Laundry Tips
9/4/11: Bought a little steamer to make cotton golf shirts presentable after coming out of dryer. As I dewrinkle, I found a method to keep the fabric smooth. I bought several sets of bag clips and use two large (about 8") on the hem front and back. This allows me to manipulate the steamer in an upward motion. Keeps the heat of your hands, too. Make sure the back and front are aligned properly when you put shirt on a hanger. Some have vents at the side and the back is a little longer than the front. Keep the surface smooth and you will have no trouble.
Steamer works quite well. I turn it off when I fediddle with clips. Water in device will last through six or seven items this way.
The smaller clips (about 3") can be used on long sleeves.
I'm afraid pants require an iron (the dirty four letter word). That is, if you want nice creases.
Product is called "My Little Steamer".
Blood stains are tough. Get them washed as soon as possible. First, spray on Saline Nasal
Spray, which you can get at the drug store or supermarket, then hand wash before
laundering. We're made up of 75% salt water. Saline sort of mimics that. Naturally, it is
a good dissolver. Better than bleach for clothing.
Another tip: A few years ago, I spilled fluid (maybe coffee, I don't remember) on a cap I
wore to a picnic. Fortunately, someone had some plain soda (seltzer). I poured that on
the spill right away, then repeatedly poured small amounts of soda on spill til it disappeared.
Worked!
I think the secret is, don't let it sit too long.
Cold water for fruit. Hot water for fats, gravy. Sometimes a Q-Tipful is all you need.
As an artist, one of my favorites is a brush cleaner called Mona Lisa Pink Soap. It's also a
good stain remover. Have used it with some successes on clothing that has gone through
the dryer a few times.
By now, you have probably gathered that I am a sloppy eater. You're right, but I'm not
going to let that get
me crazy. Nobody's perfect.
When we moved into this house, a not-so-old washing machine was in residence. It is simple.
I like that. So simple that I can actually control things! I can, toward the end of filling with
warm water, switch over to hot and then back again. After one spin, I set it back to wash
for 5 minutes, then it spins and goes to a cold rinse. That is the only way I can get a warm
rinse, then a cold one. Very Important, two rinses...otherwise the so-called clean wash you
store in your dresser drawers eventually gets an odor to it. So much for cold water washing
with one rinse. It just doesn,t cut it. Beleive me, I am all for conservation, but I am dreading
the purchase of a new machine. The front-loaders, especially. Great concept, but the bells
and whistles will probably not give me anything but what the manufacturer thinks I want.
The dryer was replaced with an "Estate" model made by the Whirlpool Corp. I ignore the
"energy preferred automatic setting". Dry is dry. I would rather think for myself, as I wind
up doing that anyway.
Have a great plumber. He has some of the new equipment and turns thumbs down. I can
not remember the brand he said to stay away from (the one he purchased). Any thoughts
on this one? Please give your opinions by clicking on comments below this blog. And
remember, you can be completely anonymous by making up a name for yourself. Your email
will not be published.
Is this something that drives you crazy? It gets to me. You buy those oversized, fluffy towels,
take a shower and try to dry yourself. The towels do not absorb water! I have older, normal
ized ones that work much better.
I was told to hang them on a line and not use the softener sheets. No way. They come up
stiff. I looked all around for a sustitute for the softener. Thank you internet. I found a product
that does not contain the offending chemicals. Safe 'N Soft is made of vegetable based
ingredients and the company rep assured me that it is made in the USA. Seems expensive
but you mix it half and half with water and spray ten squirts onto clothes in dryer. Took time
to get the residual chemicals off the drum in the dryer but I have no complaints. One less
thing to drive me crazy.
4/12/08: Have dirty floor mats in your car? See Hybrid Cars & Other Car Stuff in Category
Saving the Planet.
Spray, which you can get at the drug store or supermarket, then hand wash before
laundering. We're made up of 75% salt water. Saline sort of mimics that. Naturally, it is
a good dissolver. Better than bleach for clothing.
