The products you use in your washing machine can build up over time, compounded by lint, mildew and good old-fashioned gunk. Cleaning is easier than you might think. Fill the machine with the hottest water, highest load size and longest wash. As it fills, add a quart of white vinegar, then add a cup of…

a little goes a long way. Related to soap, fabric softeners coat laundry with a waxy lubricant that lets the fibers slide past each other, reducing wrinkling and softening scratchiness. They also make napped fibers stand on end for fluffiness and reduce static cling caused by tumbling in the dryer. Over time, the waxy coating…

If you’re lucky enough to enjoy an outdoor clothesline, there are a few tricks to drying laundry outdoors. Shake damp laundry to smooth out wrinkles before hanging. Dry shirts on hangers for crease-free results, ready for touchup ironing. Hang pants by the bottom hem. That’s the way to hang t-shirts and polos, too. Hang “departments”…

Detergent chemists have come a long way since Fels Naptha and boiling water was the answer to dirty laundry. Most people still think hot or warm water gets clothes cleaner, but in fact all it does is add cost. Consumer Reports calculates you could save enough in energy costs to pay for 300 loads worth…

Want a natural way to brighten whites, even vintage linens? Use baking soda in your next load of laundry. The natural chemistry gently removes dirt and debris, even set-in odors, all while being safe for even the most delicate skin. It works great as a natural fabric softener and is fragrance free. For any of…

Before your post-turkey workout, get those funky gym clothes fresh again. According to Men’s Fitness, the easiest way to keep gym clothes smelling fresh is presoaking. Most workout garments are made with fibers that repel water, like Spandex and Lycra, so you need to presoak in a half-gallon warm water mixed with 1 ounce laundry…

Lumpy, flat, sour smelling? Time to refresh your bed pillows before winter sets in. Your every-night bed partners may need rejuvenation. Are your favorite down pillows at the end of their life?  Bring us your down and feather pillows for cleaning and reticking. We remove the feathers, sanitize and refluff them, add more feathers, then…

When life gives you lemons, there’s more than lemonade. The citric acid in lemon juice helps break down stains and brightens whites – instead of bleach, add a cup of lemon juice with your regular detergent. An old trick to remove rust stains still works better than chlorine. Moisten the rusty stain with lemon juice,…

Want your laundry to look dingy gray? Too much detergent will leave unrinsed soil in your garments and the over-sudsing will stress your machine’s pump and drain system. The manufacturers would love you to use more, but if you want clean clothes (at lower cost) stick with the minimum recommended amount, and use the measuring…

Before you store that down vest or comforter, make sure it’s perfectly clean. Small items can be washed in a front-loading machine, on the permanent press cycle, using a detergent that’s safe for down. If the item is really soiled, stop the machine midway and let everything soak for an hour. To make sure you’ve…