Ask a Clean Person

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In this 45-minute show, cleaning expert and advice columnist Jolie Kerr shares cleaning tips, answers reader questions and gets really real with a rotating cast of guests about the messes life throws our way. If you're plagued by 'pit stains, not entirely clear on how often to wash your sheets, or j…

Jolie Kerr

  • Sep 3, 2019 LATEST EPISODE
  • infrequent NEW EPISODES
  • 47m AVG DURATION
  • 188 EPISODES


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Latest episodes from Ask a Clean Person

Programming note!

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 3, 2019 1:07


"Programming note! Ask a Clean Person: The Podcast is on hiatus, and will return in January 2020. Bonus episodes will be available on Patreon during the break; to subscribe, go to patreon.com/askacleanperson. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Ep181 — BRAUGUST: The Grab Bag Ep

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 27, 2019 46:30


Let's All Wash Our Bras! Throughout the month of August, Jolie is joined by Meredith Haggerty for a monthlong series devoted to bras. In the final episode of the series, they're sharing reader tips, offering help for keeping white bras white and talking about what to do when a skin infection comes in contact with a bra. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Ep180 — BRAUGUST: The Fancy Bra Ep

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 20, 2019 45:11


Let's All Wash Our Bras! Throughout the month of August, Jolie is joined by Meredith Haggerty for a monthlong series devoted to bras. In this episode, they're talking about caring for fancy bras and other lingerie. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Ep179 — BRAUGUST: The Sports Bra Ep

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 13, 2019 38:10


Let's All Wash Our Bras! Throughout the month of August, Jolie is joined by Meredith Haggerty for a monthlong series devoted to bras. In this episode, they're talking about sports bras. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Ep178 — BRAUGUST RETURNS

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 6, 2019 49:18


Let's All Wash Our Bras! Throughout the month of August, Jolie is joined by Meredith Haggerty for a monthlong series devoted to bras. In this kickoff episode, they're talking about the best products to use when machine washing bras, and the basics of how, and why, to hand wash instead. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Ep177 — The Astrology of Love & Cleaning

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 30, 2019 43:38


Ever wonder how best to communicate with your Scorpio about keeping his whips & chains clean, or how to soothe your Virgo when the laundry piles up, or the best ways to manage your Leo's hair? Annabel Gat, author of the book "The Astrology of Love & Sex" and senior astrologer at Vice’s Astro Guide, joins Jolie to advise people on the best communication strategies for their partners, based on their astrological sign. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Ep176 — Car Wash

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 23, 2019 46:46


It's summer road trip season! On this episode, Jolie is joined by Friends of the Cleancast, Jalopnik's Kristen Lee, to talk all things car care. In this follow-up to Episode 172, Kristen returns to talk about cleaning a car's interior, covering the safe way to clean a steering wheel, and what to do when food spills on car seats and starts to smell. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Ep175 — Bathing Beloved Stuffed Animals

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 16, 2019 46:07


Blankies and Teddys and Velveteen Rabbits unfortunately aren't self-cleaning. On this episode, Jolie is joined by Mike Toole, who has questions about washing stuffed animals and other precious and drool-covered children's items. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Ep174 — Working Your Nerves

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 9, 2019 43:05


Having to go to work is already a bummer for most people, but when work involves colleagues who clip their nails at their desk, pee on the bathroom floor or … pick their scabs and eat them?!? … work can become a nightmare. On this episode, Jolie is joined by Jen Doll, who writes a workplace advice column, to share her thoughts on what to do about very gross coworker behavior. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Ep173 — Bathing Costumes

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 2, 2019 53:25


You know what nobody likes? Swimsuit shopping! In this episode, Jolie tells you everything you need to know about caring for bathing suits, so you can make them last a long, long time. Because if you take good care of them, you won't have to buy new ones! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Ep172 — Hot Wheels