Another tip: A few years ago, I spilled fluid (maybe coffee, I don't remember) on a cap I
wore to a picnic. Fortunately, someone had some plain soda (seltzer). I poured that on
the spill right away, then repeatedly poured small amounts of soda on spill til it disappeared.
Worked!
I think the secret is, don't let it sit too long.
Cold water for fruit. Hot water for fats, gravy. Sometimes a Q-Tipful is all you need.
As an artist, one of my favorites is a brush cleaner called Mona Lisa Pink Soap. It's also a
good stain remover. Have used it with some successes on clothing that has gone through
the dryer a few times.
By now, you have probably gathered that I am a sloppy eater. You're right, but I'm not
going to let that get
me crazy. Nobody's perfect.
When we moved into this house, a not-so-old washing machine was in residence. It is simple.
I like that. So simple that I can actually control things! I can, toward the end of filling with
warm water, switch over to hot and then back again. After one spin, I set it back to wash
for 5 minutes, then it spins and goes to a cold rinse. That is the only way I can get a warm
rinse, then a cold one. Very Important, two rinses...otherwise the so-called clean wash you
store in your dresser drawers eventually gets an odor to it. So much for cold water washing
with one rinse. It just doesn,t cut it. Beleive me, I am all for conservation, but I am dreading
the purchase of a new machine. The front-loaders, especially. Great concept, but the bells
and whistles will probably not give me anything but what the manufacturer thinks I want.
The dryer was replaced with an "Estate" model made by the Whirlpool Corp. I ignore the
"energy preferred automatic setting". Dry is dry. I would rather think for myself, as I wind
up doing that anyway.
Have a great plumber. He has some of the new equipment and turns thumbs down. I can
not remember the brand he said to stay away from (the one he purchased). Any thoughts
on this one? Please give your opinions by clicking on comments below this blog. And
remember, you can be completely anonymous by making up a name for yourself. Your email
will not be published.
Is this something that drives you crazy? It gets to me. You buy those oversized, fluffy towels,
take a shower and try to dry yourself. The towels do not absorb water! I have older, normal
ized ones that work much better.
I was told to hang them on a line and not use the softener sheets. No way. They come up
stiff. I looked all around for a sustitute for the softener. Thank you internet. I found a product
that does not contain the offending chemicals. Safe 'N Soft is made of vegetable based
ingredients and the company rep assured me that it is made in the USA. Seems expensive
but you mix it half and half with water and spray ten squirts onto clothes in dryer. Took time
to get the residual chemicals off the drum in the dryer but I have no complaints. One less
thing to drive me crazy.
4/12/08: Have dirty floor mats in your car? See Hybrid Cars & Other Car Stuff in Category
Saving the Planet.
Very informative web site. Good luck to u. I have addition. Use baby oil to take oil paint off hands/clothes.
Would like info on how to frame small oil paintings easily.
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Thank you, H-BB
Your framing question is a good one. The easiest way I have found is the offset clip, called canvas offset clips in some art supply catalogs. They come in 1/8",1/4",3/8",1/2" depths
with a short screw for each clip. Problem is, usually only find them in catalogs...100 to each box abt. $5 plus shipping.
The good news is you only need four for a small painting. Good luck
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I am extremely impressed with your writing skills and also with the layout on your blog. Is this a paid theme or did you customize it yourself? Either way keep up the nice quality writing, it's rare to see a nice blog like this one these days.. :)
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Thank you Kevin,
Not doing much with blog these days. Hospital stay almost into 12/25/10. Recently checked out email received. Five hundred sixty three notes later...it only seems that many...your message came through to me. After reading so many one-liners (mostly nonsense), appreciate your compliments and query.
Writing skills have, for the last year or so, been sharpened a bit, thanks to the writers groups on the Cape. Realize this blog could be better. No time to edit, however.
Godaddy set up the page layout. Some of it has been hit or miss for me.
Probably will not devote much time to driveucrazy in near future. Helping a writer publish book this Spring. It is so involved. Web site and book signings and finding the right venue and newspapers and TV. After working the words, author must work harder to push the book. It ain't easy.
Thanks again,
Joan
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