Neatnicks and clean freaks take note. The girls of The Laundress, who have kept your party clothes pretty and fresh for all these years, have launched a new collection of products for the rest of your house.  The Home Cleaning Collection features 11 new items that are biodegradable and allergen free such as scented vinegar, surface cleaner, home spray and lint free clothes.

Two stand-out products for the home entertainer and chef include the Dish Detergent ($15), a two-in-one low sudsing, enzymatic solution that can be used for both hand dishwashing and the dishwasher, and the Kitchen Soap Bar ($8), an antibacterial, scented soap that eliminates food and cooking odors from hands.

We reached out to co-founder Lindsey Wieber Boyd about her thoughts on keeping it clean.

When it comes to spring cleaning, which room of the house do you tackle first?
The Bedroom, specifically the bed. I wash the pillows, steam and vacuum the mattress and clean the mattress cover.

Out of the entire product line, which one is your favorite?
My favorite product in the entire line is the Delicate Wash because I have always hand washed my delicates from bras to skirts and dresses. This product is close to my heart since it was one of the first products designed and developed (selfishly) to help my own laundering needs. Gwen and I have a story behind each product which are based on real life situations, from our friends, clients or ourselves, that needed a cleaning solution.

To purchase products from The Laundress, visit their web site.

PHOTO CREDIT:  Courtesy of The Laundress

Those looking for a manageable (and even pleasurable) way to get back on track may want to try the Blueprint Cleanse, a detox program of nutritional juices that claim to have positive effects including increased energy, clearer complexion, weight loss and boosted immune system.

Co-founder Erica Huss Jones, explains, “Most people look at the New Year as a do-over, an opportunity to start with a clean slate, and cleansing is the perfect way to give your body the re-set that it needs after cocktail party season.”

The system is easy to follow with each bottle marked with a number from 1 to 6 to keep you consuming in the right order. The 100% fresh and unpasteurized juices in your program may range from a spinach infused green juice in the morning to flush away toxins to a restorative, protein-rich drink of cashew nut milk at night. With 3 levels to choose from, you can pick the program that best suits your lifestyle or mix and match the levels to create one that specifically addresses your detox needs.

The juices are delivered on Sunday or Wednesday if you live in New York or Connecticut. Blueprint Cleanse can now be shipped to most major cities in the US. Visit www.blueprintcleanse.com to place your order and for more information.

PHOTO CREDIT: Courtesy of Blueprint Cleanse

The cocktail party and shopping night was hosted by the author’s fashionable friends including Allison Aston, Celerie Kemble, Shoshanna Lonstein Gruss, Tinsley Mortimer, Sandra Nunnerley, Emilia Fanjul Pfeifler as well as photographer Dennis Friedman, a contributor to the book.

Guests enjoyed hors d’oeuvres by Creative Edge Parties such as Filet Mignon Bruschetta and Lobster Canneloni while putting their VIP discounts to good use on Tod’s new collection of shoes and bags.

Leaving with an armful of bags, one shopper explained, “Now that I have Melanie’s book, I can figure out how to make these new purchases fit in my closet!”

For tips on how to clean, edit and organize your closets, buy the book, Shop Your Closet.

To find out more about Clos-ette and their custom closet and cabinet design work, visit www.clos-ette.com.

PHOTO CREDIT: Courtesy of Patrick McMullan

Relevant Post: Shop Your Closet

What are some simple ways to care for table clothes, napkins and placemats?
Machine wash your linens post-party instead of taking them to the dry cleaner. Spot check linens after every use to ensure stains from food are removed, which will guarantee that stains do not set in and damage the item.

We recommend hand washing with warm water in a laundry basin (or sink). First soak the item for 30-40 minutes then spot clean soiled areas (from food, wine or coffee) with our Wash & Stain Bar and Stain Solution which contain highly-concentrated stain fighters. Use our Whites Detergent because it does not contain bleach, which can destroy delicate fibers.

Air dry for best results or use the dryer on the “no heat” cycle followed by ironing on a low-heat setting while the item is still damp. Use Stiffen Up, our non-toxic starch, which is perfect for taking care of delicates.

Inevitably, parties can get messy for your clothes and your home. What should every hostess have ready for common spills and accidents?
The best stain fighters in a pinch are baking soda for removing food odors, salt for oil spills and club soda for fresh food stains.

Red lipstick and red wine are stubborn stains. Any advice?
The best time to treat a stain is right when it happens. For lipstick and red wine, soak (in hot water for cotton or warm water for linen) then spot clean. If the item is silk, spot clean with cool tepid water and do not soak for more than 15 minutes.

If you are out on-the-town and get a spot on your clothing, is there anything that should be done immediately to treat the stain?
We recommend always having our Wash & Stain Bars available because they are easy to travel with and you can use them in the bathroom or kitchen sink to treat stains on the spot. They are liquid-free stain removers for on-the-go laundry care.

PHOTO CREDIT: Stan Wan for The Laundress

Feeling the effects of all those late night holiday parties? The simplest way to treat your overindulgence in food and drink may be as easy as taking your vitamins.

Created by Margo Marrone, the British homeopath and founder of The Organic Pharmacy, the Detox is a 10-day program full of daily supplements and nutrients that improves digestion, encourages weight loss and increases energy.  Bonus benefits include glowing skin and hair.

The full Detox Kit ($280) includes their popular Detox Colon Cleanse & Gut Repair Caps, Superantioxidants, Phytonutrients, Liver & Kidney Drops, Essential Fatty Acids and Detox Cellulite Body Oil (which can be used with a brush to aid in the release of toxins while improving circulation).

