Finding the Self-service Laundromat

The first step in ensuring a professional self-service laundry experience is finding the right facility for your needs. Start by conducting research or seeking recommendations from friends and neighbors. Look for a facility that’s well-maintained and equipped with modern machines. Check out customer reviews or testimonials to gain insight into their experiences. By doing research, you can select a facility that meets your expectations.

Understanding Laundry Symbols

Before you visit a self-service laundromat, it’s important to have an understanding of symbols.

These symbols can be found on the labels of your clothing. They give instructions on how to wash, dry, and iron them. It’s important to familiarize yourself with these symbols so that you can avoid any accidents that might damage your clothes. Some common symbols include those for machine washing, hand washing, tumble drying, and ironing. It’s always an idea to keep a cheat sheet, or a laundry symbol guide handy until you get more comfortable with them.

Sorting Your Laundry

When you arrive at the self-service laundry facility, the next step is to sort your laundry. Sorting helps prevent colors from bleeding and ensures that each load gets the treatment. Start by separating your laundry into categories: whites, lights, and darks. This way, you’ll be able to adjust the water temperature and detergent for the results with each load.

Choosing the Right Detergent

Having the detergent is crucial for achieving fresh-smelling laundry. Most self-service laundry facilities offer detergent for purchase. You’re also welcome to bring your own. Choose a detergent that suits your clothes and consider any needs, like sensitivities to fragrances or allergies. A detergent with added stain remover can also come in handy when dealing with stains.

Make sure to read and follow the instructions provided on the detergent packaging to determine the amount to use based on your load size.

Loading the Washing Machines

Now that you have sorted your laundry and chosen the detergent, it’s time to load the washing machines. Ensure that there is space for your clothes to move freely inside without cramming them, which could hinder a cleaning. Spread out the detergent evenly within the machine, then securely close the lid or door before starting the cycle. If you need clarification on which cycle to select, feel free to ask a staff member for guidance or refer to any instructions posted in the facility.

Using Dryers Efficiently

Once your laundry is clean, transfer it into the dryer. Remember to remove any items that should not be tumble-dried, such as fabrics or those prone to shrinking. Give each item a shake before placing it in the dryer in order to minimize wrinkling. It’s important not to overload the dryer as this can lead to uneven drying and extended drying time. Select a drying cycle based on fabric type. Start the machine. Regularly. Remove items that dry faster than others in order to prevent overheating or wrinkles.

Folding and Wrapping Up

Congratulations! Your clothes are all clean and dry. Now, it’s time to fold and put them away. Look for a surface where you can lay out your clothes for folding. Take your time. Fold each item nicely to avoid any wrinkles and keep things organized. Invest in storage solutions, like baskets, hanging racks, or drawer dividers, to help keep your clothes organized once you bring them home.

In conclusion

Doing laundry at a self-service laundromat can be manageable. By following this beginner’s guide, you can make laundry day stress-free and convenient. Remember to choose the facility, understand the symbols on clothing labels, sort your laundry properly, choose the detergent, load the machines efficiently, use the dryers correctly, and take care when folding and storing your clothes afterward. With these tips in mind, you’ll become a pro at doing laundry in no time!

The post Laundry Made Easy: A Beginner’s Guide to Self-Service Laundry Facilities appeared first on .

By taking advantage of a professional laundry service, you can save yourself time and energy while still getting your clothes clean and looking good.

What Is Wash & Fold Laundry Service?

Professional wash and fold laundry Houston services provide wash, dry, and professionally fold all your dirty clothes for you. You simply drop off your items at the store or use their pickup service; then, they will take care of everything else from there. Depending on the company you choose, some may even provide additional services such as ironing or stain removal as well. By availing professional wash and fold laundry services, all you have to do is take clothes home and keep them in your wardrobe. Simple, right?

Benefits of Using a Professional Wash & Fold Laundry Service

Using an experienced wash & fold laundry service has many benefits that make it worth considering:

 – Time Savings: One of the biggest advantages to using a professional wash & fold service is that it saves you time by eliminating tedious tasks like sorting through piles of dirty clothes or standing over an ironing board for hours at a time. Plus, most companies offer same-day or next-day turnaround times, so you don’t have to wait long for your freshly washed items to be returned to you!

 – Quality Assurance: Professional cleaners know how to properly care for all types of fabrics; this means no more worries about shrinking delicate garments or fading colors due to incorrect washing temperatures or harsh detergents used in home washers/dryers. Additionally, as professionals take care of your clothes, there are fewer chances of fabric damage in the long run. Plus, with professionals folding your clothes, they come back looking neat and wrinkle-free every single time!

 – Convenience: Many laundromats require customers to bring their own detergent/fabric softener/bleach etc., but when using a professional wash & fold service, these are all included in the price. Some companies even offer pickup/delivery options that allow customers to drop off their items without ever having to leave home—perfect for those short on free time!

