Laundry pickup and delivery app comes to Northwest Indiana - nwitimes.com

laundry.indah.link

The Happy Nest laundry pickup and delivery app is now serving Northwest Indiana.

Joseph S. Pete

Joseph S. Pete

If you're tired of schlepping baskets of dirty laundry to the local laundromat and then waiting around for a few hours, there's a more convenient option.

A laundry pickup and delivery app has come to Northwest Indiana.

HappyNest partnered with Premier Laundry Solutions in Griffith to pick up dirty laundry, clean it and return it — a service it offers in 22 states and Washington, D.C.

Foreign automakers since have gained significant market share, and Checkered Flag Imports kept rolling along. Now after 50 years, Nowak and Hassan — the two surviving owners — are both in their 70s and ready for retirement.

“With individuals and businesses alike looking to save time and money, the demand for HappyNest pickup and delivery laundry services has soared over the last year in particular,” said John MacKrell, CEO and founder of HappyNest. “We are excited to onboard Indiana, and continue to expand throughout Virginia and Texas, on track to quickly roll out HappyNest to the rest of the U.S.”

See a day in the life of Valparaiso Police Lt. John Patston in the 14th installment of Riding Shotgun with NWI Cops.

Kale Wilk

The app, which can be downloaded for free online, lets customers schedule laundry pickup. They just leave laundry out at a designated location, and Premier Laundry Services will pick it up, wash it, dry it, fold it and return it. 

HappyNest seeks to work with laundromats with commercial appliances that are 40% more energy-efficient than those found in most homes.

"HappyNest service in Northwest Indiana is provided by two locations of Premier Laundry Solutions, operated by David Gramke," the company said in a news release. "As a single father who knows laundry personally and professionally, he has added the pickup and delivery service to keep his laundry business at the forefront of the industry."

For more information or to download the app, visit happynest.com.

Open

Sweet Moon Macaron has brought freshly baked and colorful filling-stuffed French cookies to downtown Griffith.

The small bakery recently opened at 109 N. Broad St., just north of Tapas Cafe, making it possible to savor Spanish cuisine for dinner and grab a French confection for dessert just a few steps away.

A specialty bakery, Sweet Moon Macaron sells a wide variety of French macarons, a sweet meringue-based sandwich cookie popular in Paris that melts in the mouth and pops with a variety of bright colors. The macarons come in flavors like passion fruit, lemon, birthday cake, pistachio, brownie batter, lavender, dark chocolate raspberry, Fruity Pebble, Nutella, strawberry milkshake, white mocha latte, fluffer nutter and butter beer.

The European dessert shop often sells out of the confections, which are traditionally filled with ganache, buttercream or jam.

Sweet Moon Macaroon is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday through Friday and from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday.

For more information, find the business on Facebook.

Joseph S. Pete

On the move

Tasty Olive Company, a specialty olive oil and balsamic vinegar shop, closed its longtime location at 2014 45th St. in the Port de Leau Plaza in Highland.

But the olive oil retailer, which offers many free samples so you can try before you buy, will soon take over space in The Empty Nest Market at 321 Main St. in Griffith.

Tasty Olive Company imports a wide variety of olive oils — including extra virgin olive oils and flavor-infused olive oils — from Chile, Italy, Spain, Tunisia and, of course, Greece. It additionally offers marinades, spices, sea salts, soup, pepper jelly, handmade pasta, bread mixes and other specialty grocery items. The foodie hot spot also has many events and tastings.

For more information, visit www.tastyolivecompany.com, call 219-924-7881 or find the company on Facebook.

Provided

Open

Nu U Beauty Supply has opened at 3394 Willowcreek Road in Portage with a ribbon-cutting last week.

The beauty supply shop is owned by Ameenah and Mohammed Abdulla. It offers wigs, hair braids, hair extensions, styling tools, and other beauty supplies, such as makeup and glitter and primer sets.

For more information, call 219-788-1688, visit www.NuUBeautySupply.com or find the business on Facebook.

Joseph S. Pete

Under new ownership

The long-vacant Ashley Furniture Home Store in Schererville has been home to seasonal pop-ups like Spirit Halloween and a Santa's Winter Wonderland since the furniture retailer relocated north to the Highland Grove shopping center a few years ago.

Crown Point-based Latitude Commercial brokered a deal to sell the Fountain Park Shopping Center in Schererville to a local group of investors and then reached a deal to manage the property via its Property Management Division.

