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Q: I’ve done a good job keeping my skin protected from the sun, and my kids protected from mosquitoes. But now I have bug spray and sunscreen on my clothes. What do I do?
While that’s definitely good news for you and your kids, it sounds like the family wardrobe didn’t make out as well. But don’t fear; most commercially available bug sprays and sunscreens do wash out relatively easily. First, pretreat the stains with a prewash stain remover, then launder, using the hottest water that’s safe…
Forget about the good old days, when Monday was Laundry Day, ironing was an art form, and Grandma starched the sheets. Today, we're lucky to find time to fit meals in, let alone dedicating hours to caring for our clothes.If you're like most people, your fabric care is done on an "as needed" basis — battling spills, smells, and wrinkles as you prepare to face tomorrow. Thankfully, innovations in fabric care products are keeping pace with our hectic lives. Today's fabric…
From polyester and nylon to spandex and acrylic, these materials are used in everything from clothing and upholstery to bedding and curtains. Here’s how to keep them looking their best.
From polyester and nylon to spandex and acrylic, these materials are used in everything from clothing and upholstery to bedding and curtains. Here’s how to keep them looking their best.
Kao Corporation Scientists Honored With ACI Distinguished Paper Award
Research Article Recognized as Best 2016 Paper in Journal of Surfactants & Detergents
Millions of consumers love the "softness" of their clothing after using liquid fabric softeners. Scientists from the Kao Corporation in Japan have unlocked the mechanism describing how these products work effectively on cloths and yarns, which could pave the way to more effective softening products.…
2019 ACI National Cleaning Survey Stats on Laundry:
77% of People Frequently Read Tag Instructions Before Washing Clothes
52% Tend to Wash Clothes in Cold Water
Laundry is America’s favorite cleaning task, according to the American Cleaning Institute’s (ACI) 2019 National Cleaning Survey.
Nearly a quarter of respondents to the survey, conducted by Wakefield Research on behalf of ACI, picked laundry as the …
Q: I have a blouse made of 95% cotton that I need to launder. However, the manufacturer’s care label says professional dry clean only. Does the dry clean only tag really mean it? Why can’t I hand wash or put it in the washing machine?
A: There are many reasons why your garment might have a "professional dry clean only" care label. Washing might harm the buttons or the trim. Or the dyes might run if the garment is washed. In addition, some fabrics, such as cotton,…
Q: My kids are into making Valentine's Day cards and decorations. It's fun, but it creates a mess – especially the markers and the craft glue! How do I get these stains out of their clothing?
For regular felt-tip markers (those that aren't labeled "permanent"), rinse the stain with cold water until no more color is being removed. Then place the stain face down on some clean paper towels and sponge with rubbing alcohol. Apply the alcohol first to the…
Bleaches help whiten, brighten and remove stains. Here's how to use bleach on clothes:
Bleach converts soils into colorless, soluble particles which are easily removed by detergents, then carried away in the wash water. Bleach can also brighten and whiten fabrics and help remove stubborn stains.
Sodium hypochlorite bleaches (also called chlorine or liquid household bleach) are the more powerful laundry bleaches; they disinfect, as well as clean and whiten. They work on…
Getting chewing gum where it doesn’t belong can be a sticky situation. It can be hard to get off of fabrics and surfaces and can attract more grime. Use our tips when gum gets away from you.