DOES YOUR LAUNDRY DETERGENT MAKE THE CUT?

May 10, 2017

There's nothing worse than doing a load of laundry only to find that you have to rewash some of those stubborn-stained items again. It could be your washing machine is not getting the job done or it could be you are using the wrong detergent. Read on to find out the top three detergents for standard and high-efficiency washers and the worst three laundry detergents on the market.

For High efficiency washers, the following ranked in the top three in the Consumer Reports' annual laundry detergent study:

1. Tide Ultra Plus Bleach Vivid White + Bright, powder

2. Wisk Deep Clean Free & Pure, liquid

3. Kirkland Signature Ultra Clean Pacs (Costco), pods/packs

For standard washers these three detergents came out on top:

1. Wisk Deep Clean, liquid

2. Tide Plus Bleach Alternative Vivid White + Bright, liquid

3. Tide for Cold Water, liquid

The detergents were tested for their performance in areas such as general cleaning and the ability to remove grass, blood and collar rings.

The bottom three detergents that did not perform well in cleaning were:

1. Martha Stewart Clean 2X was its lowest-rated detergent

2. All 2X Ultra Stainlifter

3. Basics 2X Concentrated

Where does your detergent fall on the list? Did it even make the cut?

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PART II: 10 LAUNDRY MISTAKES YOU ARE PROBABLY MAKING

May 3, 2017

Last week we talked about five mistakes that most of us are guilty of when it comes to doing our laundry. After waiting a whole week for the rest of the list, the suspense is finally over. Below are numbers five through one of the top 10 laundry mistakes countdown. #5: not leveling your washing machine. This is an easy one to overlook but if you're washing machine is not level, not only does it make an annoyingly loud noise when it's washing but it can actually wear out the components quicker which will lead to more frequent repairs. This mistake can easily be remedied by putting a level on top of the washing machine and adjusting as necessary. #4: letting the dryer "rest" between loads. Some people have the idea that the dryer should rest for an hour between loads but that isn't true. Drying your clothes back to back actually is more energy efficient because the dryer is already warm from the previous load. #3: not cleaning out your dryer vent. Lint traps should be cleaned in between each load but beyond that, lint buildup can clog the duct over time and become a fire hazard. If you do not want to clean the duct yourself, it is recommended to have someone come out and clean it at least once a year. #2: putting way too many clothes in each load. In the dryer, clothes must float freely or they'll wrinkle. Likewise, stuffing the washer can create wrinkles and prevent your clothes from getting clean. On top of that, it can put pressure on the machine's bearings and shock absorbers, causing them to wear down prematurely. #1: letting clothes sit instead of folding them right away. This is probably the most common mistake that everyone makes doing laundry because after all, folding is the worst part isn't it? However, folding the clothes right out of the dryer actually prevents wrinkles and makes them look their best. If you cannot or do not want to fold your clothes immediately after the dryer goes off, at least lay them flat in a stack so it minimizes wrinkles as much as possible until you get around to folding them. So there you have it, the top 10 laundry mistakes that we all make. Did we leave any out?

10 LAUNDRY MISTAKES YOU ARE PROBABLY MAKING

April 26, 2017

Since most of us have to do laundry regularly, it is important that we are doing it correctly to save us the most time and money possible. Below are numbers 10-6 of the 10 most common mistakes that people make when it comes to their laundry. Are you guilty of any of these? #10: scrubbing stains like a maniac. While it might seem like the more aggressively you scrub a stain, the better you can actually ruin your clothing by scrubbing too hard. The best way to get rid of a stain is to rub gently from the outside border of the stain in, using a white cloth. If you didn't get to the stain in time and it's really in there, try a mixture of 1 part original blue Dawn dish soap and 2 parts peroxide in a squirt bottle. Spray it on the stain and let it sit a while. Throw in the wash as usual. #9: using too much laundry detergent. I'm pretty sure that we are all guilty of this one. Using too much laundry detergent isn't just wasteful and expensive the excess suds can actually get stuck in the creases of clothes and lead to bacteria build up if it isn't rinsed properly. #8: not zipping the zippers on clothes all the way up. Metal zippers especially can get caught on other clothes and ruin them during the wash cycle if they are not zipped all the way up. The same goes for Velcro. Boy can Velcro do some damage on a nice sweater (or skirt, or dress) once a gets hooked. #7: buttoning all the buttons on your shirts before you wash them. This may be a little confusing because it directly contradicts #8, but if you button shirts all the way up the pulling and tugging of the laundry cycle actually loosens the buttons and they will fall off sooner. #6: using bleach way too much. While bleach is good to use once in a while, it actually breaks down the fabric of your clothing. Unless it is truly needed, you can use a gentler alternative like lemon water (or the stain remover in #10) to help get rid of stains from sweat or blood. Of the 5 above, I can honestly say I am guilty of at least 3 (especially #9). Stay tuned next Wednesday for numbers 5-1. Happy washing.

GET AN AC CHECK AND SAVE MONEY

April 18, 2017

In the present era of technology, it is easy to take many things for granted. Cell phones, cars, computers, tv, the internet. All of these things are part of life today and we do not think twice about not having them. For many of our grandparents and parents, these fancy upgrades came about during their life so while it is nice to have them, they could take them or leave them. I know my grandparents wanted no part of many of the technological upgrades they saw during their lifetime. One thing they did embrace and would not go without was their air conditioning. While it might seem like nonsense today to think of air conditioning as a technological advancement, that's just what it was. in fact, about 10% of homes in Illinois still do not have central air. For those that do, the hot and humid days and nights of summer are a lot more bearable. Maybe its just me but I would rather be comfortable than stick to my furniture. If you agree then you should not put off getting an AC check this spring. AC checks allow the tech to asses the health of your AC unit BEFORE the heat comes. It is also considerably cheaper to get an AC check on your unit and catch any major issues before they happen. An AC check usually runs between $100-$200 while a repair usually ranges from $150-$500, and even more (were talking $700-$800) if your compressor needs to be replaced. Here’s what you can expect during an AC check: Check for proper refrigerant levels. Low levels indicate a leak that needs to be found and repaired immediately. Low refrigerant levels can burn out your compressor, resulting in the most costly repair when it comes to AC. Check all electrical components and controls to make sure they’re working properly. Clean evaporator and condenser coils. Dirty evaporators and coils reduce the energy efficiency and cooling ability of your unit. Oil motors as needed. Calibrate thermostat to make sure your A/C isn’t working overtime. Check the condenser for any possible problems. Check, clean, and/or replace filters. An annual air conditioner check up is the easiest way to keep your air conditioner in top condition for years to come. It is also the surest way to avoid going without air for days when its really hot and humid and paying twice as much for an emergency appointment during peak repair season.