laundry tips please.

[jas1002]

I seem to spend my whole life washing and ironing and wondered if anyone had any good tips. I would love to know how to get the built up roll on deoderant stains out from the underarms of my husbands t shirt.

[shaneystar2]

Soak deodorant-stained washable shirts in white vinegar for 30 minutes before washing as normal or a soak in that Vanish Oxy stuff ..the powder one ..should help.Or a spray with that Shout..I think it is called.Or try to get hubby to use a deo that doesn't stain.!!
I do sympathise ..my husband used to have white shirts for work and it was the devils own job to get those marks out.

[smurfchops]

Anything that is going to go on a hanger when ironed, put it on a hanger before it is dry -- especially shirts and jeans -- but not woollens that will go out of shape. Then you will have less ironing as there will be less creases. (Bruce Forsythe gave this tip out on TV years ago and it works !!)

[tony1941]

Best ironing machine type in the world is a steam generator type. We bought a cheapy (�35) last Feb and the ironing pile has been much smaller ever since - it's really "one-pass" ironing; much quicker and less stressful. By the way, I saw a real cheapy in B&Q last week for �20 - nothing to lose!!

[cosyrosy]

well tony1941 you might know how good that iron is but only because you watch me ironing all your shirts!!

[shaneystar2]

Ooh I am forever grateful.!! I didn't know you could get an ironing machine so cheaply .The ones I have seen are all mega money. I shall be dragging Mr.S off ,post haste to get one as I loathe and detest ironing.!
Will it cope with duvet covers and the like ?

[WendyS]

If it doesn't show, don't iron it. Life is too short. And I don't iron duvet covers either. When still slightly damp I fold them and drape them over the combined heated towel rail/radiator in the bathroom. This dries them and steams most of the creases out at the same time.

[Robert G]

Re the roll-on deodorant stains, ask you husband to stop using roll-on and switch to the spray type.

[shaneystar2]

You are quite right wendy ..life is too short for ironing !! Hence the pile of it mouldering away in my spare room !! But I feel guilty if everything is not crease free. A hangover I suppose from the days of my Mum ,who even used to iron socks !!

[jas1002]

Thanks all.

The other half can't use spray deos, they bring him up in a mega rash.

It seems that if I look away from the wasing bin for more than a few seconds it fillsright back up!!

I have got one of those cheap steam irons but i seem to iron more creases in. Grrrrr

[KARL]

Hardly anybody (nobody?) male or female needs to use deodorants. Wash thoroughly not long before going to sleep then, using a small lump of cotton wool wet with vinegar of your choice (cheapest is fine), rub over underarm area making sure hairs are coated (or wait at least 12 hours after shaving). If bothered by smell of vinegar in the morning (unlikely) wash again. Repeat procedure once you detect return of odour - normally not until many days later. Result: odourless armpits, unmarked clothing, money in pocket, upset cosmetics/chemical industry and their sales and marketing personnel.

[jas1002]

wow! Another use for vinegar!! I use it for descaling my kettle and for cleaning the shower curtain. Is there a book '101 uses for vinegar'?

I will try the underarn thing.

[mycatis]

Have a look here jas1002:

http://www.angelfire.com/cantina/homemaking/vinegar.html

[jas1002]

cool! Thanks mycatis,

while I'm here can anyone tell me. Are you supposed to wash your clothes inside out?

[shaneystar2]

I wash all the jeans inside out..stops them fading .Also anything dark or black.And only use a colour wash liquid. I use that Dreft dark for black things like my son's T shirts and black trousers etchave had good results from it..no fading. I always turn jumpers and fleece stuff inside out too as it stops those horrid bobbly bits you get.

[KARL]

It is very beneficial for any T-shirts with labels/emblems/pictures/etc. on them to be inside out as this almost eliminates risk of damage to the transfer image.