 – Cost-Effective: While using an outside cleaning service may seem expensive at first glance (especially if you’re used to doing it yourself), once all fees are taken into consideration (including purchasing supplies), it often works out cheaper than doing it alone—especially if multiple loads need washing each week!

Finding Houston’s Best Wash & Fold Laundry Services 

When searching for quality wash & fold services in Houston, there are three key factors you should consider before making any decisions: reputation, pricing structure (flat fee vs. per item), and customer reviews/testimonials from previous clients (if available). Reputation is important because reputable companies typically have been around longer, which usually means more experience dealing with different types of fabrics as well as better customer service. The pricing structure is important because some businesses charge flat rates while others charge per item, which could affect how much money needs to be spent depending on how much washing needs to be done. Finally, customer reviews/testimonials can give insight into what past customers thought about their experience with said business—were they satisfied? Did they receive good value? etc.—which could help inform any future decisions made by potential new customers alike. So before selecting any wash and fold laundry service in Houston, measure its services on the factors mentioned above.

Conclusion

For busy people looking for reliable yet affordable ways to keep up with their weekly laundry routine without sacrificing valuable time, wash and fold laundry services is all you need. In case you are searching for one, Houston’s best wash & fold services might be just what’s needed! With so many different options available today, researching beforehand is essential when picking out the perfect provider, as reputation matters greatly when committing long-term. So make sure to do thorough research before deciding which one best fits your requirements and budget.

The post Houston’s Best Wash and Fold Laundry Service for Busy People appeared first on .

Or, if you want to get into the chemistry of it, the molecules in soap include a “free end” that is attractive to fat molecules. In other words, soap scum is really just a combination of soap and fat (that may be worse in the presence of hard water). Paradoxically, the more soap you use, the less likely you are to have soap scum. Most people use enough soap to remove fat from themselves or their dishes, but not enough to react with all of the fat. The fat that is freed has nowhere to go but the side of the tub or sink!

Of course, defining soap scum isn’t the problem. Getting rid of it is. One of the key steps in reducing or eliminating soap scum is prevention. When you get out of the shower or bath, wipe down the tub or shower stall. Alternately, there are some daily shower cleaners that you can use. Spray them on surfaces in the tub or shower to keep soap scum at bay. Ideally, you should use this method after a thorough cleaning.

Some people also claim that switching from fatty, creamy bar soaps to liquid body wash gels reduces the amount of soap scum you produce. Based on personal experience I can agree with that statement. Of course, anyone with an environmental conscience might cringe at the thought of all those bottles needing recycling, so this option may not be for everyone.

Another method of prevention that has some proponents is the application of furniture or car wax to the walls and tub to prevent the soap scum from sticking. This method doesn’t appeal to me – it sounds slippery and I’d also worry about wax discoloring the grout between tiles – but some people swear by it.

If it’s too late for you to prevent the problem, you’ll need to work a littler harder. Because of its fat content, soap scum can be removed by anything that dissolves fat. Many commercial products contain sodium hydroxide or ammonia, both of which dissolve fat but are hard on the skin and require the use of gloves.

Looking for something a little gentler? There is a non-toxic product called Krud Kutter that has garnered good reviews. Or you can whip up a cleaner from products you probably have in your home.

Most commercial soap scum removers contain an abrasive to help scrub away the residue. You can create your own abrasive by mixing some baking soda with water to create a paste. Apply this paste and let it stand for ten minutes before rinsing thoroughly.

And what list of homemade cleaners would be complete without vinegar? You should use vinegar full strength for this job. Pour it in a spray bottle and douse the shower or tub. Let it stand for a few minutes, or longer if the soap scum has been there for a while, and then wipe clean.

No time to create your own cleaner? Dryer sheets seem to have a good reputation when it comes to removing soap scum. Just use them as you would any rag to wipe down the walls and tub. But, you may want to read about the possible health effects of fabric softeners before you try this option.

The post Cleaning Soap Scum appeared first on .

• Make sure that the pens we put in our pockets have their caps on
• Not buy cheap pens that bleed

Not use our pockets to put pens in (we’d put them on top of our ears like construction workers do)

Alas, this isn’t a perfect world, and as humans we tend to leave our brains behind. That’s why disasters like ink stains happen almost everyday. If we’d venture a guess, we bet our top dollar that an ink stain happens every 1.2 seconds around the world.

There are many suggestions for removing ink stains from clothing. We’ll provide a handful so if the first method doesn’t work, try method 2 and then method 3 and so on. Before removing any ink stains from clothing, read the care labels. There will be pieces of ink-stained clothing that are best left to professional dry cleaners.

Various Methods for Removing Ink Stains from Clothing

Method 1:This is the simplest method. Lay your ink-stained clothing on a white dry towel. Apply a few drops of water to the stain. Let it rest for 5 minutes then gently blot the stain with a white clean rag or cloth. A white blotting cloth is best because it will show you how much ink is coming off. Continue blotting until the stain is completely removed.

