LaundryGoddess.com

Tips for Cleaning Leather Handbags

laundry goddess — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 20:18:20 +0000

A quality leather handbag will last for years and years, just as long as you take care of it properly. Now, if you have treated yourself (or received as a gift) to an extremely expensive leather purse, then do not attempt to clean it yourself – the same goes for suede leather bags. Suede can be very difficult to clean and unless you want to take the chance of ruining it forever, do yourself a favor and leave it to the pros. That being said, we have some tips to help you get through a basic purse cleaning.

Start the cleaning process by emptying out the handbag, turning it over a trash can to shake out of all the loose crumbs, lint, etc. If there is any debris remaining inside, grab some of the sticky sheets off of a lint roller and dab it at the crumbs leftover on the inside.

For the outside, mix distilled water with a very small amount of liquid soap, just use enough to make suds when mixed – it really does not take much. Then dip a soft, lint-free, cloth or natural sponge (no dye) into the water and wring it until just damp. Wipe down the leather with the cloth and follow up by immediately drying the leather with another clean, dry cloth. Wiping should be done gently and in a circular motion.

There are commercial products available and a popular one used for cleaning saddles and riding gear is called Lexol. They make the leather cleaner in several different forms, sprays, liquids and wipes.

A good way to extend the life of any leather product is to use a leather conditioner and protector. They also come in different forms (sprays, creams) and formulas for different types of suede and leather.

If you plan to cover your leather handbag, or clothing when storing, make sure you use a breathable fabric like cotton and stay away from plastic. Also be sure to store it in a temperature controlled environment (cool and dry). Storing in heat or damp areas can lead to cracking and mould.

Cold Water Detergent vs. Regular Detergent

laundry goddess — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 20:01:32 +0000

By now, most people know that washing clothes in cold water saves energy costs, and helps to keep colors from fading. Many people still are reluctant to wash 100% of their laundry solely in cold water for reasons varying from old habits, to concerns about unsatisfactory results. A few years back, detergent companies started marketing laundry detergent “specifically designed” for use in cold water. Does it make a difference?

First, a reminder that most of the energy used on a load of laundry comes from heating the water. Second, (a fact that may be new to you) there are many areas in the world outside the U.S. where washing machines only use cold water. Third, hot or warm water is the key ingredient in making some detergents work well.

So how do companies stay with the times, help the penny-pinching consumer and promote green cleaning products? That’s right, they come up with a “reformulated detergent” containing supposedly different enzymes and surfactants designed to work better in cold water.

In an attempt to find out the difference between cold water detergents and regular detergents, I went to the website of a leading producer, Tide. There you can access every variety of detergent they sell, along with a list of the ingredients, FAQs, and assorted information for each. In addition to the general list of ingredients for each product, they also offer a list of the ingredients in order of prominence, meaning whatever it contains the most is listed first and continues downward from that point.

What was the most prominent ingredient? No surprise, it was water, followed by a few surfactants, and processing aids to help keep the ingredients mixed together (avoids the clumping that those of us who make our own detergent are familiar with), borax, citric acid and assorted stain fighting chemicals.

When comparing the ingredients of the regular detergent and the cold-water detergent, I was surprised to find that they were basically the same, whether the list was by prominence or not. My original thinking was that there might be a greater quantity of a particular ingredient in the cold-water formula, than the regular formula, however there was nothing on the web site’s list of ingredients to support that theory. So unless there is a trade secret not mentioned, they are one in the same, just a different label. If anyone has something in writing to substantiate anything different, I would love to see it.

Personally, I have found that you can wash everything in cold water successfully, as long as you follow a few basic rules: Only use liquid detergent, as most powders need warm water to completely dissolve and clean successfully. Use the proper amount of detergent – too little and your wash load will not come clean, and too much will leave a soapy residue behind on your wash. Finally, do not overload the washer – leave room for items to move around in the water.

