazon link)

It's best to wipe the Rain-X anti fog on with a microfiber towel to prevent lint or scratching. This brand is a good one if you're looking for a few good quality cleaning cloths for your car.

Safety while driving is the # 1 priority for all of us, and now you can have the peace of mind to know your vision will never be compromised due to a foggy windshield.

These 2 products have helped us so much this winter, and are the perfect solution for preventing foggy car windows and excess moisture inside your car, which can help prevent unsafe driving conditions. 

Have you tried them? Let me know! I hope they help you as much as they've helped us!

Face Wash that comes with a free Washcloth

What face wash products come with a washcloth or face cloth? If you're looking for a face wash, cleansing oil or facial balm that comes with it's own washcloth or face cloth, take a look at these:

(*Amazon affiliate links included for your convenience. As an Amazon associate I receive a small commission on each sale.)

5 Face Wash Brands that come with a free Washcloth or Face cloth

1. Eve Lom (*amazon affiliate link)

Woven cotton-muslin cloths for exfoliation. You can purchase the cloths separately or some products might come with one (like the one I've linked). The cloths appear to be rather thin and one of our customers told us she prefers our thicker, softer Fairface flannel face cloths to their muslin cloths.

2. Pai Skincare (*amazon affiliate link)

For Pai Skincare, it looks like they have a couple of organic cotton cloth options. Twin Flyer and The Aileron. I'm not sure what the real difference is between the two, possibly the degree of texture and exfoliation. Their cloths can be purchased separately and some products come with one (like the one I've linked).

3. Emma Hardie (*amazon affiliate link)

I believe Emma Hardi's Dual Action Cleansing cloths are made with a microfiber textured side and a muslin side. Some customers say the muslin side is quite thin. You can buy them separately or often you get a cloth with a cleanser (like the one I've linked).

4. May Lindstrom (*amazon affiliate link)

These unique facial steam towels appear to be knitted with a soft dark yarn as opposed to a sewn fabric cloth. You can purchase them separately, or you get a cloth with the pendulum cleansing oil. I've linked to her Amazon shop.

5. Danucera (*amazon affiliate link)

Their Dual Sided Organic Cotton Cloth is made with a textured terry side and a muslin side. It appears to be a cloth you can purchase separately, but after I looked into it, sorry, they do not come with any of their cleansers. I have linked to one of their face balms on Amazon so you can look at it.

>The Best Washcloths and Face cloths to go with any Skin Care Product

Although skin care products may come with a washcloth or face cloth, sometimes they aren't the best quality or best suited for your skin type, especially if you have sensitive skin.

Sensitive skin types (and those with Rosacea) cannot tolerate texture well.

The best washcloths and face cloths you can ALWAYS count on for any skin care product you use, are always Fairface Soft Flannel Face cloths.

They are made with smooth, soft, plush 100% soft cotton flannel that come in 2 sizes - 9x9 or 12x12, and 2 colors - black or white. These washcloths and face cloths pair perfectly with any of your favorite cleansers. 

They are always gentle, and never cause redness or irritation because they don't have any irritating textures. Even the satin tags are soft.

Go grab a set of Fairface Washcloths today, the best washcloths for your favorite face wash: > FairfaceWashcloths.etsy.com