Basket Laundry Hamper Usage

Are you feeling tired in looking at messy room because there are many dirty clothes spread in that room? Why you are not trying to get one laundry hamper to store it in one place? There are many kinds of laundry hamper design and types, which you can choose now. With using the laundry hamper to store the entire dirty clothes of your family, it will reduce your hard work in washing it too. Moreover, it will make your room look better than before and it will not make unpleasant smell from the dirty clothes too if you store it in single laundry hamper. If you are not having any laundry hamper in your house right now, maybe we can recommend you to take the basket laundry hamper.

Even there are many other kinds of laundry hamper, which you can choose, but we still prefer to recommend you with the basket laundry hamper. Maybe you want to know the reason why we only suggest this laundry hamper to you right? Do not worry because we will explain to you the reason why we suggest you with this laundry hamper. However, believe me you will not find any problem like the one dirty clothes spread in anywhere as if before you do not have any laundry hamper in your house.

Benefit in Using Basket Laundry Hamper

If you still wander why we prefer to use the basket laundry hamper than other ordinary laundry hamper, maybe you can read the benefit information that we will explain in this article section about choosing to use the laundry hamper with basket design. No need to chitchat anymore, here are the benefits that you will gain:

• Extremely cheap in cost: Well, the first of any other important benefit that you will want to have is the cheap cost to purchase this laundry hamper. I believe that you do not want to buy the laundry hamper with expensive cost right? You must think twice if the cost is very expensive because it only uses to store the dirty clothes. Why you need to pay more just for thing to store the dirty clothes?
• Proven in Durability: We never see any laundry hamper which have the durability like the basket laundry hamper, but I do not know if you have seen other that have higher durability than this laundry hamper, which we recommend to you. It can use for many years to store your dirty clothes and it means that you will not need to spend more money again to purchase the new one of laundry hamper except you want to have the new laundry hamper.
• Waterproof: There is no other important criterion than waterproof in the usage of laundry hamper. It will ruin our dirty clothes if the laundry hamper, which we use, do not waterproof. You will need to wash your dirty clothes, which full of fungus and bacteria and believe me, it is not easy task to do.
• Lighter: Why you need to purchase the laundry hamper, which have heavy weight? It will make you gain heavier task to wash your dirty clothes. Moreover, it is very hard for you to move it if you want to change your room appearance right? Therefore, the basket laundry hamper will give you lighter weight than other laundry hampers.
• Having great appearance: Can you imagine if the basket laundry hamper also able to use as room ornament? Yes, it is true because the appearance of this laundry hamper is great even there is no one will know it is the laundry hampers until open it.

Kinds of Basket Laundry Hamper Features

When you have understood about the reason why we suggest you to use the basket laundry hamper than others, in this last article section, we want to show you about many kinds of features, which you will find when you use your suggestion. It is not the ordinary laundry hamper, which you only can use as dirty clothes storage. You will amaze with many things that you can gain from choosing the right laundry hamper which have many features. The features that you can gain are:

• Portable laundry hamper feature: If you do not wash your dirty clothes personally, for example if you choose to send the entire of your dirty clothes to laundry service, you will need more laundry hamper feature which will make you easier when you bring it in the laundry service you choose to wash your dirty clothes. Therefore, maybe you can take the basket laundry hamper, which have portable feature. It has hook, which will make you easier to bring it. Beside of that, you do not need to worry if your dirty clothes will fall when you bring it because there is lock system on it to ensure your dirty clothes is safe in that storage.
• Folding laundry hamper feature: If we have seen the portable feature in laundry hamper, you also able to have the folding feature in the basket laundry hamper. The function of this feature is very helpful when you do not have any dirty clothes left; you can fold the laundry hamper and store it to the cabinet. It is great feature of laundry hamper for you who have limited space in your room.
• Wheel laundry hamper feature: Even the laundry hamper, which we suggest to you, is lighter than others are, but you will still need to use your energy to move it close to your washing machine if there are many dirty clothes inside. Because of that, if you want to much easier to move your laundry hamper, you can choose the laundry hamper which have wheel. It will make you a lot easier to move the laundry hamper from one place to the other place.

We have already provided you with many important information about the laundry hamper in this article, we hope that you have already able to choose the best one of the laundry hamper with the suitable feature you need. However, make sure that you prefer to choose the basket laundry hamper.

By Rian

Technologies for Reducing Water Consumption in Commercial laundry Equipments

A commercial laundry equipment setup is used in large commercial establishments. It covers a wide range of applications right from on-premise laundries in commercial institutions such as nursing homes, athletic facilities, hospitals and hotels to common laundry rooms in apartments. Industrial laundry services cater to the same set of users. Additionally, some of them also offer linen, diaper and uniform services. Several dry-cleaning establishments have a set of on-premise laundry equipment for bulk cleaning.  There are different types of washing equipments that are used in such commercial setups. These include:

• Tunnel washing machines
• Top loading washing machines
• Front-loading washing machines

In the recent years, there has been an attempt to reduce energy and water consumption by commercial and industrial laundry machines. The various measures introduced for this purpose range from the use of more efficient equipment to the use of ozone systems and water recycling techniques. In dry cleaning operations, silicon and carbon dioxide based technologies have replaced the use of water.

A couple of technologies are used for controlling water use and for reducing the wastewater volume. These also cut down on energy expenses and pre-treatment costs. Washing machines that incorporate recycling/water reuse technologies use a part of the total volume of water. The remaining water is used for the next wash. There are different versions of the equipment and it is important to choose a proper system based on the requirements of the laundry service. Companies manufacture systems that are especially designed for use in Laundromats. Reuse and recycle systems save on energy consumption as the water remains warm from the previous laundry operation. Wastewater recovery also holds much potential for energy conservation when it comes to laundry operations.

A basic recycle system collects the wastewater after the final rinse cycle as part of a multi-cycle operation that is used in the first rinse or first flush of the subsequent wash cycle. Other advanced systems can even recover as much as 85% of the water for another wash. The systems that have a simple mechanism hardly incorporate features pertaining to water treatment, as the water from the final rinse cycle is clean. However, in order to achieve high recovery rates, it is necessary that the wash water is treated before it is used for another wash cycle.

Ozone systems are gradually becoming popular and been widely accepted in the industry. Ozone is a strong oxidant that reacts with the organic material and dirt and oxidizes the same. It acts as a good whitener and disinfectant that reacts with stains, organic material and odours. Ozone is transformed into oxygen during the wash process.