“The property is located in the heart of Schererville’s retail corridor and has a great amount of upside to it. We have confidence in filling up the former Ashley space and adding tremendous value to the center,” said Brett McDermott, who represented the buyer along with Latitude Commercial founder and owner Aaron McDermott.

The 94,000-square-foot outdoor mall includes the Ashley Furniture store and two full outlot buildings.

Latitude Commercial helped sell the Class A retail center, near one of the busiest intersections in Chicagoland, to new owners.

“We are honored and excited to get to perform full-service property management at such a notable property in the heart of Northwest Indiana,” said Ryne Pishkur, director of property management.

For more information, call 219-864-0200 or call latitudecommercial.com.

Joseph S. Pete

Open

Lírica just opened the first Latin American restaurant at Navy Pier, a waterfront eatery at 900 E. Grand Ave. that offers "world-class views of glimmering Lake Michigan" and a "culinary tour of Latin American."

The new restaurant has a 150-seat patio and a menu that includes Salmon Asado, Costilla de Ternera and primeros like Pulpo a la Plancha.

"The playful, poetic menu influenced by Ibero-American cultures has been curated by esteemed industry veteran Chef Cesar Reyes (Offshore Chicago, Smith & Wollensky, Spruce, Park Grill, Chicago Firehouse) alongside acclaimed Chef Michael Shrader (Offshore Chicago, Gideon Sweet, Monnie Burke’s, Luxbar, Epic and The Nine Group)," the restaurant said in a news release. "The savory Latin cuisine pairs well with Lírica’s creative cocktails, or 'bebidas.'"

Maverick Restaurants developed Lírica, which is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner every day. It's taking reservations for indoor and outdoor dining.

“Lírica is Spanish for lyric, or expression of feeling and emotion. We’ve developed a restaurant and bar concept that will harmonize flavor-fueled fare, an upbeat, high-spirited scene and unparalleled views to create a once-in-a-lifetime feeling for our guests,” said Brittney Munro, general manager at Lírica. “Lírica will serve as a celebration of culture and an ideal getaway for all, right here in the heart of Chicago.”

The restaurant will be open from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily.

For more information, visit www.liricarestaurant.com or call 872-710-5703.

Joseph S. Pete

Reopen

The Marathon Gas Station at 9451 Calumet Ave. in Munster has reopened after the multi-year Calumet Avenue bypass project was finally finished.

It includes a service station and a convenience store with the usual array of beef jerky, energy drinks, drip coffee and lottery tickets.

John Luke, The Times

Closed

Power Up Fitness and Training closed at the busy intersection of Broad and Main streets in downtown Griffith.

The video-game- and pop-culture-themed boutique fitness studio at 100 S. Broad St. offered personal training to people to help them reach any individual fitness goal, whether getting in shape, running marathons or bulking up and packing on muscle.

If interested in leasing the 2,500-square-foot retail space, call Bradley Real Estate at 219-650-6500.

Provided

Open

Rural King just had a grand opening of its new LaPorte location at 1460 W. Ind. 2, where it's breathing new life into an old mall.

The Illinois-based retailer, which bills itself as "America's Farm and Home Store," sells farm and ranch supplies, clothing, tools, housewares, fencing, outdoors gear, lawn movers, landscaping supplies, and garden items. It's the first anchor store to come to the Maple Lane Mall in LaPorte in years.

LaPorte Mayor Tom McDermody was among the dignitaries to speak at the ribbon-cutting ceremony Saturday.

Stan Maddux, The Times

Open

Hawthorne Race Course has opened three brick-and-mortar sportsbooks with PointsBet, including in south suburban Crestwood and suburban Prospect Heights.

Customers can bet on horse races and other sporting events in the non-casino, off-track betting venues. The venues feature outdoor patios, wraparound bars, and self-service kiosks.

“This is one of the best times of the year for sports wagering, with college basketball madness and Kentucky Derby prep races every weekend, so we’re very excited to open another premium sportsbook with PointsBet,” said Tim Carey, president and CEO of Hawthorne Race Course.

Hawthorne Race Course opened its sportsbook last September, in Crestwood in January, and in Prospect Heights this past week.

“One of the big appeals about partnering with Hawthorne is that they are a legacy sports business in Chicago with 130 years of service to bettors with the largest network of off-track wagering venues in Illinois,” said Johnny Aitken, CEO of PointsBet USA. “We now offer the best in-person sports betting experience at three locations as a complement to our premium mobile wagering platform, which is the fastest in the world.”

