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Washing Tips for Wool and Delicates

When looking into the wardrobe, one often notices the high value of his wool sweaters, silk blouses, fine shirts, and delicate underwear. Washing our favorite things requires some care so that we can enjoy them for a long time. There are some special washing tips for woolens and delicates.

Machine wash for wool and delicates

When machine washing woolen items, please do not make the mistake of washing and rinsing at different temperatures. Always wash and rinse in the very gentle hand wash cycle, in the delicate cycle, or with the machine setting “easy-care” at 30 degrees. Use gentle liquid detergents for delicates and always treat similar colors together. Turn things inside out before washing.

Please never put it in the tumble dryer or simply hang it on the line. The woolen items are carefully wrung out, wrapped in a towel that draws out more moisture from the wool, and then laid flat to dry. However, gentle hand washing is even better for the proper care of your wool sweater. In addition, pay attention to how to wash merino wool clothing properly.

Silk and fine fabrics

For washing silk and other fine fabrics, you also need good, liquid mild detergent. Then wash them gently in the cold wash cycle and dry them flat after rolling them up in a terry towel without wringing or tugging. Careful washing by hand is still safer and preferable in the case of valuable woolens and delicates. You work quickly and use a well-branded detergent for wool and delicates; very inexpensive alkaline soaps cannot be used under any circumstances.

These damage the delicate tissue and make it brittle and unsightly. You wash and rinse at the same low water temperature, preferably around 18 degrees, and add a dash of vinegar to the last rinse water to refresh the color and finish the fine fabric. Plenty of water should be used for rinsing. High-quality types of wool, such as angora, mohair, cashmere or alpaca, or fine textiles made of organza, tulle, silk, or chiffon should ideally be cleaned professionally by a specialist company.

  1. A laundry bag is ideal for washing woolens and delicates; you can easily sew it yourself from old white blinds. Put the good stuff in, tie it with a ribbon and throw it in the washing machine. This way you wash even more gently. By the way, a pillowcase will do, too.
  2. If bulky cardigans or sweaters for the cold season have buttonholes, these should be carefully sewn up with a few large stitches. That way they can’t stretch and the placket keeps its shape better. Nevertheless, heavy sweaters easily get out of shape when washed, for example. If they are lying on the terry towels to dry, they can be pushed together to the right length and width. Gently pat in any wrinkles that appear.
  3. Rub particularly dirty shirts with hair shampoo and let it take effect for a while. The shampoo dissolves body fat. Then add to the rest of the laundry. If white shirts or blouses have yellowed collars, they can be rubbed with commercially available chalk before washing. After an exposure time, the items can be washed as normal.
  4. Wash black silk blouses in black tea. This way they keep their shine and color. Rinse with plenty of clear water. Incidentally, most textiles can be dyed beige to brown with black tea without any problems. Boil the tea according to the desired color. The darker you want the color to be, the longer you want it to soak.
  5. Wash tights or leggings quickly by hand in the sink. A few drops of glycerine in the last rinsing water restores their natural elasticity.

Have fun with the well-groomed things made of wool and fine things.

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Washing, Ironing & Caring for Silk

Tips and tricks for the care of silk fabrics. Washing silk, drying silk, and ironing silk with home remedies and useful household tips. Silk and silk fabrics quickly lose their shine and freshness if they are not properly cared for. Silk is a really noble and very sensitive material. Minor damage or bruises destroy the silk or leave silly light marks and discoloration. So it’s better to take care of the silk regularly.

Care for silk fabrics, silk dresses, and silk

So that you can enjoy silk fabrics, silk covers, silk underwear, and silk dresses for a long time, you should observe a few tips and instructions for handling silk:

  • Too strong and direct sunlight can fade silk over time.
  • The alcohol in the perfume attacks the silk. So be careful when spraying the perfume.
  • Jewelry bracelets and chains scratch and roughen the silk fabric.
  • Do not use silk clothing with hair dye, color stabilizers, or tanning products.
  • To avoid silly punctures, soak brooch pins in alcohol.
  • Silk needs oxygen. To care for your silk, hang your silk clothes out on a hanger for a day now and then.

Remove discoloration of the silk with potato flour

Potato flour can add a little shine to silk clothing. It seems to be a special effect. blow very thinly on the boiling water. To freshen up furniture coverings such as tapestry or silk, sprinkle potato flour over the furniture and rub it well. Then all you have to do is vacuum up the flour with a vacuum cleaner and the furniture will look fresh again.

