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Wash and Care for Handkerchiefs

Buy and washcloth handkerchiefs with simple methods. Because with these wipes you are using an environmentally friendly alternative. In addition, cleaning handkerchiefs is easy and handkerchiefs are hygienic when cleaned properly.

Very few people choose the tissue alternative. Because many believe it is not hygienic. But with the right cleaning and care, handkerchiefs made of fabric are a good alternative to paper handkerchiefs.

Why should you use cloth towels?

If you want to make a contribution to environmental protection, you can start by using handkerchiefs. Because the usual paper handkerchiefs are usually packaged in plastic and are produced with a high expenditure of energy and resources. It doesn’t help much if the paper towels are made from recycled paper. So you can use tissue handkerchiefs and protect the environment. In addition, cloth towels have the advantage that they last a long time.

Are handkerchiefs hygienic?

It is not true that the tissues for blowing your nose are unhygienic. Because the cloth handkerchiefs are hygienic, provided you change them often enough. You should also clean the clothes properly for sufficient hygiene so that bacteria and viruses are killed. In addition, you should not just toss them in the laundry basket with other clothes unless you also wash them at high temperatures. Consequently, a cloth handkerchief can be just as hygienic as a paper handkerchief. Also, note our tips against colds.

“The risk of cross-contamination is considered to be rather low. However, higher washing temperatures and stronger detergents are recommended because rhinoviruses, which cause colds, are quite persistent. Therefore, in the event of an acute infection, a paper handkerchief can be useful when you are out and about.”

Mr. Glassl from the Body Care Industry Association on the use of handkerchiefs

Tips for washing handkerchiefs

Your handkerchiefs can be easily washed with three simple methods. Regular cleaning of the clothes is important. This way you guarantee that the clothes remain hygienically clean. Consequently, they become a good and environmentally friendly alternative to paper handkerchiefs. Please also note our article on ordering ecological natural fashion on the Internet.

1) Cleaning the washing machine

To keep the handkerchiefs hygienic, you should wash them in the washing machine at least 60 degrees. You should also use detergents that contain bleach. As these have a higher washing effect. A washing cycle at 90 degrees is also possible. Please also note our tips for doing laundry.

2) Wash handkerchiefs in a water bath

 

If you don’t wash often at such high temperatures, you can also clean the clothes in a different way. To do this, put the used towels in a heat-resistant bowl. Then boil water in a kettle and put it in the bowl. After you have left everything to work for 15 minutes, you can rinse the towels with cold water and let them dry. You can also clean artificial plants in the water bath.

3) Clean handkerchiefs in saltwater

Cleaning handkerchiefs effectively is actually quite simple. If you want to clean the tissue handkerchiefs, soak them in saltwater for about 12 hours (e.g. overnight) before washing. Then they get really clean again. Also, read more interesting facts about the household remedy salt.

Buy handkerchiefs or make them yourself

Now, where do you get cloth handkerchiefs from? You can either sew them yourself from old scraps of fabric. It is best to use leftover cotton or linen for this. You can also buy handkerchiefs online.

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Lifestyle

Wash and Care for Different Jackets

Jackets made of special materials need to be properly cared for and cleaned. So that you can wear your favorite jacket for a long time, we have collected tips for washing jackets. Consequently, read how to wash fleece jackets, technical jackets, and down jackets.

Jackets as faithful companions

Jackets are constant companions almost always and everywhere. In our latitudes, very few evenings or nights are so warm that you can sit outside without a jacket. Although you usually don’t need them during the day in summer, they are quite useful in the evening hours and protect you from the cold at night. And in the cold season, they protect you from the cold and keep you warm. In addition, jackets are now more than just protection against the cold. Because they may also serve as an excellent eye-catcher or great accessory that rounds off your outfit perfectly.

