Laundry

Ceramic tile is a popular surface for kitchens, bathrooms, and floors because it is durable and easy to clean. With regular, weekly maintenance, most ceramic tile will always look shiny and...

When you set your iron to the wrong temperature, the results can be disastrous: melted fabric all over the faceplate of the iron. The fabric may appear to be stuck on permanently, but you don't...

For those who live in hot weather and those who simply sweat a lot, perspiration stains can be a real problem. Not only does the sweat leave an unsightly stain on your clothing, it causes the...

Perfume can linger on clothing even after multiple washings. Although this may not be a problem some of the time, there are a lot of reasons why lingering perfume in a garment may not be a good...

Vintage linen napkins require special care if you wish to restore them to their former condition and color. Most often, napkins are suffering from age and storage stains, but once they are soaked...

Food stains on clothing can be enough of a hassle to remove. When you're dealing with stains caused by other materials, however, things can get even more complicated. Blue marks on clothing can...

Flannel has made a comeback recently. One of the most popular patterns for a flannel shirt is red and cream plaid. Although this is an attractive color combination, the red can easily bleed into...

Pills are small balls of fiber which form on fabrics that have loose fibers. These fibers tangle together, creating a small ball of fibers called a pill. While pills may fall off of some fabrics...

Getting bacteria out of clothing can be challenging, and laundry detergent does not always eliminate germs or bacteria. Using vinegar, baking soda and pine oil are effective additions to the...

Laundry detergent often can leave a lingering residue on clothing after washing---an invisible film that can cause itching, redness or even rashes on sensitive skin. Detergent residue can also...

Wet clothes left in a washing machine overnight may smell moldy the next day. Running those clothes in the washing machine as you normally would may not remove the smell from the fabric. A mold...

White linen tends to yellow with age and laundering. Old or antiques linens are very susceptible to a yellowing problem. Proper storage of linen will help to slow the yellowing process, but it...

See also my article: How to Make Liquid Homemade Laundry Detergent. While there are many different recipes for homemade laundry detergent, this particular recipe creates a great...

Linens that have been stored for long lengths of time can become yellowed. If the yellowing is due to sun damage, nothing can be done; if the yellowing is due to lack of use, you can probably...

A fire in the family home is a tragedy that causes tremendous damage from smoke, soot and water. Insurance is rarely enough to cover the replacement costs of everything in your home. Since smoke...

The big party is tonight. You pull out what you are going to wear--the shoes and a great handbag. Excitement is in the air until you pull out a light jacket to wear over your outfit. The jacket...

Vinegar is a very effective all-purpose cleaner. You can buy a gallon of plain white vinegar for a cheaper price than you can most small containers of household cleaning products. This home remedy...

Removing odor from clothes can be challenging because so many cleaners that will remove odor from other surfaces can damage the fabric of clothing or fade the color of the fabric. While many...

New towels soften over time with use and washing, but the initial chaffing from the rough fabric can be uncomfortable and irritate sensitive skin. Fabric softeners are a big no-no because they...

When it comes to keeping white clothing looking bright, instead of dingy and dull, there are many products you can buy specifically for that task. But there is one simple thing that most of us...

Are you looking for something to make your white clothes brighter and your colored clothes bolder? Are you looking for an economical cleaning agent to use in your daily laundry? Distilled white...

Mildew can grow on clothing, furniture, or leather items, such as shoes. You should attempt to remove any mildew you notice immediately as mildew can make you ill. There are a few different...

Fish oil is an excellent source of omega-3 fatty acids and can help to reduce triglycerides. Fish oil has several medicinal purposes, from lowering blood pressure to reducing the chance of heart...

There are hundreds, if not thousands, of laundry care products on the market. Along with plain old laundry soap, you can also buy everything from pre-treaters to spot removers to whitening...

Body oils can leave stains on linen that do not come out when they are washed. These stains turn into yellow spots and rings that make the linen appear dirty even when it is freshly cleaned....

