Sharing is Caring, Especially When It Comes to Cleaning

How To Get Mildew Out of Clothes

April 30 by

Taking down that box of summer clothes that you’ve been dreaming about all winter can quickly turn to a nightmare if your clothing is covered in mildew. Mildew is a mold that tends to grow in dark places within the home, and smells terribly. Don’t toss out all your clothes just yet, with a few tricks it’s easy to get mildew out of clothes.

First, take the clothes outside and brush off any visible mildew. Doing this outside keeps the mildew from spreading in your home and the sunlight also helps kill mildew.

Bleach is the best way to get mildew out of clothes, but make sure you use the right kind of bleach. If possible, use chlorine bleach and wash with the hottest water possible. Oxygen bleach is safer for most fabrics, so if you can’t use chlorine bleach soak the clothing in oxygen bleach and super hot water for half an hour before washing.

Sun dried clothing is rough on the skin, but it’s worth leaving your clothes to dry in the sun after washing to kill any remaining mildew. When the clothes are almost dry, running them through the dryer for a few minutes will soften them.

Don’t let mildew ruin your summer wardrobe.

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How to Keep Work Out Clothes Clean

April 23 by

It’s hard enough to find time to work out, but having to keep your work out clothes clean is an added hassle. No one wants to be the stinky lady at the gym, so just follow a few simple steps and your work out clothes will be stink – free in no time!

The odor that penetrates your work out clothes is the result of the bacteria that feed on sweat. To keep work out clothes clean, try using a laundry detergent that’s anti bacterial as well.

Also, high heats kill germs, so be sure to wash your work out clothes in the hottest water possible. Adding half a cup of baking soda, or some distilled vinegar, will also help keep your work out clothes clean and odor free.

Most people don’t have time to do a load of laundry every time they go to the gym. Try keeping gym clothes in a separate laundry basket, and sprinkle them with baking soda to help remove odor. Sprinkling baking soda inside your gym back will also help cut down on odors, and prevent your work out clothes from getting stinky before you even wear them.

A lot of work out clothes are made with quick drying material. If you’re worried about not having enough work out clothes, or you prefer not to leave smelly laundry hanging around, quickly hand wash work out clothes.

A quick soak in a bucket of hot water with baking soda and vinegar, or some detergent, will rinse away sweat and odors. Just hang the clothes to dry and you’re ready to go.

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How to Disinfect Toys

April 17 by

Most websites will tell you to clean baby toys with a mixture of water and chlorine bleach. Personally, I don’t like the idea of my child putting anything covered in bleach in it’s mouth, but how else can a toy be disinfected and still safe?

There are a few easy ways to clean and disinfect toys, without using harsh chemicals.

Distilled white vinegar is the organic cleaners best friend. Not only is white vinegar a great disinfectant, but it also removes odors and stains. Mix a solution of equal parts white vinegar and water, and viola!

Place the mix in a spray bottle and use it to wipe down your child’s toys.

And don’t worry about the vinegar smell, that will go away quickly, much faster than the smell of bleach!

For any type of toy that doesn’t contain wood or batteries, simply tossing them into the dishwasher will work perfectly.

Teething rings and plastic toys can also be washed with the dishes, in hot, soapy water. Remember not to soak wooden toys as they will grow mold.

Most stuffed animals can go through the washing machine on a gentle cycle, and dried on low. If the toy is already well worn, place it inside a pillow case before putting it through the machine.

With a few simple tricks, it’s easy to clean your child’s toys without using harsh chemicals.

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How to Get Sticky Stains Off Your Sofa

March 6 by

Finding gum, candy and other sticky substances on your sofa doesn’t mean that your furniture is ruined. Knowing the right way to remove sticky stains will help you restore your upholstery, without expensive cleaners.

Cleaning sticky things like gum, candy and chocolate all starts with a common household item: ice. Just rub an ice cube over the stain until it becomes hard. Next, use a blunt edge tool like a butter knife to chip the gum or candy off the fabric. Be gentle on the fabric, scraping too hard will rub in the stain and could scratch your sofa as well.

Before using any upholstery cleaner, be sure to test it on a part of the sofa that’s not visible. If the cleaner is safe for your sofa, go ahead and apply a small amount of cleaner to the area with a clean, white rag. Gently blot up the cleaner with a dry, clean, white rag. Continue this process of applying and removing cleaner until all the gum is gone.

Next time you find a sticky mess on your sofa, don’t despair. Cleaning up is super easy when you know what to do.

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When Good Vegetables Go Bad

January 9 by

Reducing our carbon footprint is about more than switching to reusable shopping bag, it’s about trying to reduce waste in every corner of our life. Just last week I bought a beautiful bunch of celery for a snack, stuffed it in my fridge and totally forgot about it. In just a few days my beautiful celery turned into a sad, wilted mess.

Celery is a wonder food in many ways. With only 18 calories per serving it is the perfect snack food. Whether eaten alone, or dipped in peanut butter or dressing, this veggie supplies a satisfying crunch.

So instead of tossing my wilted celery in the trash, I cut off the bottom of the bunch and stuck it in a glass of water like a sad bouquet. Just a few hours later my afternoon snack was revived!

For a fun project with celery, add all natural, organic food coloring to a class of water. Cut the bottom off a bunch of celery (it doesn’t have to be wilted) and put in the water over night. Wake up to a wonderful surprise!

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