Tips on washing jackets properly

Since these companions come in a wide variety of shapes, colors, and materials, it is important to observe some care instructions for the fabrics and to heed tips for doing laundry. Depending on the type of washing, the jacket can follow different rules. In general, however, the following tips should be observed:

  • Choose easy-care programs for washing the jacket.
  • Wash jackets at low temperatures (not over 40 degrees)
  • Prefer liquid detergent or mild detergent.
  • Do not go over 800 revolutions to protect the material.
  • Empty pockets and close all zippers.

Fabric softener is taboo. This is because a film forms over the fibers, which is harmful to functional clothing. Especially if you want to impregnate rain jackets after drying. The protection then does not hold on to the fibers. The membrane of softshell jackets is also blocked by the fabric softener and sweat is no longer transported to the outside. But find out how you can make fabric softeners yourself.

1) Wash and care for functional jackets

Softshell, hardshell, and rain jacket, all have in common that they are useful functional clothing. So that you can use them for a long time, you should remove coarse dirt with a soft brush or a damp cloth. But avoid washing the functional jacket too often, as the special nature of the jackets makes them age faster. If you want to remove unpleasant odors, try airing them out first.

Some washing machines offer a program for sports and outdoor clothing. If you do not use liquid detergent to wash the jacket, use low temperatures and do not use fabric softener. Then let the functional jacket air dry and do not iron it. Because the heat damages the membrane and thus the jacket. Therefore, you must never put them in the dryer. As soon as it is really dry, you can impregnate it with a special spray and take care of the jacket in a sensible way. As a result, it is waterproof again. Then you can wear your sportswear for jogging in winter without hesitation.

2) Wash and dry down jackets properly

Down and quilted jackets are available both for the transitional period and as reliable winter jackets. However, they did not differ in terms of care. You should also proceed as follows when washing down:

Before you put the jacket in the washing machine, you should turn it inside out. It is also important that you use a special down detergent to wash down jackets. Unless the washing instructions say otherwise, wash the jacket at 30 degrees on a delicates or wool program. It is important not to choose a strong spin cycle. An additional rinse cycle is also recommended.

After washing, the down is still saturated with water. Therefore, you should take them out of the machine carefully so that the stitched seams do not tear. Then let the down jacket dry on the heater. Then you have to shake them out regularly. Or put them in the dryer with 2-3 tennis balls. In addition, also note our tips for freshening up worn woolen and knitwear.

3) Clean leather jacket

The best thing to do is to clean your leather jacket by hand. You can remove dirt with a damp cloth and eliminate bad smells by airing. If you want to clean your leather jacket, first pay attention to the care label. Because the cleaning of the leather cannot always be done in the machine. If possible, choose low temperatures, no spin cycle, and a special leather detergent.

4) Clean polyester jacket

Similar to functional jackets, you should also use mild detergents for polyester jackets and avoid high temperatures and fabric softeners. The correct washing cycle here is the gentle and wool cycle, but you should first turn the jacket inside out. Since the synthetic fibers dry quickly, you can let them air dry.

5) Wash fleece jackets

Fleece jackets look good and are trendy. And the good thing is that they are easy to wash. It is best to trust the care label. You can usually use heavy-duty detergent. As with other jackets, it makes sense to turn the jacket inside out. Then it will stay with you for a long time and can also accompany you as a suitable piece of clothing when traveling.

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Lifestyle

Use Washing Machine or Hand Wash?

There is a washing machine in every household these days. Operating the washing machine is not difficult, but which laundry actually belongs in the washing machine? With the following tips and tricks, it will be easier to clean your clothes correctly in the washing machine or by hand in the future.

Do I still have to wash the laundry by hand?

Doing laundry wasn’t easy in the past. Because in the last centuries it was usual to clean the laundry by hand at any time. The housewives soaked their clothes in a large cauldron for 24 hours before they worked them by hand with various tools such as washboards. Since this washing process could take several days, people only put in a washing day every few weeks. Today we have high-tech devices that make life easier. This includes the washing machine. But not every piece of clothing is suitable for the washing machine.

