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Crisp white sheets.
A few tips to help keep that timeless, breezy look fresh— Don’t eat in bed or go to bed with makeup on. Stains are easier to make than remove. Wash in warm or hot water to remove body oils. Never use chlorine bleach, it weakens and yellows fibers. Finish your laundry with a white vinegar…
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Linen, the summer classic.
Linen’s looser weave allows air to flow more freely. Linen’s fibers are absorbent and conductive — wicking moisture to evaporate back into the air for a little natural cooling. The wrinkled, rumpled look of linen is a side-effect of flax fiber’s inherent structure, traditionally considered a sign of comfortable elegance. Linen’s long-wearing quality costs a…
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Father’s Day saved by haberdashery.
Back in the early 40’s, Father’s Day wasn’t widely celebrated. An association of menswear retailers and manufacturers, including the necktie industry, promoted the June holiday as an occasion to make Dad more dapper. Today, the holiday generates over $13 billion in sales – that’s a lot of neckties! It seems to be unavoidable that the more expensive…
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Flag etiquette.
Displaying our national symbol is actually covered by an official Flag Code. For instance, the flag should not be flown in the dark or inclement weather. It should not be used as decoration – that’s a job for bunting, streamers and decorative materials. Always display the blue part on top. When the flag is lowered,…
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Marks of summer fun.
When chlorophyll, xanthophylls and carotenoids from fresh grass are ground into cotton, removing the complex mix of proteins and organic pigmented compounds can be difficult. Pretreat with a full load’s worth of liquid detergent poured onto the stains. Scrub until the stains start to disappear, wait about ten minutes then launder in cool water. Repeat…
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Camp comfort.
With bold prints and patterns, men’s camp collar shirts are always popular for summer with open-neck casual comfort, boxy fit and straight bottom hems. Tuck into chinos or wear oversized over a t-shirt for a fresh look, under a sports jacket for a more classic look.
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Sweat happens.
Removing the stains can be a laundry challenge, but Family Handymanoffers a few tips: First, soak the garment in equal parts cold water and white distilled vinegar before laundering as usual. Stubborn yellowish antiperspirant stains on white fabric can often be removed by scrubbing in 1 part Dawn dish soap mixed with 2 parts hydrogen peroxide. Let…
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Sort for success.
Laundry pros take sorting to a new level when they recommend sorting not only by color but also by fabric type. We always separate linty laundry like towels and sweatshirts from corduroys, permanent press and smooth fabrics that can pill. Separate loads for pure whites, lights and patterns on white, darks, brights and delicates lets…
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Welcome summer.
Treat yourself to freshly laundered and pressed summer wear— we finish knits like polo shirts to perfection. Most summer stains are no match for our professional-strength laundry products and machinery, especially on whites. We add crisp and clean to every wardrobe.
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Save energy doing laundry.
Consumer Reports says we use around 70 billion kilowatt hours doing laundry at home. To save on your costs, start by using cold water when you can. Increase the spin cycle to remove more water and reduce drying time. Clean the lint filter and dryer duct to keep air moving. If you still use dryer sheets,…