Ozone also helps to reduce the water temperature since it is most effective at 80º F. This helps to save energy. This also cuts down on the use of chemicals and detergents and therefore the clothes require minimum rinsing. Ozone systems are suitable when it comes to washing lightly soiled linen. When it comes to heavily soiled clothes, it is best to go by the conventional methods of washing clothes with detergents and warm water.

By Thomas Rankin

Teaching Children The Basics Of Laundry

Teaching a child how to do laundry is not difficult, but can be very rewarding for both parent and child. Laundry is a learning opportunity that can reinforce color recognition, sorting, manual dexterity, following directions and responsibility. Oh, and teaching a child how to do laundry also gets a household chore out of the way that no one likes to do.

The best way to start is by getting your child to help you sort clothes at an early age. Have your child identify the primary color in each item of clothing and to place similar colored clothes together in a pile. As the child gets better at this, have her create piles of lights, darks and whites, teaching her that lights are washed in warm water, darks in cold and whites in hot. You may wish to purchase a laundry basket with three compartments or use three different hampers if space allows, so that each water temperature has its own space. Ideally, each compartment or hamper should be hold about the same amount as a full load of laundry.

Once your child understands the connection between a clothing item and the correct water temperature, he is ready to start with the washing. If your hamper or compartment is the right size, then you can teach him that when it is full, it is time to do a load of laundry. Go through the hamper daily and remove any stained items that need spot treatment. Have a set measuring cup for detergent, or create pre-measured amounts of detergent in plastic cups with lids or plastic baggies. These cups or baggies can be reused for future portions, so instruct that they go into a space reserved for “empties.” These two steps make laundry foolproof and will ensure that only full loads are washed and the right amount of detergent is being used. This sets your child up for success and prevents a laundry room floor full of soapy water.

Create a chart with steps on using the machine, complete with pictures or drawings if your child is not old enough to be a solid reader. Tell which settings belong with which clothes and mark the setting on the machine with arrows drawn on tape. This may sound like overkill, but remember--what seems simple and commonplace to you is new and intimidating to a child. Being thorough with expectations will help your child succeed, raising their confidence and comfort level with the job.

Instruct your child to leave the clothes in the washer after she is done, since sorting which items should go in the dryer takes a little more skill and should wait until she is older and more experienced. Have some sort of sign or signal, put in a conspicuous place in the house, where she can indicate that she has done a load of laundry. This will prevent a wet washer full of musty clothes that has sat for days.

When your child completes a load of laundry, be sure to praise him. Do not nitpick or criticize—give any corrective advice in a positive and constructive way. This is a big deal to a child; he has done a “grown-up” job. It is a proud moment for him and encourages him to take on more household chores. He will feel like a valid and productive member.

By: Laura Bramble

The Most Affordable And Green Laundry Detergent (3)

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• The Most Affordable And Green Laundry Detergent
• The Most Affordable And Green Laundry Detergent (2)

Very quickly it becomes apparent that soap nuts are VERY inexpensive compared to most detergents. (Notice that I chose a nice random cross sampling of very common to some more esoteric brands, too.) Used properly soap nuts can significantly reduce our laundry costs. PLUS this does not even factor in that you have virtually no need for fabric softeners or dryer sheets when using soap nuts.

It is also noteworthy to mention that all these products being compared to soap nuts are around (give or take some) that same 32-ounce weight range I mentioned earlier that is popular with soap nut users. Most stores (aside from warehouse type stores) don't seem to carry much in larger sizes than that. I can only assume that the convenient size, weight and price points for detergents in this weight range have been determined to be the most common sellers by most retailers. It is the difference in the number of loads per ounce between soap nuts and commercial detergents that is absolutely astounding.

Regardless, the gist of this article boils down to the COST PER LOAD of using soap nuts compared to commercial detergents. Soap nuts are NOT expensive. They are a much more affordable means to do our laundry - and it certainly does not get any greener. As shown above even a very small bag of soap nuts (8 ounces for $12.75) is much less per load than any of these commercial brands - and again that is being VERY conservative in every aspect. They are less than half the cost per load compared to one of Tide's flagship detergents.

I gave a single mother, good friend of mine with three children a bag of soap nuts for the holidays. She has been working hard to make ends meet. Since that time she has raved about how wonderfully they worked, how her laundry never smelled so clean and soft, how her washing machine no longer smelled like mold and mildew. She had difficulty describing the scent, because there is no scent. How does one simply describe the scent of pure and clean? Think about it.

She didn't stop with laundry. She hasn't stopped experimenting, and I last heard that the liquid she made cleaned her coffee maker better than even CLR did. (Yuk. I'm sure she would have cleaned out the CLR very well. She's a smart lady.) Amazing. She tells me her coffee maker works and looks like new again.

Soap nuts are not only growing in consumer awareness when GREEN is "in". It is growing in awareness at a time when we all can use conserving a little more of the green in our pockets. The green movement is only going to continue to grow. Both business and government has recognized the need for change (for different reasons of course). Our children WILL live in a much greener, safer and more efficient world than we have known and grew up in. No time could be better than now to discover all the wonders that soap nuts offer us. Better laundry products are only the beginning.

By Christopher Sicurella

The Most Affordable And Green Laundry Detergent (2)

Previous: The Most Affordable And Green Laundry Detergent

You can take THIS to the bank: When using good quality soap nuts (the mukorossi variety is very good), one-half ounce (usually five or six whole soap nuts or the equivalent in pieces) used traditionally (in a wash bag that is put directly in with your laundry) will be reusable for four to six loads - easily.

So, at only FOUR loads per half-ounce that would give us only 256 loads (not 320) out of 32-ounces. $30 divided by 256 equals $0.127 per load. And we are talking average size, standard loads - not high efficiency loads that will extend the number of uses and thus lower the cost per load further.

Now let's run some "cost per load" comparisons with soap nuts with well known "natural" and other types of detergents in the typical sizes in which they are available. Note that all pricing has come from reputable sellers and are typical prices easily found. Again, all soap nut prices per load are based upon standard loads, not HE loads. I am making every effort to be very conservative and realistic in all my calculations and estimates.