1) When is hand washing of textiles necessary?

Although a washing machine is now standard equipment in a household, many people wash their textiles by hand. Even today there are some situations in which there is no way around handwashing. Consequently, you should also prefer hand washing in the following cases:

  • Silk and wool are delicate textiles. They can be damaged in the washing machine despite the appropriate washing programs. It is better to wash these textiles by hand.
  • Garments that rub off can in principle be washed in the washing machine – in individual wash cycles. However, this procedure consumes a lot of electricity and water and is time-consuming. It can therefore make more sense to hand wash textiles that stain.
  • A defective washing machine due to a move or other unplanned situations makes hand washing a suitable means again. If you don’t feel like laundry service, wash the laundry by hand in a water bath.

2) Observe care instructions and sort laundry accordingly

When washing clothes with the washing machine, it is customary to sort the laundry according to color and material beforehand. It is also important to pay attention to the care instructions for the clothing when washing the clothes. Because washing a garment wrong ruins the fabric and makes it unsightly. In the worst case, the clothes can no longer be worn after washing.

Consequently, it is advisable to find out about the explanation of various laundry symbols in order to avoid mistakes in the future. Furthermore, it makes sense to only wash identical fabrics together. White laundry, colored laundry, and special items of clothing made of fine fabrics such as wool or silk should be washed separately. And for some items of clothing, hand washing is explicitly indicated, especially here you should take the washing recommendation seriously. The symbol usually shows a hand reaching into a kind of tub.

3) Which detergents are suitable for handwashing?

Delicate items of clothing should only be soaked briefly before washing. Liquid detergent is preferable to powder detergent for washing by hand. Because the powder is anything but skin-friendly and makes your hands rough. As far as the detergent is concerned, special delicates or wool detergents are suitable for sensitive textiles. Detergents for coloreds are more suitable for the clothes that go in the washing machine. Also, it doesn’t hurt to use rubber gloves when washing by hand to protect the skin from inflammation. You can also use this to make a mild detergent yourself.

4) Dry laundry after cycle or hand wash

The washed laundry – regardless of whether it comes from the washing machine or the water bath – can be dried in the air. The following applies to hand washing: It is best to wrap the textiles in a bath towel beforehand and let them lie flat to dry. If a dryer is used, only non-sensitive fabrics may go into the dryer. Either way, it’s important to flatten and hang up the finished laundry. If the laundry is left in the laundry basket or washing machine for a long time after washing, there will be musty smells in the washing machine and clothes. And it is then more difficult to iron the textiles. Therefore, note further tips on how to dry laundry properly. These help for perfectly dry laundry.

5) How can the washing machine be used in an energy-efficient manner?

Costs can be saved in the household by using the washing machine in an energy-efficient manner. In principle, it is worth fully loading the washing machine and setting the washing program gently. The material is preserved in the long term and you can save electricity with the washing machine. In this context, washing at low temperatures (30 or 40 degrees Celsius) has proven itself, whereby a detergent containing bleach can be used once a month to prevent biofilms from forming on the textiles. If infections occur in the household, it also makes sense to wash the textiles at high temperatures. This applies to non-sensitive textiles such as linen towels, nightgowns, pajamas, or hand and tea towels.

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Cooking Tips

Cleaning Mushrooms: Should You Really Not Wash Them?

It is often recommended to only clean mushrooms and in no case wash them under running water. But is that really true? You can find out here how best to clean mushrooms before preparation.

Whether mushroom pan, mushroom cream sauce or mushroom cream soup: mushroom recipes usually recommend cleaning the mushrooms before preparation. This means removing any soil residue with a brush or a special mushroom brush. Cleaning, unlike washing, is a dry process. Washing the mushrooms with water is often strongly discouraged. But why?

Clean or wash mushrooms?

The advice not to wash mushrooms under running water is common. They are said to become soaked with liquid and lose their taste.

