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How-To: Homemade Linen Spray

casasugar — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 07:00:11 -0700

I recently came across a wonderful recipe for homemade linen spray at Hallmark magazine of all places and had to share because it's so simple and customizable. It's also an ideal way to infuse the scent of an endless Summer into your bedroom. Spritz a bit onto your sheets or onto your clothes as you're ironing, or spray it into the air to use it like a room spray.

Supplies:

16 or 32 oz. spray bottle
2 tbsp. 100 proof vodka
Your choice of two oils, such as jasmine, bergamot, lavender, etc.
Distilled water

To learn the steps,

How-To: Eco-Proofing Your Laundry Routine

casasugar — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 09:15:33 -0700

If you're concerned about your or your family's laundry habits, take a look at this list of tips for eco-proofing your laundry routine. Whether you're curious about laundry detergents, water temperatures, or green choices for washing machines, I've got you covered.

Wash your laundry in cold water. Pretreat stains to ensure that your clothes will get clean in one cycle.
Hydrogen peroxide is effective on blood stains, while rubbing alcohol is good for ink, and Vaseline will aid in removing lipstick stains.
Washing clothing in cold water has many benefits, including helping to reduce wear and tear on the fabric.
Most of the energy used to wash clothes is taken up in heating the water — yet another reason to run your load on cold.
If you can afford it, invest in an energy-efficient washer. If it says Energy Star on the label, it's guaranteed to save water, power, and money.

To get your full laundry load of tips,

DIY: Dryer Balls

casasugar — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 09:15:32 -0700

My eyes are always peeled for alternatives to chemical cleaning solutions. So, when I came across a DIY for making dryer balls from wool yarn rather than the blue plastic PVC alternative, I had to share. If you've got some spare yarn in the house, you'll likely have all the ingredients necessary to rid your garb of static cling, so check it out!

Supplies:

100 percent wool yarn (use scraps!)
Old pantyhose or a sock
Cotton or acrylic yarn, or string
Scissors
Small crochet hook
Measuring tape

To learn the steps,

Casa Verde: Cool Down With Naturally Clean

casasugar — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 13:00:48 -0700

Seventh Generation, a brand of environmentally safe household products, launched a special effort, called Get Out of Hot Water, to get people to pick up some green habits in the laundry room.
The company is asking people to pledge to switch to cold-water washing – and are offering a free copy of their book, Naturally Clean, a guide to healthy nontoxic cleaning, to those who do (while supplies last). You already know that washing in cold water is good for your sheets, but it also has a significant positive impact on the environment. Using a cool cycle, saves 90 percent of the energy used in machine-washing a load of laundry, effectively lowering your carbon footprint by preventing the release of energy-related greenhouse gases. It also can amount to a savings of about $70 in annual household energy bills. Making the pledge (easy as pie) and registering your name and address will make you eligible for the book. For those of you who were concerned that washing in cold water doesn't kill as many germs, Seventh Generation has a new production line, 2X Concentrated Laundry Liquids, which works overtime in cold water, getting clothes "hot-water clean with cold-water efficiency."
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Where Do You Fold Laundry?

casasugar — Sun, 25 May 2008 05:35:55 -0700

Where Do You Fold Laundry?

In my laundry room, of course.

At the laundromat

In front of the television!

On the bed in my bedroom.

Other, I'll tell you in the comments.

Casa Quickie: Removing Deodorant Stains

casasugar — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 13:00:45 -0700

As you may know, deodorant stains are a big ole pain in the butt. But getting them out of that favorite top of yours is actually fairly elementary. All you have to do to get rid of those troubled stains is soak or sponge the fabric (if it's washable; i.e. not silk) in white vinegar for 30 minutes, and then wash it in the hottest water that's safe for the fabric. Or, mix a little dish soap and equal parts ammonia and water and soak overnight, and then wash. Voilà! Your laundry will look so fresh and so clean!
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Casa Quickie: Save Money and Energy

casasugar — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 14:00:30 -0700

We've all gotten better about ditching plastic bags and using CFLs, but there are plenty of other simple ways to be "green" and save money that we often overlook. One of these is to make a habit of only running full loads of dishes in your dishwasher and full loads of laundry in your washer and dryer. This is particularly true for your dishwasher, because most dishwashers don't have a "small" option. It'll save water, money, and energy, not to mention detergent. Stay tuned for more energy saving tips!
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Casa Quickie: Gum Be Gone

