Putting Color Back Into Black Garments?How can a black garment be restored to a true black color? My 100% cotton capri pants have a greenish cast to them.
How Can I Stop My Jeans from Bleeding in the Wash?I have very dark jeans that continually bleed. I wash them alone in hot water to try to release some color. I've done this 5 times already and nothing is working. Is there something I can add to the wash cycle to break this down and stop my problem?
Reducing the Smell of Fabric Softener in Laundry?Could anyone please tell me if there is any way I could minimize the scent of the fabric softener after the clothes have dried? It seems too strong and sometimes isn't that flattering anymore, especially when the dress is to be worn at a special event. Thanks.
Preventing Laundry from Fading?What can I do to not have my colors fade during washes?
Using HE Detergent in a Top Load Washer?When using detergents made for the high efficiency washing machines, can you use the same detergent and the same amount in a top-loading machine?
Dye Fades on Shirt Collar Points in Wash?I've noticed as I wash collared shirts over time, the fabric color wears off the point. (For example, a blue oxford shirt will have white points on the collar point/edge.) Is there any way to prevent this from happening? Any suggestions?
Underarm Smell on T-shirts?I have a very embarrassing problem with my t-shirts. They start to smell under the arms even when they are freshly washed. I am using deodorant (tried lots of different brands) and shower everyday, so it cannot be me.
Different Ways to Hang Dry Your ClothingWe live in a 2-bedroom, first floor apartment that has an attached garage. Since we can't hang our laundry outside, my husband installed some wash lines in the garage. During the warmer months I'm able to dry my clothes and save money on the electric bill by not having to use the dryer.
Removing Stains on Cotton Towels?How do I get rid of black marks on cotton towels?
Prevent a Smelly Washer With Powdered Dishwasher DetergentI have a great tip for making a smelly clothes washer smell fresh and clean, given to me by a Maytag repairman. Simply run dishwasher detergent powder, not liquid, through your machine with no clothing in it, about once or twice a month.
Wash Clothes More Efficiently With Rubber Dog BallsThis is a twist on an old tip. I went out to my mom's this past weekend to do laundry. Because my husband and I have a baby bird, we go through many poopy and hand feeding formula covered towels.
Hard Lumps Inside Clothing?Some time ago, I noticed some lumping appearing inside my bras (like between the material). It obviously wasn't there when I bought them, but they just started appearing.
Quick Dry Clothes With an IronIf you have clothes that are still damp from the dryer or clothesline, a quick way to dry them is to iron them at a low temperature, or use your blow dryer to dry them. Just use the low setting.
Removing the Smell of Lestoil from Clothing?After finding a crayon in my son's pocket I removed the stains with Lestoil, now I can't get the smell of Lestoil out of the jacket. I have tried ammonia, vinegar, and baking soda and the smell is still there, albeit faint. Help.
Removing Gasoline (Petrol) Smell from Clothing?When I fueled up my ATV on a snowy day I spilled gas on my outdoor pants. How can I get rid of the smell? I'm living in Norway, so please don't recommend a cleaning agent you only have in the US. I am looking for some household way.
Removing Wrinkles from a Leather Jacket?I would like to know how to get wrinkles out of a leather coat
Cotton Blanket Stiff After Drying?My boyfriend accidentally dried my 100% cotton winter blanket on high heat instead of low heat like it says on the tag. Now it's as stiff as cardboard. I've tried shaking it out, but it's still very hard and stiff. Is it ruined forever or is there a way I can re-fluff it?
Removing Unknown Stains on Towels?I just bought beautiful hand towels from Williams Sonoma Home for my guest bathroom. They are waffle weave on one side, plush terry on the other and linen colored.
Restoring Whites Washed With Red ClothingI accidentally washed two of my husband's white shirts with a red sheet, and of course they turned pink. Somebody told me to use Rit dye remover, but the store was out. So I bought Carbona.
Replacement for Ironing Board Pad?Does anyone know what I can use to replace the pad that's under my ironing board cover? It's gotten thin on one end where I do the majority of my ironing. The cover is still in fine shape, so I'd hate to buy an entire cover and pad.
Use Mesh Bag to Separate Stained Clothes in LaundryAny time you have a stained item, pretreat it and then place it in a mesh washing bag before putting it in the washer. When you unload the washer's contents into the dryer, the bag acts as a reminder for you to check its contents for stains.
