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Valentines Day date ideas for singles 

Photo by RODNAE Productions from Pexels

Valentines Day is, stereotypically, a day for those in relationships. That doesn’t mean that us singletons can’t enjoy the festivities. Show yourself some love with these date ideas for singles.

  • A romantic dinner for 1 
  • Cook for yourself
  • Spa night in 
  • A night out with your besties 
  • Eat LOTS of chocolate 
  • Treat yourself 
  • Send love to your loved ones 
  • Babysit 
  • Unplug 

A romantic dinner for 1

Romantic dinners don’t have to be for couples. Take yourself out to your favourite restaurant, or one that you have been waiting to try, and enjoy your own company. Indulge in amazing food and even better company, because nobody can entertain you quite like yourself. 

Photo by Elina Sazonova from Pexels

Cook for yourself 

If you can’t stand to be surrounded by love-heart-eyed couples at a restaurant, then cook for yourself. Try a new recipe, or a family favourite, and sit down to a delectable meal in the comfort of your own home. This way, you can fill your stomach with food and drink, and immediately collapse on the sofa afterward. The perfect end to a perfect night. 

Photo by Andrea Piacquadio from Pexels

Spa night in

Who doesn’t love a self-care evening? Face mask, hair mask, manicure, bath, trashy TV, makes for a night of complete relaxation. Whilst enjoying your spa night in, check in with yourself and your emotions. Evaluate how your week has been and allow yourself to fully relax and feel your feelings. Today/tonight is all about you. 

Photo by RODNAE Productions from Pexels

A night out with your besties 

Nothing is more fun than a night out with your besties. Whether you’re enjoying dinner, laughing over drinks, or partying the night away in a club, nothing will make you feel less alone than a night out with your best friends. 

Photo by Inga Seliverstova from Pexels

Eat LOTS of chocolate 

Heart-shaped chocolate is a popular gift for couples on Valentines Day, so treat yourself to some. Buy a box, or four, of your favourite chocolates and enjoy snacking on them throughout the day. Or, an even better option is to wait until the day after when it’s discounted. That way you get the joy of chocolate and a discount! 

Photo by cottonbro from Pexels

Treat yourself 

We all deserve to feel loved, and a great way to show our love and appreciation is with a gift. This Valentines Day, show yourself some love by treating yourself to something that you have had your eye on. Whether it’s a new pair of shoes, a bed set, or even just a nice bottle of wine, get yourself something that shows how much you care. You deserve it. 

Photo by Karolina Grabowska from Pexels

Send love to your loved ones 

Valentines Day is a day for expressing your love, so send some love to your loved ones. Send your besties a card, your mum some flowers, and your sibling a box of chocolates. Something that’s small but expresses your love for them. Not all love has to be romantic.  

Photo by Karolina Grabowska from Pexels

Babysit 

If your loved ones have little ones, and you don’t have any Valentine’s Day plans, offer to babysit. Whilst you are looking after the children, your loved ones could be enjoying some much-needed time with their significant other. Not only will you be helping out someone you love, but you can use this as a way to get a favour later on in the year. 

Photo by nappy from Pexels

Unplug 

Spending Valentine’s Day on your own presents the perfect opportunity to unplug. Turn off you phone, laptop, and tablet, and have a social media free evening. This will be great for your mental health and wellbeing, plus will give you time to focus on something else, like eating as much chocolate as you can. 

Photo by Lisa Fotios from Pexels

Treat yourself this Valentines Day with an empty laundry basket. To book your Laundryheap service head to the Laundryheap website or download the free Laundryheap app.


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Freshen up your trainers 

Photo by Alex B. from Pexels

Trainers are perfect for throwing on when we know that we’re going to be on our feet all day, or when we are exercising. Unfortunately, this means that they often end up smelling unpleasant. Luckily, these methods will freshen up your trainers in no time. 

  • Bicarbonate of soda
  • Dry shampoo
  • Teabags
  • Newspaper
  • Dryer sheets
  • Rubbing alcohol
  • Washing machine

Bicarbonate of soda 

Bicarbonate of soda is amazing for removing odours as the fine powder is incredibly absorbent. Sprinkle a thin layer of bicarbonate of soda in each shoe and leave it to sit for 24 hours. After 24 hours, shake the powder from your shoes and marvel at their fresh smell. For an even fresher smell add a couple of drops of essential oil to your bicarbonate of soda. 

Image by Aqua Mechanical

Dry shampoo 

When used for its intended purpose, dry shampoo soaks up the oils in your hair and is usually scented to make it smell fresher. Spraying it on your trainers works in exactly the same way. Spray a liberal amount of dry shampoo in your shoes and leave them to sit for 24 hours. After 24 hours they will be ready to wear and smelling beautifully fresh, and oddly like your hair… 

Photo by Ray Piedra from Pexels

Teabags 

Breakfast teabags contain tannins which help to kill bacteria and eliminate odours. Put your teabags, one for each shoe, in boiling water for 2-3 minutes, before removing them and leaving them to cool. Once your teabags have cooled, place one in each shoe and leave them for 1 hour. After an hour, remove the teabags from your shoes and soak up any excess tea. Be warned that the tannin can stain so you may be left with a brownish stain inside your trainer, but at least they’ll smell fresh. 

