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Category: Laundry

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Back to School laundry tips to Keep Clothes looking new

Summer is almost over and the days of endless summer fun for the kids will be replaced by “where is my FUBU sweatshirt” and “who stole my Tommy Jeans”. Since we are not going to get away with “I didn’t care if I had designer clothes when I was a kid” or “no one on Survivor Island wore designer clothes”. These days with clothes costing a weeks wages and a wardrobe costing a years overtime pay, here as some basics to be sure they last as long as possible or at least until the next style comes along.

1. Have three baskets or bags for sorting whites, darks and medium colors.

2. Wash heavily soiled or work clothes separately.

3. Wash similar fabrics together jeans sweatshirts, etc. and loose knits separate.

4. Wash all new clothes with dark colors separately for at least the first few times.

5. Wash lint-producing clothes together and don’t wash clothes that are damaged (rips & tears etc.). Repair them first to avoid fraying.

6. Always check and double check pockets, take the extra few minutes you will thank me if you find that errant ballpoint pen as opposed to spending 3 hours cleaning all the ink from the dryer. (I know of a “friend” who had to do this recently).

7. Have a stain pre-treatment spray or stick handy to treat stains as you are sorting. Use a bar of non-scented soap in a pinch if you have nothing else.

8. Consider using a laundry booster which will give you that extra punch just in case you miss treating any stains before washing.

9. If you can inspect your laundry as you transfer it into the dryer. Giving larger pieces a shake when transferring them will help them dry faster and more evening than an article that is all balled up on itself.

10. Hang the designer clothes up as soon as possible this will help prevent all the moaning and groaning when your little cherub gets up late and complains the jean are wrinkled. “Hey I am not going to iron your jeans no matter what you say, jeans were invented for miners and I don’t think they got their Mommy’s to iron their jeans before going out and looking for gold nuggets all day.”

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Leatherrrrrrr

Ahhh. leather. We all love it. The sure feel of a leather-covered steering wheel, the confidence of wearing a stylish leather jacket, the sexy look of a leather mini-skirt, the comfort of a sheepskin vest, the caress of soft suede gloves, the power of studded motorcycle saddle-bags, the delicious feeling of a crotch-less leather. Ooops, got a little carried away there!!

This year’s fall & winter fashion statement, leather is turning up everywhere. How do we take care of our not-so-cheap purchases? We at Howtocleananything.com thought you’d like a brief primer about the types of leather out there and, more importantly, how to take care of your investment.

Let’s start out with the 4 basic types of leather:

1) Cowhide – Very strong & durable; used mostly for foot-ware & bags.

2) Calfskin – Lightweight with a pebbly grain; most common type for all sorts of clothing.

3) Lambskin – Also lightweight, with a pliant, soft feel; 30% to 50% more expensive than regular leather; often has wool still attached; skin is rougher and more pebbly.

4) Suede – The underside of the hide; buff finish; most supple of all skins. Now, these are the different finishes commonly found on many garments (with basic cleaning instructions):

1) Distressed – Uneven surface coloration to make it appear weathered; garments look better as they age; wipe with a lightly dampened rag.

2) Embossed – A print is heat pressed onto the surface (usually alligator or snake); can be cow or sheep skin; often with a patent finish; dry clean only.

3) Glazed – Polished using heated rollers; stiff with a nice luster; gently wipe with a damp cloth.

4) Metallic – Sprayed on coating often with foil; shiny delicate surface; light soiling can be gently wiped with a damp chamois; for further cleaning use a professional.

5) Patent – Another sprayed on finish; very tough, high shine, easily repels dirt & moisture; use a damp cloth (with a tiny bit of mild detergent if needed) to wipe clean.

6) Pearlized – A light sprayed-on finish often found on beige or white skins; pearly, shiny look; a delicate surface that only can stand a very light damp chamois; otherwise take it to a professional.

Finally, here are some general guidelines about leather care;

· Use a leather protective spray. Put it on before you use the article. Follow the instructions – be sure to test it an inconspicuous area.

· Hang leather garments on the proper instruments: padded & wide hangers, wood pants presses, ribbon loops to cinch at the waist.

· If the garment is wet, blot dry & hang on a padded hanger at room temperature.

· Never, ever, store leather clothes inside plastic bags or wrapping.

· Be very cautious when ironing any leather article. If needed, use a low heat setting, no steam and put a brown paper bag under the iron. Only go over each area for a few seconds.

· If you are ever in doubt as to how to clean a leather garment, ALWAYS consult with an expert.

Hopefully, you now, don’t have to have a cow, over your leather goods. Don’t be sheepish about how to care for your jackets & coats. We hope this article steers you in the right direction. Per-suede all your friends to heed our advice. Stop my hide-ous comments.