Add Laundry Detergent Before ClothesWhen doing laundry, I fill washer with water, adding 1 cup baking soda and your choice of laundry detergent while it is filling. I run the washer for 30 seconds to distribute the detergent and soda.
Green Spots on Clothing From Washer?I have ruined nearly all of my clothes. There are green spots on nearly everything I wash in my top loader. It's not a new machine, but it's never been abused either. It doesn't seem to matter what fabrics I am washing.
Removing Oil Based Paint from Laundry?I accidentally washed a white towel with oil-based paint on it with a load of towels. Now my towels and washer have oil-based paint all over them. How can I get rid of the paint on the towels? Help.
Washing a T-shirt Bra?How do I wash and dry a T-shirt bra (a bra made specially to wear with T shirts). Suggestions? Thanks.
Removing Leather Dye from Socks?My husband's work boots stain his socks a rust color. I've tried bleaching them and using Borax, Oxi Clean, and every stain remover you can think of. Any suggestions on how to get out the stains?
Why Do Towels Have Fade Marks?What makes my some of my towels and washcloths have fade marks on them? I wash them with detergent only, no bleach.
Preventing Navy Blue Pants From Fading?What ca I use to keep the dark blue color in my work pants from fading? I like to have my pants starched at the cleaner's. So is there anything I can do before sending them to the cleaner's that would help them stay dark navy blue longer. Please help.
My Whites Come Out Grey and Yellow?I have a Hotpoint Aqualtis washing machine that now makes my whites come out slightly grey? Any ideas?
Washing Clothing With Bleach (Without Having Them Smell Like Bleach)?Does anyone know of a good way to remove the odor of bleach from washed clothing? Any and all suggestions are welcomed.
Keeping Wash Cloths Smelling Fresh?Does anyone have any advice on how to keep facecloths smelling fresh? I wash and dry them and the next day they smell musty. When I wash them it's in the hottest water with no softener.
Getting Antifreeze Out of a White T-shirt?How do I get antifreeze out of a white t-shirt
Use Less Than the Recommended Laundry DetergentI've been reading the comments from the ThriftyFun community. Many of us have had problems due to the new liquid laundry detergents, since there's been an excessive amount of soap left in the final rinse cycle.
Shirt Collars Will Not Iron Flat?I have a number of expensive, all cotton shirts. Unfortunately, the collars have become badly 'dented' and creased to the point where they will not iron flat. Does anybody have advice on how I can remove these dents and deep creases?
Wash Whites Last to Keep Washer FreshI have found that my new front load washer used to get smelly. I now make sure that I do my whites last. The bleach keeps it fresh until my next use.
Fluff on New Towels?Every time I buy new towels (they cost me $30 each) when I wash them before we use them they are just full of fluff and it takes me ages to get it off! Why oh why?
Pin Dryer Sheet to Piece of Laundry to Make It Easy to FindI always hate it when I can't find the dryer sheet in my load of dried laundry. It is embarrassing to go out and find a sheet hanging out the bottom of your pants, or shirt sleeve. I resorted to turning every piece inside out before folding until I found the used sheet.
Washing Machine Not Rinsing Soap Out of Clothes?I am have a problem with loads of washing not rinsing properly. I never overfill the machine, always use half or less than half the amount of detergent on the box/bottle, clean my machine at least once every 2 months (with either ammonia or soda and vinegar).
Dress Pants are a Lint Magnet?How do I get my clothes from being a lint and hair magnet? I'll clean them off with a lint roller, but before I get out the door I've got all kinds of stuff all over them again.
Separate Laundry Into 5 PilesI always washed my towels by themselves and always wash small loads by separating my clothes into 5 piles: underwear, dark clothes, sweaters, bright clothes and towels. They smell fresh until I put them on.
Getting Rid of Static in Sheets?Sometimes, I have to do housekeeping. When I go to pull the sheets and blanket off to change the sheets, I get this awful static electricity shock. Anyone have any idea how to stop this? I use Bounce. I have tried extra liquid softener in my work clothes. Any ideas will be a blessing as this is getting pretty painful with the cold weather.
Using Less Laundry Soap?Is there anyone out there who uses one third of the recommended amount of liquid Tide for a large load? Are your clothes generally coming out clean? Your feedback is appreciated.