The following are common soap nut prices at various common sizes (I pulled them right off the internet from a reputable supplier): Note: I'm even including common prices for smaller size bags (at higher costs per ounce - and STILL using only FOUR loads per half-ounce wash bag.) - A 64-ounce bag of soap nuts: $57.95 for 512 loads ($0.113 per load) - A 32-ounce bag of soap nuts: $29.95 for 256 loads ($0.117 per load) - A 16-ounce bag of soap nuts: $19.95 for 128 loads ($0.155 per load) - An 8-ounce bag of soap nuts: $12.75 for 64 loads ($0.199 per load)

The following are various commercial detergents in typical sizes and pricing. The numbers of loads are as per the manufacturers' instructions.

• Seventh Generation's Free and Clear Natural Laundry Detergent 2x Ultra: $11.99 for 50 loads. ($0.239 per load)
• All's Small and Mighty 3x concentrate for HE washers: $8.49 for 32 loads. ($0.265 per load)
• ECOS Laundry Detergent, Ultra Concentrated with Soy Fabric Softener: $9.49 for 26 loads ($0.367 per load)
• Tide's 2x Concentrated Laundry Detergent: $14.99 for 32 loads ($0.468 per load!) This surprised me!
• Dreft's 2x Concentrated Baby Laundry Detergent: $31.99 for 110 loads ($0.290 per load)
• Babyganics 3x Concentrated Laundry Detergent: $13.49 for 33 loads ($0.408 per load)
• Method's 3x Concentrated Baby Laundry Detergent: $10.99 for 32 loads ($0.343 per load)
• Mrs. Meyer's Lavender Laundry Detergent: $13.49 for 32 loads ($0.421 per load)

Next: The Most Affordable And Green Laundry Detergent (3)

By Christopher Sicurella

The Most Affordable And Green Laundry Detergent

We are all stretching our paychecks (if we are still getting one) as far as possible these days. We are also very concerned about all possible health hazards, and living greener lives. Unfortunately, usually what goes along with the supposedly "greener", better products are higher prices. A walk down any aisle in any store, and this is immediately apparent. I recently read numerous articles on the green profiteering that is occurring in virtually all industries.

I also read erroneous articles that referred to soap nuts as an expensive green laundry detergent alternative. Nothing could be SO far from the truth. I received more than one apology (of sorts) from writers that simply did not do their research very well. Any conclusions from a study that begins with faulty premises and improper testing techniques will result in incorrect data. A big problem with soap nuts is that there are large data gaps and some poor quality information floating around. One writer claimed that the cost of using soap nuts was around 50 cents per load. That was utter nonsense. I promptly set her straight. Properly used, soap nuts can be one of the MOST affordable ways possible to do laundry! It is VERY easy to calculate. You just need the correct data to calculate with.

NOTE: It is important to realize that it is cost prohibitive to buy soap nuts samplers or just a few ounces. The purpose of "samplers" is only to TRY them. Period. If you like how they work, then you will certainly buy them in much larger quantities to reduce your cost per ounce and associated cost per load. Right?

Let's just compare the cost of using soap nuts to using many commercial detergents that we see all the time. Let's crunch the numbers: (You'll certainly notice that I avoid metrics and am referring to USD. I believe differing methods of weights and measures, plus different currencies have added to some confusion. I'm a US citizen, and am writing in large part for a US audience to easily understand. I sincerely apologize to anyone not accustomed to my use of the weights and currency common to the US.)

You can purchase around two pounds (32-ounces) of good soap nuts for around $30. That would be a very common amount a knowledgeable soap nut user would buy. Used in the traditional manner, you will use approx. one-half ounce in a wash bag and that will yield an average of about 5 loads. That yields approx. 320 loads for the $30 dollars spent. Personally, I can usually get many more loads than that, but that is because of some tricks I use to extend their life and maximize the saponin extraction. BUT, to be conservative, let's just go with only FOUR loads per half-ounce.

A note worth mentioning: I've seen sellers claim numbers of loads that seem to be all over the place. I've also heard of people claiming to use half the amount I suggest using. I can't explain that. Let's simply bare in mind the many, many variables in how people do their laundry, plus the variables in the quality and types of soap nuts - and leave it at that. My approach is very "middle-of-the-road". I'm dealing with norms not extremes so that this is meaningful for the vast majority of scenarios.

Next: The Most Affordable And Green Laundry Detergent (2)

By Christopher Sicurella

How to Saving Energy With Laundry And Tips To Clean Machine

Anyone who has a laundry room at home knows that it is maximum energy consumer. Even though you are able to do laundry in your own home you try to keep laundry to the minimum because you’re afraid of wasting energy. There many easy ways to save energy with laundry. Here are tips on how to save energy with laundry and keeping your laundry room clean.

Save Energy with Laundry: 

1. When washing your clothes you should lower the temperature settings. Instead of using hot water use warm or cold water (greasy stains are an exception). In order for you to use cooler water you should experiment with laundry detergents to see which one works best with cooler water. A cooler wash temperature will be fine when presoaking heavily soiled clothes. Set the washing machine on cold water rinse the temperature of the rinse water does not affect cleaning.
2. The thermostat on your water heater has to be turned down. For your home needs a setting of 120F is sufficient. You will save energy with either warm or hot wash cycles by turning down your thermostat.
3. Put as many items possible in the washing machine to its capacity. Many people under load instead of overloading their washing machines. Always check your machines load capacity and then take out a few loads to measure it up. Judge the volume of clothes in a load with your eye. It takes less energy to wash one large load than two on a low or medium setting.
4. Use the suds- saving feature if it is available on your washing machine when washing lightly soiled clothes. By doing this you save water for the next load to be washed.
5. Separate your clothes when drying and dry similar clothes together. For example, lightweight clothing dries faster than fiber clothes or bath towels.
6. Another helpful tip to save energy is to not over dry clothes. Also reduce the need for ironing and another energy waster by taking clothes out while they are still slightly damp. It would be even better if your machine had an auto-dry button, if you do use it instead of the timer and you will be saving more energy.
7. Do not make the mistake of adding wet items to a load that is already dry.
8. Take advantage of the heat still in the dyer from the first load, dry two or more loads in a row.
9. A clogged filter will restrict flow and reduce the performance of your dryer. It is best that you clean the dryer filter.
10. Drying small loads is a waste of energy. Dry full loads, but be cautious not to overfill your dryer. Even when drying full loads air should still be able to circulate freely around the drying clothes.
11. Make sure that the dryer exhaust vent outside is clean and that the outside hood opens and closes freely.