casasugar — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 15:00:58 -0700

Since I openly oppose gum chewing in the first place (smack smack), I find it quite frustrating when gum makes its way to my clothing, the soles of my shoes, or other fabrics in my house. My sister once wound up chopping off a chunk of her locks to rid herself of the goo — let's just say it wasn't a pretty sight, but she did her best to make it glam. Sticky and stubborn, gum is nearly impossible to remove by washing as usual.That's why I was so happy to learn a quick tip for removing it! All you need to do to get that gucky Double Bubble, Trident, or what-have-you out of your clothing or household textiles is brush it, using an old toothbrush, with egg white; let it sit for about 15 minutes, and then wash as usual. To get it out of your hair, hold ice cubes in a bag to it until it hardens, and then break it away. Or, massage it with some nontoxic oil (canola, olive oil), leave it for 20 minutes, and then comb it out.
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Casa Quickie: Bon Voyage Wrinkles!

casasugar — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 13:00:25 -0700

If you leave your clothes in the dryer after the cycle has ended, your clothes will wrinkle. Since you probably don't want to sit around and watch that pot boil, and most dryers aren't equipped with a loud siren to let you know when the time's up, wrinkles are kind of inevitable. To smooth out the wrinkles, throw a slightly damp, white towel in your dryer with your clothes. Then, turn the dryer back on for 20 minutes. The wrinkles should disappear. How about that for a magic trick? It's too bad this trick doesn't work for your skin . . . Oil of Olay would totally be out of business.
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Casa Quickie: Getting Rid of Evidence

casasugar — Sun, 13 Apr 2008 05:38:15 -0700

Accident in the kitchen? Pricked yourself sewing new curtains? You don't have to be an ax murderer to encounter a blood stain in need of removal. Getting blood out of fabric is a piece of cake. The trick is dealing with it as soon as humanly possible. Just pour hydrogen peroxide directly onto the stain, and then rinse it with cold water. Repeat this until the stain disappears, and then launder as usual. How about that for a coverup?
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Casa Quickie: Save Money by Ditching Your Dryer

casasugar — Sat, 12 Apr 2008 05:34:56 -0700

Did you know that you can reduce your energy bill by an average of $75 to $100 a year by switching to line drying? That's right: Electric clothes dryers are huge energy users, and you can save money as well as energy and reduce your carbon profile by hanging clothes on the line to dry. And now that it's Spring, your clothes will smell superfresh as well.

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Casa Quickie: Goodbye Kisses!

casasugar — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 13:00:55 -0700

If you've been engaging in some ill-advised covert smooch fests with a man who's off the market then this tip might just save your tooshie. Yes, I'm referring to the cliché lipstick mark that somehow winds up on a man's shirt collar. The fix for this laundry dilemma is simple. In most cases, lipstick stains will rub off of fabric with a bit of Vaseline (petroleum jelly). If not, try dabbing on a bit of vegetable oil, and then wash it as usual. Fini! Now, take a lesson from Monica Lewinsky, and stop those unchaste habits immediately . . .
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Casa Quickie: Get the Ink Out

casasugar — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 11:00:43 -0700

Although my late nights at the library with a highlighter glued to one hand and a ballpoint lodged behind my ear are well over, and my professional writing is all accomplished via QWERTY, there are still times when my laundry emergency involves a dash of ink on my favorite Spring pants or crisp, white top. What to do? The solution is simple. All that need be done in this situation is pour rubbing alcohol on the ink stain before washing the garment as usual. The mark should disappear like a rat up a drainpipe. Tattoo ink, though, is another thing . . .
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Casa Quiz: Keeping Your Laundry Cool

casasugar — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 16:00:39 -0700

There are some good things about washing your laundry on a cool setting. Can you guess what they are? Take my quiz to find out!
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Casa Quickie: Bleeding Colors

