Photo Credit: By CSIRO
While you can’t completely eliminate every single dust mite in your home, the good news is that including some basic steps in your laundry and cleaning routine will go a long way in reducing dust mite populations and irritants in your bedrooms.
Laundry and Cleaning Routine for Reducing Dust Mites and other Allergens:
- Flip your bed sheets and duvet all the way back to air out your bed. Make your bed at mid-day or when you return from work. Open the blinds or curtains to let the daylight in. If possible, open the window. Allowing daylight into a room actually reduces bacterial growth in comparison to rooms that are kept dark all of the time, according to researchers at the University of Oregon.
- Wash bed sheets and pillow covers once a week in hot water (55°C or 130°F or hotter) to kill the mites. If your water is set to a lower temperature, put them in the dryer for 15 minutes.
- Winter in Canada is a great time to kill dust mites! Freeze blankets, rugs and stuffed toys overnight when the thermometer drops below zero. Then shake out the blankets to loosen and knock out the allergens.
4. Alternatively, sunlight and fresh air will do the same. During the summer months, hang blankets and comforters outside.
5. Vacuum carpeting regularly. Better yet, replace carpets with non-fiber flooring.
6. Include washing curtains and cleaning area rugs in your regular cleaning routine.
7. Steam-clean upholstered chairs.
8. Cover mattresses, box springs and pillows with allergy proof covers. At the very least, vacuum box springs and mattresses on a regular basis.
9. Remove clutter in the bedroom so it’s faster and easier to remove dust.
You'll likely have a better night's sleep in clean sheets and a clean bedroom. Just knowing my bed isn't crawling with those creepy crawlies does the trick for me. Sweet dreams!
]]>Learn how to properly maintain your dryer and dryer vent duct-work. It could save your life.]]>
On average there are about 39 dryer fires each year in Toronto, 18 in Vancouver, and 2,900 fires in the U.S. caused by improperly maintained dryers.
Make cleaning your dryer vent duct-work part of your regular home maintenance schedule, just like having your furnace checked and cleaned, and replacing the batteries of your smoke detectors. It could save your life.
Here are some basic dryer maintenance tips to help prevent a dryer fire:
1. Clean the lint trap before or after each use. NEVER run the dryer without a lint trap. I like to even wash it every 3 months to remove any residual bacterial buildup.
2. Remove the dryer vent duct from the dryer and clean it out with a dryer vent brush and vacuum it out. Remember to clean out the animal / bird guard on the outside of the house. If your dryer vent duct is too long or too difficult to clean yourself, hire a professional. Ensure your dryer vent duct is only made from approved aluminum.
3. Install a smoke alarm near the dryer if you haven't done so already. If your dryer is powered by natural gas, install a combination smoke / carbon monoxide detector.
4. Never run the dryer at bedtime or on your way out of the house.
5. Don't overload your dryer.
Clean out the lint buildup inside dryer vent.
Periodically vacuum the lint trap.
Remember to vacuum out the lint trap compartment.
Wash and scrub the dryer lint trap.
Here is a short video on how to clean out the dryer vent duct.
Once your dryer is clean and free from built-up lint, you could add a Lavender Dryer Sachet for static-free and lightly scented laundry with certified organic lavender. Simply toss into dryer with laundry. Good for 25 loads.
Sources:
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/fire-hazard-clothes-dryer-1.4400429
https://www.usfa.fema.gov/downloads/pdf/publications/clothes_dryer_fire_safety_flyer.pdf
By now you're probably wondering what an amusement park has to do with laundry ... and how could this possibly be fun?
Tripsdrill has successfully and beautifully combined laundry with fun in their Waschzuber or "washtub", white-water rafting ride. All of Tripsdrill is embellished with loads of antiques and this ride is no exception. In the queue line the visitor is transported back in time in what is more of a laundry museum rather than just a ride, where old-fashioned laundry equipment and the way laundry used to be done a hundred years ago, are displayed in intricate, nostalgic and authentic-looking scenes. But not to worry - you won't actually have to do any laundry - just get in the washtub and enjoy the ride!
After your clothes got somewhat soaked, you can dry them off on the Wäschekorb-Rundflug or "laundry hamper spin" ride.