Method 2:Follow the same steps in method 1 except this time use hot water.

Method 3:Again, follow the steps in method 1, this time using alcohol. Use a clean white towel to blot off the stain with gentle dabs. The stain should come off and the cloth should be ready for the usual laundering.

Method 4:If none of the first 3 methods work, try using nail polish remover. Gently paint over the stain with the brush. Blot off the stain.

Method 5:
Take detergent powder or liquid and apply on the stained area. Leave for 5 minutes and then rub, causing slight friction. The stain should come off.

Method 6:
This method calls for more “ingredients.” Prepare a clean white cloth (a light-colored one will do as well), bleach, dish-washing detergent, vinegar, alcohol, and water. Mix your water (1 cup) and dish-washing detergent (1 tbsp). Set aside. Rinse the ink-stained spot. Then apply your water/detergent solution on the spot. Add a few drops of vinegar.

Wait 30 minutes. From time to time, blot the stain with your clean cloth. When the 30 minutes are up, rinse the spot which you worked on. Next, put a few drops of alcohol and blot the stain with your clean cloth. Use another area of your cloth to blot so you see how much ink has come off. When dry, add more water and more detergent. If there are still traces of the stain, apply ammonia with a bit of detergent and wait 30 minutes. Rinse.

If the stain is proving to be a stubborn one, use your bleach pen but don’t let the bleach dry on the stain. Wait a few minutes and then rinse with water.

Method 7:
Try using glycerin this time. Rinse the stain with glycerin and then apply a bit of detergent and ammonia. If the stain is still there, use your bleach pen and then rinse completely.

Method 8:The final alternative: use hair spray! Then blot with a cloth or paper towel.

Note that not one method is the best one. A lot will depend on your type of fabric and on your type of ink. The methods above are generally for water-based ink. There are certain types of ink (e.g. dye ink, pigment ink or permanent inks) that will require the use of special agents which only professional cleaners know about. So if you have an expensive fabric and you don’t want to take the chance, let the pros take care of your problem. It will save you precious time and effort plus spare you from frustration.

Removing Ink Stains from Clothing (discussion forums)

Reading about other people’s experiences can also add to our inventory of ideas on how to remove ink stains from clothing. For instance, a famous detergent manufacturer created a discussion forum where everyone can share their tips on removing different kinds of stains. We selected “ink stains” and here are some of the ideas we found:

Apply alcohol on the stain and blot with paper towel. Use Tide Liquid to pre-treat and then launder as usual.

Use OxyClean or Shout.

A bowl of milk? Someone said she soaked the stained spot on a small bowl of milk. It removed most – not all – of the stain so it wasn’t a perfect job.

WD-40 will work like magic according to one poster. Spray on the stain, wait 30-40 minutes then launder as usual.

Use Dawn dish-washing detergent

If you have a permanent black ink stain on a cotton shirt, you’ll need the same ingredients mentioned in the first 7 methods. Permanent blank ink is used by calligraphers so getting a stain from this type of ink is a little different. But it will come off as long as you act quickly.

You’ll need:

A white thick towel (to put right under the stain and to avoid the back of the fabric from getting stained as well. Make sure the towel is thick enough to avoid this contamination or “leak.”), hairspray, alcohol, baking soda, acetone (nail polish remover), cotton balls or Q-tips.

Lay your cotton shirt on a flat surface and put the thick towel underneath the stain (not under the shirt). Squirt some hairspray into the stain. Wait for a minute and then blot the stain with cotton (do not rub). Hairspray contains certain chemicals that will loosen the stain particles. If the stain persists, dab the stain with alcohol using a cotton ball or Q-tip. Keep repeating this step until the stain comes off.

If your efforts are not paying off, mix water and baking soda to make a loose paste and apply on stain. Blot, blot, blot.

Last resort: use nail polish remover.

For ink stains that are old, try Oxy-Clean. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions and then launder as usual!

The post How to Remove Ink Stains from Clothing appeared first on .

Better to be safe than sorry. After all, we’ve heard stories about how the regular use of bleach in the home can lead to respiratory problems, headaches, dizziness, and even diminishing mental clarity. We even read online that a boy’s handwriting became erratic; he could not concentrate on his homework because he was inhaling the bleach from the vents in his bedroom which was connected to the laundry room.

So how do we bring back that sparkling white and shine to our clothes without using bleach?

