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Kids Can Learn Laundry Chores at Any Age

laundry goddess — Sun, 24 May 2015 23:09:59 +0000

There’s no getting around it – laundry happens. It is a boring fact of life, and something that every child should learn as a part of growing up, getting older and becoming an independent adult. In our busy lives, it seems as if there is not enough time to impart these skills to our youth, but hey, we are all busy, Moms, Dads and Kids alike……and we all wear clothes, use towels, etc. and the busier we get the quicker those molehills turn into mountains!

Like myself, most Moms find that instead of trying teach our child how to do the wash, it is simply quicker to just do the laundry in a spare moment, which is usually when the kids are out doing something else, or sleeping. By trying to keep peace and harmony, we (and the guilty mom writing this) are doing a disservice to them, and especially to those teens who will be off to college in the blink of an eye without a clue when it comes to basic daily (real life) chores.

Kids can be, and should be taught at an early age the basic task of sorting laundry, and as they get older how to wash and dry their clothes. If you start them young, take baby steps, and find ways to make it fun, they won’t even realize that you have taught them a valuable skill they will use all of their lives!

Here are some suggestions of laundry jobs your child can probably do at certain ages. I started doing laundry on my own at 12. Every child is different and will catch-on at their own pace, so only you can be the judge of when they are capable of finally taking on 100% of the laundry. Heck, there are full grown adults who still don’t get it right!

Ages 2-4:

This might seem crazy, but at this age kids love to help. Yes, it will require more time and a lot more patience on your part, but planting the seed early will reap many rewards. Focus on the positive and pour on the praise for their efforts! Try jobs like sorting colors – whites, darks, colors, towels etc. Have them help you put items into the washing machine. When folding laundry, give them a washcloth to fold, or try pairing socks.

Ages 5 -7:

At this age you can probably start to show hem how to work the settings on the washer, which way to turn the knobs and push the start button. Learning to fold their clothes, and other items is definitely something they can do, although don’t expect perfection. Tools like MiracleFold® Junior Size Laundry Folder Clothes Folder T-Shirts Pants Towels Organizer Fast Easy and Fun Time Saver (Sky Blue) can even make it fun. Kids can also help transfer laundry from washer to the dryer, add dryer sheets, and most all kids love cleaning out the lint trap!

Ages 8 – 10:

Show them how to sort in detail, like reading care labels to see what needs hand washing and which items shouldn’t go in the dryer. This might also be a good time to have the “is it really dirty?” discussion, if you haven’t already. Checking pockets for forgotten items and showing them how to turn printed t-shirts and jeans inside out, will show them how to help preserve their clothes (and your washer). Teach how much to load in the washer for effective cleaning. Show how you measure detergent, along with how and when to set the washer for hot, warm or cold water. If you hang clothes to dry, and they can reach, then go for it. They can also probably start to effectively organize their drawers and put away clothes.

Ages 11-12:

More detailed responsibilites can be taught, for example how to pre-treat stains, and when to use bleach or fabric softener (if used in your household) and how much to use. Then before you let them go off and running on their own, supervise (without hovering) for some “solo” loads. If you have a front loading washer, show them how to care for the machine after they have finished – checking the drain trap or seal for any debris, wiping down the rubber gasket and leaving the door open to dry.

How to Make Folding Laundry Less of a Chore

laundry goddess — Sun, 24 Aug 2014 16:57:46 +0000

While a few people actually find folding laundry and ironing therapeutic, most of us can’t stand the chore and will try anything to get out of it. In the past, I hated folding so much that I put everything on hangers as soon as it came out of the dryer – even towels. Because I like to hang many items to dry, or take them out while still damp to avoid over-drying, it seems to make sense and clothes don’t just sit there wrinkling while waiting to be folded.

While hanging everything may help to keep the wrinkles down to a minimum, unless you have enormous closet space you won’t get very far. It really does not have to be that bad. If you stick to hanging the items you wear most often, you will find that you fold a lot less. For example, towels that you use most often are usually hung on a rack or hook in the bathroom, so just hang them right back up there after washing.

Pants in our house are always hung in the closet. How many do you need anyway? It is a good idea to go through your closet and remove anything that you have not worn in a year. Store those items elsewhere, or better yet, donate them to a local charity. If you elect to store some, fold by holding by the cuffs while making sure the crease (if any) is in the front. Smooth the legs and fold in half at the knees so that the cuff bottoms and waistline touches. Bring the knees to the top and smooth again. Space bags are wonderful for storing seasonal clothing in unused spaces like under the bed!