Unlike the Master Cleanse which prohibits food of any kind, Marrone’s detox is easy to maintain and allows a healthy diet of grilled proteins, fresh fruit, vegetables and even a piece or two of organic chocolate. Simply cut out all alcohol, caffeine, saturated fat and processed foods for 10 days while taking morning and evening doses of Marrone’s supplements with a full glass of water mixed with 15 drops of her Liver and Kidney tincture.

On keeping our New Year’s resolutions, Marrone says, “Don’t look at eating healthy and taking the right supplements as a trend or fad diet. Integrating these elements into your daily lifestyle will ensure that you stick to the program with the benefit of long lasting health and wellness.”

While celebrity devotees including Madonna and Gwyneth Paltrow can visit The Organic Pharmacy in London in person for one-on-one consultations and full body treatments, those of us on the other side of the pond will have to settle for the detox do-it-yourself version available online at www.theorganicpharmacy.com or at the New London Pharmacy (246 Eighth Street, 212-243-4987).

1. Ditch the Plastic

Disposable plastic cups are not eco-friendly nor stylish in any way. Before your next event, stock up on inexpensive glassware for your extra guests. Try the Simplicity Party Set by CB2 that is currently on sale for $14.95. The set of one dozen wine glasses comes in a reusable box for easy storage. For larger, more elaborate events, rent your glassware from Party Rental who will conveniently drop off and pick up your order.

2. Say Thank You

Send your gracious host a handwritten message of thanks on beautiful stationery. Right now, we are loving the Brown Mustique Stripe Monogram note cards by IOMOI. A set of 40 cards is $118.00. Trust us, a little effort goes a long way (in ensuring you get invited back!)

3. Clean the House

Parties are fun but clean-up is not so treat yourself to a box of all-natural products from Mrs. Meyers. The Variety Gift Set ($24.99), which features a selection of dish soap, all purpose spray and surface scrub in delicious scents such as lavender and lemon verbena, will leave your post-party pad clean and fresh.

4. Drink Responsibly

Enjoy your cocktails at the party but take special care in treating your hangover. Popping a few Tylenol before bed can lead to permanent liver and kidney damage (seriously, the FDA says it’s toxic). Instead, fight dehydration before it sets in by chugging a glass of Zico Pure Coconut Water which is packed with potassium and essential electrolytes. A case of 12 is $19.99 and comes in Mango, Natural and Passion Fruit with Orange Peel.

With all of the cocktail parties, black ties and family gatherings coming up, we turned to Melanie Charlton Fascitelli of Clos-ette, a design firm specializing in closets and dressing rooms, to give us some advice on managing our wardrobe mess.

Taken from the pages of her upcoming book, Shop Your Closet – The Ultimate Guide to Organizing Your Closet in Style, here’s what the stylist and organizational guru had to share with us:

Clear the clutter. Get rid of what you don’t wear (because it’s too small, too big, out of style or damaged). Consign the good stuff and donate the rest to charity. Clutter takes up valuable space in your closet.

Edit your wardrobe. Take a detailed inventory of your clothing and accessories by type and color. Only then will you understand your dressing style and your shopping needs.

Merchandise your closet. Color-code and categorize your clothes so they will be easier to find. If your closet looks like a retail store or showroom, you’ll be excited to go “shopping” in it. (see photo above for example of Melanie’s work)

Go shopping. This is a reward for all your hard work. Now that you know what you have, you can build on your existing wardrobe instead of just adding to the clutter.

For serious shopaholics and pack rats, you can always turn to the experts to help you purge. Melanie and her team are available for consultations ($250/hour) or a full day of “wardrobe clarification” which may include cleaning, editing and shopping ($3000/6 hr day). You should know that shopping with Melanie means VIP treatment at many of the luxury houses and cool, new designer showrooms.

If it sounds like a big investment of your time or money, think again. We consider it a small price to pay to discover the fantastic wardrobe you never knew you already had.

To find out more about Clos-ette and their custom closet and cabinet design work, visit www.clos-ette.com.

To pre-order a copy of Shop Your Closet, click here.

PHOTO CREDIT: Portrait photo by Sasha Nialla. Closet photo by Wendell T. Webber for Instyle Magazine

If you send your fancy party frocks and designer denim to the corner dry cleaner, your precious wardrobe may be getting manhandled. Invest in a cleaner that cares as much about luxury and quality as you do.

Slate NYC is a new type of eco-friendly wardrobe cleaning service that prides itself on knowing the difference between Banana Republic and Balenciaga. They like to say that while other launderers focus on the dirt, they focus on making your clothes new again. For busy New Yorkers with a penchant for expensive threads, this service is a dream come true.

The process is simple. They give you a hamper. You fill it with you dirty laundry, dry cleaning and repairs every week. You go online to set your pick-up and drop-off times (one hour windows, 2 days apart). Your hamper gets picked up in a bio-diesel van, brought to their super-modern facility, sorted (light/dark, by hand/machine wash, stain removal), cleaned without perc (that’s percholorethylene..and yes, it’s as bad as it sounds) or phosphates and then returned to you freshly wrapped in shopping bags. It will make you think you just got back from a spree at Saks.

There are 3 options to choose from:

Slate Monthly: regular schedule either weekly ($299/month) or bi-weekly ($149/month)

Slate On Demand: occasional use, flat rate per hamper

Slate Walk-In: Shirts $5 /each. Drycleaning $10/per item.

Now you can party with reckless abandon knowing you have permission to get dirty. That red wine, lipstick and chocolate cake stain won’t stand a chance.

To get permission, call 800-573-8459 or visit www.slatenyc.com. Vist 96 Morton Street for walk-in service.