1. Lemons, anyone? On a good day when lemons are overflowing on the shelves of our local supermarket, and are selling for 99 cents/dozen, why not purchase a bagful and leave some aside for your laundry needs. When you have soiled laundry and need to whiten it, cut up some lemons and throw them into a tub of hot water. Let them soak for an hour or two and then wash them as you would normally do. For badly-soiled clothes, boil some water and soak your clothes with several slices of lemons. Leave them overnight. Next morning, wash them and then smell that clean! And they’ll come out brighter too!
2. Baking soda – it’s amazing that what we keep in our kitchen cupboards can also be stored in the laundry room. Throw a cupful of baking soda into the wash and enjoy the whiteness and hygienic smell of your clothes. Baking soda does a wonderful job of maintaining pH balance because it neutralizes acids and bases. It works well when you also want to eliminate odors from the kitchen and your shoe cabinet. This inexpensive solution is a true deodorizer and cleanser; we have yet to hear about any adverse effects it can potentially cause. So go ahead, whiten your clothes without using bleach because baking soda is all you’ll ever need.
3. Natural sunshine should do it, folks – this seems to be a frequent advice from people who believe in hanging their clothes out in the sun to make them brighter and cleaner. It’s your natural vitamin D at work! We’re bombarded everyday with ads about “the fresh smell of spring” and “mountain air cleanness” which commercial products promise to deliver, so we tend to forget that Mother Nature can do as good a job if not better. Besides, by line drying our clothes, not only will they appear whiter, but they’ll last longer as well. So let the sun and wind caress your clothes back to their original color!
4. White vinegar for whiter clothes – here’s another inexpensive way to whiten your clothes without using bleach. When you start a wash, use your detergent as usual but add ½ cup to 1 cup of white vinegar. Don’t worry about the smell. It will be there only initially. Once you put your clothes into the dryer, the vinegar smell will disappear and your clothes will come out cleaner, whiter, and safer to wear. Vinegar is a powerful disinfectant. We use it to clean our coffee brewers once every quarter and it beats using dishwashing liquid. It does the same for your clothes. In fact, another tip is to substitute your regular fabric softener with white vinegar.
5. Dishwashing liquid – many homemakers have said how they’ve used dishwashing liquid when they ran out of laundry detergent, but be careful about how much you put in. You might get a laundry room filled with floating suds! To whiten your clothes, pour about ¼ cup of dishwashing liquid into the tub along with your regular laundry detergent. Use warm water. Dishwashing liquid apparently has some whitening chemicals in them. Someone also suggested Cascade which she calls a great detergent booster that never fails.

Safe Homemade Bleach

If you no longer wish to use Clorox because you’re concerned about your family’s health, you can make your own homemade bleach. We did our homework and found one “recipe” you can try.

Ingredients:

• 1-1/2 cups of hydrogen peroxide – you can buy hydrogen peroxide from any drug store
• Fresh lemons – about five tablespoons
• ½ gallon of lukewarm water

Procedure:

Mix all three ingredients but do not overmix. Just make sure they’re blended well. Pour this mixture into individual glass containers with tight lids. Stick date labels on each container. They’ll be effective for three months. When you run out, make a new batch. Use this homemade bleach the same way you used your old bleach product.

Word of caution: use only 3% hydrogen peroxide. This is the percentage that’s sold by retailers. Make sure this percentage is stated on the label. Anything higher can be dangerous for home and health.

Hydrogen peroxide works best on white clothing but you may want to try using it on darker clothes…with caution.

For dark color clothing, the combination of vinegar and baking soda is effective. Use 1 cup of vinegar and ¼ cup of baking soda and pour them straight into your clothes when you turn on your washer. Since vinegar is acid, it “eats” away at the stains, dirt and grime. The baking soda will produce a bubbling action which will boost the action of the vinegar, leaving your clothes disinfected, squeaky clean, and cloudy white!

“Now they show you how detergents take out bloodstains, a pretty violent image there. I think if you’ve got a T-shirt with a bloodstain all over it, maybe laundry isn’t your biggest problem. Maybe you should get rid of the body before you do the wash.”
(Jerry Seinfeld)

The post How to Whiten Clothing without Using Bleach appeared first on .

You obviously want to keep that beautiful red color on your lips and not on your beau’s collar, but that’s hard to do sometimes. And unfortunately, when your lipstick ends up somewhere it doesn’t belong, you’re probably engaged in a social situation. You may not notice the stain or you may not have time to deal with it. But the sooner you confront that smudge, the better. You don’t want to give it a second to sink into the fabric. Even if the lipstick stain is let off the hook for a period of time, however, that doesn’t mean there’s not hope.

So here’s what you should do when you discover a rosy smudge of lipstick on a shirt:

First off, gently dab the lipstick stain. But not with mere water. Instead, apply an alcohol swab to the fabric. If you don’t have alcohol on hand, however, cold water will do.

Now, you can really attack that stain! Grab less than a handful of clothes detergent and and with just one finger, rub it into that annoying blotch. Remember that certain detergents are more adept to chase away those lipstick stains, as lipstick is oil-based; thus, products that fight grease specifically are ideal. Dawn detergent is great for fighting lipstick.