Use Netting to Collect LintSo you left a tissue in your shirt or pants pocket and now your "dark load" is covered with bits of white; even happens with light colored loads, but never fear. Buy a yard each of light and dark netting, the cheap stuff, NOT nice tulle. Unfold and toss the appropriate shade in the dryer with your bespeckled load of laundry. It works! Use and reuse the net until it gets soft, then replace with new, stiff net. Give the "old net" to your kids or grand kids for play.
Use Tide for Stains and a Cheaper Brand for the RestWith the ever rising costs of keeping clean and clean laundry, I tried to come up with ways to cut costs in every part of the house (I guess that's why we are tuned into "Thrifty Fun"). For doing laundry I have always used Tide.
Cheapest Time to Run Your Washing Machine?What is the cheapest time to run the washing machine and why?
Remove Smell From HE WashersMost front loading High Efficiency washers will develop a "smell" every few weeks caused by stale water sitting in the rubber door seal. Instead of buying the expensive tablets sold for this problem, just put a 1/4 cup of regular Vinegar in the wash along with your clothes. Vinegar is a natural cleaner that will not harm your washer, your clothing or the environment.
Steaming Outfits in the ShowerHere's a tip that I do on a daily basis. I hang my outfit in the shower and the steam from it takes all of the wrinkles out of them (even hanger lines).
Biodegradable Laundry Soap Recipe?I would like a recipe for a biodegradable laundry soap. Thanks.
Clothes Hanging In Closet Are Stained?The clothes hanging in the closet have stains on the shoulders and down the sleeves. I need something to get the stains out without ruining the clothes.
Cascade with Dawn Dishwasher Tablets Alternative?I've been using Cascade with Dawn dishwasher tablets. They work great but are just too expensive. I have tried several liquids and powders but they don't get my dishes clean. Any recommendations? I use plain white vinegar in the rinse-aid receptacle.
Does Borax Make A Spray?Does Borax make a spray for underarm area on shirts and blouses? It might help the oder I sometimes get when I iron my son's shirts. Thanks for your help on this.
Washing Dry Clean Only Pants?Can I wash clothes that say Dry Clean Only? The pants I want to wash are made of 95% polyester, and 5% elastano. What could happen if I wash them?
Biological Vs Non-biological Washing Powder?My washing machine is bobbling my husbands socks. I use a biological washing powder and I wonder if a non-biological washing powder would be better. Do you have any suggestions? Many thanks.
Old "Washing Clothes" RecipeImagine having a recipe for this! Years ago, an Alabama grandmother gave the new bride the following recipe. This is an exact copy as written and found in an old scrapbook - with spelling errors and all.
Fisher-Paykel Washer Advice?Can you tell me if there are any Fisher-Paykel washers that don't lock while they are washing? Also can you just spin dry something you have hand washed?
Stains on Hosiery from Shoes?How can I prevent shoe dye transfer to pantyhose? I have buff pantyhose which I wore with black shoes and now there are black marks in the foot area of the pantyhose that cannot be removed. Can this pair be salvaged? If not, is there something that can be done to prevent this from happening to the next pair?
Arm and Hammer Laundry Detergent for Clean LaundryI started using Tide with Febreeze to tackle sweaty workout clothes. It did the trick, so I used it on all my family's laundry. Only problem is one of my daughters had a allergic skin reaction to it. So I looked for a sensitive skin/fragrance free laundry detergent.
Pink Stains on White Trim of Shirt?I have two shirts that have white trim. Something red faded onto them in the washer? Anyway to get the pink out?
Liquid Fabric Softener vs. Dryer Sheets?Is there a difference between a Liquid Fabric Softener and those Dryer Sheets? Can I use one only and still get best results?
Does Fabric Softener Stain?Does fabric softener stain towels?
Yellow Stain on Gray Sweatshirts?I have several gray sweatshirts that have yellow stains on them. Have no idea what they are. Is there any way to get rid of them. Thanks.
Removing Dye The Bled Onto White Poly Cheerleaders Uniform?I washed a brand new black sweatsuit with my daughter's competition cheerleading uniform.
Laundry Additive That Acts As Insect Growth Regulator?What can I use in the laundry that has the same effect as an IGR (insect growth regulator)?