For more information, visit hawthorneracecourse.com or pointsbet.com.

If you would like your business to be included in a future column, email joseph.pete@nwi.com.

Joseph S. Pete

WATCH NOW: Riding Shotgun with NWI Cops — On patrol with Valparaiso Lt. John Patston

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The Link Lonk


April 01, 2021 at 04:43AM
https://www.nwitimes.com/business/local/laundry-pickup-and-delivery-app-comes-to-northwest-indiana/article_f44945b3-6027-54e5-9ded-8e74b69183ca.html

Laundry pickup and delivery app comes to Northwest Indiana - nwitimes.com

https://news.google.com/search?q=Laundry&hl=en-US&gl=US&ceid=US:en

Lowe's brings its kitchen and laundry appliance outlet to Texas with a store in Irving - The Dallas Morning News

laundry.indah.link

Lowe’s, the largest retailer of home appliances, is opening its first outlet store in Texas on Friday.

The store at 3500 W. Airport Freeway in Irving was a traditional Lowe’s store that the retailer closed two years ago. The outlet is opening in part of that 139,000-square-foot building. “We are exploring options to fully utilize the rest of the building,” Lowe’s spokesman Pedro Chen said.

Lowe’s, Home Depot and Best Buy are the big three in the home appliance business. Each jumped over Sears, the longtime leader with its Kenmore brand, as the department store chain closed stores in recent years.

Lowe’s still only has a handful of outlet stores, but this year it has accelerated its openings. Lowe’s outlets opened in a former Staples store in Chicago in February and in Miami in January. The first one opened in Monrovia, Calif., in 2019. The outlets are smaller than traditional Lowe’s stores at around 30,000 square feet.

The Irving store will be stocked with 1,500 scratch-and-dent appliances and parts priced up to 70% off, Lowe’s said. The appliances go through a series of tests and inspections before they’re put up for sale.

The first Lowe's Outlet in Texas is in a former Lowe's that closed two years ago at 3500 W. Airport Freeway in Irving.

Lowe's said its outlet appliances are tested and inspected and are covered by manufacturers' warranties.

Appliances represented 14% of Lowe’s sales last year. It sold $12.1 billion worth of Whirlpool, GE, LG and Samsung kitchen and laundry appliances in 2020. Its next-biggest categories, seasonal and outdoor living and lawn and garden, each represented 10% of sales.

Best Buy started opening outlets that sell appliances, TVs and computers a few years ago, including one in Farmers Branch in 2016. It now has 14 outlets. Appliances are a smaller piece of the pie at the consumer electronics retailer, but the company says the category grew 21% to $5.5 billion last year, or 10% of sales.

Appliances represent 9% of sales at Home Depot, or $11.86 billion. Home Depot, the largest U.S. home improvement chain, is a close No. 2 to Lowe’s in market share for appliances. Home Depot hasn’t opened separate stores for clearance items so far.

Lowe’s is putting outlet stores in markets where it has a big concentration of stores that can supply the outlet with merchandise. Lowe’s has 140 stores in Texas, including three dozen in Dallas-Fort Worth.

Lowe’s markets the outlets, which sell appliances slightly damaged in transport, as an option for customers who need appliances on a budget. All appliances are covered by the manufacturer’s warranty, Chen said.

Amazon is a huge seller of small countertop appliances, but while it lists some Kenmore appliances, Amazon’s selection of major kitchen and laundry appliances is limited.

Twitter: @MariaHalkias

Looking for more retail coverage? Click here to read all retail news and updates. Click here to subscribe to D-FW Retail and more newsletters from The Dallas Morning News.

The Link Lonk


April 01, 2021 at 01:23AM
https://www.dallasnews.com/business/retail/2021/03/31/lowes-brings-its-kitchen-and-laundry-appliance-outlet-to-texas-with-a-store-in-irving/

Lowe's brings its kitchen and laundry appliance outlet to Texas with a store in Irving - The Dallas Morning News

https://news.google.com/search?q=Laundry&hl=en-US&gl=US&ceid=US:en

Who Is Patric Richardson From 'The Laundry Guy' TV Show? Details! - Distractify

laundry.indah.link

The Discovery Plus series The Laundry Guy follows host Patric Richardson, who helps clients clean irreplaceable pieces and restore them to their former beauty. The episodes feature stained wedding dresses, vintage coats, stuffed animals, and more, all of which undergo a thorough cleanse by Patric himself, and are ultimately mended.