In fact, mushrooms absorb a small amount of extra liquid when they come into contact with water. Unlike vegetables such as peppers, aubergines or courgettes, they do not have a solid shell that water could roll off. They can therefore absorb some of it.

However, mushrooms already contain a lot of water – in the case of button mushrooms, for example, it is up to 91 percent. This leaves little room for additional water intake. An experiment by the US author Harold McGee confirms this assumption: According to the British Guardian, McGee soaked 252 grams of mushrooms in a water bath for five minutes. They then weighed 258 grams, just six grams more. Since the mushrooms come into contact with water for a significantly shorter time when rinsing, they should absorb significantly less liquid. You can read about this experiment in McGee’s book “The Curious Cook”.

Still, there is slight disagreement as to whether or not washing affects the taste of the mushrooms. According to McGee, there was no loss of taste in the washed mushrooms. According to the Guardian, on the other hand, the British Mushroom Bureau advises against washing mushrooms for too long: the longer the water contact lasts, the more the flavor fades. Nevertheless, the advice center does not completely advise against cleaning mushrooms under water. Wiping them off with a damp cloth or rinsing them under running water is not a problem.

Cleaning mushrooms: is it even necessary?

Self-collected mushrooms can certainly have heavy soil residues or other dirt. In this case, it is advisable to clean the mushrooms and wash them if necessary.

The situation is different with cultivated fungi: They are usually little or not at all contaminated when they are sold. In the case of slight residues, cleaning with a brush or brush is sufficient.

If you don’t want the mushrooms to come into contact with running water, you can wipe them off with a damp kitchen towel afterwards. You can find more detailed tips and hints in these guide articles:

Clean mushrooms: simple step-by-step instructions
Cleaning porcini mushrooms: 3 tips for mushroom pickers
You should be particularly careful when cleaning if you want to prepare mushrooms raw, for example in a mushroom salad. According to the consumer advice center, you should always heat other types of mushrooms before you eat them. They are more digestible and possible pathogens are killed.

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Lifestyle

Unusual Wash Cycle: You Can Still Wash These 5 Things in The Dishwasher

The dishwasher is generally intended for washing pots, plates and the like. But all kinds of other things can also be cleaned very well in the dishwasher.

Which 5 things can you still wash in the dishwasher?

Your dishwasher can do much more than make glasses shine.

These items also get clean again in the dishwasher:
Caps and Baseball Caps: Caps are making a big fashion comeback this year. They are also particularly practical if you don’t feel like doing your hair in the morning. However, unsightly sweat marks quickly form. The caps cannot be cleaned in the washing machine because the visor will snap off. A wash cycle in the dishwasher is therefore suitable. Just leave the dishes out and your headgear is nice and clean again.
Rubber boots, bathing shoes, flip-flops: Even shoes made of plastic or rubber can be ideally cleaned in the dishwasher. Flip-flops or bathing shoes can be washed in the upper compartment, while rubber boots fit perfectly in the lower compartment. Again, you should leave out the dishes.
Hairbrushes and combs: Over time, a lot collects in hairbrushes and combs. Tallow, hair dandruff or dust: Regular cleaning is a must. If you don’t feel like doing it by hand, you can simply put the brush and comb in the dishwasher. However, the objects should be made of rubber or plastic.
Toys: Even the toys of children or pets get really clean again in the dishwasher. However, the toy should be made of plastic and even then it is important to pay attention to the temperature setting.
Shower head: Is the shower head calcified or dirty? No problem: off in the dishwasher. Without chemicals and scrubbing, it gets nice and clean again. Incidentally, this also works with attachments for taps.

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How Often Should I Wash My Towel? Proper Bathroom Hygiene is so Important

The towel in the bathroom stays fresh and clean for a long time? – Not even close. Disgusting secretions, bacteria, fungi and more collect in it after a short time. Here’s how often you should wash your towel.

