Organize & Clean


Good (Enough) Housekeeping (6 of 6)

Posted: 2008-01-04 09:45:43


Lighten Your Load

If you feel like you're drowning in laundry, you're not alone — the average American family does six loads per week. To make this dreaded chore less painful, try these tricks and favorite products.

Top Time-Savers

  • If the dryer buzzed yesterday and now the load is cold and wrinkled, throw in a clean, wet bath towel and tumble the items on medium heat for 10 minutes.
  • Left clothes in the washer and now the load smells like wet dog? Set the washer to the rinse cycle and as it fills, add a cup of white vinegar.
  • To dry a damp load faster, add a dry bath towel.
  • Keep a stain-remover stick in a kitchen drawer so you can treat food spills immediately.
  • Add 1/2 cup of baking soda along with your detergent to boost cleaning power — it helps soften the wash water, and detergents work better in softer water.
  • Put a laundry bag or a hamper in every clothes closet. If your closets are full, try an over-the-door bag.
  • When washing and drying delicates or stuffed animals, first place them in a pillowcase and close the end with a ponytail holder.


Smart Ideas from You

"I have never found anything as effective as dishwashing liquid in getting rid of grease stains on fabric. Just rub a little in and toss the garment in the machine — it works every time! I use Ajax Lemon."
—Janet Kearns, Minneapolis

"My daughter and her husband were repainting their house and got paint everywhere. Goof Off took the dried paint out of their clothes."
—Chris McNally, Philadelphia

"Do your whites before bed: Fill the washer with hot water, detergent, and bleach; let clothes soak overnight. In the morning, finish with two rinse cycles."
—Megan Kennedy, Lexington, KY

"I rarely iron anything because I put washed clothes in the dryer for no more than 15 minutes and then let them line-dry."
—Lola Duncan, Saraland, AL

"I put bras and other items I don't want to dry into mesh laundry bags. That way, I don't have to sort after washing — I simply pull out the bag."
—Wallance Lee, Honolulu

Reprinted with Permission of Hearst Communications, Inc. Originally Published: http://www.goodhousekeeping.com/home/organizing/good-enough-housekeeping-oct06

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2007-11-20 15:26:11

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Steffieb333 10:12:48 PM May 04 2008

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great helpful hints and I'm falling asleep at the computer while watching Baravk give his mosee

Bbbslaves 09:46:11 AM May 02 2008

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lint brushes work great for cleaning fabric lamp shades and hair spray works great on dusters .. it makes the dust stick to it and not fall on the floor or just move around

Cldade55 08:44:09 AM May 02 2008

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I have terrible allergies, two teenagers and two (non-shedding) dogs and I run my own business. I use a lot of tricks to keep the house clean every week with minimum effort. First, I try to limit the amount of dirt that comes in. No shoes in the house. I keep the dogs well groomed. No carpets for me. They hold huge quantities of dirt, like giant sponges. I use an automatic shower sprayer in every bathroom.

Second, I try to find the most efficient tools. I use a good broom to pull dust bunnies, clothes and dog toys out of corners and from under furniture. It gets me warmed up and ready to clean, 15 minutes. Then I move on to cleaning the floors. The best tool for keeping all kinds of bare floors clean is my Floormate. It vacuums, scrubs and sucks up the dirty water for my 1250 square foot house in half an hour and the floors are really clean. Dusting takes 15 minutes with any cheap Swiffer clone I can find. Bathrooms take another 20 minutes. I use a foaming cleanser an

SULANDHERB 06:43:36 AM May 02 2008

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Cobwebs and dust bunnies are great pets, don't require expensive vet care and don't eat much. What more could you ask for :)

ManxCalico 08:32:34 PM Mar 12 2008

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dust mites and bed bugs are two different things. dust mites live in and on all soft surfaces, and cause alergic reactions. bed bugs are insects that generally live in matresses and on fabric covered furniture, and live on blood (think fleas) they are very hard to get rid of.

Rumo Regi 07:19:01 PM Mar 12 2008

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Bedbugs live in the unwashable stuff like mattress, carpet, and cracks, not in sheets.

SPS52778 06:44:08 PM Mar 12 2008

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Unwashed linens do not cause bed bugs to infest your house. They are showing up all over the world right now, even if you have never heard of them in your area. The best thing I have found to treat them is a product from Cedarcide Industries. They have a very informative website. Kills ants and ticks also.

Wzigkat 06:02:28 PM Mar 12 2008

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me too like some of them

PospishilE 04:56:48 PM Mar 12 2008

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Some good ideas here. I'll have to try them

Hoperly 02:29:57 PM Mar 12 2008

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I also wash my sheets every other day because my dog sleeps with me every night. Another hint for white clothes is to use a little Cascade Dishwashing liquid in the washer. I use this on my son's white baseball pants and they come out bright white every time

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