Photo by freestocks.org from Pexels

Newspaper  

Foul-smelling trainers are often caused by the moisture created from wearing them all day. This moisture creates the perfect breeding ground for bacteria. To absorb this moisture, scrunch up newspaper, tissue paper, or a paper bag, and stuff it inside your trainers. Leave the paper for 24 hours before taking it out and wearing your trainers. To help eliminate odours, add a few drops of essential oil to the paper. 

Photo by Suzy Hazelwood from Pexels

Dryer sheets 

Dryer sheets do exactly as their name suggests and suck the moisture from their surroundings. If you don’t have any newspaper, dryer sheets will absorb the moisture in your trainers in exactly the same way. Simply scrunch a dryer sheet for each shoe and insert it in your trainers. Take the sheet out the next time you want to wear your trainers and enjoy the freshness. You can also use dryer sheets to eliminate odours from the area you store your trainers, such as your gym bag. Just place a dryer sheet in the area and leave it to soak up any moisture. 

Photo by RUN 4 FFWPU from Pexels

Rubbing alcohol

Rubbing alcohol kills odour-causing bacteria, making it the perfect thing to use on your trainers. You can either put rubbing alcohol into a spray bottle and spray the inside of your trainers or apply the rubbing alcohol to cotton balls/pads and use them to wipe the inside of your trainers. Not only is rubbing alcohol great at eliminating odours, but if your trainers can be wiped clean, you can use it to freshen the outside of them as well. A double win. 

Image by ajay_suresh

Washing machine 

If you want to give your trainers a thorough freshen, it’s best to use the washing machine. Before putting your trainers in the washing machine, first, check their care labels to make sure that they are machine washable. If your trainers are machine washable, remove the soles and laces before putting your trainers in a pillowcase. This will protect them from the harsh cycle of the washing machine and also help soften the noise as they are spun. Put your machine on a gentle cycle, and let your trainers spin. Once they have finished their cycle, take them out and leave them to air dry. Never put your trainers in the tumble dryer as the heat will warp the material and cause irreversible damage. Make sure that your trainers are completely dry before wearing them or you risk creating an even worse smell! 

Photo by cottonbro from Pexels

Whilst you are freshening up your trainers, let us tackle the rest of your laundry. Book your Laundryheap order by heading to the Laundryheap website or downloading the free Laundryheap app.


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Find the perfect work/life balance whilst working from home

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One of the biggest challenges of working from home is establishing your work/life balance. It’s too easy to send one quick email, and end up working until the middle of the night from the comfort of your bed. Follow these tips to establish the perfect work/life balance whilst you’re working from home.

  • Establish your workspace
  • Stick to a routine
  • Give yourself time in the morning 
  • Make a to-do list 
  • Plan your breaks
  • Schedule social events 
  • Check-in with yourself 
  • Use your out-of-office 
  • Leave your work at the end of the day 
  • Avoid work at the weekends 

Establish your workspace 

Bringing your work into your home can feel like an invasion. Suddenly your safe space becomes your workspace as well, and it can feel overwhelming trying to separate the 2. That is why it is important to establish a workspace. If you have a spare room in your home that you can turn into a home office that’s great, but if you don’t, use a corner of any room. Confining your working environment to 1 room or corner will make it easier for you to establish the areas of your home where you need to be in work mode and the areas where you can relax. 

Photo by olia danilevich from Pexels

Stick to a routine 

When we were travelling to work we were in a routine. Now that routine has been disrupted it’s time to establish a new one. A routine will help you to set boundaries between when you are working and when you are not. Your body and brain will begin to notice when you need to focus on work and when you can relax, despite both happening under the same roof. Your routine doesn’t have to be extensive, it can simply be establishing a time to get up every morning, but having one will make separating your work time and downtime a lot easier. 

Photo by cottonbro from Pexels

Give yourself time in the morning 

It’s all too easy to roll out of bed in the morning and open your laptop straight away. Although this means that you can sleep in later than you normally would on a workday, it also means that your mind and body haven’t had time to wake up before you start working. Instead, wake up half an hour to an hour before you start work and allow yourself time to properly wake. You don’t necessarily have to do anything strenuous in this time, perhaps simply get up and enjoy a morning beverage, but it’s important to allow yourself time to fully wake up before straining yourself with work. 

Photo by Daniela Constantini from Pexels

Make a to-do list 

To-do lists are excellent at focusing the mind and allowing you to set clear goals for your day. Before you start work, jot down everything that you have to do that day, and in the order that you will do them in. This will help you clear your mind and focus solely on the tasks at hand, whilst also giving yourself an indication of when you can finish work for the day. That being said, don’t panic if you don’t get everything on your to-do list completed before the day is done. You shouldn’t be working any later than your contracted hours, and anything that you haven’t done can wait for tomorrow. 