“Clean clothes are a privilege,” Patric said in a press release. “While the methods have changed, some things never will. We wear our lives’ stories — from first dates to wedding days to bundles of baby joy. When it comes to stains and the stories behind them, everything comes out in the wash."

He added: “I always say you do laundry for the people you love. Laundry is a kind of love language. It’s a privilege that I get to wash these things for my clients.” So, just who is Patric, the show's titular Laundry Guy? 

Who is Patric, 'The Laundry Guy' from the Discovery Plus TV show?

Patric gained national recognition for his "laundry camps," which teach people his techniques for cleaning and caring for clothes. Basically, you can't just throw something into the washing machine and expect a stain to come out. Instead, Patric has specific tips and tricks for how to remove tough stains, fold fitted sheets, and much more.

So, how does one become the "laundry guy"?

According to Patric, he found the passion for laundering from his family members.

"My granny washed everything,” Patric said to Pioneer Press. “She was fearless as a laundress.” Additionally, his mom was also an "incredible homemaker and always made sure my clothes were perfect." “So that’s where it started, my long association of laundry with being taken care of, with my mom taking care of me," he added. "Because everything was just washed and pressed and done.”

Article continues below advertisement

What is Patric Richardson's net worth? 'The Laundry Guy' host has a lot of projects.

While it is hard to pinpoint Patric's net worth, the Minnesota resident has a slew of jobs, which help him rake in a substantial income. Aside from hosting his on television series on Discovery Plus, Patric is the owner of Mona Williams, a vintage boutique in the Mall of America. At his store, Patric sells luxury vintage clothing items and accessories. 

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"When I opened the store, what happened was, because I carry designer vintage, I carried a little bit of laundry product so people could care for the vintage,” he told Pioneer Press. “And everybody got very interested in my laundry methods. Because I would explain how to care for something. They wanted to know more. And that’s why I started Laundry Camp. And once I started Laundry Camp, people kept coming. And coming.” 

Source: Instagram

With his expertise in laundering and loads of clients interested in his methods of cleaning and caring for items, Patric eventually wrote a book, Laundry Love: Finding Joy in a Common Chore.

Instead of attending one of Patric's "laundry camps," pick up his book to find out his secret to washing clothes (it involves vodka), and to making laundry a more enjoyable experience.

The Laundry Guy is now available to stream on Discovery Plus.

The Link Lonk


April 01, 2021 at 05:56AM
https://www.distractify.com/p/patric-richardson-laundry-guy-tv-show

Who Is Patric Richardson From 'The Laundry Guy' TV Show? Details! - Distractify

https://news.google.com/search?q=Laundry&hl=en-US&gl=US&ceid=US:en

American Laundry News Launches Free Jobs Board - American Laundry News

laundry.indah.link

CHICAGO — American Laundry News is a resource to inform and help the laundry and linen services industry—especially when times and circumstances are difficult.

The COVID-19 pandemic over the past year has been challenging to say the least, and folks in the industry need jobs or have jobs to fill.

That’s why American Laundry News has created a new resource: a free, easy-to-use Jobs Board.

“We recognize that the pandemic continues to impact the job market in our industry and we thought offering this free online resource would serve to help both employers and individuals,” says Charlie Thompson, president and publisher of American Trade Magazines, the parent company of American Laundry News.

Access to the Jobs Board is through the section’s tab in the menu at the top of the AmericanLaundryNews.com homepage.

Laundries can advertise positions at their companies in the Jobs Available section. Individuals can post in the Jobs Wanted section to share their availability for employment and what positions they are looking for.

To create an online ad, first click on Add New Listing and then either Add Job Available or Add Job Wanted.

Posts will remain online for 30 days (after approval) with an option to renew. Jobs Board listings can be searched based on location and skill level.

“Whether you’re looking to fill a vacant position in your laundry or for a new job opportunity yourself, we hope you’ll take advantage of our Jobs Board,” Thompson says. “And please forward word of this to your friends and colleagues looking to rejoin the workforce.”