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 25, 2019 50:38


It's summer road trip season! On this episode, Jolie is joined by Friends of the Cleancast, Jalopnik's Kristen Lee and Justin Westbrook, to talk all things car care. From why you need to wash a car, to what to do when a professional car wash leaves your car with weird sludge in the door panels, to how to safely remove sticky residue from the exterior of a car, Kristen, Justin and Jolie have got all your car problems covered. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Ep171 — Hat Trick

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 18, 2019 41:09


Your baseball caps are filthy! Sweat, hair grease, makeup stains, and oh God, the smell … it's time to wash those things. On this episode, Jolie is joined by Mike Toole, who has a truly vile and legendary Mets cap in need of cleaning. Together they tackle the various ways to clean a ballcap depending on its type and importance to you. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Ep170 — We're Here, We're Queer, We're Covered in Glitter

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 17, 2019 47:20


It's Pride Month, and on this very queer episode, Jolie is joined by Michael Gold and Tim Herrera to discuss all the glorious messes from your Pride celebrations! Glitter! Feathers! *whispers* silicone lube! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Ep169 — Michael, It's Shoe Time

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 4, 2019 45:50


Well! We talked about your feet, and how to keep them looking good all summer long (and beyond) so now it's time to talk about your summer shoes — your birkenstocks, your flip flops, your athletic slides, your fancy sandals … all of them are gross and they need to be cleaned. On this episode, Jolie is joined by Michael Gold, who has some updates to share on his Shoe Year's Resolutions! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Ep168 — Get Rid of Your Feet, Seriously, They Are Revolting

Play Episode Listen Later May 28, 2019 60:02


FEET! ARE!! GROSS!!! But they don't have to be that way, and on this episode, Jolie is joined by Friend of the Cleancast, Lizzie O'Leary, to talk all about proper foot hygiene — from just the literal washing of feet to dealing with common problems like ingrown toenails, athlete's foot and overly sweaty feet — just in time for summer. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Ep167 — The Bag of Bags

Play Episode Listen Later May 21, 2019 54:52


Are you a tote bag hanger-on-er? Do you have a bag of bags? Have you ever washed that tote bag you, well, tote around every single day? If you answered 'yes,' 'yes,' and 'ummm no comment' this episode is for you! Jolie is joined by Friend of the Cleancast Tim Herrera and very special guest Ann Lightfoot, a professional organizer and co-founder of Done & Done Home, to talk all about your tote bags: How many is too many, what to do with the totes you're not using and, of course, how to clean the ones you use regularly. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Ep166 — Suits & Sneaks with Your StyleGF

Play Episode Listen Later May 14, 2019 61:56


Your style girlfriend Megan Collins is BACK to help you decode all those inscrutable wedding dress codes, (what does "festive dress" mean, anyway?!?) and talk about when and how you can wear sneakers with your suit … and Jolie tells you how to keep your sneakers looking good enough to wear with a suit. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Ep165 — Do Not Dry Clean!

Play Episode Listen Later May 7, 2019 32:47


Ever wonder the best way to clean a suit? Do you dread going to the dry cleaner? In this episode, Jolie breaks down the four steps you need to clean a suit at home, no dry cleaner required! She also explains why and when to take a garment of any sort to the dry cleaner and when to skip it in favor of other cleaning methods. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Ep164 — April Fools: Cats Stink

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 30, 2019 54:51


It's April and Jolie is rolling out a new theme month: April Fools! In this monthlong arc, Jolie will be hosting freewheeling roundtable discussions with some favorite Friends of the Cleancast! In this episode, she's joined by Caroline Moss and Dan Nosowitz, who have come bearing questions about their very smelly cat, Kevin. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