Keep Your Washing Machine Clean 

• Begin by cleaning the exterior of your washing machine. A cleaning cloth with an all purpose cleaner or soap dish soap is the best cleaning method. Then smoothly with the cleaning cloth wipe the exterior of the washing machine all around.
• In the process of washing your clothes there is always a time where you spill detergent inside the machine. To clean those detergent spills use the same cloth you cleaned the outside of the machine clean the inside. Make sure you retrieve solid residue left from what was washed and after wiping down with a cloth rinse with water from the machine. Your washing machine will smell and look clean in the inside.
• No one wants a smelly machine to prevent this from happening when a load is removed leave the lid open on the washing machine in order to allow it dry out. If you close the lid and there is water inside unpleasant smells develop. If your washing machine already has smells try washing an empty load with vinegar soda and a mixture of baking soda.
• Water softeners added to your laundry detergent may be a solution for lime scale buildup.

Stop worrying about wasting energy with laundry, these tips will help you save energy and have a clean laundry room. Remember that washing machines and dyers should be cleaned as well if you want your clothes to out clean and smell fresh.

By: kryssa

Choosing the Right Detergent for your Baby’s Clothes

Your laundry area can be the most dangerous places in your home. Despite the fact that laundry detergents can effectively clean our clothes, they contain toxic ingredients that can be harmful to you and your family. Most laundry detergents sold in the market today contains chemical ingredients that may harm your kids and the environment. It contains substances that can be hazardous to our aquatic resources and trees as they find their way to the water supply through our drainage. It’s obvious that most of us rely on cleaners that contain extremely hazardous contents, and we normally overlooked the importance of using organic products.

Some of these hazardous chemical ingredients are EDTA or ethylene-diamino-tetra-acetate, Linear alkyl sodium sulfonates or LAS, Sodium hypochrolite or the household bleach, Phenols, Optical brighteners, Phosphates, Petroleum distillates or napthas and others. These ingredients are toxic chemicals that you can normally find in high concentrations in these laundry detergents.

Phosphates are used to make detergents more effective by preventing dirt from settling back onto clothes. However, this type of chemical is one of the most harmful pollutants in the environment. When phosphates release, it stimulates the growth of certain marine plants which imbalances the marine ecosystem. Furthermore, it is also known to have toxic effects on fishes and trees.

Another chemical ingredient that is also known to be hazardous to human and environment is the sodium hypochrolite or the household bleach. This type of chemical is highly toxic as it produces carcinogenic and toxic compounds when it reacts with the environment. This reaction can cause endocrine, reproductive and immune system disorders. It can cause allergic reaction to most infants and toddlers too. Sodium hypochrolite has a very strong cleaning ingredient that can also trigger allergies or even eczema to your baby’s sensitive skin. Mothers who are normally exposed to cleaners and detergents that contain sodium hypochrolite have also increases the risk of cancer and other serious illnesses.

Furthermore, these harmful ingredients on detergents make the hands go dry. It started with small skin irritation to sever skin problem. The upper layer of the skin gets damaged by these harmful chemicals used in detergents. Studies have shown that continuous use of detergents containing harmful chemicals can cause neurological problems, poisoning and even cancer. To avoid all these problems, you can use eco friendly laundry detergents. There are several manufacturers in the market that produces this type of products.

As a mother, you should always think of the best and the safest products to your children. Start using organic laundry detergent for your baby’s clothes. These organic baby products are available in the market and proven to be safe to your baby apart from being effective in washing tough stains. The organic detergents do not make use of artificial optical brighteners. Therefore, these natural products don't contain phosphates and petroleum based agents hence they are mild on the skin.

Using organic baby detergents would help you clean your baby’s clothes without worrying about the harmful chemicals that may harm your baby’s health and the environment.

By Samantha Carter Smith

Microbial Disinfection By Hot Water

Clean, freshly laundered clothes – they are one of life’s little joys and necessities. But, have you ever been concerned about how clean your clothes really are? With the polluted air, germs, and other environmental contaminants your clothes come into contact with on a daily basis, you have to wonder if your laundry detergent is doing its job adequately.

Depending on your lifestyle and what you do for a living, disinfecting your laundry may not always be necessary. But if a member of your family is ill or if you wash your clothes at a public Laundromat, then disinfecting your laundry every time becomes a priority. And, of course, you never really know what germs you might have come into contact with on a daily basis. After all, they are everywhere around you and you doing even know it. So, what is the best way to ensure your clothes are germ-free? Read on for some valuable information on microbial disinfection by hot water and how to disinfect your laundry.

Hot Water Still Rules

Way back in the old day’s people would literally boil their clothes to make sure they were clean and sanitized. It seems our ancestors had the right idea. Studies have shown that hot water is a naturally hostile environment for germs and other microbes, essentially killing them off. These same studies also concluded that, to effectively do this, the temperature of the hot water needs to be between 178°F and 194°F. The problem here is that washing machines in most homes heat water to a maximum of 140°F, not quite hot enough. An obvious solution is to add bleach to your laundry. Known for its ability to sterilize, bleach can augment the disinfecting power of hot water, but should be used only if the fabrics being washed will allow it. Some fibers such as silk, wool, and many of today’s popular spandex blends cannot tolerate such a caustic agent and they tend to weaken and break down when bleach is used. The solution to this dilemma is to use a detergent that is gentle enough for finer fabrics, but equally tough to both clean and disinfect your laundry (FULLER 86 Powder Laundry Detergent). And, keep in mind, hot water will boost the cleaning power of any laundry detergent.

Detergent Additives and Boosters

Answering the needs of consumers, a recent trend in laundry detergents has been the addition of enzymes. Enzymes have long been famous for their ability to break down and remove tough protein stains such as blood, perspiration, and urine when used to pre-soak clothes. But detergents enhanced with an enzyme disinfectant (FULLER plus Liquid Laundry Detergent) will effectively clean your clothes without pre-soaking and without bleach. In fact, the addition of chlorine bleach will minimize the cleaning power of enzymes. Adding a booster in with your detergent is an alternative to bleach when washing heavily soiled clothes. A booster (FULLER Cleaning Booster) will augment the performance of your detergent, giving you truly clean and disinfected laundry.

Other factors to keep in mind to ensure cleaner laundry are: do not overload your machine, follow the directions on your detergent’s package so as not to use too much of it or too little, and whenever you can, wash your clothes in the hottest water your machine will allow.

