6 Laundry Tips (learned from a pro)

I started cleaning my own laundry as a teenager. I thought I knew everything there was to know about cleaning clothes. I had been taught by my Mom, how could I go wrong? Separate the darks, lights, colors, delicates, etc. Measure the correct amount of detergent. Using fabric softener dryer sheets when running the dryer was the best way to control static. Only air dry things that you don’t want to shrink, otherwise it can be thrown in the dryer.

I was so wrong. I didn’t realize how wrong I was until I married an appliance salesman. It was a slow learning process for me. Mainly because I am extremely stubborn and HATE to admit that I might be wrong about something. Here are a few of the things I have learned over the years that have helped me and my clothes.

1.       Loose the dryer sheets. They are very dangerous for your dryer. The fabric soften in the dryer sheets clogs the lint vents. Clogged vents lead to overheating. Lint and clothes are very flammable. Flammable objects and overheating machines start fires. Loose the dryer sheets!

2.       Always, always, ALWAYS clean out the lint screen. Again, when the screen is clogged it causes the machine to overheat which can start fires. And it helps your next load dry faster.

3.       Use the proper washing cycle. If you are washing your bedspread, put the washer on the bedding cycle. Modern machines are programmed to run differently on each setting. More/less water, hotter/colder water, faster/slower spinning cycle, longer/shorter rinse cycle. Delicate loads can’t handle the same wash cycle as your t-shirts and jeans. 

4.       Use the minimum amount of detergent. I was raised to believe that the more laundry detergent you used the better (as long as it all rinsed out). Not True! I have a High Efficiency front load washer. I had it for 3 years before I realized that I was putting in twice the amount of detergent than it needed (and what I had been using was less than half the amount I needed for the top load coin-op machines I used in college). It not only waists detergent and money, but it causes your machine to smell. 

5.       Run a monthly cleaning cycle. Pop in one or two machine cleaning tablets and run a cleaning cycle at least once a month. Remember how I used too much detergent? Well, using too much causes it to build-up on the inside of the machine and mildew. GROSS! Once I started using the correct amount of detergent and cleaning the machine regularly, no more stinky machines!

6.       Liquid fabric softener is fabulous! I missed used the dryer sheets. My clothes were always full of static and I really missed the fresh clean smell. So I broke down and bought the cheapest bottle of liquid fabric softener. It not only gave me the soft, fresh clothes I missed, but it also got rid of the excess static without clogging my dryer’s lint screen.

Don't be afraid to go and ask questions from an appliance salesperson. Their job is to have all the latest info on the machines they sell. Although, I would suggest talking with a NON-commission salesperson (less stress for them and you). While most stores sell on commission (Sears, Best Buy, Furniture stores, and specialty shops) box stores are usually non-commission (Lowes, HomeDepot, etc.). 

Lost and then Found

When J was born we had 3 cat in our family. McKenna and Reeses were the first two we adopted, several years ago. D’Artanian was a recent addition to our family, only about 6 months old. They were all the sweetest kitties we had ever met, but they also had very different personalities. After J was born pre-mature and with the complications with my C-section, our sweet kitties were sent to live outside for the summer.

We made sure that they had a warm place to sleep at night and a cool place in day. They always had enough food and water. They loved to climb trees and chase insects around the yard. The only issue was they were all so friendly they would go up to anyone who came into our yard.

Several times little neighbor boys would pick up the cats and bring them to our front door. I really didn’t mind other people saying hello to them, but I was always worried that someone would walk off with them.

Eventually, it happened. First cat to disappear was Reeses. Both M and I have thought that she died. A few weeks later D’Artanian disappeared. This time M and I were sure that someone had taken him home with them, most likely a little boy on his way home from school. We had no proof, but we were sure it had happened.

Months passed by and there was no sign of our kitties. Our only remaining cat, McKenna was brought back inside before it snowed (and right after D’Artanian disappeared). She has been lonely. At first she always rushed outside whenever the door opened and cried for the others. Over time she got used to being the only cat around.

A few days ago, while meeting with a neurosurgeon (long story) both M’s and my phones started ringing like crazy. When the Dr.’s visit was over, an hour later, we finally called the number and discovered that our cat had been found.

Long story short, (as my husband says after he’s told the entire story) D’Artanian had been found by a 14 year old boy in a car engine a few months ago. He took him home and cleaned him up. His family never saw any missing cat signs around the neighborhood, so they kept him. A few months later they finally decided to make sure he had his shots and were going to have a microchip implanted and discovered that he already had a chip and had been reported missing.

When we first spoke with them they were really defensive and really wanted to keep the cat, but after they thought about it for a few hours they decided that it was only right that he be returned to us.

D’Artanian is now home safe and sound. He reacquainted himself with McKenna (she was not overly excited to have to share her home with another cat.) He has learned to stay just out of reach of the baby.

Funny Random Thought for the Day.

I was out with my family, driving around town when we passed a junior high school. The saying on the school sign read, "Wrestling is the bomb.com." I read it to my husband and we laughed. It was so obviously thought up by a teacher since that particular saying has not been “en vogue” since the 1990’s when my husband and I were in junior high and high school.

The rest of the drive my husband and I were joking about things being “the bomb.com.” We had a great laugh, and then M brought up “the shizzle.” Things got a little weird at that point. Let’s just say I have had the strangest saying stuck in my head since then.

“Fo’ shizzle my nizzle the bomb.com”

I just can’t wait until J and our other future children are teenagers and M and I will be able to embarrass them in front of their friends. M will have the chance to embarrass teenagers much sooner than I will because he will be a junior high math teacher next year. He’s going to be great! Fo’ shizzle!