Time to Dry Out

Videos:

How to Use the Dryer

Drying Your Laundry Faster


Dry the lights with lights, darks with darks and so on. Some dryers detect when your clothes are finished and will turn off automatically. Others, you have to time them yourself. I do jeans and towels for the full regular cycle. Towels will do fine on medium high to high heat. I don't dry clothes that we wear on high because I don't want them to shrink. I don't recommend drying blue jeans at all, since they shrink easily. (You have to be careful with 100% cotton.)

If any of your clothes come out of the washer with stains, remember to keep them out of the dryer. The heat from the dryer will set the stain and it will be more difficult to treat and remove.

If you use dryer sheets then remember to toss one in on top of your clothes before you close the door and turn on the dryer.

I do lights and darks on delicate for 30 to 45 mins. Don't dry lights and darks together as fading can occur in the dryer.

For energy savings, hang your clothes to dry. This works especially well in winter since the air in most homes is very dry due to the heat being on. Your clothes will dry quickly and put moisture in the air at the same time. Plus, you will save money by not using your dryer. If your clothes are wrinkled or stiff just put them in the dryer for a small amount of time. The "air dry" setting works really well for that.

Windy Wash Day

Windy Wash Day
by Dorothy Aldis

The wash is hanging on the line
And the wind's blowing--
Dresses all so clean and fine,
Beckoning
And bowing.

Stockings twisting in a dance,
Pajamas very tripping,
And every little pair of pants
Upside down
And skipping.

Alternative Fabric Softener

White vinegar is a great alternative, natural fabric softener. It's inexpensive (I buy it by the gallon) and better for the environment. It brightens your colors and helps to get the laundry detergent out of your clothes. Don't worry, your clothes won't smell like vinegar as the smell disappears! Just add 1/2 cup to the rinse cycle. Our towels are much more absorbent now that we only add vinegar to the rinse.

Treating Stains

Here is an Oxy-Clean Substitute:
by Frankie

1 cup hot water
1/2 cup baking soda
1/2 cup hydrogen peroxide

Combine. Let stained clothes soak for 20 mins. Launder as usual.

For blood, pour on hydrogen peroxide and rub in. Pour on and rub in until the stain is gone.

If you don't have anything but your detergent, pour some on the stain and scrub in with a nailbrush or old toothbrush.

Here is a stain treating video for you!

Getting ready for the washer

There are several steps before you actually toss your clothes in the washer. You need to make sure all your pockets are empty. You need to treat the stains so your clothes will keep looking nice each time you wear them. You need to turn some of your clothes inside-out to protect the colors or the decorations.

Washing a load every day will keep your laundry from piling up. This info is more important for families than for singles, or couples with no children living at home. Remember those sock sorters and laundry bags!

This lesson's videos:

.Getting rid of stains


Check pockets, and which clothes need to be turned inside-out

And if you think this is tough, read the directions for washing clothes in the "old days!"

Grandma's Washday Instructions

bilt fire in backyard to heet kettle of rain water.

set tubs so smoke won't blow in eyes if wind is pert.

shave one hole cake lie soap in bilin water.

sort things, make three piles. 1 pile white, 1 pile cullord,
1 pile work britches and rags.

stir flour in cold water to smooth, then thin down with
bilin water.

rub dirty spots on board, scrub hard, then bile. rub
cullord, don't bile, just rench in starch.

take white things out of kettle with broomstick handle,
then rench, blew and starch.

spread tee towels on grass.

hang old rags on fence.

pore rench water in flour bed.

scrub porch with hit soapy water.

turn tubs upside down.

go put on clean dress, smooth hair with side combs,
brew cup of tee, set and rest and rock a spell
and count blessins