If you’re facing a mountain of laundry today, here are a few tips to help you conquer that mountain with great results while spending less.
Fill ‘er Up! First off, if you have a top-loading washer, fill up the washer with water first before adding detergent and clothing.This way, the detergent will dissolve evenly and clothing can rinse properly.
Oops I Forgot: We’ve all done it. We ran the washer and then forgot to move the completed batch from the washer to the dryer and were later greeted by a foul smell. To get rid of the bad odor, run the load again with a half cup of baking soda along with your normal detergent. Baking soda is an inexpensive but very effective way to neutralize odors AND “activate” or give a boost to your laundry detergent.
Good-bye to Stains: Create a powerful stain remover by mixing 3 parts baking soda with one part water to form a “paste”. Rub the paste directly onto the stain and allow the stained garment to sit for an hour. This paste even works on oil and grease stains. For blood stains, mix one part baking soda to two parts cold water in a bowl. Dip a white cloth into the mixture and then apply it to the blood-stained area. Allow the mixture to remain on the stain for 30 minutes before washing.
Tougher than Tough: OK, sometimes there are stains that WILL NOT BUDGE! Getting grass and dirt stains out of my son’s baseball pants was proving to be one of those battles that I couldn’t win. A friend suggested that I use super strength “Greased Lightening” (yes, the multi-purpose cleaner and degreaser). It worked! I’ve since learned that it can successfully get out lipstick stains, baby food stains, ink and more.
Pre-Soak is Paramount: Pre-soaking heavily soiled laundry before washing can make a huge difference in getting the clothes REALLY clean. Pre-soaking helps the stains to come lose and be removed more easily. Simply fill your washing machine, bucket or tub with warm water and then add your detergent and clothes. Allow the items to soak overnight for optimal results.