Top 10 Uses for Vinegar in Laundry

laundry goddess — Thu, 07 Apr 2011 15:39:57 +0000

Distilled White Vinegar is probably one of the most versatile products most people have in their cabinets, yet overlook in favor of more expensive (heavily commercialized) products.

Being the original multi-purpose cleaner and remedy for so many household issues, we could literally list hundreds of uses for vinegar, but for this post we will stick to laundry solutions. Here are my top 10 uses for vinegar in laundry:

1. Make your own fabric softener using vinegar, or just add a cup to the rinse cycle. Trust me, your clothes will not come out smelling like vinegar! Your clothes will come out softer and static-free without smelling like perfume.

2. Set-in the bright colors on new clothing by running a rinse cycle with a cup of vinegar. This also helps to prevent color bleeding on to other items when washed in the future.

3. Clean the soapy residue out of your washing machine by pouring in 4 cups of vinegar and run a full cycle using hot water only (no soap or clothing). Sometimes I let it fill, then turn off the washer and let it sit for an hour, before completing the cycle.

4. Get rid of mineral deposits in your steam iron by filling the reservoir with white vinegar, and then turn it on the steam setting (iron sitting upright). After it has steamed for about 10 minutes, refill the reservoir with distilled water and steam for another 10 minutes or so. When done, refill and you should be good to go. Note: Distilled water is best for preventing mineral deposits.

5. Red wine stains, as well as mustard, ketchup, soda and blood stains can be removed from cotton and cotton blends by sponging the area with undiluted white vinegar, blot and repeat until the stain is lifted. Remember, time is of the essence and it works best if done within 24 hours.

6. Remove rust from cotton clothing by rubbing with undiluted vinegar and a little bit of salt before washing. This also works with scorch marks from your iron.

7. Remove deodorant stains from washable fabrics by rubbing with full-strength white vinegar before washing.

8. Get rid of ring-around-the-collar by scrubbing that shirt with a paste made from vinegar and baking soda. Let it sit for 20 to 30 minutes before washing.

9. Treat mildew stains on washable fabrics by soaking in full strength vinegar overnight before washing, and then dry in the sun.

10. Remove ink stains by soaking the area with distilled white vinegar and then rubbing in a paste made with vinegar and cornstarch. After the paste dries you can wash the item.

Odor Problems With Front-Loading Washers

laundry goddess — Wed, 06 Apr 2011 19:37:37 +0000

Front-loading washers have become the top choice for most shoppers today for a number of reasons, the most popular being their energy-efficiency.

If you purchased a front-loading washing machine and started using it without reading the owner’s manual or my previous post What You Should Know About Front-Loading Washers, you might soon be experiencing problems with odor.

Because of the design of these types of washers, they use a lot less water than a top loader, and when the wash cycle has completed, a small amount of water (along with detergent/fabric softener residue) is usually left behind. If the tub is not allowed to dry out completely, mold and mildew may start to form.

Mold can irritate eyes, lungs and nasal passages and complicate health problems such as asthma, so it is very important to eliminate bacteria that may be in your washer and to prevent it from returning.

Here are some tips to get rid of the washer’s odor and keep it away:

If your front-load washer is still under warranty, contact the manufacturer for repair. If you were not instructed on how to care for it, or if there were not care instructions in the owner’s manual, you may want to push for a replacement.

Clean the most mold-prone areas such as the rubber gasket around the door (completely, especially underneath) and the drain pump and filter screen. It can be a little tricky to get to that filter screen so check the owner’s manual or assembly instructions. Many have found the culprit in this hidden area. Also, it may be necessary to replace the rubber gasket if it is too badly infected.

Run a cycle using a ½ cup of bleach (through the detergent dispenser and hot water (no clothes), or if your machine has a cleaning cycle then use it according to the directions.

Use a cleanser such as SMELLY WASHER CLEANER, or Whirlpool W10135699 Affresh High Efficiency Washer Cleaner, 3-Tablets(you may have do it 2 to 3 times if there is a significant problem.)