(Image licensed by Ingram Image)

ℹ✘

The Link Lonk


March 31, 2021 at 09:46PM
https://americanlaundrynews.com/articles/american-laundry-news-launches-free-jobs-board

American Laundry News Launches Free Jobs Board - American Laundry News

https://news.google.com/search?q=Laundry&hl=en-US&gl=US&ceid=US:en

Arrested in theft of laundry detergent - Evanston Now

laundry.indah.link

A Chicago man was arrested at the Jewel-Osco on Chicago Avenue and charged in a theft of laundry detergent. This among the stories in today’s crime bulletin from Evanston police.

THEFT

1128 Chicago

Manuel Orlando Tirado, 46, of 1600 Jonquil Terrace, Chicago, was arrested at 1128 Chicago Ave. at 11:29 a.m. yesterday and charged in the theft of laundry detergent at the Jewel-Osco grocery store.

1700 Sherman

Someone stole hair care products from the CVS Pharmacy in the 1700 block of Sherman Avenue at 1:39 p.m. yesterday.

1200 Washington

A package was stolen from the common area of an apartment building in the 1200 block of Washington Street at 11:52 a.m. yesterday.

ASSAULT

1413 Howard

Eduardo Herrera, 55, of 4849 W. Addison St., Chicago, was arrested at 1413 Howard St. at 2:25 p.m. yesterday and charged with assault and battery.

BATTERY

1000 Dobson

Roland R. Sanders, 21, of 811 Dobson St., was arrested at 1000 Dobson St. at 5:25 p.m. yesterday and charged with domestic battery.

GRAFFITI

Payne at Jackson

Graffiti was discovered on the sidewalk, along with signs on city property, at Payne Street and Jackson Avenue at 10:44 a.m. yesterday.

Incidents listed appear among the official reports of the Evanston Police Department. An arrest does not constitute an assumption of guilt, which can only be determined by a court of law. Court appearances take place in Cook County 2nd District Court in Skokie.

Related Document: Crime Bulletin (March_30-21DR)

The Link Lonk


March 31, 2021 at 09:47AM
https://evanstonnow.com/arrested-in-theft-of-laundry-detergent/

Arrested in theft of laundry detergent - Evanston Now

https://news.google.com/search?q=Laundry&hl=en-US&gl=US&ceid=US:en

Crime Report: A fight in a laundry room and a stolen Camaro - Chestnut Hill Local

laundry.indah.link

The following crime report is for crimes reported in Chestnut Hill and Mt. Airy for the period between Mar.22 to Mar. 28

Chestnut Hill

Mar. 23 Theft at 7700 Crittenden St. A woman told police she left her wallet down on the counter while paying at a cash register. She left the store and remembered she had left her wallet on the counter. When she returned the wallet was missing. The wallet contained ID, credit cards and other assorted membership cards.

Mar. 23 Theft from retail, Wine and Spirits store, 8705 Germantown Ave. A man was seen putting bottles in his pants. He was apprehended by police as he tried to leave the store. Recovered was almost $100 in bottled alcohol.

Mar 28 Robbery, no weapon at 7700 block of Stenton Ave. A woman told police she got into a with someone she didn’t know in the third-floor laundry room of her building. The confrontation turned physical and the offender put the woman into a headlock, took her keys and left. 

Mt. Airy

Mar. 24 Retail theft on the 6500 block of Greene St. A store employee saw someone fill a shopping cart with diapers and leave the store without paying for them.

Mar. 25 Stolen vehicle on the unit block of Westview Ave. A man said he parked his car, a black 2011 Chevy Camaro, at the location in the evening and returned the next morning to discover it gone.

If you have been a victim of a crime and would like services or support, call Northwest Victim Services at 215-438-4410. For more information about crimes in your neighborhood, call the 14^th District Headquarters at 215-686-3140. 

The Link Lonk


March 31, 2021 at 08:21PM
https://www.chestnuthilllocal.com/stories/crime-report-a-fight-in-a-laundry-room-and-a-stolen-camaro,16912

Crime Report: A fight in a laundry room and a stolen Camaro - Chestnut Hill Local

https://news.google.com/search?q=Laundry&hl=en-US&gl=US&ceid=US:en

How to Do Laundry - How to Wash Clothes Step-by-Step - GoodHousekeeping.com

laundry.indah.link

Somewhere along the way, someone taught you how to do laundry. In the time since, washing machines and dryers have evolved, the laundry detergent market has grown exponentially (It's expected to top $223 billion by 2028, per a recent study by Polaris Market Research.) and a global health crisis challenged tried-and-true cleaning methods. As a result, searches for "laundry" reached an all-time high in January 2021, according to Google Trends. Some people questioned their laundry habits (How often should I wash my clothes?) while others simply wondered if those viral laundry stripping videos — you know the ones — were really worth the hype.