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Plan your breaks 

Breaks are important whether you are working from home or in an office. You should be taking breaks every hour for a minimum of 10 minutes to give your eyes a break from your screen and to move your body. Every hour get up from your workspace and move to another area of your home. For 5-10 minutes do something non-work-related, such as have a walk around your home, read a book, or listen to music. This will give your brain time to rest and reset before taking on the next hour of work. 

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Schedule social events 

It’s important that you don’t let your work take over your home as a safe and comforting area to relax. To prevent this from happening, schedule social events for after work and the weekends. This could be dinner with friends, a coffee, or even just watching a movie with a loved one. Whatever it is, it’s important that your home remains your home and not an extension of your workplace. 

Photo by olia danilevich from Pexels

Check in with yourself 

Burnout is very common with individuals who work from home because they don’t establish a strong work/life balance. Rather than finishing work at a set time, they continue working throughout the night because they don’t physically have to leave the space they are in. This can cause a rapid decline in mental health and can result in you becoming both mentally and physically unwell. To prevent yourself from experiencing burnout check in with yourself every week to make sure that the way you are working is working for you. If you notice that you are fatigued or overwhelmed, take a step back and evaluate how you can alter the way that you are working. It may also be beneficial to reach out to friends, family, or HR to express how you are feeling. Remember that no work is more important than your health and wellbeing. 

Photo by Nataliya Vaitkevich from Pexels

Use your out-of-office 

Similar to checking in with yourself, if you are particularly busy or feel like you need some time to yourself, don’t be afraid to use your out-of-office to let colleagues know that you don’t want to be contacted. This can be incredibly helpful when you are feeling overwhelmed and you need to refocus your mind. You can turn your out-of-office on and off as and when it suits you, so don’t be afraid to use it. 

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Leave your work at the end of the day  

As soon as the end of the workday comes, move away from your work. Do not get stuck in the trap of finishing something off quickly, or answering one more email, because you will find yourself working hours after you’re scheduled to leave work. Instead, when the end of the work day comes, finish off the task you were doing, or leave it at a sensible end for you to pick up on tomorrow, and physically remove yourself from your workspace. It isn’t until you physically remove yourself from the area that you will be able to completely relax and enjoy the rest of your day. It’s crucial that you set these boundaries. 

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Avoid work at the weekends 

Another crucial boundary for you to set is to avoid doing work at the weekends. The weekend is when you can completely relax, reset your mind, and give yourself time to rest. Just because your work is at home and easily accessible does not mean that you should be doing it in your downtime. Instead, avoid going near your workspace during the weekend, and take the time to do something enjoyable and fun. This will help you to establish the difference between your working life at home and your relaxing life at home, helping you to establish a solid work/life balance. 

Photo by Ivan Babydov from Pexels

Working from home is stressful, and laundry only adds to that stress. Instead of overwhelming yourself, book a Laundryheap order today and let us tick one thing off of your list. To book your Laundryheap order today simply head to the Laundryheap website or download the free Laundryheap app.


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How to remove tomato stains 

Whether it’s fresh tomato in a salad, tomato sauce in a burger, or tomato paste in a pasta dish, tomato is a delicious and diverse fruit. If you spill it on yourself, these simple steps will help lift the stain in no time. 

  • Fresh tomato 
  • Dried tomato
  • Tomato sauce

Fresh tomato 

Fresh tomatoes are pesky so don’t be surprised when you cut into one and its juices fly onto your clothes. Don’t panic though, because fresh tomato stains are incredibly easy to remove. 

To remove a fresh tomato stain you will need…
  • Cold water
  • A clean cloth
  • Dish soap

To begin removing your fresh tomato stain rinse the stained area with cold water. This will help push out as much of the stain as possible and begin loosening the remaining stain from your clothes’ fibers. Make sure that you are using cold water to rinse the stained area as anything warmer will set the stain into your clothing. 

Once you have rinsed as much of the stain away as possible, dampen a clean cloth with cold water and apply a small amount of dish soap to it. Dab your stain with the soapy cloth, making sure that you are dabbing and not rubbing. Continue dabbing until a strong amount of dish soap has been transferred to your stain. 

Next, use your fingers to work the dish soap into your stain. Be firm but not rough whilst doing this as the aim is to penetrate the stain with the soap not cause damage to your garments’ fibers. 

Once you are satisfied that the dish soap has been adequately worked into your stain, rinse it off with cool water. As soon as you have rinsed off all of the soap, launder your clothing as you usually would. When your clothing has been washed, check to see if the stain has been lifted. If it has, then you can dry your garment, but if it hasn’t then you must repeat the stain removal process. 

Photo by Polina Kovaleva from Pexels

Dried tomato 

Dried tomato stains are slightly trickier to remove because they have already set into the fibers of your garment. They aren’t impossible to remove though. 

To remove a dried tomato stain you will need…
  • Cold water
  • Laundry detergent 
  • Ice cube 
  • Clean cloth 
  • Vinegar 

To begin removing a dried tomato stain rinse the stained area with cold water. Before you begin rinsing your stain, turn your garment inside out so that you are rinsing it from the back. This will help the water to penetrate the back of the stain directly, loosening and removing it from your garment. 

