Steps to successful Laundry
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I’m participating in The Switch & Save Challenge, trying a variety of Arm & Hammer products and sharing my experiences with you!
Over the last few weeks we have been talking “laundry“. I also have another $25 Visa card to giveaway……so keep reading.
I asked if you are a laundry lover or hater? I also asked what you look for in a laundry detergent.
I learned:
- Most of us don’t like doing laundry, but know it HAS to be done.
[pullquote]Laundry is my nemesis. It seems to multiply and just when I think it is complete it comes back. I, honestly, do not know where it comes from, because most of it is not mine. ~Ellen J[/pullquote]
- There are some, though, that actually ENJOY doing laundry
- Many of us hate putting the laundry away
- Some of us lucky ones have husbands or children who help with the laundry, making the task easier.
[pullquote]Do I dare admit that my husband does the laundry probably more often than I do? It was one of those things I taught him how to do early on . No, I will not share him. ~Shaina[/pullquote]
- Doing a load or two every day, is the best way to keep it under control.
What do we look for in a laundry detergent?
- Cost and Scent were tied for the two biggest factors when choosing a laundry detergent
[pullquote]What do I look for in detergent? Cost is a definite factor, scent (sometimes we get the fragrance-free…don’t want to compete too much with my perfume ), and of course, I want it to work. ~ Bridget [/pullquote]
- Stain fighting and cleaning action were next on the list
- Color safe and skin irritants were also important
I have been using Arm & Hammer Plus OxiClean Power Gel Laundry Detergent, which includes not only Arm & Hammer Baking Soda (duh!) but also OxiClean to tackle tough stains. I have to honestly say…………I’m in love with it! And I can’t tell you how many times my 14 year old has told me how GREAT it smells when she’s doing laundry. I mean seriously, who knew a 14 year old even CARED what the laundry smells like! lol
Steps to successful Laundry
via Arm & Hammer
- Sort it Out:
Proper laundry sorting is important to prevent laundry problems like dye transfers and shrinking clothes. Read and follow care labels.
- Colorfastness:
If uncertain whether the garment dyes are colorfast, find a hidden area of the garment (such as, the inside seam) and apply a “Pre-treatment concentration” of detergent. Allow to sit for 30 minutes and rinse. If color remains fast, proceed on whole garment.
- Pre-treatments:
Treat stains early. Fresh stains are easier to remove than old ones. Always test an inside seam for colorfastness.
- Drying:
Do not put garments with a stain in dryer. The dryer heat will set stains and make them permanent. Repeat pre-treatment/washing techniques above. If this doesn’t work, send garment to cleaners. Some stains, however, may be permanent.
You may also want to read:
GIVEAWAY HAS ENDED
Required entry:
Tell me your favorite laundry tip in the comments for a chance to win a $25 Visa gift card from Arm & Hammer.
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Giveaway will end on July 29, 2011 at 5 pm CST. One winner with a valid entry will be selected at random using random.org. I will email the winner and they will have 48 hours to claim their prize or another winner will be selected. Contest open to US residents only.
Disclosure: This is a sponsored post for Church & Dwight Co., Inc, the maker of ARM & HAMMER branded products, who is compensating me to try different products. Save $1.00 on any 2 ARM & HAMMER Laundry Detergents. And be sure and head over to The Switch & Save Challenge for the chance to win $25,000.
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Most folks hate sorting socks – solution found by our family. Each family member is given a large zippered lingerie bag. Each night dirty socks go in the bag.. come laundry day, bag is zipped and washed/dryed… each family member handed back their bag and voila no sorting for mom
My laundry tip is to pre-treat stains then let the clothes sit for at least a day.
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I immediately spray stains with Shout or pour some Dawn dish soap on them. Then I toss them in the laundry basket till laundry day. Plus, I make my own laundry soap. Saves so much money!
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wash things that can shrink in cold water
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My favorite laundry tip: Train your husband to do the laundry!
(Mine does all the laundry and he does a great job! I just help with folding and hanging! )
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I use vinegar instead of fabric softener. I also love good old borax for those tough stains that won’t budge!