Washing silk

  • Always wash silk by hand
  • Silk must not be soaked
  • Maximum washing temperature maximum 30° C
  • Only use the gentle cycle for machine washable mixed silk
  • Do not crease or rub silk when washing
  • Always use mild detergents, not household products such as stain remover with acetic acid

Drying silk

  • Never spin silk
  • Never dry silk in sunlight
  • Ideally, the silk is pre-dried in a towel before hanging
  • Pull apart silk scarves or silk fabrics before drying
  • Ideally, hang the silk clothing on a hanger

Iron silk

  • Silk dries very quickly when ironed
  • Iron only at the lowest ironing temperature
  • Never steam iron
  • Silk should be ironed while it is still damp, otherwise, it could burn when ironed
  • Thin silk or wild silk must be ironed inside out to protect the silk
  • Ideally, hang the silk clothes on a hanger after ironing
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Washing and Caring for Merino Wool Clothing

Washing and caring for merino wool is made easy. Clothing made of wool always requires special care, which is especially true for the more expensive clothing made of merino wool. You’ll want a little longer from a merino wool sweater, so always make sure you take care of it properly.

What is merino wool?

First, a little introduction to the structure of merino wool, which is a little more expensive because of its unique properties and therefore needs to be cared for properly and properly. Merino wool is very suitable for allergy sufferers because it is extremely fine and very soft. Then this all-weather yarn also regulates heat and moisture and does not become electrostatically charged.

Because of these properties, merino wool can absorb up to 30 percent of its weight in moisture without getting clammy or even really wet. Merino fiber is known as the finest wool that not only has an elegant shine but is also hard-wearing. Because this wool has a moisture-regulating effect, merino wool is also popular in winter underwear. Also, note how you can upgrade your worn woolen and knitted items for the winter.

Washing and caring for Merino wool clothing

Washing is not a problem, you should just pay close attention to the water temperature. To wash clothes made of merino wool and to take care of merino wool, you should observe the following washing tips.

  1. Pour lukewarm water into a tub.
  2. Add a good wool detergent exactly according to the dosage.
  3. Put the garment made of merino wool in it and gently press it with your hands and wash it quickly.
  4. Take the jumper or something similar out of the water with the detergent and rinse out the wool detergent several times with water at the same temperature.
  5. The garment washed and squeezed out in this way should be left lying on a terry towel to dry in the correct shape.
  6. Ironing is not necessary as the creases will hang out, if only on the wool setting with a damp cloth in between.

Store Merino wool clothing

Proper storage of merino wool garments is also recommended. Because it keeps it fresh and fresh. The same applies to the storage and care of wool and wool sweaters.

  1. If you take all of this into account when washing your sweater or merino wool cardigan, you are sure to get a lot from your garment and its durability is guaranteed. You should always store wool lying flat and air it out after it has been lying for a long time.
  2. If the merino wool has taken on odors or become wrinkled over the summer, you can hang the garment on a hanger out in the humid night air and you’ll have an odor-free and smooth garment again. This also works well in the bathroom if you turn on the hot shower for a moment and then hang the merino sweater in the wet bathroom overnight.
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Tips for Car Washing

All car wash tips and tricks for better car cleaning. Regular cleaning makes the car look nicer. However, it increases the life of the paint. Tree sap, bird droppings, and insect residue can leave dull spots if left on the vehicle for too long.

Regular cleaning also protects against the formation of rust, since rust tends to form where dirt binds moisture to the body like a sponge. On the other hand, the water can run off quickly on clean and well-kept paintwork. In the following, various options are presented to get your own vehicle thoroughly clean again, depending on your budget.

Car wash with the car wash

You can easily wash your car with a car wash in the car wash. These are available at almost every gas station. Usually, such a washing process lasts only a few minutes and your own physical effort is limited to retracting the radio antenna unless it works automatically or your car even has a real antenna.

  • You should also critically check again whether all windows are raised as far as they will go and whether the sunroof – if available – has been closed. Otherwise, simply follow the instructions that the automatic car wash gives you.
  • Important: Do not drive into the car wash until you are prompted to do so by a signal!
  • Incidentally, a convertible with a fabric top should not be sent through the car wash, even if some manufacturers do not object.

Disadvantages of the car wash

As effortless as the car wash option is, it also has a number of disadvantages:

  • Firstly, it costs money, and usually quite a bit. You will usually have to shell out 5 to 10 euros for a wash, sometimes even more for premium washes.
  • Secondly, car washes are never as thorough as washing by hand. The car is tolerably clean afterward, but the brushes cannot get into many nooks and crannies.
  • Thirdly: car washes are not exactly gentle on the paint over the long term. There are better and worse systems here, but after years of visiting the car wash, sensitive paintwork in particular usually looks as if someone had scrubbed it with a scouring pad. Fourth: Even if it sounds banal, the interior of the car is still not clean afterward.