Your lip-stick stained clothes are now ready to be tossed in the clothes washer. Use the normal settings for washing and drying; however, if you have the time, wash the fabric with your hands in warm, soapy water and don’t stick the shirt in the machine dryer either. It’s probably better that you let the air dry it, rather than the machine.

There are two other home remedies that are largely unknown. Both ammonia and hairspray sometimes do the trick! If you choose to get at the stain with hairspray, let the spray sit on the stain for about 10 minutes before you wipe the stain away and then finally wash the clothes.

Here are some important things to keep in mind as you try to kiss goodbye that lipstick stain. First of all, a gentle touch is key. If you rub the stain, you might simply rub it more deeply into the fabric! So don’t get too aggressive; patience is important.

As well, if you have a garment that’s labeled “dry clean only,” don’t bother with any of this! In fact, if you do, you’ll only make it harder on the dry cleaners when you do finally surrender and ask them to handle the pesky blotch.

If none of these tips work for you, you might just have to give in and make a trip to the dry cleaners. If you want to be assured that the stain is taken care of, talk to your dry cleaner about your specific problem.

But if you still are insistent on doing it yourself, there are other mightier products you can turn to that will scare those stains silly. Some fabric cleaners are designed to combat oil-based stains, so in addition to making those lipstick stains disappear, stains from crayons, tar, paint, and even chewing gum can be removed with them. (Clearly, clothes aren’t these cleaner’s only concern! Nothing is off limits really, from carpets to construction tools, these products are miracle workers.) One example of this is the popular Motsenbocker’s Lift Off #2. But there are others, like Xenit and Kleen-Touch. With many of these commercial products, you will still use the steps listed above; but at least this time around, you’ll have a little extra help on hand!

So, now you can apply that lipstick as liberally as you like, without worrying about it traveling to places it doesn’t belong. After all, you’ve got a game plan to chase off those nasty stains if it does! And they really aren’t impossible to get rid of as you might have originally thought. As long as know what to do, you will be in control and your clothes will always be fresh and clean.

The post Removing Lipstick Stains – Apply an Alcohol Swab to the Fabric appeared first on .

The only problem with regular use of bleach is that it can weaken fabrics and make them dull-looking because their colors tend to fade faster.

The general rule of thumb: read your clothing labels before using bleach. If the label says “do not bleach”, skip it!

But what is bleach exactly?

Answer: it is a chemical that whitens or removes stains through the process of oxidation. Bleach oxidizes the food stains (breaks them down into smaller components) so the stains come off more easily.

Types of Bleach

Most people are familiar with the two kinds of bleach:

Chlorine bleach – perhaps the most effective kind of bleach in the market these days. It contains about 5% of sodium hypochloride. Given its powerful action, it should first be diluted before it comes in contact with fabric. It comes in powder and liquid form. Liquid is more popular among bleach users. Chlorine bleach is also used to disinfect and sanitize other household items like kitchen counter tops and toilets.

All fabric bleach or oxygen bleach – this is bleach that is strictly for clothing, although people have used it to clean surfaces with some success. Oxygen bleach is less toxic than chlorine bleach. Even if it is labeled “all fabric” people have used it to disinfect surfaces in the home because of its hydrogen peroxide content. Two popular brands are Clorox and Legacy of Clean. The manufacturer of Legacy of Clean states that no chlorine is used because it harnesses the power of oxygen and minerals to whiten clothes and remove stains. It will also not irritate skin because it is dermatologically tested. This type of all-fabric bleach does not contain phosphates or other chemicals considered harmful to the environment. There are good reviews online for Legacy of Clean all fabric bleach. Oxygen bleach is best when used with hot water.

Using Bleach to Whiten Clothing: Instructions

Step 1: read the clothing label. If bleaching is allowed, go on to step 2.

Step 2: read the bleach manufacturer’s instructions. You will need to dilute the bleach as instructed.

Step 3: Turn on the wash cycle and then add your usual laundry detergent.

Step 4: When the wash cycle has been activated, wait five minutes and then add your bleach. The bleach has to blend well with the water and soap. Add it when the water turns soapy. Put in your clothes. (Note: it is important that the bleach is not applied directly on clothing).

Step 5: Let the laundry cycle finish.

Step 6: As soon as the laundry cycle is complete, check immediately for any color changes. If you notice any changes, rinse immediately by hand or repeat the laundry cycle without adding any detergent or bleach.

Tips for Using Bleach to Whiten Clothing

First tip: If you don’t use bleach to white your clothes that often, buy a smaller jug. Liquid chlorine bleach has a limited shelf life – six months maximum. If you use bleach that is more than six months old, it may not remove the stains as effectively.

Second tip: There is no conclusive evidence that chlorine bleach is harmful to health – although we would not recommend that you sniff it or put it in direct contact with skin too often. There was some controversy 30 years ago about the presence of dioxins which are byproducts of the chemical manufacturing process. Chlorine bleach does not contain dioxins because dioxins only come about in gaseous states. Be cautious, however because chlorine gas can form if it comes into contact with acid. This is why some chlorine product labels warn against combining chlorine with say, toilet bowl cleaners, or any products that contain acid.