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My favorite tip is to pretreat stains before washing. I spray on the pretreater, rub and scrub, then launder as usual. This way I am assured the stain will disappear.
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We keep seperate baskets in each kiddo’s room and they have an assigned laundry day.
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I think its too late for me to win the gc but my best laundry tip is everyone in the house does their own!! It has been my most brilliant idea in years. What used to be a battle every weekend doing laundry all weekend long has now turned in to my husband doing his during the week when he needs clean undies; my son doing his on Friday night when he needs clean undies; and Me doing mine every other week when I’ve run out of work clothes (I have plenty of undies!) 😉
I wash clothes in a cold water and air dy them to save energy and money.
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my favorite (new) laundry tip is that I should hang dry my nicer things. That may seem like a “duh” to many people but I have seriously never realized that the dryer is hardest on our clothes! yes, it’s a pain sometimes & sometimes I forget but I’m amazing at how well things air dry. I guess since we didn’t have a dryer during my teenage years I’m just thrilled to have one – LOL
I add baking soda to my lights and whites to help boost the detergent, keep whites whiter and remove odor.
Tip…Have kids bring their laundry hamper/basket down when full and take it up and put it away when full of clean clothes.
My learned the hard way, if they don’t bring it down,,,it doesn’t get washed!!!
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My favorite tip is ‘Simple Green’ You find it in the automotive section at the department store or at the auto parts store. It’s made to deal with greasy dirty auto-mechanic laundry. I discovered it when my dh’s mother-in-law suggested I soak some of my son’s clothes in it that I couldn’t get clean. Stains that were years old came out! & I was hooked.
favorite tip- hang out clothes on line to dry as much as possible to save electricity and make your whites whiter plus you can’t beat the fragrance of linens that have hung outside!
My favorite tip (& the one I need to hear more than anyone): JUST DO IT. Folding it when it’s done helps too.
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I use vinegar as a fabric softener, also as a soak for stains.
got this tip from my mom: don’t use fabric softener on your towels, it will make them fluffier.
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Outside of bras, panties, socks and underwear (hubby and son don’t want their undergarments referred to as panties, lol), I hang all laundry! I find that hanging everything isn’t as tiresome as actually folding!
Yay for giveaways!!! Thanks!!! I have to admit, laundry is one chore I enjoy!!! It’s what I want to do to get out frustration!!! LOL. Favorite laundry tip: peroxide gets blood out!!! Just pour it, scrub it off, repeat til it’s gone. 😀
I am wondering about smells. I HAVE to clean my towels after every use. I used to be able to use a towel once, hang it to dry, then use it for my hair the next time. Now, my towels usually smell bad even before the first use. Any ideas on helping with that?
My favorite tip is using my homeade landry detergent! Chep is an understatement! And I love that it works.
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Tip: Used dryer sheets make great dusters! After folding each load, I dust a nightstand, an end table, etc before tossing the dryer sheet. 🙂
My favorite tip for laundry is using equal parts Dawn dishsoap and baking soda to make a paste – the rubbing that paste on grease stains with a toothbrush before washing. It takes the stains right out!
For those of us with wee ones …. do you have spit up stains (from formula or breast milk) that seem to be set in (even after being boxed up in the attic for two years, ahem)? Put some stain fighter on them and run them in the SANITARY cycle – most of mine have come out after remaining on the clothes for years!
a load per day keeps the laundry monster away here, too. Wash, dry, and fold all int he same day. I can’t stand laundry marathons!!!
Two things:
1) I have started using 3/4 Kirkland unscented detergent from Costco to 1/4 fine laundry detergent called Glamorous Wash (my scent is “High Maintenance”) for my clothes. Not only does it make the whole back of my home smell divine, I now walk through life with the whisper of a beautiful cologne. (I can’t wear perfume.) You can get Glamorous Wash from Candle Cabin, Amazon, etc. It’s a bit pricey, but you only use a little in each wash and you won’t have to buy perfume.
2) I use Tide Stain Release In Wash Booster. I measure out the amount for a load, but instead of pouring it into the washer, I first use it to pretreat stains. It gets out so many more stains than Spray and Wash or OxiClean and you only have to let it pretreat for about a minute.