casasugar — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 12:00:53 -0700

If you never thought the cliché laundry joke about a red sock dying all of your clothes bubblegum pink would happen to you, you may one day be wrong. Everyone is bound to encounter bleeding colors at least once. Aside from laughing it off, and accessorizing with a pretty pink purse, there is something you can do to reclaim that favorite white top of yours. If you realize your colors have bled in the wash, the rule of thumb is do not dry them! Steer clear of the dryer, and toss your tainted clothes back into the washing machine, this time with your regular detergent and a color-safe detergent. That should do the trick. If it doesn't, a powdered-chemical color remover (i.e. Rit color remover) is worth a shot.
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Recipe for Clean: Bleach Alternative

casasugar — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 05:15:03 -0700

Have you assembled your home cleaning kit yet? If you have, you're in luck, because I have a great Recipe For Clean for an eco-friendly bleach alternative. Use it to get spots and stains out of your laundry, so they look so fresh and so clean.

Supplies

1/2 cup borax
2 gallons of hot water

Hydrogen Peroxide (3%)

To find out the steps for this DIY, just

Casa Quickie: Banishing Grease Stains

casasugar — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 13:00:53 -0700

If you've been known to down a french fry or 100, you may have encountered a bummer of a grease stain on your Sunday best. Don't worry, this fashion crisis isn't unmanageable; it's actually fairly simple to repair. All you have to do to rid yourself of evidence of that munchie meal is sprinkle some baby powder or corn starch onto the stain, and let it sit for a few minutes. Then, brush it off and wash it as usual. The stain should disappear as quickly as those french fries did. Voilà! Now, off to In & Out burger for course two . . .

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DIY: No-Sew Sachets

casasugar — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 08:15:37 -0700

While sachets aren't exactly a recipe for clean, they will leave your lingerie drawers smelling oh so fresh. No worries, there's no need for a sewing machine in this DIY, but feel free to use one if you'd like. This is a perfect way to reuse that favorite tee you accidentally shrunk or pretty cotton clothes you've outgrown. But, if you're not up for it, just buy my recent Etsy Find instead.

Supplies:

Fabric scraps
Fabric glue
Potpourri (try lavender and spices)
Scissors

To learn the steps,

Etsy Find: Pink Dixie Lavender and Spice Sachets

casasugar — Sat, 15 Mar 2008 05:00:15 -0700

Leave your garments smelling so fresh and so clean with this set of three Pink Dixie Lavender and Spice Sachets ($10). Filled with cinnamon, cloves, coriander, rosemary, and some other spices, and made with flirty, feminine, textiles, these sachets will keep you calm and happy, and intoxicate passersby. The set is a much-deserved treat for yourself after all your hard cleaning work this month, but would also make a lovely housewarming gift for any of your gal pals.

Casa Quickie: Reuse Your Dryer Sheets

casasugar — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 14:00:54 -0700

Your dryer sheets aren't only good for eliminating static cling and leaving your clothes smelling so fresh and so clean, you can reuse them for other household chores once your laundry is finished. They're great for picking up dust on your furniture and window blinds. You can also use them to remove food stuck on your pots and pans. Just fill the dirty pot or pan with water, toss in a used dryer sheet, and let it soak for about an hour. The sheet will help lift and loosen the gunky stuff. Then, wash the pan as usual. Presto! Pots and pans so fresh and so clean!

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Etsy Find: Shower Treat Natural Laundry Soap

casasugar — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 06:45:21 -0800

What better way to get your home So Fresh and So Clean this month than by going green? Etsy seller Shower Treat Soap helps make your green transition easy by offering a sample pack of three different scents of natural laundry soap ($6). Just choose your favorite three from their available stock and they'll send you enough soap for 15 large loads. This way, you can get a good sense of whether or not this soap is for you at a low investment. Shower Treat Soap also sells soaps in greater quantities as well.

Not only is this low-sudsing formula good for your septic system and the environment, it also contains no dyes, phosphates, or artificial fillers, which means it's great for sensitive skin, including people who suffer from allergies, exzema, and other skin issues. It's also a great choice for laundering babies' and children's clothing. The soap is made through a cold-process method, grated, dried, and then powdered, so it will dissolve quickly, even in cold water. Only one tablespoon-sized scoop is needed for a large load, and only half a tablespoon is required if you use a front loading washing machine. There are a ton of scents to choose from, including Sweet Pea, Spearmint, Rosemary, Eucalyptus, Mandarin Orange, Lime, Rose, Hyacinth, Light Musk, or any combination of available scents. Another cool fact: 5 percent of the company's profits are donated to Women For Women International, an organization that sponsors women survivors of war.