Once you have rinsed your stained area, apply a small amount of laundry detergent directly to the stain and leave it to sit for 15 minutes. During this time, the laundry detergent will penetrate the dried tomato stain and begin to loosen it from the fibers of your clothing. 

After 15 minutes have passed, take an ice cube and rub it over the stain for roughly 1 minute. The ice cube will help to work the detergent further into your stain. By the time the ice has melted it should look like your stain has completely, or at least partially, disappeared. 

Once your ice cube has melted, use a clean cloth to gently dab at the area, allowing you to better see if there is any remaining stain. If there is a stain remaining, spray the area with vinegar and blot at it with a cloth. Continue doing this until the stain has completely lifted. 

Finally, launder your garment as usual and dry. 

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Tomato sauce 

Tomato sauce makes pasta delicious but won’t make your clothing taste any better. When you notice a tomato sauce stain, act quickly for the best results.  

To remove a tomato sauce stain you will need…
  • A spoon 
  • Baking soda
  • Cold water
  • Toothbrush (optional)
  • Dish soap 

To begin removing your tomato sauce stain use a spoon to scrape as much of the sauce from your garment as possible. Be careful when doing this as you don’t want to push the stain further into the fibers of your clothing, or spread the sauce to other areas of your garment. 

After you have removed as much of the sauce as possible, make a paste from 1-2 tablespoons of baking soda and 1-2 teaspoons of cold water. Once you have made your paste, lay it directly over your stain and use a toothbrush, or your fingers, to rub it in. Make sure that you are rubbing hard enough for the paste to penetrate your stain, but not too hard to damage the fibers of your garment. After rubbing the paste into the tomato sauce stain, leave it to sit for 30 minutes. 

After 30 minutes, rinse the paste from the stain using cold water. Make sure that you are rinsing from the back as this will aid in loosening and removing the stain from your clothing. Continue rinsing until all of the paste has been removed. 

Next, work in a drop of dish soap with your fingers. Dish soap is particularly good at tackling greasy stains, so it will help to lift the remaining stain not reached by the laundry detergent. 

Once you have adequately worked the dish soap into your stain, launder your item as you usually would. When your clothing is cleaned, check that your stain has been removed. If it has, you can continue to dry your garment, but if it has not then you will have to repeat the stain removal process. 

Photo by Antonius Ferret from Pexels

The best way to lift a stain is by letting Laundryheap lift it for you. To book your Laundryheap order today head to the Laundryheap website or download the free Laundryheap app. 


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Parka jacket care guide 

Photo by Andrea Piacquadio from Pexels

Parka jackets are often thick-lined and accompanied by a fur hood, making them the perfect winter jacket. To adequately care for your parka, follow this guide carefully. 

  • Always check the label
  • Remove any fur
  • Machine wash
  • Use detergent and only detergent 
  • Tumble dry
  • Clean your fur 
  • Store 

Always check the label 

Before washing your parka jacket, or any item for that matter, you must check the care label. The care label will give you all of the information that you need to guarantee that you are washing your item in the safest possible way. If your care label specifies that your jacket is dry clean only, do not try and wash it yourself. This will only lead to your jacket becoming damaged. 

Image by 邰秉宥

Remove any fur 

Parka jackets will usually come with a detachable fur trim hood. Remove this hood and set it to one side as it needs to be cleaned using a separate method. If you do not, it can become damaged in the wash and unwearable. 

Photo by Nikolai Ulltang from Pexels

Machine wash 

Once you have detached your hood, you are safe to machine wash your jacket. It’s best to use a down-specific laundry detergent as these are specifically formulated for jackets, such as parkas. Alternatively, you can use a gentle laundry detergent. Use a cool or warm water setting on your machine that will not be overly aggressive on your jacket and unintentionally cause any damage. Finally, Before you begin your wash, make sure that there is nothing else in your machine. Your parka jacket should not be washed with any other items of clothing.

Photo by cottonbro from Pexels

Use detergent and only detergent  

You may be tempered to add fabric softener to your washing machine, but don’t. The only thing that you need to effectively wash your parka jacket is detergent. Adding additional chemicals to your machine can lead to irreversible damage. 

Photo by RODNAE Productions from Pexels

Tumble dry

Now that your parka jacket is washed, it’s time to dry it. The most effective way to dry your jacket is on a low heat setting in the tumble dryer. Don’t set your tumble dryer’s temperature too high or you risk scorching the fibres of your jacket. Instead, use a low temperature and add a few wool dryer balls to help fluff the down and prevent it from clumping together. 

Photo by Dan Smith from Pexels

Clean your fur 

Whilst your parka jacket is drying, it’s time to clean your fur trim. Begin by filling a basin with cool water and adding 1-2 teaspoons of gentle detergent. Completely submerge your fur in the mixture, gently moving it through the water for 15 minutes. After 15 minutes, lift out the fur and gently squeeze it to remove as much soapy water as possible. To remove the remaining suds, refill your basin with clean water, and rinse your collar until all of the suds have been removed. Next, gently squeeze out as much excess water as possible by rolling it in a thick bath towel. Finally, allow your fur to completely air dry– this could take up to 48 hours. Once dry, use a soft-bristled brush to lift any matted fur, before reattaching it to your clean parka jacket. 