My hatred of folding evolved from years of working in retail, where I folded countless shirts by holding the shirt by the shoulders, flipping the sleeves back and folding the shirt in half and stacking, stacking, stacking. This was before the handy shirt folding boards were being used in stores. Actually, there is a gadget called (ad link) MiracleFold Laundry Folder for Clothes, T-Shirts, Pants & Towels which is fun to use and ensures that you have a stack of identically sized shirts when done – if that kind of thing floats your boat. It’s a great way to make the chore fun for kids and I think it’s much easier than the Japanese method shown here.

As for underwear, keep it quick and simple. If you stick with the same brand and stick with one or two basic colors, you will have less mismatched items and easier choices at dressing time. I just lay socks flat on top of each other and fold in half once. It is quick and there is no chance of stretching out the elastic. Boxers get folded in thirds and then in half, panties in half. Bras get folded in half, one cup into the other. Individual drawers or bins for each category of underwear help speed and organization, if you have the space.

Fitted sheets are in my opinion, the worst (folding) nightmare! To show you the best way to fold a fitted sheet so that it looks nice in your linen closet and has less wrinkles – watching Martha Stewart’s How to Fold a Fitted Sheet is easier than trying to read instructions.

The best way to make folding laundry less of a chore is to not let it build up. If you only do the wash one-day a week, then of course it will quickly become something to dread! Try spreading the loads through out the week, like doing sheets one day, towels another, whites one day, darks another, and so on, to lighten the workload. Fold while you are watching TV, listening to music, or talking on the phone – enlist help from others at home. Hate ironing? Avoid excess ironing by looking for fabrics marked “wrinkle-free” next time you are shopping. Store the ironing board and iron in or near your closet and just iron clothes as you need them.

How to Make Your Water Heater More Efficient

laundry goddess — Sat, 23 Aug 2014 18:30:43 +0000

Not quite ready to make the switch to a tankless water heater?

If your conventional water heater is less than ten years old and still working fine, and if you would rather wait until you actually need a new water heater to make the switch to a tankless hot water heater, you are probably like most people. If it ain’t broke, why fix it?

Here are some quick and easy things you can do to reduce the energy use of your current, old fashioned hot water tank and save a few bucks:

1. Consider lowering the thermostat on your water heater to 120 degrees Fahrenheit – most are set much higher than necessary by default. Too high a setting can also be a dangerous thing, especially for families
with small children.

2. Drain about one quart of water from your hot water tank every three months or so, to remove any sediment on the bottom of the tank. Sediment prevents heat transfer and lowers the efficiency of the unit.

3. Insulate the water heater and hot water pipes with special insulation available at home improvement stores – there are even kits available for a better fit.

4. Install a timer on an electric water heater that can turn the hot water off and on at preset times, saving electricity on “down times.”

5. Have a heat trap installed above the water heater. A heat trap is made up of a basic pipe arrangement, which prevents hot water from rising up the pipes, thereby helping to eliminate standby losses.

6. Turn the water heater off or to the “vacation” setting when you will be gone for more than a few weeks. Important: Learn the proper way to do this for your water heater and heating method (gas/electric).

Switching to a Tankless Water Heater?

laundry goddess — Sun, 20 Jul 2014 17:19:54 +0000

Traditional water heaters in American households, the round storage tank models, have been around for years and years. This has been slowly changing as the old tanks die out and homeowners try to find more eco-friendly, reliable and affordable ways to provide an unending supply of hot water to their families. I recently started shopping for a replacement for my 25 year old tank and put together some notes I though I’d share with you.

Solar hot water systems were (and still are) a very popular solution to powering water heaters. Having had one in a house years ago, I can say they saved a lot of money and it was a big plus to the buyers of our home when we sold. We are in a condo now, so that is not an option. with solar systems however, you still need to keep a holding tank, with about 40 to 80 gallons of water, supplied with a constant flow of energy, via the solar panels, to store the hot water. The problem with hot water tanks is that there is a significant amount of wasted energy when it is not being used. Also referred to as “standby heat loss” – it is the energy lost from having to keep the water in the holding tank hot until ready to use. The other problem is when the hot water runs out – you have to wait for the tank to refill and heat. Also, there’s that big tank taking up valuable space in your home. Tankless hot water heaters solve both of those problems by heating water continuously, as needed – thus eliminating the need to keep a water tank hot, along with never running out of water.

