It may seem hopeless, but there is a a chance that you can still wear that sweater. It’s worth a try to attempt to reshape a wet sweater to its original size. Add 2-3 tablespoonfuls of hair conditioner to a bucket of room temperature water. Put the sweater in the bucket to soak for about 15 minutes. Do not rinse.  Take a dry towel to absord the excess water then lay the sweater on a clean dry towel and slowly and gently try to stretch the fibers and reshape the garment before allowing it to dry on the towel.

The key is to use a solution that acts as a fabric softener to loosen the fibers and allow them to be stretched. Vinegar can also be used.

Good luck!

Do a little bit a lot more often!

One golden rule of organizing is: the more you dislike doing something, the more often you should do it. Here’s why: if you dislike doing something, it gets worse when it gets bigger — doesn’t it? A small hamper filled with clothes is a lot less daunting than five hampers, right? So do a small load every day or two and keep reasonably caught up.

Get into a routine!

Maybe you could throw in a load at dinner and fold it during T.V. time. One load at a time is so much easier!  Whatever you decide, building laundry into your routine (much like brushing your teeth) takes a lot less energy than dreading it.

1) For every new fan we get on our  Facebook page, we will donate $1, up to 250. Tell your friends they can make a difference in the lives of animals with just a click of a button. Not only will they be part of the donation, they’ll learn great laundering tips, too.

2) We are always looking to improve our company. One way to do that is to get feedback from our customers. If you write us a review on Yelp, we will donate $5 to APA for that review.

Lend EZ Dog a hand in making a contribution to a program that is helping people help pets.

To prevent a smelly washing machine, just leave the lid open on the washing machine when a load is removed to allow it time to dry out.

If smells do happen, try washing an empty load on small cycle with hot water and a mixture of baking soda and vinegar or bleach.

Come back next week for another helpful tip from the EZ Dog!

Welcome to our first tip of the week featuring our brand new spokesdog – The EZ Dog! Ruff, ruff – enjoy!

Cedar:  In the air and on what you wear!

For allergy sufferers in Central Texas, this time of year is particularly tough since the cedars are pollinating heavily.  You may not be able to see it but it’s in the air collecting on your clothes, hair and skin.  Environmental allergens can make some people really sick with the sniffles, itchy eyes, and a hacking cough.

Consider adding some laundry techniques to your arsenal of decongestants and nasal sprays. You’ll be able to conquer the cedar and lessen your chances of succumbing to sinus irritation and lying in bed for weeks.

At the end of each day, strip down as quickly as possible and throw those duds in the washing machine on the hottest temperature setting possible.  If you happen to don dark colors and need to wash on the cold cycle, consider adding an extra rinse.

Second, take a shower and wash your hair before you go to bed each night.  This will get rid of the allergens you’ve collected during the day and eliminate them from getting on your bed linens.

Lastly, wash your bed linens at least once every week or two.  Remember, the hotter the water temperature the better.  Your sinuses will thank you.

Come back next week for another helpful tip!

A little extra care when washing your jeans can go a long way in extending their life and looks.

1.  Empty your pockets and zip the zipper so it does not tear any other clothing.

2.  Turn the jeans inside out.  This prevents the dye from transferring to other clothing and extends the color-life of the jeans.  If you notice a blue tint to the inside of the dryer tub, this is caused by color transfer from the jeans.

3.  Always wash jeans in cold water with little detergent.  This prevents fading and prolongs the life of the jeans.

4.  Let them get dirty!  Any jeans aficionado will tell you the more you wear your jeans between washings the longer they will last and the better they will fit. This good fit not only feels better but looks better. Washing after every wear doesn’t allow jeans to conform to your body!

5.  Don’t dry them on high heat.  For best results, dry on medium for about 15 minutes then hang.

1.   Dilute the fabric softener with at least ½ water and use about ½ the
recommended amount.  This not only saves money, but reduces the
chance for fabric softener staining your clothes and clogging the drain
hose.

2.  Substitute ¼ cup vinegar during rinse cycle or in a Downey Ball during
the wash. You can add a couple drops of any essential oil you like.

3.   Make your own!  Here’s how:

Ingredients:

1 cup baking soda
1 1/4 cups warm water
8 cups white vinegar
Essential Oils

Directions:

• First mix the vinegar and water together then add the baking soda gradually, stirring the whole time. You will want to make sure to use a large pail to accommodate the fizzing activity from the baking soda and vinegar reaction.
• Use a funnel to pour this mixture into a washed, gallon sized milk jug (plastic), add 1/3 teaspoon of your favorite essential oil, cap and seal then shake well.
• To use: Shake each time before use, adding 1/2 to 1 cup at the start of the rinse cycle.

Come back next week for another helpful tip!

Washing Machine Buildup

The inside of your washing machine can become a mess in no time just like dishwashers, sinks, and bathtubs even though they are meant to clean things, Although most dirt and soil is washed out with the water, some dirt, detergent and fabric softener residue can be left behind and you actually have to get rid of them yourself.

What’s Going On In There?

Greasy deposits and residues can cause bad odors and damage interior components of the washing machine. Cleaning your washing machine can help reduce the risk of having clogged hoses and help eliminate odors.

Here’s how:

Simply run a small cycle of hot water with no clothes along with one cup of vinegar or bleach to loosen up soap and grime. If you have a fabric softener receptacle and/or bleach dispenser remove those, soak them in hot water, and clean them thoroughly.

Most washing machine manufacturers recommend some type of maintenance wash once a month.

Come back next week for another helpful tip!

1) Red wine
What you need: club soda and salt

2) Chocolate
What you need: good ol’ laundry detergent

3) Cranberry sauce
What you need: white vinegar and detergent

4) Butter and oil
What you need: dishwashing soap

5) Egg nog
What you need: soap and ammonia

Always remember to check the state of the stain before putting the garment in the dryer.  For a stubborn stain, continue treating until it’s (hopefully) gone, then continue on to drying.

Now you can feast in peace!

Did you ever wonder where those missing socks or undies went?

They disappear by overloading the washer.  If the clothes are loaded higher
than the first row of holes in the tub, the small items will slip over the tub
and get sucked into the drain hose or the pump.

Here’s how to remedy it:

1.  Loosely add sorted load of clothes to wash basket.

2.  Load evenly to maintain washer balance.

3.  DO NOT ADD CLOTHES HIGHER THAN THE TOP HOLES IN TUB

4.  Mix large and small items.  Do not wash jeans or towels only!

5.  Use garment bags for smaller items.

6.  Do not wrap large items such as sheets around the agitator.
Items need to move freely for best cleaning and to reduce
wrinkling and tangling.

Come back next week for another helpful tip!