def multi_replace(instr, search_list=[], repl_list=None):
    """
    Does a string replace with a list of search and replacements

    TODO: rename
    """
    repl_list = [''] * len(search_list) if repl_list is None else repl_list
    for ser, repl in zip(search_list, repl_list):
        instr = instr.replace(ser, repl)
    return instr