Dyeing Bleach Spot In Cotton Spandex Blend Pants?How do I dye a bleach spot on a pair of black pants that are 97% cotton and 3% spandex?
Dry Towels Speed Up Laundry Drying TimeThrow 1 or 2 clean dry towels into your dryer along with your clothes. The dry towels absorb the excess moisture in the wet laundry which speeds up the drying process.
Removing Hard Water Stains from Whites?I live in a town that has terrible water, to say the least! It is so hard that almost every time I do laundry I end up with rust spots on different items. For this, I keep a great product called "Whink" around. Works wonders!
Removing Spray Tan From Clothing?How do you remove spray tan from your clothes?
White Trim On Hockey Jersey Turned Pink?I am in charge of washing my son's hockey team's jerseys. Last night was the first time I had to wash them.
Lavender Oil in Laundry?I started making homemade fabric softener (baking soda, vinegar). It works really well in making clothes soft! I also add lavender essential oil, as described in the recipe. It stated 5-8 drops. Well, it smells wonderful until I use it in the rinse cycle. The finished laundry has no smell at all of the lavender!
Cleaning Football Pants With Built-in Pads?My two sons play football. The team got new pants this year with built in pads. In the past, I have had the best luck getting out the grass and mud by pre-soaking them.
Killing Bacteria In Public Dryer?In a public drying machine, what setting must one use to avoid bacteria?
Advice For Preventing Towels Getting Wrapped Up In Dryer?When I dry sheets and towels in the dryer they get all wrapped up in a sort of cigar shape.
Getting Rid of Musty Perspiration Smell From Collar?Does anyone know how to get a musty smell from around the collars of my husbands work shirts from perspiration.
Dyeing Bleach Spots From Black Dress?I have a black dress that has two very small bleach spots.
Removing Sweat Stains and Odors from Workshirts?I wear uniforms to work that are medium blue color and that are stained badly underneath the armsleeves.
Removing Beetroot & Mayonnaise From Cotton?My husband dropped a mixture of beetroot and mayonnaise on his work cotton stripped shirt.
White Suit Turned Gray At Dry Cleaners?I recently took a really expensive white suit jacket and pants to the dry cleaners for the first time. When it came back it had a gray tint to it, doesn't look white any longer. Is there anything I can do to fix the items?
Getting Gum Out Of Clothes That Have Been Laundered?Washed and dried a load of clothes with gum ,how do I get the gum out?
Chicken Noodle Soup Stain On Blue T-Shirt?My daughter got a large yellow stain on her shirt while she was eating Lipton chicken noodle soup. I have tried several things unsuccessfully, the yellow base in the chicken bouillon seems impossible to remove. HELP! This shirt was only worn once! It is 100% cotton (t-shirt material) and it is blue so I am unable to use bleach, any ideas?
Pros And Cons Of Homemade Laundry Detergent?I found a recipe for homemade laundry detergent I would like to try:
Hard Water Staining My Clothes Yellow?Hard water is staining my clothes yellow. Any advice
Cleaning Terry Cloth Bar Towels?I work at a small ice cream store in the evenings. We use regular terry cloth bar towels to mop up spills and wipe down counters. I work with all teenagers so asking them to rinse out the towels does not work. I take the towels home every weekend to launder.
Will Dry Heat Harm Wool Clothing?Will dry heat harm wool clothing? Following a bedbug infestation, I would like to use the dryer to be sure bugs and eggs are dead, but I do not want to harm the clothes.
Which Towel Dries Faster?Which one would dry faster? Take 2 flat towels, both washed and identical, hung to dry on a wire rack. Hang one from one end, lay the other flat. Both are in the same room.
Keeping Clothes White In Well Water?How to get white clothes white washing in well water?
GE Washer Problems?I recently bought a brand new GE washing machine, my last one i had for 16 years. Well with my new one, if I don't get the wash out within 5 minutes of being done i have to rewash it.
Red In a Water Softener?What gets the red out best in a water softener?
Summer Laundry TipsAlways wash in cold water. Pretreat any spots. Washing in cold water saves on energy bill and keeps clothes from fading. Now that summer has arrived, use a clothes line for most of your laundry.
Spray Bottle For IroningMy iron always gets clogged from the hard water we have and the steam gives up way before the iron does. I was ironing (a rare event now that I use wrinkle spray) and using my spray water bottle and realizing that it's as good or better than steam.