The tankless method of heating water has been in use throughout Europe for many years, but it has only recently caught on in the United States. Also known as “instant water heaters,” “instantaneous,” or “on demand,” these water heaters do not use a tank. Instead, the water is heated when the hot-water tap is turned on and the water travels through a pipe, which runs through a heating element in the unit. This type of water heater might run on electric, gas, or propane, depending on the method of power used in the home.

As with any choice, there are benefits and always a few pitfalls that we don’t find out sometimes until it is too late. So what are the benefits and pitfalls of switching to a tankless water heater? Basically two words – supply and cost.

Before you rush to buy a tankless heater, you need to understand their capabilities, so that you do not find yourself short of hot water. How could that happen? While the supply of hot water may be advertised as being “endless” tankless water heaters can only put out a certain volume of hot water at once, based on their size and flow rate.

Flow rate is the measure of water in gallons per minute (gpm) that the unit is capable of putting out. In order to determine the size and type of you need, the household size and estimated demands on appliances such as the dishwasher, washing machine and number of hot showers that might be taken while any or all of those appliances may be running. If you exceed the limits of any system’s flow rate, you will not have enough hot water. In some cases, all you may need to do is to modify your washing schedule, so that you do not run too many appliances at one time. There are other solutions to the problem if modifying your routine is not an option. Installing a point-of-use water heater at certain locations would be one solution. That type of water heater is installed right at the water line supplying a particular appliance, the dishwasher for example, and it will only heat the water flowing directly into the machine. They are much less expensive than whole-house water heaters and appropriate where demand is at its greatest. Expense is another factor to consider.

The initial purchase is more expensive than conventional style hot water heaters, however the overall energy savings after a few years will make up for the cost in the long run. Points to consider – How large is your family? How long you plan to live in the home (a factor in calculating energy savings)? How much resale value will it add to the home? The more popular they become, the more people will be looking for them when shopping for a new home – it really depends on your individual location and trends. There has not been a lot of information published to date on what the actual return on investment (ROI) you would see, so at this point I would say that if you plan to stay in your house and it suits your family’s needs, then make the choice that is best for you, and not in terms of selling.

Tips for Getting the Right Size Tankless Water Heater

Before shopping and talking to the professionals, it is a good idea to get a handle on your actual usage requirements so that they can pair your demands with the appropriate size unit.

When you try to calculate your most demanding hot water consumption period, start by listing how many hot water appliances or fixtures you may have operating at one time during a typical day. Then you will need to add up their flow rates – this will be your desired flow rate for a tankless hot water heater. You will want to select the unit based on the maximum amount of hot water needed to meet your demand during peak use times. Following are some generalizations to help you get a ballpark estimate the amount of hot water you may use – depending on the type of fixtures and age of your appliances these figures can vary, but at least you have a ballpark figure to work around.

Faucets can use between one gallon (3.784 liters) and 2.5 gallons (9.46 liters) per minute.

For showers, figure in at least two gallons of water per shower. If you have installed low-flow showerheads then you can estimate just over one gallon to 2 gallons (7.57 liters) per minute. The old style shower heads can use anywhere from 2.5 gallons to 3.5 gallons (13.25 liters) per minute.

For a dishwasher or washing machine, count on about 2 gallons per minute. The other factor you will need to consider is the temperature rise needed. In order to do this, you will need to know the ground water or incoming water temperature. To calculate the rise needed, subtract that incoming water temperature from the desired hot water output temperature and the result will equal the rise. For example, say your incoming water temperature is 50 degrees Fahrenheit (10 Celsius) and you want the incoming hot water to reach a temperature of 120 degrees Fahrenheit (49 Celsius). Subtracting those 50 degrees from 120, the result is 70 degrees, which is the temperature rise you need. This is another thing you will need to take into consideration one many people don’t even think about because your location and year round climate will figure in to the power to bring that temperature up.

This is not a do-it-yourself project! Proper installation and maintenance of your tankless hot water heater is necessary to gain optimal energy efficiency. Because of the various types of tankless water heaters (electric, natural gas and propane) available, knowledge local building code requirements and safety issues, installation of the unit is best left to qualified professionals.

It is important to do your research before hiring a qualified plumbing and heating contractor to install your tankless water heating system. Check out the company with your local Better Business Bureau first. Then ask the contractor for their estimate in writing and inquire as to whether they will obtain any necessary permits from the local municipality, if necessary. It wouldn’t hurt to ask for references from previous customers, however this is not necessarily a reliable as they will surely only give you references from happy customers. Be sure that the contractor is up to date on local building codes as well as water heater insulation codes. It would be a good idea for you to contact the building department of your city or town directly for code and permit information too. This way you will know the answer your potential contractor should be giving you ahead of time.