How often change the towel? That depends on the purpose

Already after the first use there is a lot going on on your towel: bacteria, fungi, dandruff, salivary secretion, anal secretion, urine secretion. There are also many other germs from the bathroom that can get onto the cloth. Last but not least, a small splash from the toilet. If you’re wondering when to wash your towel, you need to differentiate between what kind of towels you’re talking about—bath towels, hand drying towels, and so on. The consumer advice center advises washing towels at 60 degrees in general – then more germs are removed than with a 40-degree wash cycle.

How often you should wash the different towels:
Bath Towel: On average, it’s a good idea to change your bath towel after you’ve used it 3-5 times. Let it dry well every time after you use it.
Hand towels: You should also change these towels every few days. Especially if you use the towel several times a day or even with other people. If you are away from home a lot, you can also extend this period.
Washcloths: Washcloths are often used intensively, for example to cleanse the face or to remove make-up. Therefore, you should change them daily or simply after each use.
Sports towel: The same rules apply here as for the shower towel. If you forget a damp sports towel in a sports bag, you should change it afterwards.

“A damp towel starts to live at some point”: Drying is important

The microbiologist Philip Tierno from the New York “School of Medicine” advised in the “Welt”: “After each use, the bath towel should dry completely.” According to the expert, the microorganisms that form in damp towels can otherwise quickly end up on our skin.

There is no need to fear damage to health, but it is still not good for the skin to use a damp towel: “A damp towel starts to live at some point,” explains Tierno. The result: pimples and other impurities can appear.

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Wash and Clean Lego Parts and Lego Bricks

Wash and thoroughly clean the Lego bricks with our household tips. Also suitable for Lego toys, entire Lego sets, or Lego collections. Cleaning and cleaning Lego bricks made easy. Maybe you know this too – you bought a large bag of used Lego bricks at a flea market or you got your own bricks back from the attic or from the basement years later and the bricks are so dirty that you don’t want to give them to your child to play with?

Wash Lego bricks in the washing machine

Then there is a very simple solution: instead of laboriously scrubbing each stone clean by hand, you can wash the entire stone in the washing machine! So that no small stones disappear in the nirvana of the washing machine, it is best to use a washing net with a zipper (used for delicate textiles such as sweaters or bras), alternatively, you can also use a pillowcase and tie it tightly. Simply fill in the stones, pop the bag in the washing machine and wash the stones at 30 degrees with detergent without bleach. Then spread the stones out on a blanket or towel to dry.

Clean up after the Lego bricks

After washing and cleaning the Lego bricks, the Lego bricks and Lego toys are finally thoroughly clean again. And ready for many new children’s building projects. As soon as the Lego bricks get dirty in the future, simply start a new wash cycle.

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Wash and Clean the Microwave

Lots of tips for cleaning the microwave and tricks for cleaning the microwave thoroughly. It is not always possible to immediately remove greasy splashes and dirt after heating food in the microwave. The very next day, these present themselves as sticky, stubborn monsters that require considerable effort to remove. But there are effective cleaning methods from grandma’s box of tricks that do not require chemicals, are easy to use, and are also available in every household.

Clean the microwave with steam

Grease and light soiling can be easily removed with steam. Simply place 1/2 cup of water in the microwave and heat on the highest setting for 3-4 minutes. The interior of the device is misted, the steam, which easily gets into all corners, loosens dirt and grease. Carefully remove the mug from the microwave. Finally, wipe well with a cloth.

Clean the microwave with citric acid

Here, 2-3 slices of lemon are added to a cup of water. Now heat the whole thing in the microwave for about 5 minutes at the highest level. Then wipe off with a sponge or cloth. This method works according to the same method as cleaning with steam, but cleaning with citric acid is a little more intensive – i.e. also suitable for heavier soiling – and also smells good. The same effect can also be achieved with vinegar. Here the lemon is replaced by vinegar.