DIY: Eco Laundry Detergent

casasugar — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 09:00:00 -0800

If you've jumped on the green bandwagon, maybe you've heard of eco laundry soap. In addition to reducing harm on the environment, DIY laundry soap is also a lot cheaper, about 24 cents per load, than your grocery store variety (i.e. Tide). While there are loads (no pun intended) of recipes out there, there are basically two types. One, the syrupy version, must be "cooked" and then stored in a big ole space-infringing bucket. The other, the powdery kind, just must be mixed and stored in a container the size of your choice. To learn how to make the powder version,

Casa Quickie: Give Clothes Breathing Room

casasugar — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 14:00:00 -0800

To keep your clothing in the best possible shape, take the plastic covering off your dry-cleaned clothes so that they can breathe. This reduces the potential for mildew or mold and also keeps moths from finding a warm, humid space to breed.

To keep the clothes protected in your closet, consider making an alternate cover by cutting a hole in the middle of the seamed short end of an old cotton pillowcase and slipping the pillowcase over the clothing, threading the hole through the end of the hanger.

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Casa Quickie: DIY Fabric Sheets

casasugar — Tue, 13 Nov 2007 12:00:26 -0800

Instead of buying a box of disposable dryer sheets, make your own! Just take an old kitchen towel and soak it with liquid fabric softener. Wring it out, let it dry, then throw it in with your laundry the next time you dry some clothing. This "fabric sheet" will be good for at least 40 loads of wash!

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Casa Quickie: Lemon Laundry Lesson

casasugar — Thu, 08 Nov 2007 03:00:44 -0800

A dried stain is like a smoking addiction. It's pretty hard to kick. A spot on white clothes though, can sometimes be removed by squeezing lemon juice onto it and laying the garment in the sun. The sun and the lemon juice will act as bleaching agents. Once the stain is gone, make sure you rinse the garment before washing it with other clothes; a bleach mark on a colored garment is the most stubborn stain of all.
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Casa Quickie: No More Lonely Socks

casasugar — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 08:00:09 -0700

Are your socks mismatched? Is there a pile of lone socks sitting on top of your dryer? Fret no more. You can keep your socks in pairs by safety pinning or velcro-ing them together before you throw them in the wash. Buy safety pins in bulk and keep them at hand near your washing machine, or attach the velcro to your socks with a couple easy stitches. Life just got a whole lot easier.
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Casa Quickie: Fluffy Laundry

casasugar — Mon, 22 Oct 2007 11:00:14 -0700

To help dry your clothes quicker, and to make your laundry fluffier, throw a couple of tennis balls in with your drying clothes. The balls will create air pockets in the dryer, which will speed up the drying process and fluff up your drying garments.

Casa Quickie: Making Laundry Time Happy Time

casasugar — Tue, 16 Oct 2007 11:00:57 -0700

To make laundry time fly by, download podcasts and listen to some great comedy or talk radio to help pass the time. Not only will it speed up your chore time, but it will also help you to catch up on current events. My favorite pass-the-time podcast is Wait Wait Don't Tell Me. Do you have a favorite podcast or radio program that helps lighten up your laundry time?

Kenmore's High-Efficiency Washer

casasugar — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 10:47:43 -0700

The washer at our house has been on the fritz for a while. It's an obscure, European brand, and while it has some awesome features (requires hardly any detergent, frontloading, highly water- and energy-efficient), the fact that there's only one repair company in the entire San Francisco Bay Area that will service it, and that the repair company routinely charges $150 every time we have it fixed, is making me consider changing machines.

I was further tempted when I read about the Barolo Kenmore washer. This 4.0 cu. ft. front-load washer uses SteamCare technology, which pretty much eliminates the need for pre-treating. The washer is also Energy Star-qualified, using 77% less energy & 73% less water than other machines. On average, it only uses 151 Kilowatt hours per year, as compared to the 420 kilowatt hours/year used by the top-loading Kenmore Elite Oasis machine.

This machine isn't cheap—it's several hundred dollars more expensive than most other washing machines, though it's $100.00 off through October 4th, selling for $1599.99.

But you know what's most cool of all? Dr. Jane Goodall is endorsing them.