The winter months bring out the rock salt, especially in areas that receive a large amount of snow. The combination of rock salt and calcium chloride seems to stain clothes in a bad way. In most...

Man's best friend, that furry, four-pawed almost-person who guards our homes, vacuums our floors for wayward crumbs and keeps us company when no one else is around---how we love the family dog....

Though it may seem like a simple invention, chewing gum serves many purposes. The combination of gum base and sweeteners, plus artificial colors and flavors, makes chewing gum a tasty treat until...

Annoying smoke odors can come from a variety of sources, such as cigarette smoke, campfires and even house fires. These unpleasant aromas seep into the fabric of your clothing and upholstered...

Nothing is worse than realizing your favorite sweater has just been used as a litter box. If your cat decided to urinate on or near a delicate fabric or material, you need to act fast to get that...

This article will show you how to turn everyday home products into easy home remedies for getting your laundry, bright, stain free, and fresh, all without using harsh chemicals like bleach. You...

An overabundance of iron in your water supply can cause it to turn a rusty red. If you are caught unawares, the coloring will transfer itself to your clothes. Contrary to what you may think, you...

If you play a summertime sport, it's likely you'll have to deal with grass stains on regular basis. They're green, they're stubborn and they stand out on your uniform like a sore thumb. Because...

Nothing holds wood together like a strong, sturdy wood glue. Unfortunately, wood glue sticks just as well to fabrics, making it one of the most stubborn stains to remove from fabrics and other...

Unfortunately, some people are simply more prone to body odor than others. Whether it's from dietary issues or a health condition, the smell can create an embarrassing problem either way. When...

Wood glue is one of the most effective binders for joining pieces of wood. Unfortunately, it sticks just as well to fabric, and can cause unsightly yellow stains on shirts, pants and any other...

Laundry can be an expensive household activity. The cost of name brand detergents, fabric softeners and stain removers can break the bank. Follow my tips to saving money in the laundry room!

Moth balls might protect your favorite clothes from becoming prey to insects, but they also can leave behind a smell that won't go away with regular washing alone. Clothes that have been stored...

Underarm odor remaining on a shirt may reactivate each time you wear the shirt. Sometimes, underarm odor is so strong and pervasive that regular laundry detergent does little for it. To remove the...

A good workout can work up quite a sweat--a sign that your workout was a good one. You may even be feeling pretty good until you get a whiff of yourself. Exercise clothes can trap in perspiration...

New cotton sheets--even those with a high thread count--will feel stiff and scratchy from the chemical sizing manufacturers use to keep the sheets stiff in their packaging. Cotton sheets will...

Hockey gear is typically bulky, and too large to fit in the washing machine. While hockey gear can become soiled quickly, it is important to know how to clean these items effectively, and with...

Washcloths often remain damp for a long time. During this time, especially if they are in a warm room and/or a confined area with little ventilation, the cloths will go sour. This happens most...

Bacteria, fungus and sweat by-products cause foot odor. Sweaty socks, trapped in shoes all day, easily pick up this odor. Sometimes the stench lingers on the socks, even after they've been...

Vinegar is a handy item for the laundry room. Adding vinegar to the rinse water decreases lint on the clothes. It can also brighten your colored garments as well as remove stains and odors that...

Laundry detergent is used to clean and remove stains from clothing, but what do you do if your detergent is the reason your clothing is stained? No one wants to throw out good or brand new...

In the place where we are intended to relax, stale odors can create obstacles to reaching a comfortable state of mind. Stale odors in bed sheets are often the result of smoking indoors. Cigarette...

Wrapping yourself in a soft and fluffy bath towel after a hot shower or long soak in the bathtub is the perfect ending to a busy day. This ending is not so perfect when the towel you grab feels...

Nowadays, we all seem to have hectic schedules. Attempting to multi-task several things at once can often lead to problems. For anyone who has ever put towels in the wash and forgot about...

Wearing red can really send a message. It makes a statement of power and vitality, and according to a 2008 study by psychologists from the University of Munster, Germany, it can even help you to...