The whole park is lovingly set up like an authentic Swabian village, complete with numerous clotheslines and down duvets hanging out of timber-framed houses to air out.
Tripsdrill should definitely be on your bucket-list if you ever travel to Germany, especially if you're traveling with your kids.
Was doing the laundry more fun before we had modern washers and dryers? Perhaps. While it was certainly very labour-intensive and time-consuming, I suspect that it was also a social activity where stories and the latest happenings were exchanged beside the creek. Today, the laundry gets done while we might steal a few moments to check into our social media app.
Next time you're doing the laundry, have a little fun and check out Tripsdrill online.
How to clean a front-load HE Washing Machine
The environmental benefit of these washing machines do require a little more care and attention as they're more prone to grime buildup, simply because they use less water.
Cleaning the Flexible Gasket
First, unplug the electrical power cord to prevent electrical shock hazard. The flexible gasket is one of the most important areas to keep clean. A clean gasket ensures a water tight seal. I like to use a vinegar-based cleaner in a spray bottle for softening and removing any dirt buildup and scum. Lightly bend back the folds so you can see the areas that need to be cleaned.
At the top of the gasket you'll only be able to feel any buildup. After having sprayed all of these awkward areas, wait about five to ten minutes before wiping away the dirt with a microfiber cloth. Rinse out the cloth well with warm water and wipe again. Then dry the entire gasket with a towel.
Cleaning the Door Glass and Exterior
Thoroughly spray the vinegar-based cleaner on the inside of the door glass, wipe with the cloth and water, repeat, and dry. A clean door also helps prevent any leaks. I have to admit learning the hard way when I first got my front-loading machine: I didn't keep the door glass clean and ended up with a small amount of water leaking out of the machine during the wash. Next, also clean and wipe the door opening and the exterior of the machine.
Cleaning the Dispenser Drawer Area
Remove the dispenser drawer. Be sure to follow the instructions in your machine's instruction manual; don't just pull it out. Remove any inserts and soak the whole thing in a bucket of warm water and vinegar. Use an old toothbrush to remove any product buildup. Rinse with water. Dry well with a towel.
Carefully clean and wipe the drawer opening with a cloth and a small brush. Then put back the drawer. Once all these areas are clean and dry plug the electrical cord back in.
Cleaning the Washing Drum
1. Get your washing machine manual out and follow the manufacturer's instructions. Newer machines will have a System Clean cycle and will automatically prompt you to clean the machine. On my machine that is every 50 washes.
2. Remove any clothing from the drum.
3. Put 1/2 cup hydrogen peroxide in the dispenser. You could use bleach instead in the bleach dispenser if you have found any mold in your machine. Alternatively, use a commercial washing machine cleaner. During my most recent cleaning I used Glisten Machine Magic with favorable results. DO NOT MIX any cleaning products you decide to use to prevent any dangerous chemical reactions and toxic fumes.
4. Run the washing machine cleaning cycle. If your machine doesn't have a system cleaning cycle use a regular cycle with hot water and double rinse.
Voilà - now your machine is ready for all that heavy duty spring cleaning!
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I'm so excited to show off our daughter's first commissioned artwork about laundry. It's going to be proudly displayed in our humble little laundry area since we don't have a fancy laundry room. Her passion is sketching and drawing superheroes and villains. I've been patiently waiting for her idea of a laundry superhero, but artists clearly need the right moment and inspiration to spark that genius.
Inspiration finally came to her after she was stuck doing all the laundry this week while I was recovering from cataract surgery - no lifting or bending allowed - and she seems to have gained a new insight and appreciation for the laundry battle. We're not quite sure yet what to call the piece ... perhaps "Soapgirl vs. Laundromaniac?" I would love to hear your suggestions.
Even Superheroes Have Laundry
Most superheroes wear a special suit they must surely wash from time to time, because with all the action and battle-fighting the suit probably gets pretty soiled, sweaty and stained. Perhaps they have a stash of suits?