Third tip: to make whites whiter, do as the Dutch did in the Middle Ages. Let your bleached clothes dry out in the sun. History tells us that the Netherlands pioneered a process called crofting. Crofting is carried out by spreading out fabrics in large open spaces for maximum exposure to the sun. In fact, Scottish textile manufacturers would ship their fabrics to Netherlands for bleaching. This process was common well before the Swedes discovered chlorine in 1774.

Fourth tip: if you’re looking for chlorine that also disinfects and kills germs, read the labels carefully. Some chlorine products will say “disinfects and kills germs.” If this does not appear on the label, don’t expect your chlorine bleach to disinfect. The Clorox line of products has a bleach that also disinfects.

Fifth tip: Chlorine bleach is chlorine, which means it is the same chlorine in your pool and in your drinking water. But if you don’t want chlorine in your water, put your drinking water in a container with a loose cover and let it stay in the refrigerator for a couple of days. The chlorine will disappear.

Sixth tip: never mix your bleach with ammonia. It will produce toxic fumes which will make you ill.

Seventh tip: to test for fabric safety because the clothing label has been torn off, mix one part bleach to two parts warm water. Using a Q-tip, apply this on an area of the fabric that is not visible – like an inside seam or the inside folds in the collar. Let it dry. If the fabric changes color, do NOT use bleach on this fabric!

The post Using Bleach to Whiten Clothing appeared first on .

According to Proctor & Gamble, the average family washes between 300 and 400 loads of laundry per year. This equates to nearly 7 weeks per week. However if you have multiple children living in your household, or have kids that participate in extra curricular activities, you are likely washing anywhere from 10 – 15 loads per week. And no matter how much you encourage children to air-dry shower towels rather than throw them in the hamper, or to hang up clothes that are still clean rather than toss them into a pile on the floor – chances are your teen is not listening. This encourages the question, should your teen wash his or her own clothing? Would requiring them to be in charge of their laundry be a responsible way to teach them how to take care of themselves in the future, and would it quite possibly, encourage them to be less flighty when it comes to tossing clothes in the laundry basket?

The reality is that with the technology involved in today’s washing machines and dryers – laundry really isn’t that much of a chore. What is a chore is separating clothing, drying the clothes, removing them from the dryer and putting them up before they become a wrinkled haggard mess. One of the reasons enlisting your teen to help with the laundry chore is because it will definitely teach them how to follow through on a task. For instance, its one thing to simply throw the clothes in the washing machine with some detergent and press a button to turn it on, but it’s altogether different to remember to take it out before it turns musty, dry it and put it away.

Additionally, your children will at some point be responsible for themselves. Raising a child who cannot wash their own clothes is no way to prepare them for life. Washing clothes is a household chore that won’t likely change much in the decades to come. If a teenager can handle the intricate technology of a computer, smart phone, and figure out how to master the highest level of a tricky video game – then they certainly are qualified to learn the inner workings of a washer and dryer.

It is also true that making your child responsible for ALL of their laundry – will make them appreciate the clean clothes that you have provided for them over the years. It won’t take your teen long to realize that the laundry chore is a constant in life. And due to their inherent slacking nature, your teen will quickly find ways to ‘lessen the loads’ they are forced to wash. Who knows, they might come up with a system where they reuse the same hair towel after their shower for a week. Or, they might be more careful about spilling spaghetti sauce on their favorite shirt, or staining their jeans with grass and red clay when they realize that mom and dad won’t be there to do the laundry.

Your child is fully capable of laundry duties around the age of 10 – 12. When you first make your child in charge of laundry, it is important to give them a workable system. This includes giving them their own laundry basket – in their own room! This way, you won’t be tempted to toss their clothes in when you notice the bathroom hamper overflowing with underwear. If you are a stickler for sorting clothes by color – then buy your children one of those hampers that has three divided sections where they can toss in the different loads of clothes. Next up, is to prepare them an informational sheet that teaches them what kind of clothes to wash in which water temperature. Again, today’s washers are pretty easy to figure out – and many of them make it incredibly simple to find the right wash cycle. Last but certainly not least, hand the entire job over to your child! Once you have provided them with the information and given them a walk through on how to use the equipment, let it go. If they wake up one morning and don’t have any clean underwear to wear to school, then so be it! It really isn’t your problem. And going to school without underwear one day, or being forced to wear dirty jeans or a smelly shirt goes a long way in teaching your teen responsibility!

