The Zen of Laundry

As most Biters know, I am not over-domesticated.  I end up ordering out more than cooking in (or heating up a pizza, etc), and well, of recent, with all my animals (dog, 2 cats, 6 chicks, and a horse), I had to get some help with the cleaning. The one thing that I love to do though is laundry.  I can take my time and sort colors, put pre-wash stain stuff on places where above-mentioned pizza may have dribbled down onto my white sweater, and just slow down a bit on Sunday am.  (This is one area where Heather and I are exactly the same - we both love doing laundry.) I then set aside some time to call friends while I fold.

Well, it took some convincing for me to use the cold cycle. I just love clean clothing, and I get dirty quite often (think: riding clothes!). 

But I did a test with two slightly smelly turtlenecks that I wore riding.  They weren't uber dirty, mind you.  But after I did this test I smelled the pits.  And I couldn't tell a difference.  So I am converted.  Chalk one up for the still-very-clean cold cycle.  BTW, I used ECOVER detergent and pre-wash stain gel thingy with bristle top in case you are curious.  ;-)

Off to fold and chat with Nashie - Jen
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underarm stains - use dish soap (not the dishwasher detergent, just hand soap). soak the stain in straight dish soap before you launder. the dish soap enzymes should take the stain right out.
I've heard that using dandruff shampoo on ring around the collar is quite effective. It makes sense, since the collar 'dirt' is a combination of sloughed off skin cells and hair oils.
Regarding Angie's plumber - Somehow, that doesn't make sense to me. I've pondered the same sort of argument with myself about whether it's better to run the tap to get the water somewhat hot for pasta water, or to simply put the water in the pan and bring it to a boil on the gas range. Seems to me the amount of energy used to wash in warm water to reduce the amount used in the dryer would sort of be (sorry - it was there!) a WASH.
I have been using cold water for a long time and it works great for me.
in response to anne: you should check out www.methodhome.com i just bought detergent for my little baby from that brand at target. it doesn't contain any harsh chemicals and isn't "dirty." :D
Cold is great except for things which may have contact with e-coli like undies, towels, sheets, diapers. On those few things I use hot, unless I know I am going to dry them very hot. If I am not drying, then I was just those few things in hot.
Also to Anne - I just learned about "dropps" which are both eco-friendly and HE-friendly (www.dropps.com). I'm getting a sample of them from bzzagent in the next week or so and after I've used them in my HE washer I'll let you know how well they work.
I've now had a chance to try the "dropps" and I give them an eco-friendly thumbs up. They worked well in my HE washer, softened my clothes without fabric softener, and the packaging is recycled, minimal, and recyclable. worth checking out.
When i do my laundry i always hang it up because our dryer sucks and i always have to put stuff in a second time to get it completely dry. So that has two advantages: some clothes shrink and/or get all thin and ugly in the dryer, and i can brag about doing things that are good for the environment :) and have to duck underneath it to get to teh washing machine the next week (if it was rainy when i hung it up therefore hung it up downstairs)
very interesting... drjays discounts

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