As I marvel at my daughter's amazing creation, I ponder, "How would a superhero step up to the task? Are we fighting a weekly laundry battle? Are we approaching this battle like a true superhero? Or do we sometimes just cower and hide, while the Laundromaniac grows bigger and bigger, and wreaks havoc in our laundry routine?" No matter how you slice it, sometimes we just have to put on that suit and spring into action. And remember, no superhero is good at everything. Some can fly, some have laser-vision, some can spin a web, and some have all the latest, wicket-cool gadgets.
What's your Laundry Superpower?
And so it is with us and how we approach the never-ending, epic laundry battle. Some of us have the trendiest, Martha Stewart-style laundry room with the most energy-efficient washer and dryer with all the latest bells & whistles. Some of us are really good at fighting stains with our laser-vision, but end up shrinking woolens more often than we'd like to admit. Some of us have more of a Spiderman-like tendency and love to air-dry the laundry outside on the drying line or the wäschespinne, the 'laundry spider' - as it's called in the German language - but will forget to take the laundry out of the dryer and then becomes all wrinkled. Some of us are really great at getting all the laundry washed in just one day, but then it sits unfolded in the laundry baskets for days. Some of us think we should do it all alone like Superman, but end up running into trouble because the Laundromaniac has figured out our kryptonite. Some of us are super-folders but suck at ironing. Some of us are super-sorters but tend to wash small loads and end up wasting water and energy.
And some of us are really skilled at enlisting others in helping to fight the battle. I suspect that Batman would be pretty good at fighting Laundromaniac, because he not only has the help of his sidekick, Robin, but also has his butler, Alfred. Then he has all the gadgets, like the Grappling Gun and the Batarang, and who can forget the Batmobile. Batman fans will recall his smiling arch-nemesis asserting that Batman is at home, washing his tights.
Whatever your laundry-related superpower, put on that suit and go for it! As you fight your weekly laundry battle in true superhero style, never forget to take pride in doing your laundry.
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Kids can be rough on jeans but you don't need to be tough on them in the laundry. Wash jeans the right way so they'll last longer: turn them inside out, in cold water, select the DELICATE CYCLE and add 1/4 vinegar to the rinse cycle. Choose the low to medium spin cycle and hang to dry. Heat from the dryer can wear out cotton fibers prematurely.]]>
What do you hate most about doing the laundry? Personally I dislike sorting the laundry the most, mainly because our house doesn't have a designated laundry room. I am however a firm believer in properly sorting the laundry before washing.
Truthfully though, one of my biggest pet peeves is straightening out bunched-up socks, so much so that I sat my family down one day and gave them the straight goods about the socks.
In a 2008 national Ipsos Reid survey, "Does It All Come Out In the Wash? The Rough and Tumble of Canadians and Their Laundry" of 1,012 Canadian homeowners on behalf of National PR/GE, 78% of Canadians dislike stain removal more than anything else when it comes to doing the laundry. If dealing with laundry stains isn't one of your favourite activities, there are countless stain removal guides available on the web. For quick reference, I recommend printing one out that you find easy to follow and posting it on or near your washing machine.
Some Notable Laundry Stats
Roughly 45% of Canadians would enjoy doing laundry more if they had a nicer, newer laundry room, or if they had nicer, newer laundry appliances (39%). 48% wish they had an ultra luxurious laundry room in their home, and some, 18%, even admit that they "are envious of a friend or neighbour's laundry room." Ok, I admit it, I wish I had one of those ultra luxurious laundry rooms. The photo below depicts my very humble laundry corner in the basement.
Only 8% of survey respondents listed laundry as their favourite household task, compared with 38% who named outdoor maintenance and gardening as their favourite chore. This might explain why I quite enjoy hanging my laundry on my outdoor drying line. It gives me an opportunity to watch the different birds that visit the nearby feeders (while about once a year I have to rewash an item that got a bird poop stain on it), or take a peek in the garden to see how my veggies are coming along. I highly recommend investing in an outdoor drying line or rack if you don't already have one. Each time you run the dryer it costs you on average 43 cents per load.
