Dear Home-Ec 101, I have well water and found out that using bleach in the wash will turn my cloths brownish. And yes they have become dingy and not as bright. What can I use, if anything, to make them white again or keep this from happening again to newer cloths I get? And also … Read more
Dear Home-Ec 101, I read your information on why liquid fabric softener causes stains on dark clothing and that you use white vinegar instead. I have a front loading machine. How do I add the vinegar and how much? Sincerely, Washing in Walhalla Dear W.W., To add the vinegar to your washer, use either the … Read more
Dear Home-Ec 101, I’ve noticed inside the drum of my dryer that there are blue and gray streaks, they look like they are from jeans. How do I get rid of these stains in my clothes dryer? Sincerely, Blue in Bluffton Heather says The simplest thing you can do is to close the dryer door … Read more
Dear Home-Ec 101, I have special, red guest towels. I really love their bright color, but they sat in the washer too long one day and now have that mildew smell. How can I get rid of the musty odor without losing the bright color of these towels that can’t be washed on hot? Thanks, … Read more
Hello, I’m so lost. I’m trying to get some sweat stains out of my cream-coloured sheets, as well as my white mattress pad, and the closest I have to remove these stains is powdered Borax and/or pre-treat Resolve Spray ‘n Wash. I was really curious if it is safe to use both Borax and Resolve … Read more
Hi! I’ve been reading a lot about the need for preservatives in homemade products, especially those made with water. I always use either distilled or boiled water and most of what I make is made in batches of 32oz or less. The main exception to that is my laundry detergent and fabric softener which I … Read more
Dear Home-Ec 101, I have smelly towel syndrome and want to try your idea with the borax and vinegar, but I do not know how to add the vinegar to my rinse cycle. With a front load, it’s a little more difficult to add anything to it or even “soak” anything in the drum. I bought … Read more
Dear Home-Ec 101, Why do my black shirts come out of the laundry with red/reddish patches? Signed, Spotty in Spartanburg Heather says: Laundry mysteries are always fun. Not too long ago we had an issue where one of my children’s s t-shirts were always ripping under one of the arms. We checked the inside of … Read more
Clothes can get clean with just the basic soap and water, but good laundry supplies make doing the wash much easier. There are many detergents, softeners, and accessories and we’d like to help you figure out which ones work the best for you. Following are articles answering reader’s questions and sharing tips that we have … Read more
Dear Home Ec 101, My husband and daughter have allergies and I am sensitive to certain scents, so when our beloved Tide began to irritate my daughter’s skin and their perfume seemed to get stronger with every bottle, we switched to a Free and Clear detergent with no dyes or scents. This has helped with … Read more