Wash car with hand wash

This is both the gentlest and most cost-effective way to wash your car. Plus, you don’t even have to leave your property, provided you don’t live in a community where washing cars on private property is prohibited. This is sometimes the case for reasons of water protection. In any case, washing vehicles in public places and streets is not permitted. If you do not have your own property or are not allowed to wash your vehicle there, you can visit a washing box at a gas station that is intended for hand washing.

Step by step instructions for washing the car

First of all, stubborn dirt needs to be removed from the vehicle. The best way to do this is to use a garden hose; gas stations also have a high-pressure cleaner for this purpose. With high-pressure cleaners, however, pay attention to the distance, otherwise, the car paint will be damaged. The tires in particular quickly resent the hard jet of water when washing the car. It is best to keep a distance of about one meter and walk over the vehicle with stroking movements. The vehicle should then be washed off with a clean cloth, starting from the roof.

  1. Bumpers, rims, and side skirts come last. Washcloths, as used in the kitchen, are ideal.
  2. Also, keep a clean bucket of water handy and rinse the rag in it periodically. Incidentally, the washing-up liquid is not suitable for washing the car, as it dries out the paintwork.
  3. It’s better to get a car wash at the hardware store. Although these cost a few euros, one bottle of concentrate is easily enough for one to two dozen washes.
  4. Don’t press too hard on the paintwork, just enough pressure to remove the dirt.
  5. Don’t forget to clean the car windows. You should also end up opening the doors and the trunk and wiping away the dirt that has accumulated here.
  6. Once the vehicle has been cleaned, use the garden hose to remove the foam from the vehicle. If you don’t have a hose at hand, simply fill the bucket again with clear water and run it over the car again.
  7. Then wring out the cloth well and dab excess water off the paintwork to prevent limescale stains.

Wax protects the paint

Once the car has been thoroughly cleaned, you can wax it straight away. The wax layer preserves the paintwork and slows down its aging. In addition, water and dirt roll off more easily, making it much easier for you to do the next wash. You should therefore give your car a coat of wax once or twice a year. Polishing wax is available from hardware stores and car accessory shops.

It is best to apply the wax sparingly with a clean cotton cloth. An old shirt works great here. Incidentally, the wax only belongs on the paint and should not be applied to unpainted plastic parts. On these, the wax dries to a stubborn gray veil.

It is best to proceed in stages. Wax the roof first, then wait a few minutes. Then polish the dried wax with a soft cotton cloth or polishing floss until the paint shines. Then repeat this procedure for the hood, fenders, doors, and so on, one at a time. However, the paint must be meticulously clean and dry. Otherwise, grains of sand will cause scratches, and drops of water will cause streaks in the wax layer.

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6 Common Laundry Washing Mistakes

Wash laundry properly now! With these 6 clever tips, you will succeed in washing and discoloration will be a thing of the past. We’ll show you how to best avoid typical mistakes when doing laundry.

Let’s be honest: Which housewife has never had anything go wrong? A lot can go wrong, especially when doing laundry – without the right information, problems are inevitable. We give you the six most common mistakes when doing laundry and how you can avoid them.

1) Disappeared socks

Who doesn’t know this: You put your socks together after washing and – lo and behold – some are missing. This is a mystery to some. Is there a sock dimension into which these disappear? There’s even a lost sock day. In reality, the lonely socks are in the machine. They are pressed against the window of the washing machine during an overloaded wash cycle and then pressed between the slot by the rubber of the washing drum. Then they often end up on the heating element and are often gradually dissolved there.

Since this happens particularly often with an overloaded wash cycle, we advise never filling the washing machine completely and washing small items of clothing such as socks alone in manageable quantities. Another tip: Get special sock clips and clip the socks together. If you don’t have a sock clip, you can also take a hair tie and wrap it around the socks or just tie the socks together. By the way, here you will find a miracle cure for smelly socks and stockings.

2) Laundry is discolored

It is well known that you have to sort by color to avoid discoloration. You wash white laundry separately from multicolored, colored laundry and this separately from single-colored, colored laundry. In addition, black or dark brown laundry should always be washed separately, since the risk of discoloration is very high here. Red laundry used to be known to tend to bleed, but these days you can wash it with other colors as a lot of red laundries doesn’t bleed anymore. You can use this simple trick to test whether the laundry is rubbing off: put red laundry in a bucket of warm water for half an hour. If the water turns reddish, then the clothing will stain. You will also find out how you can get yellowed laundry white again.