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Blood from fabric quick tips

Blood is one of those stains that responds best when acted on quickly for best results. Blot stain with cold water, then rinse with cold water. If stain remains then blot using water and a little dish soap. Flush thoroughly with cool water. If the stain is still present soak in an enzyme based spotter like shout and flush thoroughly with water. Heat will set this stain.

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Laundry Tips

Keeping Clothing looking new
I recently spent a small fortune on clothing for my two school age children and was wondering if there are any tips for keeping these clothes looking new.
Ahhhh! The mixed emotions of fall. A breath of relief as our kids walk out the door for school, and a tremor of fear when we add up how much their attire cost. Given the expense of new clothing, especially brand name articles, it is prudent to keep everything looking new for as long as possible.
Check the pockets. A pen, a piece of gum, or tube of lipstick can easily damage hundreds of dollars worth of clothing in the washer or dryer. If anyone has learned this lesson the hard way, they will tell you that this is the single most important part of doing laundry.
Always sort machine washable clothing into whites, darks and mixed colours.
Pretreat any stains with a stain spray or stick. In a pinch, even a bar of unscented soap can be rubbed on the stains. Always check for and repair any damaged or torn clothing before washing. It will only become more frayed or damaged in the wash.
Some clothing dyes are not colourfast, and they tend to bleed worse in hot water. Colours will usually become permanent after a wash or two, and heat drying will help accelerate this process. For deeply coloured items, and for all jeans, turn them inside out when laundering.
The pieces of clothing inside the washing machine and dryer rub against one another, damaging the surface of the fabric. This is an excellent argument to not overload your machines. New (to North America) front loading washing machines, in addition to using less power and water, also do not agitate clothing as aggressively, which results in less wear and longer useable life spans.
White fabrics contain optical brighteners, which degrade with bleach, sunlight, and age. Ironically, bleach and sunlight can actually help restore some brightness to your whites. Drying clothing in the sun will frequently lighten stains, and can help remove yellowing. While the occasional use of bleach is also helpful, frequent use will soon damage the fibers, resulting in holes and premature aging. Given all of these factors, the most common cause of poor results with whites, is simply using either too much or too little detergent. Oh, and there is also that new small red sock hidden in a white shirt that makes the whole load pink.
When laundering mixed colors always wash in cold water with similar garments. Check and understand the care labels on all of your clothing. With mixed fabrics this is even more important, as there may even be special care instructions for washing and drying!
When transferring clothes from the washer to the dryer, shake out each item, and at the same time check for stains. By shaking out the clothing, it will help prevent wrinkled messes when items ball up on themselves, and by removing and air drying stained items, it will give you a second chance at removing the stain before it is permanently heat set by the dryer.
Clothing should not be over dried. It wastes energy, and will also prematurely age the fabric. Instead of ironing clothes, try removing them from the dryer while they are still slightly damp. Give them a couple sharp shakes, and air dry them on rust proof hangers. You can’t stop your kids from growing out of their clothing, but with a little common sense, you can be sure that this is the main reason an item has to be retired.

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Mustard

Mustard

With the summer holidays upon us we have an increase in stains and dirt especially with young kids around, or in the absence of young kids there is always alcohol to add to the extra work in the cleaning department.

Mustard is a very tough stain and requires specific and immediate action for best results. The quick tip is to rinse or blot with cold water as soon as possible.

For washable fabric pre-soak in cold water after removing as much the mustard before soaking. Then you can pre-treat the stain with ¼ teaspoon of dish soap and 1 cup of water, apply directly to fabric. Then wash in the hottest temperature safe for the fabric. If the stain doesn’t come out completely, don’t dry the item. Just pre-treat like before and re-wash. Drying will likely just set the stain, and a second try will often remove more of the stain.

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School clothes washing Tips

School clothes

Summer  over and the days of endless summer fun for the kids will be replaced by “where is my FUBU sweat shirt” and “who stole my Tommy fubu Jeans“. Since we are not going to get away with “I didn’t care if I had designer clothes when I was a kid” or “no one on Survivor Island wore designer clothes“. These days with clothes costing a weeks wages and a wardrobe costing a years overtime pay, here as some basics to be sure they last as long as possible or at least until the next style comes along.

1. Have three baskets or bags for sorting whites, darks and medium colors.

2. Wash heavily soiled or work clothing separately.

3. Wash similar fabrics together jeans sweat shirts, etc. and loose knits separate.

4. Wash all new clothes with dark colors separately for at least the first few times.

5. Wash lint-producing clothes together and don’t wash clothes that are damaged (rips & tears etc.). Repair them first to avoid fraying.

6. Always check and double check pockets, take the extra few minutes you will thank me if you find that errant ballpoint pen as opposed to spending 3 hours cleaning all the ink from the dryer. (I know of a “friend” who had to do this recently).

7. Have a stain pre-treatment spray or stick handy to treat stains as you are sorting. Use a bar of non-scented soap in a pinch if you have nothing else.