By: Vincent

Laundry Tips Using Natural Products (2)

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Rust or iron stains can occur from actually coming into contact with something rusty, from red soil (high in iron content) or even from water. We live about 1/4 mile from Iron Ore Creek, and 3 miles from the Red River. As you can probably imagine, we have a lot of iron stains from contact with the soil and water alone. These can be cleaned with application of a layer of salt and lemon juice squeezed over the top and then rubbed in. Let it sit for 20 minutes, then wash as usual.

Glue residue from stickers is another common problem at our house. Sometimes my child will get a "GOOD JOB" or "WAY TO GO" sticker placed on her shirt at school, and without noticing its presence, it makes it into the wash. Or another time, I bought some of those cute children's summer shirts at a discount department store, but missed one of the adhesive tags they place on them. If you can catch these stickers before they make it into the dryer, you can normally remove the adhesive with just a normal wash. If the glue is extra sticky and just doesn't want to budge, use an ice cube to freeze the stained area, then scrape away as much of the glue as you can with a spoon, or the edge of a credit card. Add a paste of baking soda and water, rubbing it in well with a soft brush or with your finger. Let it set for 20 minutes, rinse in warm water and re-check. Continue this until the entire adhesive is removed. This will also work well on gum.

Ink From Ball Point Pen - I've always heard that alcohol or hairspray work well on ink marks. My experience has not been very good with these methods. I usually just end up with a smeared ink mark instead. I recently found a suggestion that I will try next time the need arises- soak the stain in milk for 1 hour or longer. Another method to try is making a paste from baking soda and water, applying it to the stain with a toothbrush. Work the paste into the stain, let it set 10 minutes, rinse, and repeat until the stain comes clean.

The key to removing most stains is to get to them as quickly as possible and remove the stain before allowing the garment to go into a hot dryer. Heat sets just about any stain to the point of no return...

Clothes Whitener

Vinegar removes soap buildup and has a whitening effect, and so does baking soda. For extra whitening, try 1/2 cup of lemon juice in the rinse cycle, then hang items in the sun. Hydrogen peroxide will also whiten clothes. Add 1/2 cup to the rinse cycle. I advise testing an inconspicuous spot before dunking an entire item if you are concerned about fading. I say this because my daughter had a pair of grey warmup pants that turned a strange shade of red after using the peroxide, while her brother's grey warmups did not. I think different fabric types and dying methods were the cause of this.

Fabric Softener

Add 1/2 cup of vinegar to the rinse cycle of your washing machine. Vinegar works naturally to soften your laundry and has the added benefit of breaking down laundry detergent. An added benefit is less detergent sensitive allergies for family members with sensitive skin. It also deodorizes- and don't worry... the vinegar scent disappear when it dries.

Starch

Make your own laundry starch by mixing two teaspoons of cornstarch with one cup water. Pour into a spray bottle and mist clothing as you iron.

Other Great Advantages to Using Natural Products

When you use baking soda, vinegar, and other natural products in your washing machine, you will notice a much cleaner inside surface to your appliances. Many of the soaps, softeners and dryer sheets are not only harsh on your clothing, but also on your washer and dryer's surfaces. You'll also enjoy the clean scent in your wash room and outside your dryer vent.

By Dene Brock

Laundry Tips Using Natural Products

Are you looking for natural solutions for getting your laundry clean? Give these tips a try.

My daughter and husband have extremely sensitive skin. If I change detergents or try to sneak in a little fabric softener or even a dryer sheet, they make me aware of their disapproval with bouts of eczema and rashes. I would find laundry products they could tolerate, but after awhile even those would begin to wreak havoc on their skin.

I've tried all of the hypoallergenic products, and some of them worked okay, but they were super expensive. I decided to do some research and see if I could come up with my own solution to the laundry dilemma. Here are some things that I learned that might help you out as well.

Natural Laundry Soap

Use castile soap (made exclusively from olive oil - as opposed to animal fat). Use 1/8 to 1/4 cup of it instead of regular laundry detergent. By the way, this soap is also great for personal hygiene, hair care, house cleaning, shaving, and I've even read that some people brush their teeth with it... but I haven't been brave enough to try that one.

Laundry Freshener

Baking soda is an all-around great product with so many uses. Add 1/2 cup to your laundry to remove odors. It also helps whiten clothes, remove detergent build-up, and as a fabric softener. It also works on acidic stains (see next tip).

Stain Removal Not all stains are created equal. Use these tips for various types of stains:

Acidic stains such as Drain Opener, Battery Acid, Toilet Bowl Cleaner, Vomit, Urine - Quickly rinse acid spills and then sprinkle baking soda on your clothing to neutralize the acid and prevent damage. If the acid is already dried, you can still neutralize it with baking soda before washing and prevent further damage in your machine.

If crayons have accidentally made their way into your laundry, there may still be hope for removing them. Rewash the clothing in the hottest water allowable for the fabric, adding a 1/2 box to a box of baking soda. You get the best results if you catch the problem before the items go into the dryer.

Blood stains can be removed with hydrogen peroxide. Start by rinsing the item with cold water, removing as much of the blood as possible. Then add 1/2 strength hydrogen peroxide (half peroxide, half water) and allow the bubbling action to remove the stain. Remember, hydrogen peroxide can discolor some fabrics, so you may want to do a spot test first.

Oil Stains - When it comes to removing oil or grease with natural products, I've been severely challenged. Most of the information I found started out great, with the use of a dry product to absorb the oil such as talc or cornstarch. Then the next step would always be something toxic like "dry-cleaning solvent" - NO THANKS! My advice is to start by applying dry corn starch to the stain, leaving it in place for 20 minutes or so. Brush away the excess, check the spot, and if it is still present, apply again. Then wash the garment in the hottest temperature the garment instructions will allow, using the natural detergent and either baking soda, or vinegar. This actually works quite well on other tough stains like tomato sauce or steak sauce.

Next: Laundry Tips Using Natural Products (2)

By Dene Brock

Laundry Tips: How To Wash Your Nursing Scrubs

Nursing scrubs are worn every day and absolutely have to be washed every day - for probably more reasons than I would be able to list. Anytime an article of clothing is worn and washed on a day-to-day basis, it is going to fade, look worn out, and/or start to "pill." Your medical uniform is not like the rest of your wardrobe. You probably own fewer scrub sets than civilian clothing, but you probably wear that uniform more often than any other article of clothing, which causes more 'wear and tear' more quickly than most people's work clothes.

