All the laundry comments remind me that there are different situations out there. I'm conscious of the difficulty of handing out advice. But if I think you and me sitting at my kitchen table with a cup of tea, talking about what highly intelligent folks talk about -- ("The problem with you women is that you just want to talk about the price of potatoes!" a guy friend once scolded. Hey, I can talk about the stimulus package or the One and the Many if you want to, but I am interested in the price of potatoes :) -- I know that if I tell you how I do it, you will say to yourself, "I can do that, and I can do better than that." Yes, it's as I've been telling you -- If I can do it, so can you!
So here are some notes on simplifying the laundry. This post is blah-blah-blah-blah...it just goes on and on. Oh my goodness. I'm so sorry.
Those of you with high-tech nuclear-powered washing machines and dryers are on your own. Read your manual and figure it out. Actually, everyone should read the instructions that come with household appliances. These machines are expensive to replace, and they are not magic!
It's easier to explain to a child how to use an appliance if we really understand it ourselves. Have you completely internalized the fact that if you consistently overload your washer it will fail you long before its time? This knowledge will help you explain to your minions how to choose a water level.
Much more on all that and exactly how to get a kid to do laundry in Worksheet III in the sidebar.
As to products, I am not going to be seduced by most of those things out there. If you can show me it really works better than what I've got, okay...so far this is what I always have on hand.
Laundry detergent.I'm going to challenge you to choose a detergent that doesn't have a scent. Personally, the smell of regular Tide makes me feel sick. It took me a long time to like real honest to goodness lavender because of this overused product. I buy Mountain Fresh or whatever it's called Tide (see the little green corner up there that I practically cut off?) because it's got little scent of its own (sometimes I can find unscented, but not always). I haven't found generic kinds that aren't practically chemical weapons on the nose.
I want to point out to you that really clean laundry has a clean smell of its own. Lately I've been noticing that some people's laundry smells clean from far away, but if you get into it and really smell it, it's not clean deep down. So your scented detergent might be masking this sad truth from you.
To provide deep-down cleanliness, you need a couple of other products and the occasional run through with warm or hot water (outdoor line-drying in the sun is a distant memory at this point for those of us who are hibernating). 
I realize that we are all trying to be frugal and washing in cold water, but permit me to say that refraining from warm or hot water when you need it is causing you to wash certain things more often than they need to be washed, which is costing you in electricity, water, and wear-and-tear on your machines.
What makes things smell, for the most part, is molds. Towels need bleach and at least warm water. In the summer they need hot water or line drying. Last summer we stayed at a beach house that supplied towels and sheets.
I ended up washing all the "clean" linens before we could use them... I had to go buy bleach and proper detergent to do it. They were so musty I couldn't bear to even be in the house with them.Mustiness is that "whiff" of something that's not dirt that you get from damp towels, sponges, washcloths, rain gear, old shoes, or anything that has been sitting around in moisture. That "whiff" makes me crazy! The only cure is bleach or a good airing in the direct sun. Please don't send me comments about your baking soda. You must not live in a damp place like I do.
If you find that laundry in drawers after a few days no longer seems clean, try doing your wash in warm water for a while.
Here is a real secret (really, no one else will tell you about this! I learned it from my BFF Sue):
Lestoil will remove those grease spots on knits and chino pants. You know how you always seem to get salad on your favorite polo shirt? Or how your husband seems to drop pizza on his new khakis? How about that ring around the collar of winter jackets? Rub Lestoil into the grease spot, let it sit for a few minutes, and launder in warm water. I've never used a more effective grease spot remover, so I don't buy the others any more. You can see that I got one of those ketchup bottles for it, because it's hard to be accurate with the big bottle! I cleaned it off just for you!For articles that seem yellowed and for sheets and other vaguely greasy objects, try ammonia according to the directions. Your pillowcases won't get really clean with bleach. You need ammonia! (And remember, never mix the two. A toxic gas will result.)