  • Whites/Lights: Light colors from white to light blue.
  • Light colors: pink, orange, yellow
  • Dark colors: red, green, blue
  • Black wash/dark wash: Black and dark brown

It is also important to sort by materials. Silk fabrics, shirts, or wool sweaters should always be washed extra gently or even by hand. Often it is also on the label if you should wash something by hand and it makes sense to pay attention to this. Jeans should never be washed with wool or sensitive materials, always turned inside out and only washed with other jeans in the same shade of blue and never with fabric softener. Also, follow our overview of fabrics for clothing with properties and care instructions.

3) Non-deflated pockets

The classic is the forgotten handkerchief in the trouser pocket. You know it, especially with children: hair clips, hair ties, or other things are often overlooked in the trouser pocket. These can get wedged in the sieves of the washing drum and cause damage. Pointed objects are particularly dangerous, but handkerchiefs can also ruin the inside of trousers or jacket pockets. Therefore: Turn all pockets inside out beforehand and check carefully whether there is anything hidden somewhere. Don’t forget the inner pockets! Was something damaged? How to sew small holes in t-shirts

4) Damaged clothing

To all women: remember to fasten your bras before putting them in the washing machine. Another tip: Pack your bras in a cloth bag or in a laundry net. This completely eliminates the risk of damaging clothing with fasteners. In addition, button plackets and zips should be closed, as they can also damage other clothing in the form of small holes. Always turn clothing with applications such as rhinestones inside out. This not only protects the decorations on the clothes but also the other clothes in the washing drum. You can find more tips here: Washing and caring for bras and lingerie properly.

5) White spots and fading

Dark and especially black clothing should never be washed with heavy-duty detergent, as heavy-duty detergent bleaches. Furthermore, washing powder often cannot dissolve completely, which is why you should wash dark laundry with liquid detergent. There are special detergents for black laundry, but you don’t necessarily have to use them and a color detergent or a mild detergent is also sufficient. You may be using too much detergent, so the rule of thumb is to only use as much detergent as you need.

A lot doesn’t necessarily help a lot and can also lead to the opposite: Too much foam is formed and the laundry doesn’t get really clean as a result. Furthermore, the washing program should not be too short and you should use enough water. If you then turn dark laundry inside out, there shouldn’t be any more light spots! By the way: the fading of dark laundry is often due to drying in the sun. You should therefore put dark laundry in the dryer or dry it in a shady place. Do you have any further questions about drying? Here you will find tips for drying laundry quickly and correctly.

6) Shrunk laundry

Also a classic: the new pullover has become too small when washed at 50°C. How can this happen? Our tip: Read the information label inside the clothing. There are often indications that laundry should only be washed by hand or at a maximum of 30°C. These tips are ignored by many, although they save some trouble. Here you can find help with the question Do you use a washing machine or hand wash? Heavily soiled clothes need to be washed at higher temperatures than clothes that have been worn for a day and just need to be fresh. Even if you wash dirty clothes with relatively clean clothes, laundry shrinkage can occur. You should therefore not only sort the laundry by color and material, but also by temperature and degree of soiling.

  • 90°C: Heavily soiled cotton only
  • 60°C: towels, bed linen, pajamas, underwear (made of cotton)
  • 40°C: dresses, skirts, T-shirts, shirts
  • 30°C: wool sweaters, silk shirts
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10 Tips for Washing and Caring for Laundry

Tips on how to do laundry properly. Now it’s time for the laundry. With clever tricks, you can care for your textiles sustainably and prevent the colors from fading. For the cleanliness and longevity of your laundry. Sort things worth knowing about detergents, fabric softeners, laundry symbols, and the right laundry.

Hundreds of years ago, housewives had various tricks for getting their laundry clean and flawless. They also allowed the clothing to have a long life. Nowadays, this is primarily done for us by a state-of-the-art and fully electrically controlled machine. But there is still a lot to consider when washing clothes properly.

How do I get my laundry clean?

Sure we can just do our laundry by using the washing machine. But here, too, there is a lot to consider. Which detergent can I use? How do I dose it? Do I need a fabric softener? How can I wash gently? And those are all legitimate questions you’re asking yourself. Because not all of your clothes can take the hot water or the spin cycle. We give you the following tips for washing and caring for your clothes.

1) The right detergent for washing clothes

It is actually almost impossible to find the right detergent among the countless detergents on offer. Therefore, you should try several detergents to find the right one for your appliance. The most important criteria for your detergent should be the following:

  • Refrain from fragrances, because they could cause nasty allergies.
  • Using as few surfactants as possible damages the environment, especially our groundwater.
  • Avoid concentrates, as very few strictly adhere to the dosage recommendations.
  • Do not use detergents with optical brighteners, as these can fade colored and dark clothing.