Photo by ArtHouse Studio from Pexels

Store 

Now that your parka jacket and collar is clean, hang it up on a wooden coat hanger in an airy room. This will keep it looking and smelling fresh until you decide to wear it again. 

Photo by Alexander Kovalev from Pexels

The best way to care for your parka jacket is to let Laundryheap do it for you. To book your Laundryheap order simply head to the Laundryheap website or download the free Laundryheap app. 


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Fun facts about Dallas 

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Dallas, colloquially referred to as ‘Big D’, is located in the North of Texas. Here are just 10 fun facts about the US city. 

  • Population
  • Visitors 
  • Big Tex
  • Frozen margaritas
  • 7-eleven 
  • German chocolate cake 
  • Popcorn
  • Cake 
  • Famous faces
  • Art

Population 

Dallas is home to 1,281,047 people, making it the 3rd largest city in Texas and the 9th largest city in the US. 

Photo by Talena Reese from Pexels

Visitors 

On average 24.9 million people visit Dallas each year. The JFK Museum, Botanical Gardens, and Reunion Tower are just some of the attractions that tourists travel to see.

Photo by Irbin Medina from Pexels

Big Tex

Big Tex is a 52-foot tall statue that welcomes visitors to the annual state fair of Texas, which is held at Fair Park in Dallas every year. Not only is Big Tex a cultural icon of both Dallas and Texas, but he is also the tallest cowboy in the whole of Texas. 

Image by David Grant

Frozen margaritas 

The only way to improve on the perfection that is a cocktail is to freeze it. Although we don’t know who invented frozen margaritas, we do know that Mariano Martinez was the genius behind the frozen margarita machine. In 1971 Mariano Martinez was receiving complaints from customers at his restaurant in Dallas because bartenders weren’t accurately measuring the quantities of their frozen margaritas due to their high demand. Cleverly, Martinez figured out that an automatic mixer could both produce the perfectly mixed frozen margarita and ease the load on his bartenders. Thus, he began using a soft-serve ice cream machine to generate his frozen margaritas, and the frozen margarita machine was born. 

Image by Missvain

7-eleven 

We’ve all heard of, and probably visited, 7-eleven, America’s popular convenience store. But, did you know that 7-eleven was founded in Dallas, where its headquarters remain? The chain was founded in 1927 as an ice house storefront in Dallas. Then named Tote’m Stores, they sold ice as well as basic essentials such as bread and eggs. The name 7-eleven wasn’t used until 1946 when the name changed to reflect the store’s new opening hours- 7 am to 11 pm.  

Photo by mingche lee from Pexels

German chocolate cake 

Contrary to the name, German chocolate cake does not originate from Germany, but Dallas. In 1852 an English American baker named Samuel German created a dark baking chocolate with more sugar than the average semi-sweet baking chocolate. 105 years later, the Dallas Morning News published a cake recipe by Mrs. George Clay called German’s Chocolate Cake, because it used Samuel German’s specific baking chocolate. As the recipe was distributed, the apostrophe was dropped and the name altered to German Chocolate Cake as we know it today. 

Image by Kimberly Vardeman

Popcorn 

According to Fortune magazine more popcorn is consumed in the Dallas-Fort Worth area than any other. Historian and columnist for the Dallas Morning News, A.C Greene, believes that this is because many people in Dallas still visit the movies to see the latest blockbusters. Naturally, popcorn and movies go hand in hand, thus explaining the high demand for it in the Dallas area. 

Photo by Pavel Danilyuk from Pexels

Cake

Another fun Dallas cake fact is that there is a slice of cake from the 1913 wedding of President Woodrow Wilson’s daughter, Jessie, in Woodrow Wilson High School. The cake was sent from one of Jessie’s bridesmaids in Texas to her cousin in Dallas. In 1927, the cake was laid in one of the cornerstones of the school. 

Photo by Rene Asmussen from Pexels

Famous faces 

Dallas was the birthplace of some of the world’s most famous faces. Included in that list are Owen Wilson, Usher, Selena Gomez, and Kelly Clarkson. 

Image by Eva Rinaldi

Art

At 68 acres, The Dallas Arts District is the largest urban arts district in the US. It is home to facilities for visual, performing, and developing arts including the Meyerson Symphony Centre, Winspear Opera House, and Dallas Museum of Art. It is in the arts district that you can find a wide variety of art spanning from ancient times to the present. 

Image by Dallasborn&bred

The best thing about Dallas is that Laundryheap operates in the city. Book your Laundryheap order today by heading to the Laundryheap website or downloading the free Laundryheap app. 


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Common stain removal faux pas

Photo by Sarah Chai from Pexels

When we stain our clothes we go into panic mode. We want to get the stain out as fast as possible and in the easiest way. This, however, can lead to us making the situation much worse. These are some of the most common stain removal faux pas to avoid. 