Stains on My Cuffs?I would like to know if anyone knows how I can get set in stains out of my different colored blouse cuffs.
Apartment Building With Shared Laundry?I live in an apartment building with shared washers and dryers. One thing I have noticed since moving here is that my whites are turning yellow when I wash them. I've tried bleach and Borax to no avail. A friend said he had that problem in college and his mother told him to use less detergent.
Thrifty Fabric SoftenerI use half the soap listed for my washing liquid. I add 2 Tbsp. of baking soda and fill the rinse with vinegar. I cut sheets into four and use only a piece in the dryer.
Yellowing T-shirts?What can I do about yellowing t-shirts?
My Laundry Always Stinks!I am in Korea and moved into a new apartment a few weeks ago. I have cleaned my laundry machine with vinegar and baking soda on two seperate occasions. I have used nearly a whole pack of baking soda and a whole bottle of vinegar and to no-avail! The laundry still comes out smelly!
Hair In The Laundry?My daughter has very long beautiful blonde hair, but she sheds a lot and we are finding it in all of our clothes. Is there something that will dissolve hair in the washing machine, without damaging your clothing?
Extra Shower Rod To Dry DelicatesI keep a spare expandable shower rod beside the tub that I can place in the center of the tub to hang hand-washed delicates that need to dry.
H.E. DetergentIf you have one of those new front loading, low water use washing machines, the repairman told me that I should be using a H.E. (high efficiency) detergent.
Non-Electric Laundry Machine?Almost 30 years ago I frequently used a non electric washing machine in Eureka, California in my small apartment. It held up to two white sheets, cleaned really well, was easy to use, but, I also purchased a wringer that would clamp to my sink to ring out the clothes.
Removing Stains From Washable ClothesAlcoholic Drinks: rinse with cold water immediately, if isn't removed with cold water and glycerine scrub gently and rinse with vinegar. Blood: presoak in cold water for 30 minutes. if isn't removed, add ammonia water and scrub gently.
Dissolve Powdered Detergent Prior To UsingI dissolve my powder detergent in 2 cups of water before I put it in the washer. This way the powder is completely dissolved and there isn't any powder residue left on my clothes.
Cleaning Down Comforters?Cleaning Down Comforters . How do you clean a down comforter? Are they washable?
Problems Washing Red Clothing?Problems Washing Red Clothing. Every time I wash any red clothes, they come out of the dryer with a blue tie dye all over them. I keep all reds together in a separate load and use Tide.
Blue and White Sweater?I recently washed a blue and white sweater, the blue faded onto my white. How do i get the white back to white?
How can I sterilize my laundry from bed bugs?How can I sterilize my laundry from bed bugs? I sent them to the regular laundry and it did not work.
Color Bled on a Hockey Jersey?I have a toronto maple leafs jersey and when it was washed the blue in the leaf changed the lettering toronto maple leafs that is originally white baby blue (the dark blue has bleed into the lettering).
What causes linen to shrink?What causes linen to shrink?
Stiff Washcloths?I have some washcloths that have been washed a few times and have become stiff and scratchy. They are relatively new and look good but the feel is stiff. What can I do to make them soft again?
Bosch Classixx Washing Machine Problem?I have a Bosch Classixx washing machine (it does not have a dryer) and every time I use it, some, but not all of the clothes have a very bad smell. I use Persil detergent and it doesn't matter if I use fabric conditioner or not they still stink.
Fuel Oil Smell on Clothes?My son delivers oil. How do I get rid of the smell on his clothing? What do I use in the washing machine?
Cleaning Collars on White Shirts?How do I get my husbands collars clean on his white shirts. I have tried stain removers you spray on but this does not work.
Drying Clothes While You are Not at HomePlease do not dry your clothes when you are not home. My mom is the assistant fire chief and my dad a firefighter and about every 4-5 months there is a house fire caused by a dryer. . .
Fabric Softener Balls?I am looking for the fabric softener balls that you put in washing machine. Does anyone know where I can get them?
Sour Smelling Towels?How can you remove sour smell from towels?
Washing Beige Clothing With Tide?When I use Tide detergent on beige colored clothes, I get mottled bleach spots. Is it the Tide, the beige? Can anything be done to even out the color?
