Tag Archives: laundry tips

How to get your laundry smelling fresh

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I love the smell of launderettes! Every time I pass by one my body shivers with envy; how can I get my clothes to smell like that when I do the laundry? I don’t have a tumble dryer and I suppose that makes it more difficult, specially in winter, when you hang the clothes to dry for days and days with no positive results. So I tried and I tried until I found a really good solution…

Would you like your clothes to smell nice and fresh as if they have been taken out of a launderette?

Put less detergent on your wash and add about half a cup of baking soda. What baking soda does is eliminate detergent residues and re-fresh the clothes, leaving them cleaner and smelling like new!

Do you have any other tips? Let us know!

How to save energy when doing laundry

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481258_money_launderingOne of the biggest energy eaters at home is the washing machine and although it is not possible to live without it, there are ways to put it on “energy diet”.

90% of the washing machine’s power consumption comes from heating the water so the cooler temperature you set it on to, the more you save. There are special detergents that work wonders with cold washes. Look out for those ones.

The temperature of rinse water does not affect cleaning so set your washing machine for cold water rinse cycle. If your clothes are heavily soiled then you can pre-soak them before washing to maximize the effect.

The simplest way to avoid excessive energy use is to hang your clothes on a drying rack or outside when possible. Use the dryer only when there is no alternative option.

Dry full loads but don’t overload. Load similar types of clothes together and try to dry few loads one after another, this way you will be able to use the heat from previous loads. Take clothes out while they are still slightly damp to reduce the need for ironing.

If you have one, take full advantage of dryer’s moisture sensor. This automatically shuts itself off when the clothes are dry. Switch to the cool-down cycle halfway through the drying process. There is always plenty of heat left in the dryer to finish the process.

Clean the dryer filter often. A clogged filter will reduce efficiency.

Finally, don’t leave washing machine on standby.

The secrets of laundry

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laundry1Last Saturday I left my husband to do the laundry while I was filing some documents. After half an hour of not hearing the typical noise of the washing machine I got scared and went to the kitchen. And there I found my husband looking at the the washing machine as if trying to decipher a hieroglyphic out of an ancient monument!

I suppose it is always easy to do the laundry when you do it on a regular basis. It is also true that washing machines have too many bottoms to push before a cycle can start! At http://www.amycleaning.co.uk we have had similar situations with domestic cleaners who didn’t really understand how to turn the washing machine on. Do not fear! doing the laundry is easier than it looks like… if you follow these simple tips.

1. Preparing the load.

We know that we need to separate dark colours from light/white colours. But it is not only that; separate also delicate fabrics from heavier ones and read all the labels as you may missed some clothes that are only hand washable; also, remember to empty pockets and close all zips on trousers and jackets.

2. The loading of the washing machine.

We are going to be late to that picnic with friends and decide to load a 7kg washing machine with 10kg; wrong! Over-loading will not allowed the clothes to tumble properly so they will not come out clean. At the same time the washing powder will have no space to dissolve, leading to the same consequence.

4. How to graduate the temperature.

You have bought the new 15C detergent to save energy. Well I am afraid to say that not all clothes can be washed at the same temperature. Cold water will minimize creasing and may help you clean stains such as blood. If you need to wash very dirty clothes, however, hot water will do a much better job.

5. Drying.

As soon as the cycle is finished you need to take all the clothes to dry; if you leave them on the washing machine for too long clothes will become smelly. Always leave the door open to allow the washing machine to dry.