The Yuck Factor
Let's say you have a luxurious laundry room, the latest and greatest washer & dryer, and a pretty outdoor drying line, but you're still having trouble getting your laundry routine under control. Then you might need to consider the fact that clothes and bed linens just get downright gross, even if an item doesn't look dirty. If you wear a shirt only two to three times between washes consider this: two billion dead skin cells, 40 g of body oil, and 1 litre of perspiration is sloughed off by the human body in just one day. How often do you wash your bed sheets? In a survey of American laundry habits, it was revealed that around 7% of men said they only wash their sheets every 6 months, and over 10% of men said "they couldn’t remember the last time they washed their sheets."
Unless you have a full-time housekeeper, chances are you are doing your own laundry. I certainly do my own. There are probably as many different ways to wash clothes as there are people doing the washing. The key is educating yourself about the washing process, stain removal methods, the various types of textiles and fibers, your water hardness, etc.. If you take care of your clothes they will likely last longer.
Last but not least ... Take pride in doing your laundry.
Sources:
MacLeod, Laurel. “These Laundry Facts and Myths Will Change How You Wash Your Clothing.” The Loop, 21 June 2016, www.theloop.ca/these-laundry-facts-and-myths-will-change-how-you-wash-your-clothing/.
Pryatel, Annie. “The American Laundry Habits Survey.” Mulberrys Garment Care, 1 Sept. 2017, www.mulberryscleaners.com/laundry-habits-survey/.
“Does It All Come Out In the Wash? The Rough and Tumble of Canadians and Their Laundry” Ipsos, Ipsos Reid, 14 Sept. 2008, www.ipsos.com/en-ca/does-it-all-come-out-wash.
]]>The holidays are an easy time for the laundry routine to get out of control. But don't fret, it's a new year and you can quickly tackle that laundry mountain without getting overwhelmed.
1. Sort all of your dirty laundry (see explanation below) only once every one to two weeks, depending on how many people are in your household or family. Then wash and dry one load every one to two days. Sorting everything at once will make it more likely that you'll wash full loads instead of partial loads, but don't over-stuff your machine either.
2. Don't wash the next load of laundry until the previous one has been folded and put away. Of course, just putting your child's clothing unfolded in a laundry basket in their room is fine too, unless they're too young to fold their own laundry and put it away.
3. Remember that your laundry routine is yours. It is largely determined by the types of clothes you and your family wear, and by home many people are in your household. What works for one family may not work for another family.
4. Clean your washing machine once a month, or at the very least once every season. Grime or mold in your washing machine can end up in your clothes. Follow the instructions provided in your washing machine's user manual.
To Sort or Not to Sort?
The point of sorting laundry is two-fold: (1) to prevent or reduce the chances of ruining the clothes during the washing process, and (2) to end up with clean and sanitized clothing and linens. If you don't care about this, then by all means, don't bother sorting.
In the book Laundry: The Home Comforts Book of Caring and for Clothes & Linens, author Cheryl Mendelson discusses "gathering, storing and sorting laundry" in the first chapter, with the bulk of the chapter being devoted to sorting the laundry. She asserts that today's youth do not believe they can figure out how to sort laundry, but succinctly makes the statement, "But they are wrong." I must say that I agree with her.
Her "Rules of Sorting" are as follows:
1. Sort according to the appropriate wash cycle based on fiber and fabric type (regular machine-washing, permanent-press, gentle & delicates, or hand-washing).
2. Sort by colour (white & mostly white, light & medium & brights, dark & black).
3. Sort by level or kind of soil.
4. Sort according to whether some clothes will cause other clothes to pick up lint, snag, tear, and so on; and finally,
5. Make sorting compromises, as necessary and safe, to create a reasonable number of good-sized loads.
In my own laundry sorting, I sort by washing temperature as well. I prefer to wash some items in hot water, like underwear, towels, bed sheets and kitchen linens in order to kill harmful bacteria. Lisa Ackerley, a leading hygiene expert in the UK, is warning consumers that washing laundry at 30°C is not hot enough to kill bacteria on fabrics, asserting that your "clean" clothes could make people ill. Would you wash your dishes with cold water after you just finished preparing chicken? There is a reason your dishwasher is hooked up to the hot water pipe only. And yes, your washing machine is hooked up to both hot and cold water. You need both. By all means, wash your regular colours, jeans, delicates and wool items in cold water.
Take pride in doing your laundry.