Laundry really is a family affair. While you might not want your 5 or 6 year old touching your expensive washer and dryer – the truth is that even at that age, they are able to help with laundry duties. Kids should be empowered to sort out laundry, re-use towels when necessary, put dirty laundry in laundry baskets, as well as help unload the washer and dryer and fold and put away clothes. If you enlist their help from a young age, by the time they are 10, they will likely be able to handle laundry responsibilities on their own – and may even be able to help do some of YOUR laundry. This can help the function of the family run much more smoothly, and can save you from weekends of facing mountainous piles of laundry.

Bottom line is this! Everyone wears the clothes and uses the towels, sheets and covers in the home, and EVERYONE, should take part in caring for them. If you aren’t handing over some of this responsibility to your kids, you have little room to complain because THEY ARE CAPABLE!

The post Should Your Teen Wash His or Her Own Clothing appeared first on .

The second step is to identify the type of stain. Different stains require different treatments and products. This should be an easy task. Anyone will recognize ketchup stains from butter stains, and wine stains from grape juice stains.

Maybe we should have said three steps. The third step is of course to act quickly! As soon as your clothing gets a stain, don’t let it dry up and settle. The longer it’s been there, the harder it will be to remove.

While we recommended taking stained velvets and silks to a dry cleaner, you can remove stains on other types of fabrics with products that are already in your cupboard and laundry room.

So let’s get right down to removing stains from clothing that you can do yourself:

Stains on leather

People think that when leather is stained, a professional should remove it. Not quite. You can remove stains on leather with club soda. You need an old but clean toothbrush. Simply remove the stain by using the toothbrush and scrubbing it with a back and forth motion. Use gentle strokes.

Gum stains

If the piece of gum has been sitting on the fabric for a long time, try freezing it and then when it’s rock hard, try scraping away at the gum little by little. That’s the first method. If that doesn’t work, try the second method: apply egg white on the stain.

Ketchup Stains

This is one type of stain where you need to act quickly. Glycerine, a bit of detergent and water should do the trick. Follow these steps.

• Run cold water on the stain. Some people say a more effective way is to run water from behind the stain. This has the effect of pushing the stain out.
• Gently rub a bit of detergent on the stain.
• If the fabric is white and you’ve tested it for colorfastness, use a few drops of vinegar and sponge-rub the stain. You can also use hydrogen peroxide or fresh lemon juice.
• Apply detergent again until the ketchup disappears.
• If the stain is still there, rub the stain with a stain remover stick, gel or spray and leave it for five minutes. Launder as usual.
• And if you still have no luck, don’t despair. Take your detergent and rub it on the stain. Soak the fabric in warm water for 30 minutes and rinse well.
• Stain still there? Why not visit your dry cleaner. Tell him what steps you’ve taken so he’ll know what to do next.

Butter stains

Butter is one of those stubborn stains that can easily frustrate us. But if there’s a will, there’s a way. The way is to have a sponge, warm water, your usual shampoo and a grease solvent (people have used WD-40 and say it’s a great de-greaser even on clothing, but test spot first). Spray the grease solvent into the stain and let it dry. Soak your sponge in warm water and rub gently on the stain adding a bit of shampoo. Then lift the stain off.

Blood stains

If you have fresh blood stains on non-washable fabric, blot the stains with a damp sponge soaked in cold water. When you blot the fabric, the sponge should not be soaking wet, just sufficiently damp. If you acted quickly when the blood stains occured, this method should do it. If the stains persist, use a few drops of ammonia with a spotter. (Don’t use ammonia on wool or silk though because you’ll ruin your fabric). Then dry.

If you have blood stains on washable fabric, fresh stains will come off easily when laundered in the usual manner. If the stains have set, try soaking the fabric in warm water, dishwashing or laundry detergent and ammonia. Leave for 15 minutes. Then launder as you would normally do.

Chocolate stains

Chocolate stains are better handled when they have dried up on clothing. You can speed up this process by putting the garment in the fridge. Once the chocolate has hardened, take the garment out of the fridge and start scraping away at the chocolate with a knife (be careful not to make a tear in the garment). Use hot water (as hot as you can get it) and let it run from behind the stain to push out the chocolate. Take your detergent and apply it on the stain. Leave it there for 10 minutes. Fold over the stain and rub the fabric to produce agitation and friction on the stain. Rinse with hot water. No more chocolate!

Coffee stains

Using cold water, rinse that area from behind where the coffee stain is. Use a liquid detergent and apply a few drops on the stain. Leave it on for 10 minutes. If the coffee stain is old, let the detergent sit on the stain longer – about 30 minutes. Rinse the area thoroughly.

If the coffee stains persist, take liquid detergent and soak the fabric in warm water for 10-15 minutes. Or else apply a stain remover or gel/spray and let it stand for 5 minutes. Launder as usual (but do read washing instructions first!).

