Laundry & clothes
How to wash things you do not want to ruin, and how to rescue clothes after accidents - stains, resin, chewing gum.
How to Wash Shoes in the Washing Machine Without Ruining Them
Fabric shoes - sneakers, canvas shoes and trainers - can go in the washing machine on a delicate cycle at 30°C (86°F), with minimal spin and liquid detergent instead of powder. Before you load them, remove the laces and insoles, scrape the mud off the soles and put the shoes in a laundry bag or a pillowcase along with some towels. Leather, suede and Gore-Tex shoes, and anything glued together, should stay out of the drum.
How to Wash a Down Jacket So the Down Doesn't Clump
Wash a down jacket at 30°C (86°F) on a down or delicate cycle, using a dedicated down wash instead of regular detergent and skipping fabric softener. Set a double rinse and a low spin so the detergent rinses out completely. Then dry the jacket in a tumble dryer with tennis balls on low heat, or flat, breaking up the down regularly, and always dry it all the way through.
How to stretch shoes: proven methods
The easiest way to stretch leather shoes is to put on thick socks, heat the tight spots with a hair dryer, then walk the shoes in around the house. Bags of water frozen inside the shoe and adjustable shoe stretchers work more gently. Realistically you'll gain about half a size, mostly in width. Adding length to a shoe is practically impossible.
How to Wash Towels So They Stay Soft and Absorbent
Wash white and heavily used towels at 60°C (140°F), and colored ones at 40°C (104°F) with a good detergent. Skip fabric softener, because it coats the fibers and kills absorbency. Pour about half a cup of white vinegar into the rinse compartment instead.
How to Clean Suede Shoes at Home?
You clean suede shoes dry: brush the nap with a dedicated suede brush following its direction, and rub shiny, flattened spots with a suede eraser or an ordinary pencil eraser. Remove white salt stains with a 1:1 vinegar and water solution, and cover grease stains with talcum powder or potato starch overnight. Never soak suede, machine wash it or dry it on a radiator.
How to Wash Sheer Curtains So They Stay White with No Ironing
Shake the dust out of your sheer curtains, and if they've yellowed, soak them in lukewarm water with baking soda or salt. Wash them on a delicate cycle at 30°C (86°F), with a small load and minimal spin, ideally in a laundry bag. Hang them back on the rod while they're still wet and they'll straighten out on their own, no ironing needed.
How to Iron a Shirt Step by Step
Iron a shirt while it's slightly damp and always in the same order: collar, cuffs, sleeves, yoke, front, and the back last. Match the iron's temperature to the label: cotton takes high heat, while blends and synthetics need a lower setting. Iron next to the buttons and placket with the tip of the iron, never over them, so you don't damage them.
How to Wash Bedding So It Stays Fresh and Soft
Wash cotton bedding at 60°C (140°F), because that temperature kills dust mites and bacteria. Wash cotton sateen at 40-60°C, and linen and microfiber at 40°C (104°F). Before washing, turn the covers inside out and fasten all the zippers and buttons.
How to Remove Grass Stains? Home Remedies
Grass stains are easiest to remove while they're fresh. Dampen the stain with rubbing alcohol or vinegar, because the green chlorophyll dissolves in alcohol, or apply a baking soda paste. Gall soap and an enzyme stain remover work well too. Don't pour hot water over the stain and don't dry the garment until the stain is gone, because heat sets it.