Even if laundry is your most dreaded household chore, there's no way around it: Your clothes, towels and bedding will continue to pile up until you clean them. Because of this, the Good Housekeeping Institute Cleaning Lab is always on the hunt for ways to make laundry day less of a chore, routinely testing essential products like washers, dryers and detergents, to find the best ones for every need and budget. With decades of testing and expertise under their belts, our cleaning experts have determined the steps you should take to effectively clean and dry your garments, no matter the type of machinery, fibers or amount of time you're working with.

Danielle Occhiogrosso Daly

Read care and fiber labels.

First things first, look at the care and fiber labels, often located on the side seams, back neck or back waist of garments. Together, these little labels tell you everything you need to know about your garment, including the fibers it's made out of along with recommended washing and drying techniques. Instructions are often spelled out, but sometimes labels are just a list of laundry symbols. In this case, follow this guide on how to decode laundry symbols:

Mariana Tuma/GoodHousekeeping.com

Every now and again, you might not have labels to turn to, like if you cut it off prematurely or the writing has been worn away from repeated wear. If you don't have a label to use as your guide, start with the most delicate washing and drying method to ensure that you don't ruin your garments. But if you feel it's safe to take things one step further, follow these guidelines that align with the specific fiber that you're working with.

• Cotton: hot, warm or cool water; high, regular or low dryer temperature.
• Linen: cool or warm water; tumble dry low or air dry.
• Nylon: cool or warm water; medium or low dryer temperature.
• Polyester: cool or warm water; medium or low dryer temperature.
• Rayon: cool water; tumble dry low or line dry; hand washing is recommended.
• Silk: cool or warm water; air, line, or dry flat; hand washing is recommended.
• Spandex: cool water; line dry.
• Wool: cool or warm water; tumble dry low or dry flat; hand washing is recommended.

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Danielle Daly

Sort laundry.

Properly sorting your laundry requires a multi-step process. Start by sorting out the darks, lights and colors. Darks include anything with deep-colored dyes like black, red, navy, brown or dark gray. In addition to all-white garments, the whites pile should include pastel shades, cream, beige and light gray. Colors include anything in between like pink, lavender, orange, yellow, light blue and light green.

When it comes to garments with multiple colors (think: a shirt with black and white stripes), perform a quick test to make sure that colors won't bleed: Place a drop of water on the item and blot with a paper towel. If color doesn't come off, then you can wash it with whites and lights, adhering to the guidelines on your garment's labels.

Then sort each pile by fiber type. Pull out any delicates that could be damaged by coarser fibers as well as items that should be hand-washed. Heavier, coarser fibers take longer to dry, so removing them will also prevent you from over-drying more delicate fibers. Also, keep in mind that you should never mix "lint-givers" (towels and rugs) with "lint-receivers "(knit and corduroy).

From there, take out any heavily soiled garments. Really dirty items — whether stained, sweaty or extremely smelly — should always be washed separately from lightly soiled ones.

Before moving on to the next step, give the care and fiber labels another glance to make sure that everything in your laundry pile calls for the same water temperatures and drying times.

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Danielle Daly

Pretreat stains.

It always pays off to spend extra time caring for your clothes before throwing them in the washing machine. If you notice any stains, whether fresh or dried, follow these stain-specific guides to get rid of them, stat.

Get Rid of the Most Common Stains

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Pick the right detergent and fabric softener.

All laundry detergents claim to remove stains, whiten, keep colors bright and generally refresh garments. The problem at hand: There are hundreds of detergents to choose from and some work better than others. That's why the Good Housekeeping Institute routinely tests laundry detergents to find the best ones on the market, taking into account different needs, price points and ingredients. In the most recent test of 42 laundry detergents, the Good Housekeeping Institute Cleaning Lab determined which ones work best for every need, budget and concern.

Although some people may skip fabric softener (sometimes called "fabric conditioner") altogether, it's recommended if you want to keep fabrics soft, reduce friction and keep wrinkles at bay. It pays off in the long-run, too: With consistent use, fabric softener, like GH Seal Star Ultra Downy Free & Gentle Liquid Fabric Softener, can extend the life of your most-loved garments. There are a few instances when you shouldn't use fabric softener like when you're washing microfiber, sportswear, towels, flame-resistant clothes (specifically children's sleepwear) and water-repellent fabric.

