Janie, the Perfect Stocking Stuffer

If you've come here looking for leg, you're out of luck, because Janie isn't a she, it's an it. The Janie Dry Spot Cleaner, or simply the Janie stick, is as amazing as it is simple. It's simply a stick of dry, chalky clay with an accompanying brush, but it does wonders. It's the best thing I know of for lifting oil- or milk-based stains, and it's perfectly natural, with no chemical smell and nothing that can ruin your fabric. It's been around for decades, and it looks like they've never redesigned the packaging. You can find it at notions shops as well as some what-not shops, but it's also available online from a number of vendors, including Amazon. I buy mine at The Container Store.

Janie is simple to use. You rub some of the clay into the stained area of your clothing and let it sit a few minutes while the clay draws out the stain. Then you brush it off. Brushing will get most of the clay out, along with the stain, but any residue will come out with washing or dry cleaning. It works best when the stain is fairly fresh, but it also works remarkably well on older stains, including on clothes that have already been washed. It's like a folk remedy that's better and safer than the fruits of modern chemistry. It costs about $6, and it is indeed a perfect stocking stuffer.