January 2006 Issue
In this months Issue:
What Happens to Your Clothes if You Have a Flood?
Hang It Up!
Home Laundry Tip
What is a Disinfectant
Dont Give Me Any More Static!
What Happens to Your Clothes if You Have a Flood?
In light of this year's difficult weather conditions, many of our customers have asked us what to do with their garments and home accessories in case of a flood. In addition to hurricanes and other natural disasters, your items can also be damaged at other times of the year as well, for example, if a pipe bursts. The International Fabricare Institute has some great tips to follow.
First, sort through the items that you think can be salvaged. The Centers for Disease Control recommends that you wear gloves when handling items contaminated with mildew or by floodwater.
If there are any items that you cannot thoroughly clean and dry, they should be thrown out, because they've been contaminated. That includes garments or items damaged by sewage spills, groundwater runoff or water from rivers and streams.
If the items are washable and can be cleaned, there are a number of steps you should take. Bring the items outside and rinse off any water or mud. Allow the items to dry and then shake out any dried dirt. Drying items in the sun will help prevent the spread of mildew.
It's important to then wash the items very carefully. If your washing machine isn't working or the water is not safe to use, bring the items to a laundromat or to us. Just ask...we'll be happy to help.
If these items can't be cleaned, they remain a source of microbial growth; that's why it's best to throw out pillows, stuffed toys or clothing if they've been in floodwater for more than a week. It's unlikely you'll ever be able to get out the odors and the contaminants.
The International Fabricare Institute has a free consumer handout on this topic, including specific guidelines and washing instructions, types of fabric damage and information about cleaning non-washable clothes and textiles. Go to www.ifi.org/consumer/FloodDamage/pdf.
Hang It Up!
Many of our customers have come to us asking for help with a small, but annoying problem. Every time they open their coat closet, they find coats on the floor, instead of on the hangers. There are a couple of suggestions that can keep your coats up, instead of down:
* Invest in wooden hangers. They're sturdy and durable. Wire hangers are fine for many items, but may not be able to support a heavier weight item like a coat or jacket.
* Take two. For plastic or wire hangers, sometimes hanging the garment on two hangers will distribute the weight more evenly. This puts less stress on the garment and may also give it more support.
* Use 15 more seconds. Usually when people hang up an item, particularly a coat or jacket, they're in a rush. Take an extra few seconds to make sure the coat or jacket is positioned evenly on the hanger and that there's ample room on either side of the item in the closet.
Home Laundry Tip
You use them every day and most people can't imagine life without them. Yet they often get very little care and rarely get washed. What are they? Pillows!
One way to keep pillows fresh is to purchase zip-up pillow covers. Since you already use pillowcases (we hope!), this may seem like an unnecessary step, but pillow covers are actually an inexpensive way to prolong the life of your pillow. You can then launder the pillow covers once every month or two.
Pillows can actually be freshened up and it's not too difficult. Place the pillows in the dryer with two or three white, slightly damp towels and a fabric softener sheet. Then dry them for 30 minutes on the "air" or "warm" setting. Your pillows will come out smelling fresh and clean.
If someone drops food or drink on a pillow, it can be saved. This can work with polyester fiber-filled pillows as well as down. First, wash the pillow with mild detergent and warm water by hand. Then add one cup of white vinegar and rinse again. Dry the pillow in a warm dryer&be sure not to put it on a hot setting. Believe it or not, if you also put a clean sneaker in there, your pillows will come out cleaner, dryer and fluffier.
What is a Disinfectant
When trying to remove or destroy bacteria, mildew and other microorganisms, it's important to use disinfectant, according to the Centers for Disease Control. Don't be fooled...a cleaning product must have the word "disinfectant" and a EPA registration number in order to meet the required standards.
According to the International Fabricare Institute, there are four categories of products that can be used to disinfect home laundry. The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Textile and Clothing Lab says to look for one of these types:
1. Pine oil disinfectants (Add them at the beginning of the wash cycle). Products include Pine Sol, Spic-n-Span and Lysol Pine Action.
2. Phenolic disinfectants like Lysol.
3. Chlorine bleach (Never use chlorine bleach on fabrics with silk, wool, spandex or nylon fibers. Chlorine bleach can also remove the color from many fabrics: test for color fastness before using this product.
4. Quaternary disinfectants. These are harder to find and are often used by hospitals and nursing homes, but may be available online or through discount clubs.
It's important to use disinfectants properly. Be sure to carefully read all labels so you are using the right concentration (how much it can, or should be diluted), as well as the correct temperature and length of time the product should be applied.
Dont Give Me Any More Static!
You may not know much about the science of static electricity, but everyone knows the pain involved when you touch something and get shocked, or when you get dressed and realize the article is unattractively clinging to your body! Static problems often occur in the winter. Putting on your pajamas, getting into bed, getting in and out of the car&these are all typical places for static electricity. Read on to find out why!
Static occurs when humidity is lower, both inside and out. So its not surprising that winter is usually the season for static, because the air inside your house is often dry because the heat is on. Static occurs when two materials rub against each other, transferring electrons from one material to another. As the electrons amass, a static buildup occurs and the static charge is generated. Next time you walk across a carpet, dragging your feet, youll see (and feel!) what we mean!
When it comes to clothes, static is not a problem in the washing machine, but can occur when you are drying garments. In the dryer, the temperature of the fabric rises, and the friction between clothes increases.
There are several things you can do to eliminate or reduce static in your life!! These are shocking, but true!
Dont over dry clothes or overload the dryer.
Consider wearing leather shoes instead of rubber or synthetic fibers.
Try one-use dryer sheets, either homemade or store bought. Some people object to these sheets because of the chemicals theyre coated with; consider all-natural anti-static sheets that are reusable, and last for hundreds of loads. (nontoxic.com) Dryer balls can be used, toobut beware, dont use them when drying silks.
Use aluminum foil in the dryer. Just rumple up a small wad and put it into the dryer with the wet clothes. Its a thrifty and easy way to combat static cling.
Wear cotton or wool. Natural fibers produce less static than synthetic fibers like nylon and polyester.
Use moisturizer! Yes, its true! Keeping your skin moist, not dry, will help eliminate shocks.
Consider purchasing a humidifier. It will add moisture to the air of your house during the winter.