  • Leaving it 
  • Rubbing not blotting
  • Using hot water
  • Not spot testing 
  • Using too much solution 
  • Throwing bleach at the situation 
  • Drying before checking 

Leaving it 

Although tempting, the worst thing to do when you notice a stain is to leave it. The longer you put off pre-treating a stain the more it will set into the fibres of your garment, making it much more difficult to remove when you do get round to lifting it. Instead, as soon as you notice a stain, treat it. This will save you a lot of time and effort. 

Photo by Andrea Piacquadio from Pexels

Rubbing not blotting 

One of the worst things to do when treating a stain is to rub rather than blot it. Regardless of what the stain is, rubbing will only set it further into the fibres of your clothing, making it more difficult to remove. Blotting, on the other hand, gently lifts as much of the loose stain as possible without forcing it into your garment. 

Photo by Ron Lach from Pexels

Using hot water 

As a rule of thumb, never use hot, or even warm, water on a stain. Hot and warm water will only cook your stain into your clothing, making it much harder to remove. If your stain is protein-based, such as milk, hot water will curdle the protein and make it near impossible to lift. Instead, use cold water to flush out and soak stains, unless it is specifically mentioned that hot water should be used. 

Not spot testing 

If you don’t spot test before using any stain removal product then you risk permanently staining your garment. A spot test is when you apply a small amount of the stain remover to a hidden area on your garment, such as an inside seam, to test if it will cause any permanent damage, such as bleaching, to your item. It is a fool-proof way to avoid causing damage in the stain removal process. 

Photo by Karolina Grabowska from Pexels

Using too much solution 

It may seem logical to use as much stain remover as possible to lift your stain, but the opposite is in fact true. Using a lot of stain remover on one small stain can cause irreversible damage to your clothing, and may not even lift the stain. Instead, use the suggested amount of remover and complete the full stain removal process. If this doesn’t work continue repeating the process until your stain is lifted. 

Photo by Anna Shvets from Pexels

Throwing bleach at the situation

Bleach is a very powerful cleaning agent and can be very effective at removing stains. That being said, it can also cause lasting damage to your garment. Before attempting to lift your stain using bleach first look for alternative methods that use less harmful products. If you can’t find any alternative treatments, make sure that bleach is the safest option for your clothing- this is especially important if your stain is on coloured clothing. Finally, if bleach is safe to use on your stained garment, only use a small amount. Bleach is incredibly powerful and only a small amount is necessary to lift stains. 

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Drying before checking 

Once you have completed a stain removal treatment and washed your garment, check that the stain has been completely removed before drying your item. If your stain has not been removed you need to repeat the stain removal process. Drying your garment will only cause the remainder of your stain to set further into the fibres of your clothing, making it harder to lift. 

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The easiest way to remove stains, and avoid making any stain removal faux pas, is by letting Laundryheap take care of your stained items for you. Book your Laundryheap order today by heading to the Laundryheap website or downloading the free Laundryheap app.


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Travel hacks for friends 

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Traveling with friends is an experience unlike any other. Not only do you get to experience a completely new part of the world, but you get to do it with your besties. These hacks will make traveling with your friends the ultimate experience. 

  • Plan the logistics together
  • Create a group chat
  • Consider renting a property 
  • Create a kitty 
  • Don’t overpack 
  • Make plans together 
  • Be flexible 
  • Communicate 
  • Stay present
  • Have fun!

Plan the logistics together 

Whether you are traveling with 1 or 100 of your friends it’s important that you plan the logistics of your trip together. This includes, your destination, the length of your holiday, transportation, and accommodation. It’s important that you plan the initial logistics together so that everyone has a say in the holiday plans and is aware of the important details. Once you have sorted the initial logistics, you can divide the arrangement of the tasks between you. 

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Create a group chat

If you don’t already have a group chat with your friends, make one. A holiday group chat will allow you to discuss arrangements without needing to be physically together. This will ensure that everyone stays up-to-date on the holiday plans, and you can discuss ideas for what to do on the holiday. Try to keep your group chat solely holiday-related so that it doesn’t become congested with general chat. 

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Consider renting a property 

If you are traveling with a big group of your friends it may be more cost-effective to rent a whole property rather than book individual hotel rooms. Look into the properties available to rent and compare the price, per person, to the price of individual hotel rooms. Renting a whole property comes with the added bonus of having communal areas to yourselves so that you can plan what the days ahead hold. In addition to this, if you are holidaying on a budget, whole properties come equipped with kitchens so you can save money on eating out. 

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Create a kitty  

One of the more awkward parts of traveling with friends is deciding what to do when it comes to money. If one of your friends pays for dinner, and another friend pays for drinks, and a different friend pays for brunch, it can all become incredibly confusing trying to figure out who owes each person what. Instead, create a kitty before you go on your holiday. Everyone puts an agreed amount of money into a pot, either physical or an assigned person’s bank account, and that is the money used whilst on the holiday. It is the fairest way to ensure that everyone is paying equally towards the holiday. 

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Don’t overpack 

When traveling with friends there is always somebody who overpacks and can’t carry their luggage. You don’t want to be that person, so pack your suitcase smartly. Take clothing that is weather appropriate and can easily be transferred from day to night. When it comes to toiletries and electronics, such as cameras and chargers, divide the items up between yourself and your friends. There is no point everyone taking their own shampoo and charger if you can share. 

