Sharing is Caring, Especially When It Comes to Cleaning

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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Decorate Environmentally With Bamboo Rugs

April 19 by

Thick, warm area rugs are a wonderful addition to the home. However, a fine area rug can be very expensive, and not always what you are looking for. Bamboo rugs are made from, surprise, bamboo, which is totally renewable!

These woven mats look totally different than a standard rug, because of the way the bamboo is woven. Bamboo is a grass which grows up to 10 feet a year, and new growth starts the minute the stem is cut!

Not only are bamboo rugs good for the environment, but they are wonderful for allergy sufferers. Regular area rugs can capture dirt beneath the surface, and need to be cleaned regularly. On the other hand, bamboo rugs have nowhere for dust and dirt to hide so they are easy to clean.

Bamboo rugs are very sturdy, and add an interesting touch to any room. If you’re looking for something environmentally friendly, new and interesting, then it’s time to look to bamboo.

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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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Polish Your Silver Using Aluminum Foil

April 9 by

You don’t need to buy expensive silver polish to clean your candlesticks and silverware, just use a little bit of science instead. Make sure that whatever you want to clean is real silver, as this method only works on real silver and not stainless steel.

Fill a pot with one liter of water, 1 tablespoon of baking soda, a dash of table salt and a piece of aluminum foil. Bring the mixture to a boil and then add silver pieces to the water. Only add a few pieces at a time, and it’s very important that the silver touches the aluminum foil. They should touch for about 10 seconds, or more if the silver is very tarnished.

This method of cleaning silver uses science to return the silver sulfide (tarnish) back into metallic silver. While this method works wonders, some people claim that it works too well. Antique silver looks pretty with dark tarnish highlighting designs in the silver, and this cleaning method will remove that tarnish as well. However, regular silver polishes will scratch wear down silver, whereas this method keeps your silver brand new.

This is a super easy, organic way of cleaning silver at home.

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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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