Sharing is Caring, Especially When It Comes to Cleaning

Decoding Your Laundry

April 8 by

Have you ever wondered what those tiny symbols listed under care instructions mean on the tags of clothing and textiles? For all of you who wonder, enjoy this little explanation on those rather important and super vague symbols. May you never go confused or ruining clothes, again.

Hand Wash Only: This symbol shows a hand reaching into a small basket with water inside.

Machine Wash: Small basket partially filled with water. Sometimes it will have a number written in the basket which indicates water temperature.

Machine Wash Delicate: This symbol also shows a small basket partially filled with water and two horizontal vertical lines under the basket.

Chlorine Bleach (Or any other kind of bleach): If you garment has a white triangle symbol, you may use chlorine bleach to treat and wash the item.

Do Not Use Chlorine Bleach (Or any other kind of bleach): A black triangle with an “X” running through it means that you should NOT use chlorine bleach on the item.

Tumble Dry: For an item that can go in the dryer, you will see a small square with a circle inside. The number of dots will indicate the proper dryer temperature: 1 dot = low heat, 2 dots = medium heat, 3 dots = high heat

Hang Dry: A small square with a half circle at the top (which kind of looks like a drooping clothes line) indicates that hang drying is highly recommended (especially outside in the sun and wind).

Ironing: If ironing is acceptable for the garment you will see a small iron on the tag. Again the number of dots (like with the tumble dry symbol) will indicate the proper heat.

Do Not Iron: If ironing is not acceptable or recommended for the garment, you will see an iron crossed out with an “X.”

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Spring Into Family Fun

March 26 by

We all know spring cleaning the house requites help from more than just one set of hands, so follow some of our tips on how to turn spring cleaning into a fun experience of the whole family.

Start with a family meeting. Confirm a definite date and time for your cleaning extravaganza. Triple check all schedules to make sure you don’t overlap or conflict any commitments or events. Once you set a time, keep it.

Pre-shop. Buy and gather all supplies at least one day before your spring cleaning event. This keeps you organized and prepared for the big day. Breaking the momentum to run to the store can really put a damper on every one’s attitude.

Tourney time. Divide the cleaning and organizing chores evenly and then create even teams of your family members. Create team names, mascots, colors and cheers. First team to finish gets a special prize at the end of the day.

Tune-age. Have each family member give you their top ten favorite songs and create a mixed CD to keep you cleaning, singing and grooving through the day.

Time outs. Schedule breaks with snacks and down time. Serve your family favorites snacks along with some healthy choices to keep energy and blood sugar levels stable.

Photo opportunities. Let each team designate one photographer to take pictures of the days events. Create a scrap book or photo collage for the house. You never know what your kids will use as great family memories for their children.

Everyone is a winner. Treat everyone to a prize at the end of the day. Whether you order a pizza or head to the movies, make sure you have something fun, relaxing and rewarding to share with your family.

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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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How to Make a Cleaning Schedule

February 8 by

Sometimes it feels like it’s impossible to keep up with the house cleaning. The minute you finish the laundry the hamper is full again. You swear you just washed the floors yesterday but they are a mess again, and dirty dishes fill the sink faster than you can wash them.

If you want to reduce the over all stress of keeping a clean house, making a cleaning schedule is the way to go. By dividing up chores by times of the day, and days of the week (and if you’re lucky, by members of the family) you will never again be overwhelmed by the sight of a laundry pile or dusty shelf.

Start by dividing tasks into once a week tasks such as dusting and floor cleaning, biweekly chores such as laundry, and chores that need to be done multiple times a day like dish washing. This way when you notice that the laundry hamper is getting full, you can feel calm knowing that you’ll take care of it on Monday, Wednesday or Friday. Doing dishes three times a day, after meal times, means that you won’t feel like you’re do nothing but dishes all day long!

Keeping a house clean can sometimes feel like a never ending battle, but a cleaning schedule will make even the messiest house manageable.

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How to Remove Cough Syrup Stains

January 24 by

With Jack Frost out there nipping at your noses and toes, it’s likely that you have fallen victim to the nasty cold and flu causing germs bouncing around. Along with the germs, also come the medicines. Whether it’s over-the-counter fixes or prescriptions from the good ole’ doctor, this time of year makes most people feel like walking pharmacies.

If you’re lucky enough, your personal illness may require assistance from cough syrup. While that sticky liquid may help kick your symptoms, it also leaves a pretty big disaster if spilled in your carpets (especially if you had a late-night mishap during a midnight dose).

Have no fear, we’re here to help. Follow these cough syrup stain busting tips for a clean carpet in no time.

Start by mixing one tablespoon hand dish detergent, one tablespoon white vinegar with two cups of warm water. Gently sponge the mixture onto the stain then forcefully pack the solution, using a spoon or brush, deeper into the stains. Sponge the area with water and blot until all the liquid is absorbed into your sponge.

Then sponge rubbing alcohol onto the affected area until the stain completely disappears. Finish by sponging the area with cold water to remove all rubbing alcohol. Leave untouched to dry for 24 hours.

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