By timheitzman

After summer’s hot nights, now’s the time to freshen your nighttime environment. Begin by stripping the bed down to the mattress. If you use a mattress pad, launder (or bring to us) and dry thoroughly, hanging on the line, if you have one. Flip and rotate the mattress. Is it time to replace your pillows? Unless they are very high quality, it may be easier to buy new than clean old. Sniff test the winter comforter, blankets or quilts. We can clean them to like-new freshness – even king size is no problem for our machines. Be ready to snuggle up when winter chills arrive.

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From:: Make your bed.

By timheitzman

If you are being paid to work, you should look like you’re working, at least from the waist up. Men can get away with a neat polo shirt (collars down) or classic white button down unbuttoned (two buttons max). Women can look work-ready in a tailored top, stylish knitwear or even a tee under a casual blazer. Psychologists say that we perform better when we look better, so pay attention to that image you’re putting out there, even if you’re just appearing on Zoom.

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From:: WFH rules of engagement.

By timheitzman

After a shower or bath, there’s nothing as refreshing as a big, clean terrycloth towel. Home laundry fabric softener can prevent a towel from soaking up water, incompletely rinsed detergent can harden the fibers. If towels aren’t smelling so fresh, add a cup of baking soda to the wash. White vinegar freshens mildewy staleness. Nothing smells better than a towel that’s dried on a clothesline in the sunshine.

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From:: Fluffy, fresh towels.

By timheitzman

Slouchy and relaxed overalls and jumpsuits are everywhere, in classic denim, muted pastels, even leather with brassy hardware. Top trends run from trenches to shearling details, ideal for layering as weather cools. You’ll see long statement plaids, cozy corduroy, military-inspired jackets and classic bomber jackets. Warm up with oversized shearling-lined jackets, and long denim dusters (lots of dusters this year!). Choose a flattering pair of high-waisted jeans and knee-high boots and you’ll be strutting this season.

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From:: Fall fashion.

By timheitzman

Scrub a paste of baking soda and vinegar to remove collar rings. Spray full strength vinegar on yellow perspiration stains, mustard and ketchup too. Fluff up cotton and wool blankets with a cup of vinegar in the final rinse. Vinegar will help refresh and brighten stale bed and table linens after storage. And it’s a great economical replacement for fabric softener, reducing static without adding fragrance.

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From:: More vinegar tips.

By timheitzman

It’s more than salad dressing. Distilled white vinegar is a nontoxic multi-purpose cleaning wonder that has many uses in the home laundry. New clothes need washing before wear, adding a ½ cup of white vinegar to the wash helps remove manufacturing chemicals and helps set colors. That same ½ cup in the rinse cycle keeps lint and animal hair from clinging to clothes. Running an empty load with just a cup of vinegar cleans the whole washing machine.

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From:: Vinegar to the rescue!

By timheitzman

Every time you wear a reusable cloth mask, it needs to be washed. After wearing for even a short amount of time, the fabric will absorb bacteria and contaminants from the air. Dermatologists are even treating cases of “maskne” where an unclean mask has rubbed the skin. Washing a mask is as easy as throwing it in with other laundry, drying at high heat or air drying in the sunshine. Stay safe and thanks for masking up.

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From:: Wash that mask.

By timheitzman

Today, Muslims around the world celebrate their 4-day holiday with an act of thanksgiving for God’s mercy. It’s a time for prayer, giving thanks, wearing traditional clothes and sharing national dishes and gifts. Muslims are encouraged to be especially friendly to others and reach out to one another during this, their holiest of holidays. Every faith and creed shares the love of tradition, family and community. And all of us would be at our best if being “especially friendly” was the goal.

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From:: Eid al-Adha.

By timheitzman

They’re summer’s best treat but their bright colors can stain like nothing else. Stain removal starts with stretching the affected fabric over a large bowl, then pour boiling water through the fabric. This should remove most of the stain, but any lingering color can be released by dabbing the stain with white vinegar before soaking in cold water and laundering. Or easier yet, bring the garments to our stain removal experts.

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From:: Berry stains.

By brightleaf

Bright checkered tablecloth, silly (or plainly practical) BBQ apron, oversized cloth napkins/placemats/bibs, fun and fancy dishcloth wine wrappers, brand-new white t-shirts. All our summer favorites, all one oops from a stain. Ketchup, mustard, bbq sauce or beer, we’re all one spill away from a little mess. Bring it all to our stain removal experts, the sooner the better.

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From:: Picnic classics.