We were hoping it would be possible to free up some valuable space by getting rid of the hot water tank. Unfortunately, living in an old condominium where the only option is electric, the cost to bring the electric amp up, rewiring and changing some plumbing lines may outweigh the benefits in my case.

DIY Mason Jar Foaming Soap Dispenser The Quick and Dirty Way

laundry goddess — Wed, 14 May 2014 17:30:04 +0000

Completed Soap Dispenser

I love the look of the mason jar soap dispensers, but all of the DIY instructions I could find seemed so involved for such a simple looking project. Really, how many people own a drill press? Always looking for a simpler solution, I took a stab at trying to make one using as few tools as possible.

The quick and dirty way involves just a hammer, nail and utility scissors. Although there is a glue gun in the picture, it turned out to be unnecessary. Unless you plan to mass produce mason jar soap dispensers for everyone on your Christmas list, or to make a few bucks, this way works perfectly fine.

The pump came from an empty foaming hand soap container rescued from the recycling bin. The whole secret to foaming soap is in the pump, but if you don’t want foaming soap, then it will not not matter what kind of soap pump you use. Some instructions call for you to cut the top part of the bottle so you will have something to screw the pump into, but I used it for cutting guide only, and then threw it back into the recycling bin.

Here’s how it went:

What you need (glue gun optional)

1. Cut the top section of the bottle (just below the neck).

Mark circle on inside

2. Center bottle piece on lid and draw a circle on the inside (this will make it a perfect fit).

Carefully punching holes in lid

3. Using the hammer and nail, make small holes on the circle line, right on top of each other so you are essentially cutting through the top. Make sure you are not doing this on a countertop or other fragile surface because the nail will cause damage when it pierces the lid.

Removing center

4. Carefully remove the center – the edges are very sharp!

Insert pump

5. Insert pump through hole. This will be a tight fit, which is why glue is just an option. You may have to use the hammer and nail to make an adjustment or two.

Make soap

6. Make your own foaming hand soap (it’s very easy) and assemble the dispenser. You can use any soap you choose, even dish soap – just fill 1/3 full with soap of choice and the rest of the way with distilled water. Gently swish together to avoid bubbles and then put the top on the jar. Experiment with soaps to see what you like best – it’s fun! I like Pure-Castile Soap with a few drops of vitamin e oil and a few drops of tea tree oil for its antibacterial properties.

Note: Some tutorials included painting the pump, however I chose to leave it plain, because there were many complaints about paint wearing off after repeated pumping.

Also, you could use the hot glue around the bottom edge of the dispenser if want to make sure that it will not leak if tipped over. I choose not to glue because it will be easier to pop it out and replace with a new one if the plastic pump fails over time.

Another thought is to maybe save spare lids to replace after a while because I’m thinking that since these lids are made of metal they may corrode – time will tell.

Make Your Own Laundry Detergent

laundry goddess — Thu, 14 Nov 2013 21:06:12 +0000

In an earlier post, I gave recipes for making your own “green” laundry detergent and fabric softener.

Although this recipe is old news for many of us, there are more people every day looking for less costly and more eco-friendly ways to clean. This is good news and so I am glad to share it again and will have the recipe handy under our Quick Links category to the right, for your easy future reference.

This recipe is for the Powdered Detergent since it is the quickest and easiest.

Ingredients:

1 bar of Laundry Soap, shaved/grated (like Fels Naptha)

1 cup of Borax (like Mule Team)

1 cup of Washing soda (like Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda)

Directions:

All of the above can be found at most grocery stores in the detergent isle.

Mix the ingredients together thoroughly, and use 1 – 2 tablespoons per wash load (depending on size).

Store detergent in airtight container. I reused a large (32 oz) yogurt container with plastic lid.

If you prefer Liquid Detergent, here you go…

Ingredients:

1 cup of grated laundry soap

1 pint of boiling water

1 cup of grated laundry soap

1 cup of borax

1 cup of washing soda

Directions:

Add the grated soap to the boiling water and mix until the soap is completely melted. Pour the soapy water into a large pot.

Add the borax and washing soda, stirring until dissolved. Add one gallon of water and stir. When cooled, you can transfer it into old liquid laundry detergent containers or any other sealed container.

Use ¼ cup for each wash load. Remember to shake or stir the container before each use, as the mixture will gel and become somewhat gloppy when cooled.