8. Consider using a laundry booster which will give you that extra punch just in case you miss treating any stains before washing.

9. If you can inspect your laundry as you transfer it into the dryer. Giving larger pieces a shake when transferring them will help them dry faster and more evening than an article that is all balled up on itself.

10. Hang the designer clothes up as soon as possible this will help prevent all the moaning and groaning when your little cherub gets up late and complains the jean are wrinkled. “Hey I am not going to iron your jeans no matter what you say, jeans were invented for miners and I don’t think they got their Mommy’s to iron their jeans before going out and looking for gold nuggets all day.”

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Top 10 Traditional Laundry Cleaning Tips

1. Always check Symbols and descriptions

2. Sort clothes carefully

3. Pretreat stains

4. Use the correct water temperature

5. Large and small items should be mixed together

6. Use the correct kind and amount of laundry detergent

7. Use the appropriate washing cycle (Gentle, knits, tec.)

8. Be sure to rinse items thoroughly

9. Dry clothes at the proper temperature

10. Promptly remove clothes from dryer

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Top 10 Non-Traditional Laundry Tips

1. Join a nudist colony

2. Live at home forever (so Mom can do your laundry.

3. Invent, market, and use a new line of disposable clothes

4. Marry a drycleaner

5. Don’t eat fast food

6. Never get out of bed

7. Puree your food and drink through a straw

8. Never change a toner cartridge

9. Wear a garbage bag

10. Avoid small children

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Fireplace Cleaning & Maintenance

Cleaning Your Fire Place:
When they are cold, remove ashes in excess of 2 inches with a fireplace shovel or vacuum cleaner.

· Wash the hearth and front of the fireplace or stove exterior occasionally with a sponge or cloth dipped in an all-purpose household cleaner and water solution.

· Clean a cast iron exterior with a hand dishwashing detergent and water solution. Rinse with a clean, damp sponge or cloth and dry. Remove soot from brick or stone facing with a soft brush, then scrub with a strong solution of washing soda or trisodium phosphate (TSP) and water or all-purpose household cleaner and water. Old brick (more than 50 years old) should only be vacuumed to avoid crumbling.

For big jobs; Add 4 ounces of naptha soap to 1 quart of hot water. Heat until soap dissolves. Cool, then stir in ½ pound of powdered pumice and ½ cup of household ammonia. Mix thoroughly. Remove as much of the smoky deposit as you can before applying a coast of the soap mixture with a paint brush. Allow it to remain on for 30 to 60 minutes. Scrub with a scrub brush and warm water. Sponge with plenty of water to rinse.

Screens:
Clean the mesh every few months with a vacuum cleaner and dusting attachment. To wash, use a sponge or cloth dipped in an all-purpose household cleaner and water solution; rinse and dry.

Fireplace maintenance: A fireplace has five basic parts: firebox, hearth, damper, flue and chimney The firebox is where the fire is set and its floor is the hearth. The damper is the metal gate between the firebox and the chimney. Open it before lighting a fire. When a fire is lit, smoke travels through the damper and the flue-lined chimney out into the open air.

Before cold weather begins, take the following steps to be sure your fireplace operates properly and safely.  Check the flue for leaves or birds’ nests. On a sunny day, use a mirror and a powerful flashlight to look up the chimney through the open damper. If you see blockage, call a chimney sweep for help.  Once a year, hire a chimney sweep to clean soot from the flue and inspect it for cracks. You want to be assured that no flame will find its way to your house’s framing through a crack and that caked soot, which can cause a chimney fire, is cleaned away.  If you fireplace has warm-air circulators embedded in the firebox walls, vacuum the ducts at the beginning of each heating season. Have any cracks in the firebox and hearth repaired.

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Antique Baby Gown

Here is a question submitted by Eva:

How do I clean a 100 year antique baby gown?

Cleaning and preserving a 100 year old gown is not something that should be attempted by the consumer due to the risk of destroying the gown. However, there are several options available to the consumer.

If the gown is to be worn again, it can be restored to its original condition by a professional, but this will negate the antique value of the gown. You will have an antique gown that now looks new.

The gown can be cleaned and preserved in its current antique state by a professional. The gown will be clean, but any yellowing and other characteristics of an antique will be preserved. The gown will be packaged in a viewing chest designed for that purpose.

The final option, and the only one open to the do-it-yourself consumer, is to purchase a Christening Gown Preservation box. The gown can be placed in the box in its current condition. The box has a clear window for display. This will greatly retard any further deterioration of the gown, but will not entirely prevent it. Take a look at examples of Gown preservation kits at The Gown Medic website www.Gownmedic.com

Answered by Forum Expert Ed from Suncoast Preservtion Labs. For more info check out Ed Bio on the Ask A Pro page.

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