Here are just a few tips on how to get your medical attire to stay looking newer, longer.

• Purchase high quality medical apparel. Anytime you purchase any article of clothing, not just your medical scrubs, if the fabric is not high quality, it will pill, wrinkle, stain, and wear faster than if you had purchased a better quality product. Stay away from those uniforms that are advertised for $4.99. They may as well be disposable scrubs. You can wear them once or twice before having to replace them, and therefore you end up spending more on the cheap outfits than you would have on designer scrubs.
• Separate your washables into categories and do not co-mingle those categories in the washer. Whites, darks (navy and black can be washed together), reds (you can also wash pink with red), light colors that are not white and do not fit into any other category, and finally your other colors (green, turquoise, etc.)
• Always wash your medical scrub items in cold water. Cold water will trap the dye in the fabric so that it stays in the fabric. Warm water will promote that dye to leak out, which will automatically fade the fabric. You do not want your black uniform to slightly resemble grey after just one wash.
• Add a tablespoon of white vinegar to the water before you add any detergent or clothing. Vinegar prevents "bleeding" of fabrics. It is also a great disinfectant, so you kill two birds with one stone.
• Wash your nurse’s uniforms on the delicate cycle. Your medical apparel will last about ten times longer if you always wash it on the delicate cycle. Feel free to wash all of your clothes on the delicate cycle.
• Use a mild liquid detergent (Gain always seems to work well.) Let the water get sudsy before you put your washables in. Feel free to throw in a little bleach with the whites only.
• Do not add liquid fabric softener. Just don't do it. Dryer sheets are fine.
• And finally, if you have time to line dry or flat dry your uniforms, they will last longer. But, if you live in the real world with the rest of us, throw those bad boys in the dryer on the lowest setting possible. Your scrubs shouldn't shrink after they have been washed once or twice, so always start with a lower heat setting and you can increase it the next time you wash and dry your scrub sets. Should you get stains on your hospital attire (or should I say 'when you get stains on your hospital attire') will be discussed in another article, where we will discuss the fabric type, color, and the stain type and severity.

Follow the washing tips above and your scrubs will look better for longer.

By: Andrea Mueller

Laundry Hampers For a Neat Home

Not all modern homes have laundry chutes. This is why clothes carts are indispensable in anyone's household. It helps us organize that unsightly mess we call laundry.

Clothes carts aren't something new. People previously used wicker baskets for this purpose. Nowadays we have a variety of options from the practical simple bins and utilitarian multi-purpose containers to furnishings so elegantly designed that even you would find it unimaginable to see a dirty piece of clothing inside.

It's quite easy to find a hamper that fits your taste, as there are many ideas you can freely choose from. Just make sure they are easy to clean and are durable enough. A canvas-based or nylon-based hamper can be washed along with the clothes, saving you energy in the process. Versatility is also a considerable factor. Having more household functions means less furniture. This frees up space for your home. In addition, there are collapsible designs available, which

Allow for easier storage when not in use. Traditional clothes carts are preferable in some cases, as they can be located in an open room without ruining the interior design. Just be sure to keep the lid on, or keep curious and pesky visitors away.

You should also consider where the hamper will be located or stored. For bathrooms, a water-resistant type is the best option. Likewise, you should look for stain-resistant options when keeping it in the garage. However, be sure to keep it well-ventilated as the laundry may ferment from the sweat in the damp clothes.

You don't have to limit yourself to only one laundry hamper. By having several bins available, it makes it easier for you to sort your laundry. Sorting the dirty clothes beforehand saves you time and effort when washing. It also helps prevent accidental dye stains from mixing clothes with different colors. But then, it all depends on whether you have enough room for them.

By Amy M Chan

Laundry Detergents For Effective Cleaning

Well-cleaned and bright clothes add more value to the personality of those who are wearing them. Good laundry products play a vital role in maintaining the cleanliness of your clothes. Among them, laundry detergents are ideal for effective cleaning of fabrics.

Make Your Fabrics Completely Stain-free with Laundry Detergents
Paints, clay and oil stains are not that easy to clean. In such circumstances, a good laundry detergent would do the job for you. Many of them are formulated with strong surfactants effective enough to remove even the toughest stains from the fabrics. But most of the time, after a single wash itself, the color and brightness of the clothes fade easily. To avoid this and prevent dinginess of the fabrics, using detergents with color shield properties would be great. Besides, these products come with a variety of fresh fragrances that would leave the clothes smelling pleasant after washing.

Different Types of Detergents for Effective Fabric Cleaning
Detergents can be availed in different forms such as powders, soap cakes and liquids. Among them, liquid detergents have greater demand due to their ease of use and added convenience offered. Strong additives in these detergents help in effective cleaning. There are concentrated forms of detergents helping you wash off even the toughest dirt from the fabrics. Most of the time, people with sensitive skin are allergic to certain types of detergents. As a solution, using laundry detergents with mild additives would be helpful.

Buy Online and Obtain Greater Discounts
If you need laundry detergents for effective cleaning, it would be beneficial to purchase any brand name product delivering quality performance. Dial, Phoenix, and Procter and Gamble are some of the leading names in the industry. As an additional cost saving method, purchasing these products from any online retailers would be a great option. They can help you gain great discounts for every bulk purchase you make.

By Eric K Kampel

Laundry Detergent Chemicals Whiten Clothes

We hear a lot about how toxic emissions need to be reduced if we are to reduce the harm they can cause to people and the environment. The good thing is that we are each in a position to make some changes in our daily lives that will make up for the harm we have already done to the earth.

A lot of these products in our everyday lives have harmful chemical ingredients. In some cases these are listed clearly, but few of us are able to discern the truth from the scientific jargon. In others, the list of ingredients is very unclear.

Either way, some of these chemicals can affect us, our families, and the environment in very negative ways.
Laundry detergent is one such product that often times contains vague information on its list of ingredients. Potentially harmful as well are the residues that remain. Even if your clothes may seem very fresh and clean, they may actually just be loaded down with harsh toxins.

A list of ingredients found on a common brand of laundry detergent leaves a consumer with a lot of questions. For instance, such ingredients included a buffering agent, stabilizer, brightening agent, and fragrance. This confusing description raises even more questions.

