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How to clean Microfibre cloths

by 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 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

laundry

Drying your Laundry over the winter months

by Laundry

Getting your laundry done when you no longer have the facility of the washing line in the winter can be a real pain. Who really wants to go out in the freezing cold and hang out there washing when the chances are it probably won’t dry. This can make getting your daily laundry done a real chore.  We are left with not many options and one is to dry our clothes indoors, which to me can be really unhealthy and potentially cause mould and mildew.

I have put together some solutions that will hopefully help you out and make the winter laundry more bearable.

Extra spin 

When your laundry cycle  has finished do an extra spin.  You will be surprised at how much this can help with the drying time and how much more water is removed. The washing machine uses less energy than the tumble dryer so this is definitely worth trying.

Tumbe Dryer

Running a tumble drier can be expensive so I highly recommend adding in wool tumble dryer balls these will speed up your drying time, reduce static and prevent your clothes getting tangled. These fabulous balls also give off a fresh scent too so an added bonus! For a small load add in 3 balls and a larger load 6 balls, they will last approx 1000 uses. Just store them in your tumble dryer so you never forget to add them in.

Create a drying space.

If you are lucky enough choose a spare bedroom or unused room for your drying racks . Keep the room well ventilated. Open the windows and shut the door so the fresh air can circulate.

Hang garments

One of my favourite drying tricks is to hang clothes on coat hangers and then hang them on the curtain rail with the window ajar or on the bathroom shower rail.  You will be so surprised at how quickly clothes can dry like this plus it also makes the clothes less creased so much easier to iron, if you need to iron them at all.

Good non slip hangers are essential to keep your garments in shape.

A Dehumidifier

A DEHUMIDIFIER is another great option to help dry cloths. Some of the newer models are so advance and have setting specially designed for drying clothes. The drying mode is very suitable for wet weather or seasons. It can remove excessive moisture from clothes and keep them dry and clean. 

Portable Electric Cloths Dryer

Electric cloths driers are a great alternative to the tumble drier. They are energy efficient, simple and easy to assemble. The heated, thermostatically controlled, lightweight aluminium frames will dry your laundry gently – perfect for delicates like satin & silk that are not suitable for a tumble dryer and cost as little as 10p per hour to run.

Do not over loads radiators

Don’t hang clothes on the actual radiators as this will make your boiler work harder and increase your heating bills. Instead opt for the Radiator airers and you will find the clothes crease less too so much easier to iron. These radiator aires are easily attached to a radiator, and because of the robust arms that keep your clothing safe while they dry, they will remain firmly in place. Folds flat for easy storage when not in use. A plastic covering on the drying rack for clothes gives you the assurance of a long, rust-free life. The arms will firmly stay in place over the radiator, bath, or door, keeping your laundry secure while drying.

Cold and sunny winter day

I love my washing line and still believe the best way of drying clothes is outside. I  will hang some of my washing out to dry outside if it’s a cold sunny winters day.  Light items such as shirts and bedding will dry if they are outside for the majority of the day but when you bring the washing in it will feel cold. By drying our clothes outside we keep them fresh and well aired. This avoids moisture being trapped in the fibres encouraging musty smells that are always unpleasant.  Putting clothes away clean and aired will enhance the life of any garment over time, which means your favourites remain your favourites for longer!

Don’t forget the sun is also a natural disinfectant and bleaching agent so if the sun is out make sure you get it out.

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