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How to clean Microfibre cloths

by with 2 Comments Cleaning Tips

A few of my top tips

Always wash your Microfibre cloths between uses as they are really good at trapping dirt into the fibres and the dirt will not be released until you have washed them. Microfibre cloths can be washed over 100 times and they will last and perform well provided you look after them well.

Try using a colour code system with your Microfibre cloths as this can be a huge benefit and will stop cross contamination of dirt and bacteria around your home.

I do see people use the same cloth for a number of household tasks!

I follow this pattern which works well for me and my family but adapt a system that works for you.

  • Blue for loo
  • Yellow for mellow (light dusting)
  • Green for glass
  • Pink for sink
  • Grey for stainless steel
  • White for stain removal on carpets

Washing machine

There are a few rules of thumb you should follow if you use the washing machine to clean your cloths. For starters, you should never use powdered detergents, fabric softener or bleach for microfiber cloth cleaning, or should you wash your cloths on a hot cycle.

Try to wash them all together and not with other laundry as even the most miniscule lint particles can clog the fibers of your cloth, rendering it useless.

Save them up in a bucket until you have a full load.

Hand washing

Wash with warm soapy water add in some washing detergent or even washing up liquid. Leave to soak for about an hour and occasional stir with a wooden spoon and then rinse with cold running water.

Drying microfibre cloths

One of the great things about microfibre cloths and towels  is that they dry really quickly so all you really need to do is hang them up to air dry and they will be dry in no time. If you want to dry them in a tumble drier use a low heat as heat can damage and shrink microfibre cloths.

You may want to wash your Microfibre cloths cloths and towels before using them the first time to remove any stray fibres and you really don’t know where your cloths have been before they have entered your home

I do have my own range of microfibre cloths too!

clothessmellingniceimage

Keep your Laundry smelling great

by with 6 Comments Laundry

Do you want your laundry to smell fresh and clean after every wash? Well I certainly do, I love nothing more than to give my clean dry fresh laundry a good old sniff.  There is something so satisfying  about fresh smelling clothes.

A good mix of laundry products will be key in keeping your washing smelling good but if your clothes are going into a dirty washing machine this will have an impact on your washing too.  It’s so important to take care of your washing machine if you want clean clothes and fresh smelling cloths.

A few simple tips from me will help you to keep your laundry smelling fresh again!

Don’t delay drying your washing

Don’t leave clean washing in the machine after the load has finished washing especially not overnight. Get it our straight away the nice warm, dark environment like a closed washing machine is where bacteria and mold will thrive causing washing to lose its fresh smell.

Damp clothes

Never put damp clothes and towels in the laundry basket. You may have been swimming and emptied your wet things straight into the washing basket. This is not a good move/  Instead come home and put these wet items in the washing machine straight away.  The same rule applies to wet and damp bathroom towels and face flannels.

Make sure items are really dry before you add them to you Ironing basket or put away

Thick towels and heavy clothing such as jeans take longer to dry these items may need a little longer on the washing line or in the tumble dryer.  Around the pockets on jeans can still be slightly damp so make sure this area is bone dry before transferring to the ironing.  A slight damp patch will cause bacteria to grow and again will take away that freshly washed smell.

Dry outside

I love seeing my washing drying outside on the line, for me its one of life’s real pleasures. Freshly aired cloths, towels and bedding is such a fabulous feeling.  The sun is also a bleaching an agent so any whites with stains will really benefit from hanging outside in the sun. Before I hang my washing I always wipe the line over with a kitchen towel or antibacterial wipe.  My pegs are soaked weekly in warm soapy water and are kept insure when not in use.

Choose the right products

I am a big fan of using washing detergent rather than powder or tablets I do find from experience that the detergent helps the washing to smell fresh for longer.  Use fabric conditioner wisely and never use too much as this can really clog up your machine as its such a thick liquid and can cause a build up of gunk. Work with different brands and combinations until you find a fresh smell that you and your family enjoy. Scent boosters are great as they are directly thrown into the drum of the machine and release smells directly on the washing.  Have you read my review of Scent Boosters?

Stains

Pre-treat stains by soaking garments in a mixture of water and white wine vinegar over night. There are plenty of other methods to remove stubborn stains and I always find natural is best Stain removal tips

Hot wash

If  you’re washing smelling football kits or sweaty gym clothes always opt for a hot wash

Tumble dry

The heat from tumble driers can climate the fresh smell of washing so always use tumble dryer sheets or make your own using my method of cut up square sponge cloths, soak them in fabric conditioner, store in a plastic sealed tub and then add one to your drier when you use.  I have tested a few tumble drier sheets and the Asda ones are really good and keep a long-lasting smell.