Clean the microwave with washing-up liquid

Place a large bowl in the microwave with a squirt of dish soap and heat on high for about 1 minute. Then leave it on for a few minutes. The “soap vapor” softens the dirt and encrustations. Now just wipe with a damp cloth.

Clean the microwave oven housing

The microwave should not only be hygienically clean on the inside but also shine on the outside. But especially devices with stainless steel housing cause some housewives to despair because of the constant finger taps. If, on the other hand, you rub the stainless steel housing sparingly with baby oil and then polish it thoroughly with a soft kitchen towel, you do not only get a clean and shiny surface, but you also have peace of mind from annoying fingerprints for about 6 weeks.

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Wash and Dry Pillows and Duvets

Tips on washing and drying your pillow and duvet. With a few housewife tricks, cleaning and caring for the pillow and duvet is very easy. This saves you the cost of professional cleaning.

It’s not that difficult to clean a pillow and duvet yourself. However, there are a few important things to keep in mind. There are also many care tips so that the bed linen stays beautiful for a long time.

Pay attention to cleaning in the washing machine

Always read the specific care instructions for your bed linen before cleaning. This can usually be found on a care label sewn to the duvet or pillow. As a rule, light pillows and blankets can be cleaned in the washing machine without any problems. However, dry cleaning is preferable for thick winter duvets filled with a lot of down feathers.

Most bed linen can be washed at a maximum of 40 degrees. Choose a washing machine program that uses a lot of water. These are, for example, the wool and the hand wash program. The spin speed should be set to around 400. It is important that you choose a detergent for the washing process that is also suitable for down. It has proven to be particularly helpful to put tennis balls in the washing drum during the washing process.

Can pillows and duvets be put in the dryer?

Many who don’t own a dryer know that it takes a long time to dry a large down comforter and pillow. Especially in cool temperatures, when the laundry cannot be dried outside, this is often very annoying, as the bed linen is usually needed again quickly. A dryer is a solution for this. However, it is important that the care label specifically states that the material is suitable for tumble drying. Many dryers have a special program that is suitable for down pillows and is particularly gentle on the sensitive down. If the result after drying is not satisfactory, simply repeat the process with the dryer again.

How often should you clean your duvet and pillow?

To keep the down nice and fresh, it should be cared for regularly. Basically, the following applies to washing down comforters:

  •  Clean duvet: every 5-8 years
  • Clean pillows: every 1-2 years

Extend the life of down comforters and pillows

The filling of the blanket stays nice and fluffy if you air and shake it out regularly. This is especially useful in the morning so the blanket can shed moisture from the night. However, down duvets and pillows should never be left to dry in the sun for too long, as this removes the moisture from the down. This has a negative impact on sleeping comfort. Avoid bedspreads. While these look nice, they prevent the down from breathing.

Care of down comforters

When caring for the down comforters, you should avoid a vigorous beating, for example with a carpet beater, because it damages the down. Many people clean their ceilings with a vacuum cleaner. You shouldn’t do this either, as vacuuming the down comforter will do more harm than good. In the worst case, the material gets holes and the filling comes out.

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Hot Wash Against Smelly Laundry Kills Bacteria

A hot wash helps against smelly laundry. This old and simple household remedy kills all bacteria and effectively combats smelly laundry from the washing machine.

Get rid of smelly clothes with a hot wash

If the laundry smells inexplicably after several washes, there is a simple reason: the hot wash cycle that should happen to underwear, socks, and towels from time to time is missing.

Good reasons for the hot wash cycle

If that doesn’t happen, bacteria will develop in these hygienic-intensive items of clothing, which will not be killed at 40 or 60 degrees and will not die off with “cold” washing. Although these bacteria are harmless, they cause unpleasant odors in the laundry.

What can I wash with a hot wash?

Bedding, sheets, and washcloths should also be washed regularly at 90 degrees. Especially in bed, there are many mites, vermin, and many bacteria. For pillows and duvets, you should follow special care instructions.

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