7 Tips & Recipes for Laundry

Did you know that you can wash your pillows? Most synthetic and down pillows are safe to launder, but just to be safe, double-check the tags on yours before giving it a try. Washing your pillows a few times a year will ensure you always have clean, fresh pillows on your beds.

To Make: Place pillows in your washing machine. Take care not to overfill your machine—most machines can handle 2 pillows, but if you have a large-capacity washer you can probably fit 3 or To Use: Add detergent and whitener to your washing machine. Choose the hottest setting and wash as a normal load. Before removing pillows, check to see if they are holding extra water. If they are, you may need to run a second spin cycle. Dry in your dryer on high, rotating once or twice to ensure that they dry thoroughly and evenly.
To Store: This is a one-time-use product; no storage necessary.
Helpful hint:
Put a pillow protector on your pillows—this will keep the skin oils and sweat off your pillows and the dust mites away, in turn keeping the pillows cleaner for longer.

This is a great bleach alternative for cloth diapers, antique linens, and other washable delicates. Try this on a warm and sunny day when you can dry the clothes outside on a clothesline, and you’ll reap the benefits of lemons and sun combined.
To Make: Squeeze the juice of a lemon in a gallon of hot water.
To Use: Combine 1 gallon hot water and the juice of one lemon in a bucket, laundry tub, or washing machine. Let your clothes soak for 1–2 hours. Run through the rinse cycle and set out in the sun to dry. The sun will work with the lemon to naturally whiten the whites. Wash afterwards as usual.
To Store: This is a one-time-use product; no storage necessary.

Here’s a great two-ingredient spray for fresh or set-in stains—keep a small bottle in your laundry room for pretreating.
To Make: Add borax to a spray bottle and pour warm water over borax. Shake thoroughly to combine.
To Use: Spray directly on stain. Launder as usual.
To Store: Store for up to 1 month.
Money-saving tip: Keep a piece of white chalkboard chalk in your laundry room to pretreat any little grease stains—the chalk absorbs the grease.

If you prefer your stain removal in stick form, use this recipe. Tea tree is a mild solvent and will help to dissolve set-in stains.
1⁄2 5-ounce bar castile soap
3 teaspoons water
4 drops tea tree essential oil
To Make: Grate soap; place in microwave-safe bowl and add 3 teaspoons of water. Melt on low heat in microwave in 30-second intervals for about a minute and a half. Stir and check every 30 seconds. (Depending on your microwave, this may take longer, but it will melt.) Once it has melted, let cool for 5 minutes and stir in essential oil. Pour in a clean container with a push-up bottom—like an old cleaned-out stain stick container or deodorant container. Allow to cool to a solid state before using.
To Use: Spread a little stain stick on any stains and launder as usual.
To Store: Store in a cool place to avoid softening for up to 6 months.

This inexpensive alternative to the store-bought version works just as well!
1 tablespoon hydrogen peroxide
1 tablespoon washing soda
To Make: Mix peroxide and washing soda together in a small bowl. The consistency should be a dry paste, and not powdery.
To Use: Add a little water to the bowl before putting the bleach in the detergent dispenser or directly into the washing machine water.
To Store: After the ingredients are mixed they lose their effectiveness in a few hours, so use it right away. Store peroxide and soda separately in your laundry room.
Time-saving tip
Doing multiple loads on laundry day? Mix 1⁄2 cup of peroxide and 1⁄2 cup of washing soda in a small container and add 2 tablespoons per load.

We all love our pets, but sometimes those pet stains can be tough to remove. This recipe works on dog beds, blankets, and other launderable pet products. The vinegar cleans and sanitizes while the baking soda neutralizes odors.
1⁄2 cup distilled white vinegar
1⁄2 cup baking soda
1⁄4 cup laundry detergent (either liquid or powder)
To Make: Mix ingredients together in a bowl or container (fizzing is normal).
To Use: Pretreat any obvious stains. Pour solution directly in detergent dispenser (for HE machines) or in your washing machine (for regular machines). Launder on hot, and use the soak option on your machine if you have it. Dry as usual.
To Store: This is a one-time-use product; no storage necessary.

Love the lingering scents of dryer sheets? Try this easy and natural solution. Create your own signature scent, or try one of the suggested combinations.
6" × 6" cotton or wool square (recycled T-shirts, sweaters, or socks will work)
2–4 drops essential oils
Variations:
LEMON AND CLOVE—Use 2 drops lemon and 2 drops clove essential oils.
LEMON AND LAVENDER—Use 2 drops lemon and 2 drops lavender essential oils.
To Make: Place cotton square in a glass or plastic container. Dispense essential oils on fabric square. Allow essential oils to dry thoroughly.
To Use: Place dryer sheet on top of wet clothes in dryer and dry as usual.
To Store: Store in jar or container in laundry room in between dryer uses. When sheet has lost its scent, add more oil as above.