2) Natural alternatives to conventional detergents

Anyone who walks past the shelves with detergents in the supermarket these days has a huge selection of different brands, fragrances, and promises. But how did our great-grandparents manage to walk out the door clean 100 years ago? Quite simply: In the past, they used completely natural resources. These can currently only be found in organic shops, health food stores, or online.

In this country, the horse chestnut is considered a favorite alternative to conventional detergents. Because this ensures clean laundry. But evergreen ivy can also be used as a variant. The contained saponins have an excellent cleaning effect. You can also make your own laundry detergent. This saves you time and money. Or use the miracle cure baking soda on white clothes.

3) fabric softener, yes or no?

This is the question that most people ask themselves. If you are overly allergic to different products and foods, you should generally stay away from fabric softeners. Because there are too many additives in it. This promotes an allergic reaction. In addition, if a piece of clothing is washed with fabric softener in a single wash, it will still carry it up to 40 washes later. Instead, use our instructions for making your own fabric softener.

4) Substitute for fabric softener

As already mentioned, you can make your own fabric softener. So you can save money and have an environmentally friendly alternative. You can simply use effective vinegar for this. So you have to put a good shot in the fabric softener compartment before washing. This then ensures that the limescale that gets onto the clothing with the water dissolves from the fibers. This also makes the clothes nice and soft. The clothing itself does not smell of vinegar. Because the smell goes away after a few minutes. Vinegar is also used to care for the washing machine. Also, read our article on home remedies for cleaning washing machines.

5) Washing machines can also work quietly

Especially if you live in a multi-family or multi-party house, it is advisable to buy a washing machine that works as quietly as possible. Because old models no longer have to be in today’s technology. Since they make the subtenant’s blanket vibrate with every spin cycle. Therefore, quiet washing machines are an advantage for you and your neighbors. Therefore, pay attention to our tips for buying a new washing machine.

6) A washing machine that is too full cannot wash

The operating instructions for each washing machine state how much clothing the respective drum can and should hold. If you do not take this into account, you will not have an optimal washing result and the clothes may still be dirty. In addition, the drum will eventually rattle and no longer run smoothly. That’s why you should take the loading specification seriously. As a result, your laundry will be properly washed and clean. In addition, your washing machine will work longer. In addition, you’d better wash some clothes by hand. Read our contribution to the question washing machine or hand wash? And our easy hand wash guide for delicate clothes.

7) Does the sun really bleach?

Yes, she does! Experienced laundresses hung their white tablecloths and tops on the clothesline in the backyard as soon as the sun shone. Because that not only served to dry the laundry quickly but also to fade stains from the sun. And that works fine. So don’t use bleach, just wait until the sun shines and then get out with the light-colored textiles. Also, read our instructions on how to bleach your lawn.

8) Dose detergent according to water hardness

Different levels of water hardness can prevail in households. Depending on the hardness of the water, a different detergent is recommended. If you don’t know exactly how hard your water is, you can find out more from your local waterworks. And then dose your detergent accordingly. This way you can achieve an optimal washing result. And at the same time not burdening the environment with unnecessary detergent consumption. You can save on detergent with a phone call and also do something good for the environment. Also note our contribution to cleaning, drying, and caring for down comforters.

9) Gentle wash with a pillowcase

Nothing is more annoying after washing than small holes in the thin fabrics of clothing. That’s why you should always pay attention to the gentle cleaning of your delicates during the wash cycle. You should use an old pillowcase as a laundry cover when washing in the machine. And use the gentle cycle at the same time. This will prevent the lint filter in your washing machine from becoming clogged. Accordingly, the pillowcase is optimal protection for your clothes from holes and tears. Also, note our article on the 6 most common mistakes when doing laundry.

10) Close zipper when washing

Many people mistake holes in clothing caused by zippers for small moth holes. In reality, however, the small teeth of the zipper quickly tear holes in clothing. Therefore, you should close zips before washing. You also prevent your zipper from working after the wash cycle. Therefore, check your clothes for zippers before washing. If it does happen, you can loosen the stuck zipper with candle wax.

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Washing Soda as an Environmentally Friendly Helper in the Household

Washing soda is used in the home to clean dirty surfaces. It doesn’t matter whether it’s fat deposits, burnt pots, or dirty white laundry, the miracle cure of washing soda will help you quickly and easily. It is also a cheap and environmentally friendly alternative.