FLASHBACK - Ep1 — A Hairy Situation

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 23, 2019 33:07


Welcome to Ask A Clean Person, The Podcast! Host Jolie Kerr is a cleaning expert and advice columnist whose weekly column, Ask a Clean Person, appears on Deadspin.com. In this half hour show, Jolie will share cleaning tips, answer reader questions and get really real with a rotating cast of guests about the messes life throws our way. On the debut episode, she is joined by Choire Sicha, co-proprietor of The Awl – a media outlet and website that proudly carries the motto “Be Less Stupid.” Together they join forces to teach cat-owning listeners how to properly manage the messes their cats create! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

FLASHBACK - Ep114 — Wash What Happens: Big Appliance

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 16, 2019 80:01


It's time to wrap up Wash What Happens, the annual Spring Cleaning arc of Ask a Clean Person: The Podcast! On this final episode, Jolie and co-host-in-residency Jon Tayler are going deep on deep cleaning the kitchen, with a focus on the major appliances — the fridge, oven and dishwasher. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Ep163 — April Fools: S**t Happens

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 9, 2019 43:13


It's April and Jolie is rolling out a new theme month: April Fools! In this monthlong arc, Jolie will be hosting freewheeling roundtable discussions with some favorite Friends of the Cleancast! In this episode, Jen Doll, Maureen O'Connor and Lizzie O'Leary (O'My!) stuck around for a second episode in which they discuss what to do when you poop your pants. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Ep162 — April Fools: The Jizzie Ep

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 1, 2019 39:03


It's April and Jolie is rolling out a new theme month: April Fools! In this monthlong arc, Jolie will be hosting freewheeling roundtable discussions with some favorite Friends of the Cleancast! To kick off the fun, she's joined by Jen Doll, Maureen O'Connor and Lizzie O'Leary (O'My!) in an episode inspired by their group text they call Jizzie. They are, of course, discussing jizz (and lube! O'My!) See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Ep161 — LAMOB 2019: The Mental Health Ep (Part 2)

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 26, 2019 47:03


Let's All Make Our Beds! It's March, which means it's time for Jolie's annual bed-making challenge, LAMOB. In this two-part episode, Jolie is joined by Unfuck Your Habitat's Rachel Hoffman as they tackle issues relating to beds, cleaning and mental health. TW: Depression, anxiety, suicide, hoarding. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Ep160 — LAMOB 2019: The Mental Health Ep

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 19, 2019 60:47


Let's All Make Our Beds! It's March, which means it's time for Jolie's annual bed-making challenge, LAMOB. In this two-part episode, Jolie is joined by Unfuck Your Habitat's Rachel Hoffman as they tackle issues relating to beds, cleaning and mental health. TW: Depression, anxiety, suicide, hoarding. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Ep159 — LAMOB 2019: There's No One Way to Make a Bed

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 12, 2019 55:55


Let's All Make Our Beds! It's March, which means it's time for Jolie's annual bed-making challenge, LAMOB. In this episode, Jolie is joined by Friend of the Cleancast Maureen O'Connor — they're talking about the different ways to appoint and make a bed. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Ep158 — LAMOB 2019

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 5, 2019 52:10


Let's All Make Our Beds! It's March, which means it's time for Jolie's annual bed-making challenge, LAMOB. In the 2019 kickoff episode, Jolie explains why she thinks that making your bed is such a great thing to do, and answers listener questions about cleaning mattresses, pillows, duvets and other BIG BEDDING. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Ep157 — FebLOOary: Workplace Bathroom Horror Stories

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 26, 2019 48:19


It's FebLOOary, a monthlong arc of Cleancast episodes devoted to your bathrooms! In the final episode, Jolie is joined by Alison Green, a.k.a. Ask a Manager, who's brought along some of her weirdest reader questions about workplace bathrooms! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Ep156 — FebLOOary: Careless Whisker

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 19, 2019 38:01


It's FebLOOary, a monthlong arc of Cleancast episodes devoted to your bathrooms! In this episode, Jolie is joined by Maris Kreizman, who has Some Things To Say about beard trimmings. They're also covering how to keep hair from taking over the bathroom, and what to do about the fine patina of dry shampoo that gets all over every surface. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Ep155 — FebLOOary: Bathroom Malodor