What causes that lovely fragrance? What cleans them?
When a closer look is taken, the list becomes shocking at the harmful chemicals found in such a common product as laundry detergent. As a consumer, it becomes clear that it may be time to take control and use a safer alternative.

When your detergent claims to offer brighter and whiter clothes, you may want to rethink your decision. The "optical brighteners" found on the label of one detergent are actually synthetic, or man-made chemicals. They work by turning ultraviolet wavelengths into visible light that makes clothes appear whiter, yet does not really make them any cleaner.
Their negative effects include being toxic to fish and to cause bacterial mutations.

Additionally, they may because allergic reactions to skin when later exposed to sunlight.
Another common selling feature of laundry detergents is fragrance. Many claim to leave your clothes smelling like a summer breeze or an appealing flower. The artificial fragrances found in detergents can often be derived from petrol. They can harm the environment because they are not biodegradable. Research has shown that these artificial fragrances can have toxic effects on fish and mammals. More importantly, they can cause skin and eye irritation and allergies.

These detergents may in fact create whiter and better smelling garments, but the harmful price being paid for your family and on the environment is hardly worth it.

By Janelle Elizabeth

Laundry And Clothing Tips

The nightmare task of days gone by was, of course, laundry. If you have ever had to wash a load of clothes by hand using soap rather than laundry detergent, you will know how big a task this was and why the usual practice was to set aside a whole day for washing - usually on Mondays when leftovers from the traditional Sunday roast could be eaten cold so nobody had to bother about cooking too much. But we still wash some things by hand today, and it's also good to know how to deal with items that today are usually sent to the dry-cleaners but were once washed at home by hand without any trouble.

The book also contains some advice on clothing that might be worth a try.

• To keep your feet warm in winter, wear woolly socks, but have something in them to absorb sweat. Straw was recommended in the book, but a second pair of cotton socks along with the woolen ones should work.
• Never store clothing that is dirty, even only a little bit. This will develop nasty smells that will spread to everything else. The book suggests keeping a special hamper for slightly worn or dirty clothes that aren't ready to be washed yet or are waiting to be washed, although this hamper should be where mice and cockroaches can't get at it.
• Silk can be ironed while damp with a cool iron, ironing on the wrong side.
• If you put clothes aside to mend, make sure that you have a separate bag for socks which "being smaller than the other pieces, they are more apt to become mislaid."
• This method is listed as "washing made easy": dissolve half a pound of soda in 2 quarts of water, and boil half a pound of soap (shredded or grated) in 2 quarts of water together. Then mix the two liquids and let them cool and form a jelly. Wet your clothes and other things to be washed, then rub the seams and any visible dirt with soap or another stain remover, then soak them overnight. Put the clothes and a pint of the soap/soda in a copper and boil for 20 minutes. Then "rinse it in the usual way." This was, surprisingly, recommended for colors as well as whites, and made no mention of separating out woolens or silks. Don't use this for anything modern containing elastic.
• Satin can be washed in hand-heat soapy water, rinsed in lukewarm water and line-dried. So can silk.
• These methods are all suggested to remove ink stains from clothes (linen): 

1. Dip in melted tallow. When the tallow washed out (when!), the ink will also come out.
2. Wash the stain in milk, then rinse in cold water.
3. If ink has just been spilled on a tablecloth, throw salt and pepper over it as soon as possible (preferably the salt). This works for red wine, too.
4. Rub the inkpot with a tallow candle and leave the lumps of tallow on it for 24 hours, then wash out the tallow (easier said than done).
5. Mix a bottle of cold water with 1 oz ammonium chloride with 1 oz potassium carbonate and soak the stain in this. Pumice stone was recommended to get ink stains off hands, which happens if you use fountain pens a lot.

• Three methods are suggested for cleaning kid gloves, two of which sound rather unpleasant, but the other is easy and "green":

1. 1 C of benzene (that's benzene with an I, not benzene with an e). Soak the gloves and rub well. Rinse in fresh benzene, squeeze out, and then hang them outside to dry. The book assures us that the smell will go.
2. By far the best method that won't leave you with a headache and your house full of noxious fumes. Put the gloves on and sponge them with skim milk, rubbing to get the stains off. Then wear them until they are dry.
3. Put one glove on. Take a saucer full of gasoline (yes, ordinary petrol, though what else they used it for back in 1891 before motor cars, I have no idea) and sponge half of this onto the glove you are wearing. Let it dry then remove that glove and repeat for the other. The book does state that "the odor of gasoline is disagreeable" and that while you are walking around with a petrol-soaked glove, you must "avoid stoves and lamps"; the gloves should be aired thoroughly after this treatment and perfumed before use. Method 3 is not recommended! On the topic of gloves, if you get hold of the book, read about the secret language of gloves and how a lady could send a secret message to her sweetheart with them.

By Nick Vassilev

How to Save More Time on Your Dirty Laundry

Tired of doing dirty laundry chore? Don't you just want to get it done as soon as you can?

Well, the good thing nowadays is you have a good helper in the form of a washing machine. However, you still need to arrange the clothes, pour in the detergent and spend a bit of your tending to your clothes. So if you want to save more time when it comes to washing your clothes, these tips would definitely come in handy.

Wash your clothes by batches

Instead of spreading your laundry washers over the week, it's better to fix a particular day of the week to do the clothes washing. Try to choose a day where you feel least tired. Usually Saturday or Sunday works for me because there's no work involved.

Choose a large washer

If you want to designate a single day just to carry out your dirty laundry washing, my advice is for you to buy a large capacity washer. You should also consider the size of your household and space that you have when it comes to buying the right sized washer.

Do other tasks when the washer is at work

Find other activities that can complement your clothes washer. Pick things like gardening, ironing or even little tasks that can be tucked between the times for washing. You'll find that spending your time this way is more optimal than just waiting for the washer to complete its cycle.

Outsource the laundry service

There are times when you may want to consider outsourcing your laundry activities. For example, I always choose to drop all my dirty laundry at a nearby sundry store after a long vacation (with all the dirty clothes). It saves me lots of trouble sorting, ironing and washing the clothes. Consider the amount of clothes for it to wash, dry and iron, it's a no-brain when it comes to saving a huge chunk of your time.