I do like oxygen-type bleaches for some things. I don't have a picture here, but that Carbona stain devils is oxygen-based. I don't know what that Grandma's stuff is. For that matter, you could use straight hydrogen peroxide.For whites that have yellowed, try Mrs. Stewart's. It works! You can tell that all you have to do around here is put a picture of an old lady on a product and we will buy it! (By the way, I get nothing for telling you any of this.)
I used that Clorox II on my sofa cushion covers (gasp! I was very brave indeed -- I waited for a hot dry July spell and just about got an ulcer doing it) and it worked very well.
As to the dryer, I use one quarter to one third of a dryer sheet in my regular loads to prevent static (not with the towels). The cheapest, most generic dryer sheets are just fine.
A few years ago the Chief made me this drying rack. I (or whoever is doing the laundry) put lingerie and whatever else really shouldn't go in the dryer on it, and very handy it is.
It deploys right there in the mudroom.And, ta-da! My old dryer was so pitifully scratched and rusty, because people will put things on there. When I got my new one (don't scorn it just because it doesn't look like it's from outer space, it works great), I put this rubber matting on it to protect it. Every once in a while I rinse it off, let it dry, and put it on again. I cut a new one just for you. No rusty scratches!
26 comments:
my biggest laundry challenge is lint--whenever I pull the lint filter out to empty, it scatters lint dust *everywhere*. How am I supposed to keep the laundry room clean without getting a new dryer with a different type of lint filter?
why only 1/4 to half of a dryer sheet, btw?
Is that Lestoil a geographical thing? I live in the SE and I have never seen it, not in the NW either. Every top I own has breastmilk on it and it kills me. I will have to look harder for that product because I have yet to find anything that works although I've been told pouring boiling water through the stain after applying a small amount of Dawn dish soap does the trick. I haven't tried that. I think I'll try the bluing one of these days too. My whites are all fairly yellow.
Thanks once again for all of your great tips!
I've found that borax is a great alternative to the toxic fumes of bleach. It really does work too getting rid of all mold and mildew. I just put it in with my regular detergent.
I got this hint from your Aunt Jean (MY mom):
Once in a while, leave OUT the detergent. It does accumulate in your clothing and makes them dingy, at times. I also NEVER dry jeans (or towels)in the dryer until they are almost dry from being hung either outside or on a drying rack. Waste of good electricity!However, they may get musty if not in good air circulation. They soften up with a few more minutes in the fluff cycle and still have the outdoor smell.
My biggest problem is the iron in my well water. Some times of year it is better than others and sometimes it seems as if someone left rusty nails in their pockets!
You only need a small amount of bleach. I use a 1/2 cup. More isn't really necessary. I have a front loader that gets really moldy so I use borax a lot for the non-bleach loads especially in the summer and for stinky things that can't be bleached- like Under Armor. (Though I'm partial to bleach; fumes or not). I think you can find Lestoil at hardware stores. They do sell it at grocery stores here in the northeast.
Excellent tips, all. Missing line-drying...hurry up spring!
GREAT tips! Sometimes my clothes smell musty....I think I will wash in hot water for a while...thanks!
Re breast milk stains: because it's protein, heat will set the stain. Some people have had good luck using a paste made from meat tenderizer.
Thanks so much for the tip on Lestoil-- it just got added to my shopping list for my husband's shirt collars!
Please tell me how you wash the pillow cases with the ammonia. I have tried bleach and they just don't get as clean as they should. Thank you!
For people missing line drying, I have a clothes line in my basement in the same room as my boiler. It works well because the boiler keeps the air warm and dry. Even though my outdoor line is at least 2 feet deep in snow and ice I still get to line dry! Good thing since my dryer doesn't work!
The down side is that no basement is perfectly clean, so I have to be really careful about dropping clothes, or hitting them into dusty pipes or beams, especially when wet. That can be very annoying. But I have not noticed any unpleasant or musty basementy odors klinging to the clothes...
Thanks for the Lestoil tip - my husband is forever dropping salad dressing on his dress shirts at lunch meetings.