If you’re looking for an eco-friendly alternative, the soda is just the ticket. With this, you can remove even stubborn dirt. In addition, the smell of sweat can also be combated with soda. Consequently, we will show you the areas of application that you should know.

Laundry soda as an environmentally friendly alternative

Why is straight soda an eco-friendly alternative? Naturally occurring sodium carbonate is a mineral. And unlike other chemical detergents, it does not contain surfactants, but on the contrary, can neutralize these acidic degradation products of surfactants. This is possible thanks to the alkaline properties of the washing soda. Consequently, it is an eco-friendly option.

Areas of application of washing soda

As already mentioned, pure soda is a cheap and environmentally friendly cleaning alternative. Therefore, you should definitely have it in the household. Consequently, we will show you where and how you can best use it. You can also get the washing soda in drugstores or simply on the Internet:

1) Clean soda to a baking sheet

There are some home remedies for cleaning the baking sheet. That includes the soda. When combined with hot water, the mixture turns into strong lye. This allows you to effortlessly remove stubborn dirt. So mix 2-3 tablespoons of plain soda with hot water. Then put the mixture on the baking sheet and let it work for some time. Then rinse everything thoroughly. You now have a clean baking sheet.

2) A clogged drain

If you have a clogged drain in the kitchen or bathroom, you don’t need to call a professional handyman right away. Instead, first, try to remove the dirt with pure soda and the effective household remedy vinegar. To unclog the clogged drain, add 2-3 tablespoons of the soda. After that, pour a small cup of vinegar afterward. Then let everything take effect and foam vigorously. After a longer exposure time, you should rinse with water.

3) Remove fatty deposits with washing soda

You can also remove annoying fat deposits with sodium carbonate. That is why it is so popular with many people. To do this, dissolve some washing soda in water as needed. If you like, add a little dish soap. You can then use it to clean greasy surfaces with ease. However, the soda is not suitable for all surfaces. Therefore, do not use it on aluminum, glass, or painted surfaces. It works similarly with the popular household remedy baking powder.

4) Clean baked pots with soda

Similar to the baking tray, burnt pots or pans can also be cleaned with soda. So you can fill the pot with water and 2-3 teaspoons of soda. Then let it all boil up. After letting it simmer for a bit, you can rinse the pot with water. The burned-in should now be gone.

5) Make dish soap yourself

If you’re looking for an eco-friendly alternative to dish soap, make your own dish soap with soda. To do this, take an empty jar. Then add a teaspoon of baking soda and a tablespoon of straight soda. Then fill the vessel with water. You can also add a few drops of essential oil for a pleasant scent. Finally, close the jar and mix the mixture by gently shaking. Also, note our household remedies and tips for cleaning the kitchen.

6) Clean white laundry with washing soda

The pure washing soda is just as well suited for washing white laundry. So you can add washing soda instead of detergent. Or you make your own detergent. For this, you need 2 tbsp washing soda and 15g of neutral curd soap, preferably grated. Then mix the ingredients with a liter of water and you have your own eco-friendly laundry detergent. But you shouldn’t use soda on delicate natural fibers. Also, read our other laundry tips.

7) Remove sweat odor with pure soda

Not only the odors in the washing machine are neutralized by the pure soda. The smell of sweat in your laundry can also be removed in this way. In addition, some people also swear by soda when it comes to combating sweaty feet and hands with home remedies. So put a little of the soda on a damp cloth and rub it on your feet. Then you have to rub your feet dry.

8) Pure soda for washing machine cleaning

It’s not just your white laundry that benefits from pure soda, your washing machine does too. Because as a home remedy for cleaning washing machines, it can eliminate bad odors. You can also use it with white laundry during the wash cycle. This saves you time and energy. That’s why it’s worth using washing soda.

9) Remove moss with washing soda

If you have a patio and moss settles there after a while, use washing soda to help. To do this, dilute some washing soda in water. You can now use it to scrub away the moss on the terrace or balcony. Also, read our tips for terrace design, so it can become an oasis of well-being. You can also use the soda to remove moss from old tombstones.

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Washing Sensitive Clothing by Hand – This is How it Works

Almost every household has a washing machine, but delicate items of clothing are often unsuitable for this. What now? Do you go to the dry cleaners or do you prefer to wash by hand?

What temperature for handwashing?

Hand washing is not as complicated as you might think at first glance. And you don’t need a tumble dryer to get your favorite pieces back in shape. It doesn’t matter whether it’s your favorite jacket or an evening dress, the first thing you should do with all items of clothing is the label beforehand washing them. Because even if you don’t put your clothes in the machine, temperature specifications may have to be observed. These help you to ensure that your best piece does not shrink and that you do not bring your favorite classics out of shape by washing them incorrectly. You can easily determine the temperature with a bathtub thermometer.