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Make plans together 

A holiday with your friends should be filled with spontaneous fun and laughter, not a rigorous schedule of things to see and do. That being said, make plans with your friends and schedule a handful of activities to fill your days. Do activities that are both fun and unique to where you are going- something that you can’t do at home. Make sure that all plans are discussed and signed off with every member of your group before anything is booked. You don’t want to isolate any of your friends who may not want to do certain activities. 

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Be flexible 

Although you should plan certain activities, remain flexible whilst you are on holiday. Be open to changing plans depending on what others in your group would like to do, and remember that this holiday is supposed to be a fun experience for you all. Spontaneous activities, or even just having a lazy day, can create the ideal situation for life-long memories with your besties. 

Communicate 

Holidays are supposed to be relaxing, but when you are with a big group 24/7, even if that group is made up of your best friends, it can become overwhelming. Don’t feel guilty about needing some time on your own to gather your thoughts, simply find a quiet area to relax. Before you go, however, communicate with your friends how you are feeling and what you are going to do. This will both make them aware of where you will be, and also ensure that they know what headspace you are in. 

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Stay present 

Whilst you are away stay present rather than on your phone. You are supposed to be enjoying time away with your friends, not updating the world on what you are doing. Take your phone with you to take pictures and videos, but limit your screen time and your friends’ screen time. Enjoy spending time and making memories together, and update the world when you get back. 

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Have fun! 

The most important thing to remember when traveling with friends is to have fun. Going away with your friends is supposed to be fun, spontaneous, and exciting, so don’t sweat the small stuff, and open yourself up to new experiences. Most importantly, have the best time with your best friends. 

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Whilst you’re living it up with your besties, don’t worry about your laundry because we’ll be taking care of it for you. Book your Laundryheap order today by heading to the Laundryheap website or downloading the free Laundryheap app.


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Save energy in your home 

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Saving energy in your home is both good for the environment and your bank. Implement these tips and make your home as energy-efficient as possible today. 

  • Turn off lights and appliances when leaving a room
  • Use energy-saving lightbulbs 
  • Reduce water consumption
  • Cold wash 
  • Air dry 
  • Only wash when full 
  • Invest in efficient appliances 
  • Get a smart meter 

Turn off lights and appliances when leaving a room 

One of the easiest ways to save energy in your home is to turn off all lights and appliances when you leave a room. Leaving lights on when the room is empty is an unnecessary waste of energy, as is leaving appliances on. To save even more energy, unplug your appliances from the wall. Even when turned off, they still use energy, so removing your appliances completely from any source of power will ensure that they do not use any energy whilst not in use. 

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Use energy-saving lightbulbs 

Energy-saving lightbulbs do exactly as their name suggests, they save more energy than standard lightbulbs. Although they use a reduced amount of energy to power them, energy-saving lightbulbs are brighter and last longer than their standard counterparts, which use 90% of their energy to heat rather than illuminate the bulb. You will find energy-saving lightbulbs in most stores or online in a variety of shapes and sizes to fit most common light fixtures.

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Reduce water consumption  

It’s shocking the amount of water that we waste on a daily basis. Heating water for cooking, showering, and drinking uses a significant amount of energy, and most of it goes to waste. To reduce your water consumption consider taking shorter showers and turning the water off whilst you are brushing your teeth. Try to also use the required amount of water for cooking or making hot beverages as it takes more energy to boil a large amount of water than to boil the smaller amount that you will use. 

Cold wash 

Unless your clothing is heavily soiled or needs to be disinfected your clothing can be adequately cleaned using a 30-degree Celsius setting. Lower washing machine temperatures use significantly less energy than higher temperatures, and most laundry detergents work perfectly well in cold washes, with some detergents being cold-wash specific.

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Air dry 

Air drying your clothes uses no energy and has many benefits for your clothing. Firstly, drying your clothing in its original shape, rather than spinning them in a tumble dryer, reduces the number of wrinkles, therefore limiting the need to iron. Secondly, air drying is much gentler on the fibres of your clothing, increasing the longevity of your garments. Finally, if the weather permits and you can air-dry outside, your clothing will be left with the refreshing scent of fresh air. 

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Only wash when full

An easy way to save energy in your home, as well as your own energy, is to only use your appliances when they are full. This means waiting until you have a full laundry basket to use the washing machine and tumble dryer, and waiting until your dishwasher is full until you put it on. Rather than doing small loads of laundry and dishes several times a week, which uses up your own energy as well as the energy in your house, limit yourself to 1 load of laundry and a maximum of 2 dishwasher cycles a week.

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Invest in efficient appliances 

Most modern appliances, such as washing machines, tumble dryers, and fridges, have a high-efficiency rating. Due to the growing environmental crisis, many appliance manufacturers are designing their products to run more environmentally consciously, therefore using less energy. If your appliances are aging, they are more likely to be using more energy. Consider updating your appliances to newer models. Although it may be costly in the short term, in the long run you will find yourself saving money on your energy bills, as well as helping save the environment. 