Wipe the inside of the door and seal dry and always leave the door open so that the tub dries out completely.

Only HE (high efficiency) detergents, because they produce less suds, leaving less residue. They are easy to find – just look for the “HE” on the front of the bottle, most brands carry both kinds. The homemade detergent recipe I use is also a low sudsing detergent.

Stay away from liquid fabric softeners, unless you are using something like the vinegar-based fabric softener. Dryer sheets are also an option.

Even though it is more energy efficient to use cold water, try to use hot water on occasion (of course only on items that can take it). This will help to flush out any residue build-up.

What is the Difference Between Washing Soda and Baking Soda?

laundry goddess — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 01:49:06 +0000

Washing Soda and Baking Soda have both been mentioned in previous posts, the most recent one being the environmentally friendly detergent and fabric softener recipes. Washing Soda was used in the detergent and Baking Soda was used in the fabric softener.

Both of the products are found at most grocery stores – the washing soda is usually sold by the laundry boosters (like Borax) and the baking soda is usually found in the same isle as the flour and other baking items.

Let’s start with the washing soda – If you read the box, it does not tell you exactly what it is made of, but it will tell you what it does. Basically, it claims to assist your regular detergent in getting out ground-in dirt and stains, along with cutting through greasy soils. It also claims to help neutralize and eliminate odors, not cover them up with perfumes.

Instructions say to add ½ cup of washing soda along with laundry detergent – liquid or powder – at the beginning of the wash cycle. And for tough stain removal it is recommended that you pre-soak the item for a minimum of 30 minutes, however overnight soaking is recommended.

So what’s in it? Baking Soda was my first guess – and that guess would be wrong. A little research found that washing soda is actually made of Sodium Carbonate Dechydrate, also referred to as “soda ash.” One of its main functions is to raise the pH of the water, which helps detergents to create suds more easily in hard water and do a better job cleaning and rinsing completely.

Washing soda’s ability to break down minerals in hard water is a reason why you can use it for cleaning toilets and descaling coffee pots, among other things.

Baking Soda is different in that it is made of Sodium Bicarbonate. Also known as bicarbonate of soda, it is most commonly used in baking and can also be used to neutralize the acidity in certain dishes (and our stomachs when used as an antacid). It has also been widely used to clean everything from your teeth to the kitchen sink.

Also, since many odors are caused by strong acids, and baking soda neutralizes those acids, you will find baking soda a key ingredient room and body deodorizers.

Should New Clothing Be Washed Before Wearing for the First Time?

laundry goddess — Thu, 13 Jan 2011 18:28:13 +0000

Before wearing those new pair of jeans or the outfit you just bought, you may want to give them a wash. There are several reasons why prewashing your new items is a good idea. Many new clothes contain excessive dyes and chemicals, which can irritate skin, or transfer on to other surfaces – not to mention the germs and bacteria that have been featured in recent news stories.

In the past, I did not always wash everything brought home from the store before wearing it for the first time. After having the blue dye from a new pair of jeans rub off onto my hands, legs and a fabric sofa, I started pre-washing more often. Washing new, more intimate things like swimsuits and underwear, of course is a no-brainer.

By washing items before wearing them for the first time you are helping to eliminate excess dyes and chemicals that may have been added to the fabric to help them look better and resist mildew while shipping. If the clothing’s care tag suggests that you “wash the item separately” then this is a clue that there could be some excessive dye run-off. If you have sensitive skin, washing items before wearing is particularly important.

Another reason pre-washing is a good idea is that you do not actually know where that item has been before you bought it. Meaning, how many other people tried it on before you, and were those people clean, healthy and free of any transferrable bacteria? Just thinking about it might make you ill.

The same goes for linens – consider the recent bedbug dilemma. Not only are there dyes and chemicals to rinse out, you also have those little buggers to think about. The heat from washing and drying will take care of any worries about bringing them into your bed, as well as getting rid of any irritating dyes and chemicals like formaldehyde and bleaches.