The right detergent for sensitive clothing

It is best to use a washbowl or a corresponding basin, where you fill in enough water at the required temperature. Then add the detergent according to the recommended dosage. But be careful: you have to make sure that the detergent is suitable. A mild detergent is the best choice for many sensitive items of clothing. On the other hand, if the item is made of wool, you should use a wool detergent. If you need to remove stains first, you can treat them with cold water or a suitable stain remover. Please also note our tips for removing make-up stains with the effective gall soap.

Hand wash instructions

Once you have found the right temperature and detergent for your hand wash, you can begin. To do this, choose a bucket suitable for the laundry or wash larger items by hand in the bathtub. You should proceed as follows so that everything works perfectly:

Step 1: Soak

You now put the garment completely into the soapy water and move it back and forth a little. Be careful not to twirl, rub, or scrub, as this will distort the delicate fabric fibers. Now wait about 30 minutes and let your clothes soak. If stains are still visible afterward, add more warm water and extend the time. Here, too, make sure that you do not exceed the maximum temperature on the washing label.

Step 2: Rinse

The next step is to drain the soapy water or empty the tub. Now fill it with cold, fresh water and gently squeeze out the garment inside. Repeat this process until no more foam comes out of the fabric. The water must remain completely clear before the next step, as soap residue can cause discoloration.

Step 3: Express

After the cold water runs clear, empty the tub again and squeeze the liquid out of the fabric. Please make sure that you do not rub, twirl or even wring, as this will damage the fabric. Spread a dry towel on the floor and place your garment on it. Now you can carefully pull it back into shape. Now roll up the towel along with your clothing to draw even more moisture out of the fabric. And you’re done with the hand wash. In addition, read our guide to removing stubborn stains with lawn bleach.

Hand wash to dry properly

After you have largely removed the excess water with the towel, you can start drying the clothes. Layout a wide, dry towel on the drying rack or a table and spread out the washed clothes on it. Now you let it dry until there is no more liquid in the tissue. Make sure to turn every 2-4 hours so the garment dries evenly.

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Lifestyle

Caring for Wool and Washing Wool Sweaters

Lots of useful tips for caring for wool. Now properly care for woolen clothing and wash woolen jumpers gently. Because clothing made from the natural material wool is still trendy. But many do not even know about the special care for the extremely sensitive material.

Wool is a natural material that is comfortable to wear. And with the right care, it can keep you nice and warm for a long time. But good, high-quality wool, such as mohair, cashmere, or silk, is expensive. You should also take good care of your woolen clothing so that you can wear it for as long as possible.

The advantages of soft wool

Wool has the extremely useful property that its outer skin repels both water and dirt. It is often sufficient if you shake out clothes made of real wool. Or brush the woolen clothes to get them clean again. Since the wool fiber has a scaly structure similar to that of human hair, it requires a particularly gentle washing program. If you look at them under the microscope, you can see the scaly structure of the wool fiber.

How do I wash wool sweaters?

How should I care for my new wool sweater? Should I wash the new wool sweater in the washing machine or by hand? Most of the time, the label on the sweater will give you an answer. Because if it is a machine washable knitwear, you can wash the sweater in the washing machine without hesitation. Because in this case the wool is covered with a wafer-thin layer of synthetic resin. Otherwise, you should prefer a hand wash. Consequently, we give you tips for washing wool.

1) The right detergent for wool

Basically, wool consists of creatine, a protein that makes it very elastic. In order to maintain this elasticity and not lose it during washing, you should always wash wool garments with a special detergent for wool. Or at least use a mild detergent. Because the detergent must be tailored to the sensitive fiber. If it is too strong, there is a risk that the wool fiber will become brittle and hard or otherwise damaged. You might also be interested in our article on making your own laundry detergent.

2) wool sweater in the washing machine

There are many tips for washing and caring for laundry. But you should wash wool at a maximum of 30 degrees or cold. If the sweater is to be washed on the full cycle, you can first put a large amount of water in the washing machine before adding the knitwear. However, you should only fill the washing machine a third full with clothes. You should also avoid using fabric softener. Because this would smooth the surface of the wool fibers too much. This allows the wool to wear out.

3) Hand wash program for wool

Some washing machines have a special hand wash program. That’s why you can use it to wash your woolen clothes without hesitation. Because the clothes are only moved slightly, as would be the case with hand washing. Here too, the rinsing water has the same temperature as the washing water. But if you want to be on the safe side, wash your wool clothes by hand. This way you can avoid matted laundry.