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Get a smart meter

A smart meter is an excellent way for you to monitor how much energy you are using and how much it is costing you. This is a great way for you to see how you use energy in your home, and evaluate where you can save energy.

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At Laundryheap we are constantly improving the way that we operate in a bid to become as environmentally conscious as possible. To book your Laundryheap order head to the Laundryheap website or download the free Laundryheap app.


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Create the perfect environment for a good night’s sleep 

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Getting a good night’s sleep is essential to our everyday health and wellness. But it isn’t always easy to fall asleep. Creating the perfect sleep environment is the first step to achieving a good night’s sleep. 

  • Make sure that your bed is comfortable
  • Change your bedding
  • Declutter
  • Remove electronics
  • Create a sanctuary 
  • Experiment with aromatherapy 
  • Darken your room
  • Decrease the temperature
  • Silence any noise

Make sure that your bed is comfortable 

The first step in creating the perfect sleep environment is to make sure that your bed is supporting you. Do you find yourself wasting hours trying to find a comfortable sleeping position? Or wake up with a stiff and sore body? If so, you may need to invest in a new mattress and/or bed. Our bodies respond differently to different mattress firmness, so explore different options before you commit to one. You may find that your current mattress is too firm or soft for your body. If your bed is old, or ill built, consider getting a new one that is strong and unlikely to fall apart. You want a bed that makes you feel comfortable, safe, and completely as ease. 

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Change your bedding 

Getting into a bed with freshly washed sheets is one of the greatest pleasures in the world, and can immediately make you feel as ease. Your bedding should be cleaned every two week to get rid of lingering bacteria and dead skin cells. To enhance the calming effect of fresh bedding, buy a detergent that you like the smell of. This will help you to feel happy and relaxed as you drift into sleep. 

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Declutter 

A cluttered room causes a cluttered mind. Your bedroom should be your sanctuary for sleep and nothing else. You should not be keeping any items in your bedroom that could distract you, most importantly exercise equipment and work materials. Instead, move all potential distractions to another room in your home where you do not have to see them, and therefore think about them. Out of sight, out of mind. 

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Remove electronics

Part of removing all distractions from your bedroom is removing all electronics. There should be no technology, including a TV, in your bedroom, and you should be avoiding it an hour before you sleep as well. Technology emits a blue light that suppresses the melatonin levels in your body that help you to sleep. Additionally, the content consumed on technology is likely to keep you awake due to its level of engagement, leaving you alert hours after you’ve put your phone down. Instead, switch off all of your technology, leave it in another room, and let your bedroom be a place of relaxation.

Create a sanctuary 

Your bedroom should be the most relaxing area in your home for you. As such, you should decorate it in a way that makes you feel at ease. For most people, this includes calming colours, soft furnishings, and maybe even a couple of plants. You want your bedroom to make you feel comfortable and safe, so decorate your room to reflect this. At the end of the day, when you enter your room, you want to instantly want to crawl into bed and drift off into a relaxing slumber. 

Experiment with aromatherapy 

Aromatherapy is the process of using aromatic materials, such as essential oils, to improve your psychological and physical wellbeing. Aromas, such as lavender, chamomile, and ylang-ylang can help create a serene environment that relaxes your body and mind and helps you drift off more easily to sleep. Try experimenting with a couple of essential oils, perhaps using them in a diffuser, to see if they have a positive impact helping you sleep. 

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Darken your room  

It’s best to sleep in the dark as this is when we produce melatonin, which helps relax the body and enables us to sleep. Our bodies are sensitive to light, and when it is bright we assume that we should be awake, regardless of what time it is. To ensure that your bedroom is perfectly dark invest in a pair of quality, well-lined, curtains and/or a blackout blind. This will help keep out any early morning sun or street lights. For further protection, you may want to keep an eye mask on hand for when light may break through your curtains. 

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Decrease the temperature

As the evening progresses your body’s temperature naturally drops to prepare you for sleep and begin the production of melatonin. If your room is too hot, draughty, or cold, you will find it difficult to fall asleep. The optimum temperature for your bedroom is 16-18 degrees Celsius. Curtains and/or blinds will help with cold and draughty rooms as they block out any wind coming from your window. For particularly draughty rooms you may want to buy a draught excluder to prevent air from your home being blown under your door. If your room is too hot, try cooling it down by opening a window and encouraging air flow into your room. Use a duvet with a lower tog and cotton sheets that are more breathable. Finally, tie back long hair and make sure that you stay hydrated. A room that is a comfortable temperature will help send you in to a comfortable sleep. 

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Silence any noise 

The final way to create the perfect atmosphere for a good night’s sleep is to silence any noise. Sudden, loud, and repetitive noise can hinder, awake, or startle us from sleep, leaving us feeling groggy and less refreshed the next day. Some noises are beyond our control, such as traffic or other outdoor noises. The best way to combat this is with double glazing that helps to muffle the sound. For the summer months, and for extra noise pollution protection, try using foam earplugs.

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Don’t let laundry get in the way of a blissful nights sleep. Let us take care of it for you. Book your Laundryheap order today by heading to the Laundryheap website or downloading the free Laundryheap app.