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Select the water temperature and cycle on your washing machine.

mbbirdy

Each washing machine manufacturer tries to make their machines unique, which means cycles can vary from one brand to the next. Today's washing machines are pre-programmed, as the wash time, water temperature and spin speed will pop up as soon as you select a cycle. You can override these selections to a certain degree if, say, your clothes are heavily soiled and need a longer wash time than the normal cycle calls for.

Read your washing machine's user manual to learn the differences between the wash cycles. When deciding which is best, consider the durability and soil level of your items. In general, the more durable (towels, sheets and heavy cottons) and dirty the items, the longer and hotter the cycle should be. If you're working with delicate, stained or bulky items, keep the following cycle descriptions in mind (but know that they may differ for your washing machine).

• Delicates are typically programmed with a cool or cold water temperature, but you can typically change it to warm. This cycle has a gentler agitation and a slower spin seed to prevent damage.
• Casual or Permanent Press Cycles cool the water gradually and have slower spin speeds to minimize wrinkles.
• Stain Cycles start cold to keep stains from setting in and then heat up gradually to fully remove stains.
• Bulky Bedding Cycles may add in a second rinse or increase the spin speed to extract more water than a normal speed cycle.

The Right Way to Clean Hard-to-Wash Items

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Danielle Daly

Load items into the washer or hand wash.

Take these steps before you throw your garments in the washing machine to ensure an easy, damage-free wash.

• Check buttons, pockets and zippers: Help clothes keep their shape by emptying pockets, zipping zippers and fastening button on jackets, knits and pants. If you have time, fasten a few buttons on shirts and blouses. Always remove belts from dresses, pants and robes, and wash them separately.
• Turn certain items inside out: Anything dark (jeans, especially) or embellished should always be washed inside out to preserve color and detail. Do the same with items where the inside neck or sleeves get especially dirty.
• Stick delicates and small items in a laundry bag: Protect delicate items (underwear, bras and other lingerie) from damage by placing them in a mesh laundry bag before washing. While you're at it, round up small items, like socks and fabric belts, and add them to the bag to make sure they don't get lost in the wash.
• Measure detergent: Always use the cap or scoop that comes with your liquid, powder or packet detergent. Measure the amount based on the size of your load and level of soil.

For both top-load and front-load washers with separate dispensers, load the clothing in, then add liquid or powder detergent and fabric softener to the dispenser and start the machine. If you're using single-use detergent, like Tide Pods, place it in the machine before adding your clothing unless you're using a newer machine with a dispenser designated for single-dose packs. At this point, place the items in the washing machine, making sure that nothing is tangled or twisted.

If your top-load washer doesn't have a detergent dispenser, place it directly into the tub, start the water and add in the clothing as it's dissolving. Follow a similar approach for front-load washers without detergent dispensers: Place single-use detergent packs in the machine first, add the clothing, close the door and start the machine.

For older machines without fabric softener dispensers, add it directly to the rinse water in the washing machine. Make sure to pour it in open pockets of water rather than on top of fabrics to avoid staining.

If you determine that hand-washing is the safest bet, follow this guide on how to wash delicates:

Danielle Daly

1. Fill sink with water — cool, lukewarm or warm, per the garment's labels — and place garments in. (FYI: Wool, silk and bright colors clean best in cold water.) As the sink is filling, add the recommended amount of detergent, so it can properly dissolve before you add the clothing. Once the detergent is completely dissolved, lay your garment in the water and gently press it down to fully immerse it. If the water turns color at this stage, it may just be excess dye washing off, which shouldn’t result in any color loss after washing.
2. Rinse thoroughly. If you have a sprayer on your faucet, place lightweight garments, like lingerie or swimsuits, in a colander and rinse clean. Otherwise, fill the sink with cool, clear water, immerse the garment and squeeze the water through to rinse. Repeat as needed.
3. Remove excess water. Wringing out wet, delicate fabrics may cause damage, so instead, lift the garment with both hands and gently squeeze out as much water as possible. Lay it flat on an absorbent towel, and roll the towel and garment together until the water is absorbed.
4. Lay items flat to dry. To prevent delicates, especially knits, from stretching out of shape, block them back into shape after washing before laying them flat to dry. Speed up the drying process by laying sweaters or swimsuits on top of a dry towel, and let them air dry. Once the front is dry, flip them over.