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 12, 2019 39:12


It's FebLOOary, a monthlong arc of Cleancast episodes devoted to your bathrooms! In this episode, Jolie is joined by supersmeller Lizzie O'Leary, who wants to talk all about, well, bathroom malodor — from mildew-y smelling towels to, well, poop — and how to manage it. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Ep154 — FebLOOary: Mold-Free Shower Curtains Are a LIE

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 5, 2019 36:55


It's FebLOOary, a monthlong arc of Cleancast episodes devoted to your bathrooms! In this kickoff episode, Jolie is joined by David Covucci, who is FURIOUS because "mold-free" shower curtains are a lie. They also cover strategies for handling mold, mildew and bacterial growth around drains and caulk, and answer a very real listener question about what to do when an, um, accident happens in the shower. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Ep153 — Gym Clothes Management, pt. 2

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 29, 2019 62:35


It's a new year, and lots of you will have fitness goals on your list of New Year's Resolutions. Jolie is here to help you out! Because with fitness resolutions come … a lot of stinky workout clothes. In this episode, Jolie covers the dos and don'ts of laundering gym gear, and what to do about things like boxing wraps, smelly sneakers and lifting gloves. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Ep152 — Shoe Year's Resolutions

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 22, 2019 49:52


It's a new year, and Friend of the Cleancast Michael Gold has a great and unique New Year's Resolution: He's decided that this will be the year when he becomes a person who takes care of his shoes! And of course, Jolie is here to help him out! On this episode, they cover the basics of leather and suede shoe care, and touch on a few products to keep sneakers looking great. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Ep151 — Gym Clothes Management

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 15, 2019 44:14


It's a new year, and lots of you will have fitness goals on your list of New Year's Resolutions. Jolie is here to help you out! Because with fitness resolutions come … a lot of stinky workout clothes. In this episode, Jolie covers the dos and don'ts of laundering gym gear, and talks about what to do with those smelly, smelly clothes in between the wearing and washing of them. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Ep150 — Live Smarter in 2019!

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 4, 2019 41:35


It's a new year, and to help you kick things off Jolie is joined by Alan Henry and Tim Herrera of the New York Times, and they've got some ideas of habits you can adopt to live smarter in 2019! From setting aside regular blocks of time to handle email and other correspondence, to making your bed, these tips will inspire your resolve. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Ep149 — Let's Play Stump Jolie, pt 3

Play Episode Listen Later Dec 25, 2018 50:39


This holiday season, Jolie is giving back! In this 3-episode year-end arc, Jolie is joined by the 2018 Co-Hosts-In-Residence, who have been invited back to ask Jolie ANYTHING they want! Let's see how well she does at answering cleaning questions on the fly, without any prep. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Ep148 — Let's Play Stump Jolie, pt 2

Play Episode Listen Later Dec 18, 2018 31:58


This holiday season, Jolie is giving back! In this 3-episode year-end arc, Jolie is joined by the 2018 Co-Hosts-In-Residence, who have been invited back to ask Jolie ANYTHING they want! Let's see how well she does at answering cleaning questions on the fly, without any prep. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Ep147 — Let's Play Stump Jolie, pt 1

Play Episode Listen Later Dec 11, 2018 62:54


This holiday season, Jolie is giving back! In this 3-episode year-end arc, Jolie is joined by the 2018 Co-Hosts-In-Residence, who have been invited back to ask Jolie ANYTHING they want! Let's see how well she does at answering cleaning questions on the fly, without any prep. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Ep146 — The 2018 Hanukkah Ep!