By Zach Smith

How to Reuse Old Laundry Baskets

Laundry baskets are present almost everywhere at this point. We can find them in any house due to the fact that they're so useful when it comes to laundry management. With the help of laundry baskets we can save a lot of time and effort when dealing with laundry, or even ironing. When replacing new baskets, a lot of people decide to throw the old ones out. What these people don't know is that old laundry baskets can also be used for storing other things, thus providing valuable storage space. This is one of the most important reasons why we should reuse old baskets.

Old baskets can make perfect recycling bins for your home. The vast majority uses a simple box in which they throw the litter and then they carry it to a bigger container when it's full. Using baskets for recycling purposes is a great and very efficient idea. You can use any old basket, it doesn't matter the size or the weight because it will still do its job perfectly. For larger baskets, you may want to use garbage bags so that it will be easier to take the litter outside. As you can see, old baskets make great garbage bins and this is just one of the many uses that they can have.

People also use old baskets to store various things, such as extra sheets or blankets. Of course, you would normally put these inside your closet but what do we do when there's no more space? We improvise. Old laundry baskets are perfect for storing large blankets that take up a lot of space. It is even better when you have a taller basket that features a lid since you can store a lot of things in it. The good thing is that the blankets and sheets will continue to remain clean and organized.

Blankets and sheets are not the only things that can be stored in old laundry baskets. Many people use their baskets to store unused gift supplies, such as gift tape, gift bags and wrapping paper. Of course, the bigger the old basket is the better since you can store more things inside. As with the sheets example, using laundry baskets to store gift supplies is a great idea because it will always keep your items organized and clean. Reusing old baskets is a great way to save some money and space.

By Christopher L. Rodriguez

How To Choose The Perfect Laundry Hamper For Dorm Rooms

Most of us find laundry unpleasant. The trouble of laundry seems to be more to college students staying in dorm. Dorms have different places for storing laundry. Some dorms have laundry stored on the floor while other dorms have laundry stored on the basement.

Those who stay in dorms must purchase a laundry bag, a basket or a hamper for storing up their laundry. The laundry bags provide a lot of facility to those who stay in dorms. Many times you will have to move your laundry from place to place when you are residing in a dorm.
College students are most of the times messy when it comes to their apparels and accessories. These laundry bags and hampers are great for storing their way clothes and also several other things like shoes and toys. Some of them even use the laundry bags as a place to store up their books and notes.

There is a lot of demand of laundry bags amongst the people. This is why the manufacturers have come up with a lot of variety in order to cater to the growing demands and also for giving a lot of choices to the people. As a result of which you get a lot of variety of laundry bags, starting from the ones which are rough and tough and hardy (ideally suited to the college students) to the ones that are chic and classy. Many college girls pick up these chic laundry hamper bags and use them for storing clothes in their dorms. Especially keeping the needs of college students, laundry hampers have been created which have line – lined wicker numbers featuring on them. These numbers create a line according to which you can store up books and other similar articles in the hampers. Whatever you store up remains cleanly intact in the basket the way you had stored them.

Young people love colorful things. They can decorate their dorms with colorful laundry bags coordinating with the colors of the walls. You can also purchase a laundry hamper sorter in which you can keep the used clothes before you wash them.

If you are a sophisticated person, you can go for a special laundry basket. The laundry part of some of these baskets remains hidden under the ottoman. You can keep them at convenient places in your dorm like at the corners of your bed or may be at the foot of your bed so that you can take out whatever you want to, be it your clothes or shoes, any time you want to.

Laundry baskets were used earlier by the people. These days using laundry hampers are in. laundry hampers come in several shapes including:

• wicker
• plastic
• large
• small
• round
• rectangular
• lid or without lid

go for whichever you like the best. Just keep in mind that you it is better to go for something that is hardy and tough when you are using it in your dorms.

By: Astrid Hickey

For Better Storage space Get Laundry Hamper

Laundry hamper is basically a wide-mouthed container that is used to ship and save clothing. It comprises of breathable compartments, attachable lids, and rolling castors for uncomplicated movement from one location to one more. The basket is designed to resemble a piece of furniture and can be ideally piled behind containers. It can be found in different sizes, designs and colors to suit different individual's selection. Over the current years, a large range of eco-friendly hinders made of natural cotton, bamboo and recycled metals have actually likewise been introduced in the market.

Different Models

Household Essentials double-bag laundry hamper is composed of removable polyester blend bags fitted with fabric covers. In addition, the basket displays a collapsible structure for effortless storage space, when not in use. This is a great option to keep greatly or lightly soiled clothes under wraps till laundry day. In addition, the washable bags are remarkably long lasting and can be utilized to keep garments in larger capacity.

On the other hand, Rubbermaid foldable 62-inch canvas basket features a neutral design that blends in perfectly by having any type of residence decor. This item is incorporated by having a stain-resistant cloth lining to keep dirty clothes. The long lasting set-up assures laundry transport and storage for a prolonged period of time. While, Whitmor java brown-colored owner comes with dual spacious compartments for dark and light clothes; these compartments aids to lessen sorting time to a huge degree. Additional highlights feature draw-string modifiable closures, vinyl laminated interiors, and heavy-duty polyester exterior.

Oceanstar rectangular-shaped wooden compartment is another exceptional design featuring mahogany finish and beadboard exterior area. It contains canvas-based interior circumstances that aids to ship clothing in a simple and easy manner. While, the rubber bumpers fitted beneath the cover avoids any loss to the painted finish. This type is the ideal choice if you desire to enhance the general look of a bath or room.

Bedger Basket three-drawer unit benefits use in nursery, washroom, vacation home, and bedroom. The pull-out drawers with white-polka dots are created making use of superior-quality wooden/cotton cloth and metal devices. This basket can be utilized not to simply fill clothes however additionally for arts and crafts supplies. The version can be wiped clean using a moist material as and when needed. Furthermore, there is Caddy Notion portable compartment with large-size wheels and zipper pocket. The compartment's interiors have a water-proof coat that stops the development of fungi or germs. This is excellent for college students, city dwellers, and frequent visitors.

Simple Suggestions to Purchase

It is important to think about the dimension of a laundry hamper. For people with a sizable household, it will definitely be best to keep an eye out for a large double-bag compartment. It is additionally necessary to pick a variation by having durable platform and easy running wheels for uncomplicated motion. Moreover, you should choose a design by having vinyl or waterproof coating that will certainly safeguard the kept garments from any kind of damages. Above all, it will certainly be best to buy a laundry hamper from a prominent outlet at affordable price.

By Duncan Bakshmidt