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Danielle Daly

Unload the washer and load items into the dryer or air dry.

Promptly remove items from the washer to prevent mildew and reduce wrinkles. Shake items out after removing them from the washer to prevent wrinkles in the drying process.

Dryers let you adjust the time, temperature and dryness levels of most loads, but always check your garment's care label for recommendations. Most dryer cycles are automatic, which means that a dryer can sense when the load is dry and end the cycle. This ultimately saves energy and prevents fabric damage from over drying. Time dry cycles run for the length of time that you select and should be used for bulky items, like comforters or jackets, that take a long time to dry.

Here's a breakdown of the most common dryer settings, along with recommendations on when you should use them.

• Regular, sometimes labeled Mixed Loads or Cottons, is safe for most items, including sheets, towels, underwear and regular clothes.
• Permanent Press, sometimes labeled Casual, is best when you want to minimize wrinkles on items like chino pants and shirts.
• Delicate is best for delicate items since it has a low temperature and tumbling motion.
• Air Fluff tumbles without heat, making it a great option for fluffing pillows or removing dust from drapes.

Once you stick your clothes in the dryer, place a dryer sheet, like the ones from GH Seal Star Bounce, on the top of the pile before you select the cycle. Not only do dryer sheets leave clothes smelling clean and feeling soft, but they also reduce overall static. Similar to fabric softener, avoid using dryer sheets when drying sportswear, microfiber, towels, flame-resistant clothes (specifically children's sleepwear) and water-repellent fabric.

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Mike Garten

Hang or fold items.

Hang or fold clothes as soon as they are dry to prevent wrinkling. But when the inevitable happens (a.k.a. wrinkles), give your clothes a quick steam or iron to get rid of them. While you may prefer one de-wrinkling method over another, there are particular instances where steaming or ironing is recommended.

Mike Garten Use a garment steamer to de-wrinkle soft, flowy fabrics and tough-to-iron items like jackets.

1. Hang the garment on a hanger from a hook or rod, grasp the bottom of the garment with one hand and pull it taut.
2. Hold the steamer slightly away from the fabric and move it up and down, allowing the soft steam to penetrate the fabric.
3. Move the steamer closer to the fabric for a longer period of time to get rid of stubborn wrinkles.

Mike Garten Ironing is the way to go if you prefer crisp fabrics with sharp creases.

1. Select the correct temperature and steam settings for the fabric. Linen and cotton can handle high heat and heavy steam, but synthetics, wool and silk need lower temperature settings and less or no steam.
2. Aside from fabrics like silk or rayon, mist the fabric with the iron’s spray button. Iron each section with smooth forward, backward, and side-to-side strokes.
3. Apply a burst of steam to iron stubborn creases.
4. Move to another section and repeat the steps.

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Clean your washer and dryer regularly.

Leftover laundry detergent, fabric softener and built-up debris can get stuck in your machine, eventually causing your washer to grow mold and develop a musty smell. To avoid this, make sure you clean your machine often and well.

After every wash, remove any debris or pet hair, so it doesn't redeposit on future loads. Once a month, give your washing machine a deep clean. Even if your machine has a special cleaning cycle, thoroughly clean it by adding 1/2 cup of liquid chlorine bleach to the dispenser and running a normal cycle with hot water (or follow what your machine's manual says). You can use a specialty cleaner, like Affresh or Tide Washing Machine Cleaner. If you have a front-loader, wipe and dry the rubber seal on the door.

Similar to washing machines, dryers require regular maintenance. Along with cleaning the lint filter after every single load, make sure you clean the chamber that houses the lint filter once a month. To do this, pull out any lint you can grab and use your vacuum’s crevice tool or a dryer cleaning brush to grab what you can’t reach. Once a year, pull your dryer away from the wall, so that you can easily vacuum behind and under the machine. Remove the dryer's duct and vacuum as far as you can, as well as the opening at the back of the dryer. Be sure to check outside venting for leaves or debris that may be blocking it. For a more thorough dryer and duct cleaning, hire professional services, like Dryer Vent Wizard.

Now that you've got the steps down, make sure your laundry room is stocked with all of the best products, all tested by the Good Housekeeping Institute Cleaning Lab.

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The Link Lonk


March 30, 2021 at 11:00PM
https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/home/cleaning/a35650891/how-to-do-laundry/

How to Do Laundry - How to Wash Clothes Step-by-Step - GoodHousekeeping.com

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