There’s another way to removing coffee stains from clothing but it’s a little more cumbersome. If you spill black coffee, dab quickly with cold water. Place an absorbent cloth underneath the stain so when you rub on the stain it does not spread to other parts of the fabric. Sprinkle baking soda over the stain to absorb excess moisture. Remove excess baking soda. Then mix one cup of vinegar, 1 tbsp of dishwashing or laundry detergent and ½ cup of cold water. Using a cloth or sponge, soak this into the vinegar mixture and dab gently on the coffee stain. Do not rub too vigorously. Let it stand for 15 minutes and then launder as usual (read the care label instructions first!).

The post Removing Stains from Clothing appeared first on .

Respect for the environment and preservation of natural resources – that’s the mantra that governs our lives these days. And that mantra could very well save our planet so future generations can enjoy the bounty of Mother Nature, as the saying goes.

Characteristics of Energy Efficient Washing Machines

Energy Star® is a label that’s prominently displayed on most appliances and household goods. It’s the internationally accepted symbol that signifies that the product you’re buying has passed government standards for Energy Star® certification. Enlightened consumers who buy anything from a simple electric switch to a major appliance now look for this symbol. It’s their way of saying, “yes we care about the environment.”

But apart from the Energy Star® symbol, what makes washing machines energy efficient? What are their characteristics?

A visit to the government’s natural resources web site gives us an idea of things to look for when buying energy efficient washing machines. It also produces a list of Energy Star® certified washing machines that can be purchased from your local appliance retailer.

In 1990, washing machines were “energy-holics”, using up to 1,218 kilowatt hours per year. In 2003, that consumption went down to 883. But did you know that machines with the Energy Star® sticker consume only 296 kilowatt hours per year? If you compare this number with 1,218 and 883, you’ll realize why you’d want to own only the most energy-efficient appliances even if it means paying a few more dollars for them.

When shopping for energy efficient washing machines, watch out for these features:

• Flexible water fill controls
• More options for cold water rinsing
• For the “warm” setting, usage of less hot water and more cold water
• Good mixing valves
• Increased spinning speed
• Does it use Ultrasonic technology
• Energy Star® sticker – this means that the machine uses 40% less water and 50% less energy. They also require a lower amount of detergent.

Before buying your next washing machine, ask the sales representative if there are more water controls or if the machine comes with a small load basket. This allows you to use less water for smaller laundry loads.

Ask the salesman about the machine’s EnerGuide rating. The lowest rating is usually the best. The EnerGuide black and white label is an initiative of the Government of Canada which provides five key points about the product:

• Average energy consumption in kilowatt hours per year
• Energy efficiency rating of the appliance compared to similar models
• Annual energy consumption range for models of the type and size of machine you’re purchasing
• Type and size of the model
• Model number

The EnerGuide label is frequently displayed on appliances along with the EnergyStar® symbol.

Tips for Buying Energy Efficient Washing Machines

Tip # 1. Consider front load machines. They might be more awkward because you’d have to bend to load your laundry, but they’re huge energy savers. One reason is because they don’t have agitators. The agitation is done by gravity when the tub is spinning. That’s a bonus because that equates to lower wear and tear on your clothes.

Tip # 2. If you’re single and don’t have large loads of laundry, consider compact-size machines. They use less water.

Tip # 3. Look for machines that are equipped with sensors. These sensors enable the machine to “read” how large a load you have and based on that will automatically choose the appropriate amount of water required for the wash.

Tip # 4. Look also for advanced high speed motors. They reduce spinning time since they extract more water from the clothes within a shorter time, reducing the energy required to dry them in the dryer.

Tip # 5. If your family generates substantial laundry, buy a large capacity machine because this enables you to do more clothes per laundry session. It also enables you to reduce the frequency of doing laundry. While large capacity washers may use more energy, you’d actually be cutting the number of times you have to do laundry per week because you can load more clothes each time, instead of repeating full cycles.

Tip # 6. Select machines that come with several programmed cycles and water levels. These options allow you to save on two valuable resources: electricity and water. For instance, if your clothes aren’t very dirty, choose a gentle cycle, and if you have a small load, go for less water by choosing “small.” This way the machine will not spend those extra minutes filling the tub with water to the max. As a corollary, choose a machine with a load sensor. It does the thinking for you. If you have a small load, it spews out just the right amount of water for that particular load.

Tip # 7. Be selective about washing temperatures. Again, if your clothes are not that dirty or have no problematic stains, you may want to opt for cold water. Washing at 40° versus at 60° translates into a 1/3 energy savings.

Tip # 8. We found this tip from an online article – choose a horizontal axis washer. As explained by the writer, horizontal axis machines can wring more water out, enabling you to shorten the drying cycle, which then translates into less energy being used.

Washing Machine Brands with Energy Star® status

This list is not an exhaustive one. Here’s a partial listing that you could look into:

• Admiral
• Amana
• Bosch
• Eurotec
• General Electric
• Hotpoint
• Inglis
• Kelvinator
• Kirkland
• Kitchen Aid
• LG
• Samsung
• Whirlpool

…and many others!

The post Energy Efficient Washing Machines appeared first on .