I've been doing a lot more warm water washing and air drying lately. I figure I bought good quality clothes (granted, most are from Good Will, but they are top brands!) and I want them to stay looking nice. No sense having nice clothes that fade or shrink.
Let's see, I do towels and unmentionables in hot water, sheets and blankets in warm and everything else in cold. I always buy whichever detergent is cheapest according to unit price and doesn't assault my sinuses (usually Gain, All or Purex) and whenever possible I hang clothes out on the line. NOTHING smells better than linens fresh from the clothes line. Of course, I can only do this 3 seasons a year, but one of these days I'm going to get The Viking to hang a line in the laundry room.
When I'm really on the ball I make my own powdered detergent from Borax, washing soda (NOT baking soda) and Fels Naptha. But my favorite laundry tip is using white vinegar instead of fabric softener in the rinse cycle. You can use it on everything, including towels, it won't cause a waxy buildup on the fabrics, it reduces the amount of lint, thus preserving the integrity of the linens, and makes all your laundry smell fresher, especially if you add a few drops of your favorite essential oil. Not to mention it's way cheaper.
Oh, Man, when it's Springtime and the sheets have been washed in lavender and white vinegar and have dried on the line in the sunshine...NOTHING smells sweeter!
Ohhh...I use Lestoil! My husband is a truck driver and gets Fifth wheel grease on his clothes sometimes from hooking/unhooking his trailer. It works great! I never thought of the ketchup bottle....that's going on my list right now!
Kristy
I really appreciate all of your suggestions on the topic of the "dreaded" laundry. A little over a year ago I started with a new routine for my laundry. My husband and I have 5 kids and I never felt like I was finished with the laundry. The two boys share a room and I do their laundry on Tuesdays. When I finish it, I'm done with laundry. The three girls share a room and I do their laundry on Wednesdays. I take Thursday off and then I do our laundry on Fridays. I really do feel like I finish the laundry.
While I think that Leila's way of laundry would work for many people, I just wanted to throw out my suggestion in case it could help someone. I plan on using many of Leila's ideas to continue to improve my plan.
Lestoil! When I was 16 I worked at the counter at a dry cleaner. The older lady who managed the store told me about Lestoil, and I've always remembered and had it around. (Amazingly, never thought of putting it in a bottle like that. Definitely will do.) My only problem with it is the smell. I'm one of those unscented-everything people, and one drop of Lestoil on one item in the wash leaves the whole load imbued with "eau de Lestoil." But when it comes to grease stains, it sure is the way to go. Also, laundry must be "abstract and profound" itself or so many people wouldn't have such a hard time with it, right? ;)
I enjoyed this post and all the comments.
However, I must say that I live in Pennsylvania and use my clothes line outside year round. If I get things on the line before 9am and the temp is above 30 and the air is moving, BINGO: dry laundry by 5pm. If it's too damp or cold or snowy, I hang my loads on a drying rack inside, adding much needed humidity to the air. I probably use my dryer twice a month, if that.
Also, I do laundry every day (2 adults, baby, toddler) in the winter when it does take things longer to dry. In warm weather, I can hang up loads into the afternoon and they will dry so I can do all the laundry in 2 days.
LOVE discussing this stuff!!
Must try the Lestoil.
Moved to the UK a few years ago and learned that the folding laundry rack is called a clothes horse. I like that. It sounds so victorian laundress-y.
In the summer, my rotary airer (umbrella type folding clothesline) works just fine. Even on days with occaisional misty rain, the sun & wind still do the job. That took getting used to, the rain being so light & short that I didn't need to desperately pull everything off the line. I mean, airer. I'm from the American southeast, rain is heavy! Heck, in NC, I've had clothes go sour outdoors on a sunny day because of high humidity and lack of wind. Here, I've had clothes dry even though it's rained now & again during the day!
Because of the angle of the sun and placement of the garage, nothing dries on the rotary airer in the winter, but my mum-in-law instructed me in the finer points of drying clothes in the airing cupboard.