Look after your washing machine

Finally look after your washing machine. If you don’t clean your washing machine on a regular basis it will start to smell and it will not clean your clothes probably.

As always thank you for reading
Lynsey Queen of Clean xoxo

Bikini washing

How to look after your swimwear this summer.

by with No Comment Cleaning TipsLaundry

Swimwear can be expensive and leaning how to take care of your items is important and it will keep your items looking great all summer. Whether you use your swimsuit daily or just once in a while when on holiday, the fabric can take a beating from pool chemicals,hot tubs, sand, temperatures and sun creams.

As you come out of the sea or pool make sure you rinse your swimwear so that all of the salt and chemicals are rinsed out. When your at the beach don’t be tempted to lay it out on a rock to dry as the salt will stop it from drying out fully and the sun will make the colour fade. You can rinse your costume out while you are wearing if there’s a beach side shower facility, or you can take it off and find a public bathroom with a sink to give it a wash. If all else fails, take an empty bucket, put some bottled water into it, and rinse.

Always wrap your swimwear in a towel and squeeze out as much of the water out as you can. Try to roll your swimming costume into the towel rather than wringing it out as, if you wring it out, you’re likely to bend any wires and put any padding out of shape. Even if your swimwear is quite a simple one with no adornments it’s not good for the material to be overstretched could find that you end up with a saggy bottom and I am sure you don’t want that!
When at home and able to wash your swimwear you can put straight into the washing machine, but if you have a laundry bag then zip the swimwear inside to prevent anything else rubbing against the delicate fabric. It’s also best if you can use a delicate detergent  or if you have swimwear that is covered in lots of appliques or beads it might be worth your while to wash it by hand. Either way you need to make sure that all of the detergent is out afterwards or else it can damage the hi-tech fabric. Put it through an extra rinse if you’re not sure. Then finally, if possible, dry flat and out of the sun to avoid it losing it’s shape and colour.

Follow these rules and your swimwear should look just as good at the end of the summer as it did at the beginning.

Thanks for reading
Queen of Clean xoxox

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How to keep your towels soft and fluffy for longer

by with 9 Comments Laundry

Towels can often become dull in colour and hard and crispy in touch if not looked after well. We all love a nice fluffy soft towel when getting out of luxurious bubble bath or shower and we want them to last so we get our moneys worth.  The life expectancy of a good towel is 5 to 10 years and the best quality towels are made from premium fibres such as Egyptian cotton.

I have put together few basic steps for you to help keep your towels looking and feeling good longer

Always wash new towels before you use them and wash them alone. Don’t just buy them and hang them up in your bathroom.  Firstly they have been handled in a shop and then transported home so they will pick up many germs. Plus many manufacturers will use chemicals to create a sleek finish. Wash them on a cold wash with detergent and fabric softener and then tumble dry on a low heat.  Then they will be ready for the bathroom. In future you will be not be using fabric conditioner to wash your towels as this wears down the fibres making them less absorbent.

Always wash your towels separately and with no other garments, choice a gentle laundry detergent without additives as this will stop the colour fading and will protect the fibres. My personal choice is SURF laundry detergents in liquid form. For fluffiness adding a teaspoon of bicarbonate of soda to the laundry detergent drawer can help bring them back to life and for strong odours add in a capful of white wine vinegar.

Wash your towels at least once a week. But if you a clean freak like me 3 to 4 times a week.

If using a tumble drier always use a low setting and remove them when they are still slightly wet to keep them supple and absorbent. Over heating can wear down the fibres. Then air to dry or put neatly in the airing cupboard.

I love to hang my towels on the line but try not to have the sun directly on them to save the sun from bleaching them. Hide behind another garment or hang in a more shaded area.

When using your towels always hang between washing in an aired bathroom, preferably with the window open.

Never fold or leave on the floor. Hanging towels keeps the mould and mildew at bay and will keep them fresh longer.

Have a separate washing basket for towels. This way they don’t pick up colours from other garments of extra germs.

Follow these simple steps and you will find that your towels stay fluffier and softer longer.

If you are looking to treat yourself to some new towels then Hampton and Astley have given me a unique discount code to share. With this code you will get a set of 7 Egyptians towels half price. They come in 12 different colours.

QUEENOFCLEAN50 https://www.hamptonandastley.com

Each towel in the Hampton and Astley range is made from superior quality 100% Egyptian cotton. The use of these fine cottons affords a soft and supple fabric to the touch and yet one that is durable and long lasting. Furthermore every piece has high absorbency, effortlessly wicking moisture away from the skin to allow for quick and effortless drying.

If you would like to see more of my amazing cleaning tips for the home then click here

As always thank you for reading
Lynsey Queen of Clean xoxo

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