Play Episode Listen Later Dec 4, 2018 45:21


Wax and oil, oil and wax! When the wax and oil questions start rolling in, it can only mean one thing: It's Hanukkah! In this episode, Jolie answers questions about getting wax off a menorah and delicate textiles, and talks about ways to minimize the smells caused by frying latkes in the home, or transporting them in a handbag. Yes, you read that right. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Cleancast Live at Barnard College

Play Episode Listen Later Nov 27, 2018 70:00


In this special episode, Jolie visits her alma mater, Barnard College, for a live show. She answers questions from students about laundry, cutting down on waste with reusable cleaning products and shares a few dorm disasters from her college years. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Ep144 — Pots & Pans: To Soak, Or Not To Soak

Play Episode Listen Later Nov 20, 2018 46:22


To soak or not to soak: That is the question … that Jolie get asked all the time! When it comes to washing pots, pans and baking dishes that are covered in stuck-on, burnt-on foods, should you let them soak before heading in to give them a scrub? On this episode, Jolie answers that burning (heh) question and talks about the right sponges to use with a variety of cookware. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Ep143 — Power Cleaning

Play Episode Listen Later Nov 13, 2018 41:55


Do you clean with power tools? Well why not?!? Cleaning with power tools — from orbital buffers to drills with special attachments — is crazy fun, and crazy effective! On this episode, Jolie talks about her favorite drill attachments for cleaning and a few other power tools she swears by for keeping the home clean. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Ep142 — Cat Messes

Play Episode Listen Later Nov 6, 2018 41:18


Cats! You love them, even though they do terrible things to your home. What kinds of terrible things? Well, in this episode, Jolie answers listener questions about cat vomit and cat pee and what to do when they befoul your carpeting. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Ep141 — Hallowe'en 2018, pt.2

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 30, 2018 37:20


It's Hallowe'en, and in this spirited episode of Ask a Clean Person, Jolie talks about what to do when a pumpkin or some other kind of decorative gourd goes rotten in or on your home. She also offers up advice on how to clean a furry costume, for all you Sexy Grittys out there. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Ep140 — Hallowe'en 2018, pt.1

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 23, 2018 39:29


It's Hallowe'en, and in this spirited episode of Ask a Clean Person, Jolie explains how to wash delicate costumes — from corsets, to tulle, to those novelty tights — so you can get more wear out of them, either this season or for future dress-up occasions. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Ep139 — The Hockey Gear Ep

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 16, 2018 57:43


It's Jolie's favorite cleaning topic: Hockey gear! On this episode, Jolie talks about how to wash, dry and deodorize pads so that they don't smell like iced-over death. If you play any sport that requires protective fear that gets rank-smelling — from roller derby to lacrosse to boxing — this is the show for you! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Ep138 — Sweatah Weathah

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 9, 2018 38:42


It's fall, and Jolie is celebrating the advent of Sweater Weather with an episode all about your woolens! In this episode, Jolie explains how to wash sweaters at home and save on dry cleaning, and talks about some of her favorite de-pilling tools. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Ep137 — The Tailgate Ep

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 2, 2018 48:38


It's football season, and football season means tailgate parties! In this episode, Jolie talks about how to clean a cooler that's gone foul, caring for charcoal grills and how to transport a hibachi grill without making a huge mess of your car. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Ep136 — LAUNDRY SCHOOL: The 'Yup, That Can Be Washed' Ep

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 25, 2018 34:26


It's time to go back to school, Ask a Clean Person-style! In this episode, Jolie talks about all the stuff you can wash in a washing machine — from tote bags to sneakers to shower curtain liners. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Ep135 — LAUNDRY SCHOOL: The Machines Ep

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 18, 2018 54:36


It's time to go back to school, Ask a Clean Person-style! In this episode, Jolie explains everything you could want to know about how washers and dryers work, what the different settings mean, how to clean a washer and some important safety stuff about dryers. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Ep134 — LAUNDRY SCHOOL: The Pit Stain Ep

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 11, 2018 43:03


It's time to go back to school, Ask a Clean Person-style! In this episode, Jolie tackles the dreaded pit stains — why they happen, how to keep them from ruining your shirts, and how to reverse that ugly yellow staining when it does. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

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