4) Note sorting of the same color

If you want to wash several items of clothing made of wool, you should always sort them by color. Because colored clothing is often chemically treated. If the color is then not washfast, the color may bleed. Color bleeding from dark clothing causes light clothing to discolor quickly. You should also avoid other common mistakes when doing laundry.

5) Dry wool clothes properly

After each wash, you should only wring out the woolen clothing moderately. Then lay them out on a dry towel. Thus, the moisture is sucked out of the garment more quickly. Under no circumstances should you hang up the wool sweater on a clothes hanger or clothesline. Because this would lead to unsightly deformations. Drying in the tumble dryer should also be avoided, as the sweater would otherwise shrink enormously. Also, read our clever tips for drying laundry.

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Food

Washing or Soaking Rice – Does That Make Sense?

Before preparing it, you should wash and soak rice. We explain why and what you should pay attention to.

At first glance, it is actually quite easy to cook rice. If we take a closer look at the topic, it becomes apparent that there are quite a few things to consider when preparing rice. It’s not just about the consistency and taste of the cooked rice, but also about the health aspects. Find out here why you should definitely wash and soak rice.

Washing and soaking rice: That’s why it’s so important

Some people cook rice directly without washing it first. Others swear by washing the grains thoroughly beforehand. Very few, however, remember to soak the rice beforehand. These are important steps, because with the right preparation you can reduce the arsenic contained in rice.

Background: In recent years, various studies and investigations have repeatedly found arsenic residues in rice. Arsenic is a semi-metal that occurs naturally. This element is classified as “carcinogenic to humans” according to the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). This is why there have been maximum levels for arsenic residues in rice and rice products in the EU since 2016.
Arsenic can also be found in other foods such as bread or cow’s milk, but rice is particularly contaminated. This is because the rice fields are flooded during cultivation and the arsenic is released from the soil. Arsenic was found in all six products examined in a WDR random sample study. More information on this topic: Arsenic in food.
Due to the arsenic residues found, the Federal Office for Risk Assessment (BfR) advises against consuming rice too frequently and in too large quantities. Instead, you should replace rice and rice products with other grains and foods – especially for babies and children. Incidentally, brown rice and parboiled rice are particularly affected, since the arsenic is mainly deposited in the outer layers of the grain. However, these types of rice also contain more valuable nutrients than white, polished rice.
But you don’t have to do without rice completely, because the method of preparation plays a major role and can significantly reduce the arsenic content in rice. It is important to wash the rice before preparation – and preferably even soak it.

Soaking, washing and cooking rice: arsenic content

There are two popular methods of cooking rice: the swelling method and the water method. (More info on the two methods: Cook rice)

Culinary connoisseurs argue about which method gives the rice the best consistency and tastes best. Scientists, on the other hand, want to find the preparation method that can remove the most arsenic from the rice.

A study from 2015 took on this task and tested various methods. The results for this:

Thorough washing can leach some arsenic from the rice.
The arsenic contained can be reduced even more by soaking the rice for several hours beforehand.
The rice-water ratio when cooking is also crucial. With the swelling method (water 2:1 rice) almost all of the arsenic remains. For the test, the researchers cooked the rice in the ratios 3:1, 6:1 and 12:1. The more water you use, the more arsenic you can end up rinsing out with the cooking water.
The researchers achieved the best result by soaking the rice overnight, then washing it and then boiling it in water at a ratio of 12:1. With this method, over 80 percent of the arsenic could be reduced.
These findings apply to all rice varieties examined. The exact percentage of arsenic content varies depending on the type of rice. You can find this in the linked study.

Step-by-step instructions: wash and prepare rice

According to research, you should soak and wash rice beforehand. Also, a relatively high water to rice ratio is important for cooking. However, so that you don’t have to use too much energy to heat the water, we do not recommend the 12:1 ratio, but a ratio of 5:1. This represents a good compromise and is also recommended by the BBC, based on the findings of Prof Meharg, one of the authors of the study mentioned above.

Prepare rice correctly – instructions:

Soak the rice in enough water overnight. To do this, cover the rice with water by about an inch.
Drain the water the next day.
Then wash the rice with water until the waste water is clear and no longer cloudy. This not only flushes out arsenic, but also excess starch and any impurities.
Place the rice in a saucepan with water in a 1:5 ratio.
Once the water is boiling, turn the heat down to low. Then let the rice simmer for about 15 to 20 minutes. The exact cooking time varies depending on the type of rice.
Drain the cooking water and drain the rice in a colander.

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