The Homemaker’s Guide to Easy Home Solutions: Part II
If you’re tired of your gorgeous black clothes fading in the wash to a washed-out black shade, then you should consider specially treating your black garments before washing them. Soak garments in 2/3 cup salt mixed per gallon in water for a couple of hours. Rinse with cold water and wash according to label’s instructions.
If you’ve joined the “Green” movement, then you’ve traded drying your clothes in the traditional drying machine for Mother Nature’s drying machine-the great outdoors. If you need dry clothes in a hurry, you can use your dryer in an energy-efficient way. Throw a dry bath towel in the dryer with your wet clothes. The bath towel absorbs the extra wetness and dries clothes faster, saving you electricity and time!
Be a party hero by being able to get a wine stain out of a blouse! Take the stained garment and try to absorb as much of the stain as possible. Pat the stain with a paper towel-don’t rub! Rubbing will only ingrain the stain into the fabric even more. Situate a towel underneath the garment where the stain is. Create a solution of equal parts of a citrus-based soap (think lemon dishwashing liquid) and white vinegar. Apply the solution to the stain. Fully cover the affected area. Rinse with cold water. Repeat if necessary as it may take several applications to fully penetrate the stain. At this point, most of the stain should be gone. To finish the cleansing process, fill the bath tub up with a gallon of cold water and 1-2 ounces of color-safe bleach. Soak garment for two hours or until stain has disappeared. Rinse garment, then air dry.
If your dishwasher is creating a heavy odor in your kitchen, place a half of a lemon upside-down on the top rack next time you run the dishwasher. The washing application will help the lemon release its fresh citrus scent through the kitchen.
Not so much a solution for the home but for its homemaker: With so many tasks to perform in one day, sometimes falling asleep can prove to be a challenge. Fall asleep faster by sticking to a sleep schedule. Since our bodies are regulated by an internal clock to sleep, you should get up at the same time every morning to keep your body regulated-even if that includes passing up the perfect opportunity to sleep in on the weekends.
