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The warm summer months are here and with it come the small shifts we make with the change of seasons.
Jackets may get packed away and lighter clothes get pulled out. If you’re ready to transition to summer, here are some tips to get you ready:
Store Seasonal Clothing
Summer in many parts of the country mean fewer layers. It’s time to put heavier clothes into storage and make room for some summer finery. But don't just put them out of…
December 5, 2018
Some clothes are easier to care for than others. Here are some guides for dealing with tricky fabrics, specific color groups, and links to our supporting topic pages. Explore laundry basics and a how-to list, good detergents, and precautions to take around children on laundry day!
Dark Clothes
Rash Guard…
December 5, 2018
Parents: 20 Seconds Could Save You or Your Kids Weeks in Bed this Cold & Flu Season
Click the image to enlarge
We’re already deep into cold and flu season – but it’s never too late to start protecting yourself. Easy step? Keep your hands clean. Consider this: 65% of U.S. parents of children ages 5 and under don’t always wash their hands for at least 20 seconds, according to a new survey by Wakefield Research for the…
March 5, 2019
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,…
February 8, 2019
Q: Is it okay to wash and re-use disposable dishes and utensils? We do a lot of casual entertaining and it seems wasteful to keep buying new.
A: As long as they are washed in hot water with soap, there’s certainly no reason you can’t re-use most disposable plastic dishes and cutlery. Exceptions to reusing disposable tableware include paper, foam or the newer bamboo disposable items. Why? They are too porous and manufacturers don’t use any sort of sealant on them. Plastic…
March 11, 2019
Q: My son's sneakers always get so dirty in summer. Can I launder them in the washing machine?
A: Most shoe manufacturers discourage machine washing sneakers. Some detergents and the machine's agitation may damage many leathers and adhesives. But, some shoes can be cleaned in your washing machine. Your best bet is to read and follow the care instructions inside the sneaker. If there are no instructions, here are some basic instructions for cleaning most canvas and nylon sneakers…
May 30, 2020
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,…
March 11, 2019
Parents: 20 Seconds Could Save You or Your Kids Weeks in Bed this Cold & Flu Season
Click the image to enlarge
We’re already deep into cold and flu season – but it’s never too late to start protecting yourself. Easy step? Keep your hands clean. Consider this: 65% of U.S. parents of children ages 5 and under don’t always wash their hands for at least 20 seconds, according to a new survey by Wakefield Research for the American Cleaning…
February 8, 2019
American Cleaning Institute 2011 Parents’ & Kids’ Handwashing Attitudes & Behaviors Study Findings
The following questions were asked of 521 parents of children 8-17 years old and 512 children 8-17 years old. Children were not those of parents surveyed. The online survey was conducted by Russell Research between September 7-13, 2011, on behalf of the American Cleaning Institute.
Children’s Survey Highlights:
Which of the following are reasons that you don’t…
December 5, 2018
Do the Dishes Every Day
Help kids think of "doing the dishes" as a daily routine. Cleaning up every night makes for a brighter morning … makes the work easier, as it prevents additional "stuck-on messes" to be scrubbed, and even helps reduce bugs and other pests in the kitchen!
SAFETY TIP:
Be extra careful when handling kitchen knives! Don’t pile them in the sink; instead, wash them one by one and immediately place them handle-up…
December 6, 2018