Hot water filled radiators are still far more popular here than forced air heating. Thus, each home must have a hot water storage tank. (This is seperate from the potable hot water system.) This tank is usually enclosed in a closet, with slatted wooden shelves.
First of all, if you are my mum-in-law, you do hang the laundry out, as early as possible. The day is grey, the sun blocked by my neighbor garage, but the wind is blowing. This is important as it fluffs the clothes, though they are still quite damp when I take them in before sundown. About 2:30 pm in my garden in January, but it's already improved. Very lightweight fabrics can skip this step and go right into the cupboard. So the first load of the day is heavier and hung out ASAP, the second load is lighter and put in the cupboard ASAP.
Clothes are laid on or hung from the slatted shelves, or hung on the clothes horse sitting in front of the open cupboard. It is important to lay the clothes on the clothes horse in such a way as to not put creases in odd spots. Lay them on what would be a fold line, or so that any marks won't show when worn. If you get the chance to flip things over or turn them around before bed, that helps prevent marks too. Things should be dry enough to put away in the morning.
On big wash days, I also use radiator airers. These are small racks that hang on the front of the radiatore. My mum-in-law was quite firm about not hanging clothes ON the radiator as they will steam heavily, damage the walls, possibly damage the paint on the radiator, leading to rust, damaged clothes and eventual radiator replacement. However, one house we lived in had a radiator in the bathroom designed for hanging towels on. Oh heaven, warmed towels in winter!
Some clothes, like my husband's chinos, never feel properly dry until I've ironed them. That's the only time I miss my big American tumble dryer! I do own a tiny, tiny dryer, but it holds so little that it's easier to just hang the clothes instead of having to keep checking and changing the dryer. Plus, their is a real social stigma about wasting money (older generation) or engergy (younger generation) using an electric tumble dryer. When I was using it, my spouses relatives credited the bad habit to my being a spoiled, wasteful American!
I do use the dryer on no-, or low-heat, for the fluffing factor if it's raining and I can't hang clothes out at all. Or I'll dry a sock or towel load if I'm feeling indulgent. Or, if there are lots of loads of sick baby things and the horses and racks are full!
So, that's laundry in the U.K.!
I can't tell you how thankful I am for your thoughtful work here. Although I find that I've got a moderate handle on the doing of laundry, I've found that I still have musty little towels and grease stains that won't begone. I came here, vaguely remembering your talk of other products and ways of doing the wash, and I find that laundry has been further demystified. Here's to better smelling kitchen towels!
I am a massage therapy student so I am working with oil all the time. To get the stains out of my sheets I use a little bit of detergent along with about a cup of vinegar and two or three table spoons of baking soda it works great and smells even better.
I have been reading all your laundry blogs and I love these tips!
Just a quick question...do you have a septic tank? I just ask b/c I am totally with you on the bleach thing. Your tips are right on. My towels suddenly smell 100% better!
But...we have a septic system and have been told that bleach is really bad for it (kills all the good bacteria that break stuff down in the tank). So, if you have one, do you have to do anything special?
Thank you!
Yes, Rachel, we do have a septic tank. It is truly enormous (we have 8 bedrooms) and I do not use a LOT of bleach. At peak levels here I would probably do 2 or 3 loads of towels with 1/4 cup bleach in each. Now it's one load per week. So I have to say that I consider it worth the possible downside, especially as I use very few heavy-duty cleaners in other areas of my home.
I'm so impressed by how quickly you answered this!
Thank you.
I love your blog!
I have a question about bleach. Doesn't it ruin the color? I am so tired of smelly towels that I was going to just buy all new white ones so that I could bleach them. However, when I look at the care instructions they always say not to use bleach. Same thing for sheets. Thanks so much for all of your helpful advice here! -Anne
Conventional towels -- the kind you buy at normal stores -- are dyed with bleach resistant dye because many cities have bleach in the water! So a little bleach in your wash won't trouble them.
As I have said before, I would rather have slightly faded towels than ones that smell gross! But in most cases bleach (a small amount) won't affect them.
You can also use boiling water, but that is harder to do!
Post a Comment