Tips and Thoughts

Doing the laundry is a life skill that everyone should have, but do you ever feel like your clothes aren’t as clean as when Nanay washes them? You might think that it’s enough to just get a washer-dryer and let it do all the job, but you can accidentally ruin your favorite shirt or shrink your jeans if you don’t know how to do laundry properly.

Washing your clothes is about more than just keeping them clean. Laundering also takes proper care of your clothes, so that they can look presentable and be usable for longer. There are many instructions for dealing with different fabrics and stains that you can check if you have a particular concern, but for everything else, Nanay’s laundry advice is timeless.

Treat Stains as Soon You Find Them

Ever notice how Nanay always has to bring a big bag wherever she goes? It’s so that she is ready for anything, including treating stains. Laundry pens and stain sticks are good to bring around in your bag for emergency spills because they can treat the fabric stains immediately. After all, the longer the stain is on a fabric, the harder it becomes to remove.

If you didn’t notice the stain until just before doing the laundry, make sure to pre-treat it first before putting it into the wash.

Care for Your Delicates Properly

Hand washing is best, or at least it is for delicate items like bras, bathing suits, tights, and sweaters. These types of clothes are often made of materials that can be easily stretched and torn, so it’s best to gently wash them by hand instead of the machine. You should also hand wash any items that have special embellishments like lace, beadwork, and embroidery to preserve their designs.

Some washers do have a hand wash setting you can use instead, so it is also a good idea to buy washing machine on sale that offers this very useful feature. Place the garments in a laundry net bag for more protection, making sure not to overfill the bag. Do not put the wet laundry into the dryer, though. Delicate items are best allowed to air dry.

Always Check Pockets

Besides finding the 20-peso bill that you forgot about, checking all pockets before washing protects your clothes as well as the machine. Tissue and paper add lint and can cause small stains if they are colored. Coins and keys can scratch the surface of the washing chamber or potentially cause damage to the machinery if they get stuck in a crevice. You also don’t want to accidentally include pens, candies, and lipstick in your laundry load as these can ruin your clothes.

If you hear an unusual noise while the machine is running, stop the cycle and inspect the load for items that you may have missed. If the sound continues, it’s a good idea to have your machine checked by a qualified technician before the problem worsens.

Don’t Use Too Much Detergent

You must have thought that Nanay was just being thrifty, but she really is always right. Adding more detergent than you need is actually counterproductive for washing dirty clothes. The excess suds can trap the dirt and cause it to re-adhere to the fabric. Too much detergent is also difficult to rinse out from clothes and may require more water to flush out. If the soap is not properly removed, the leftover traces can make your clothes feel stiff and smell bad.

Putting too much soap can also damage your laundry machine in the long run, so make sure to always use the recommended amount or just enough to clean your clothes.

Using Fabric Conditioner Reduces Wrinkles

Wrinkled clothes look untidy even if they are clean. But if you don’t have the time to iron clothes, consider adding fabric conditioner to your laundry. Aside from making your clothes feel softer and smell better, it coats the fabric with a light layer of conditioner, thus making the cloth smoother and more resistant to wrinkles.

Drying in the Sun Helps to Whiten Fabrics

Nanay may have kept some bleach to deal with tough stains, but her favorite method for whitening fabrics was to simply put them in the sun. Sun-drying takes advantage of natural UV light to kill bacteria and brighten the look of white fabrics, plus it doesn’t require any chemicals. Do make sure that you wash white garments separately from colored ones to prevent them from looking dull or yellowish.

Not All Clothes Need to Be Washed Right Away

Anything that has been covered in sweat should go straight to laundry, but if your clothes were only worn briefly and aren’t that dirty, it may be a good idea to wear them again before tossing them into the hamper. Reducing the laundry frequency of these garments can help preserve the fabric for longer. Reuse your shirts on a different day or wear them at home. Bras last longer when they aren’t washed often, and the dark wash on jeans can be maintained for many years if you only wash them when they get really dirty.

If you’re worried about smelling funny, putting clothes in the freezer for a few hours is a great way to refresh the garments. This should also remove any odors.

Though she may not have been aware of it, a lot of Nanay’s laundry wisdom seems to be backed by science. Following these Nanay-approved tips makes doing laundry a little easier, and can help prolong the lifespan of your clothing.

We’ve all been spending a lot more time at home lately with an increase in work and school being conducted from home due to quarantine. Many people spent this adjustment period in small quarters, often as small as a one-bedroom apartment. Check out these apartments for rent in Tulsa, OK . This may have made the bedroom a refuge and all-purpose room where you spend a lot of time

If your bedroom is functional, but not exactly exciting, it may be time to consider making some changes and give your living space a new look. The good news is, refreshing your bedroom’s environment doesn’t need to break the bank. 

Get Rid of Things You Don’t Need

It can be hard to focus in a crowded room, so the first step of a bedroom refresh is to find the things causing clutter and junk them. This will not only create a more harmonious environment, but it’ll free up space for useful items. Professional organizer Marie Kondo encourages people to ask themselves if items spark joy and, if not, out they go. Make sure not to limit yourself to what you can see immediately—tackle the closet and drawers too.

Rearrange Furniture

Does your room’s setup make sense? Do you consistently find yourself bumping into things or tripping when you’re moving in a hurry? If the layout of your room isn’t easy to maneuver, it may be time to shuffle some furniture. 

Beyond obvious problems, it can also help to swap certain items, so they’re more easily accessible when you do need them. For example, make sure any reference items are easy to grab from your workspace. Your room should be set up for your convenience. 

Get Green

There are many reasons to bring a little bit of the outside into your interior space. Plants may seem like a decorative accent, but they have the potential to be so much more. Studies indicate that plants can improve the air quality and have a positive impact on overall mental health.

Experts think that having something to care for and watch grow is a change of pace from focusing on what’s weighing on your mind. Just be careful not to add more stress. Look up plants that are easy to care for and add a nice aesthetic touch to your room. 

Do Your Research Before a Purchase

There are many small purchases that you can make to enhance your room, but you may want a more drastic change like new furniture or a mattress upgrade. Make sure you know your budget and use it efficiently. Click here for mattress coupon codes and discounts to find the perfect mattress for your sleep needs at a price you can afford. 

Fill the Room With Memories

A room can be a haven in tough times and part of that is reminding you of good memories and better days to come. Incorporating photos, artwork, and other mementos that remind you of family, vacations, and celebrations are a great way to add positive energy to the room. You can devote an entire wall to this or keep it scattered around the room. If you have a lot of pictures up on the wall, you can incorporate different colors and styles to add a more decorative touch.

Lighting Is Key

Do you want more light in your room? Are you looking to keep the light out of your eyes when you’re trying to work? You can accomplish both of these by adding curtains.  

Not only do high curtains add to the atmosphere of the room, but they can be adjusted throughout the day for the maximum effect. If the room gets too dark during the night, lamps are affordable and easy to buy. You can also add a dimmer to help you find the perfect atmosphere for your room. 

A Pop of Color

There are countless ways to change the appearance of your room, but one of the most tried and true is to add some color. If you’re up for a bigger project, give your room a paint makeover—either on one wall or the whole thing. If you don’t want to devote a day to a paint job, why not add some color with a few simple items? A piece of furniture in a contrasting color or even a few throw pillows can massively influence the atmosphere. 

Your Room is a Canvas

Your room can be whatever you want it to be. The process of giving your room a makeover doesn’t have to be a major project. Small steps can make a huge difference in how you feel when you set foot in your space. A transformation begins with a single step and, from there, the options are limitless.