New Year’s period is the busiest for the restaurant industry with families dining out. It can also be demanding for managers to manage all the stock and sort out the decorations. To help you, we’ve come up with 3 tips for preparing your restaurant for New Year’s Eve.
1. Keep The Menu Simple
We all love food, especially food during the holiday season. Your customers will no doubt be coming to indulge in the delicious festive menu.
It’s important that you keep the menu simple – from the starters, main course, desserts, and drinks. If you want to go a step further, promote your restaurant online. Show off your delicious New Year’s Eve menu and post it on your social media pages.
When is it too early to remove Christmas decorations? Certainly not before New Year’s Day! Keep the Christmas spirit alive by keeping the decorations and trees up!
Don’t forget the music too! Everybody loves Christmas songs! They will no doubt make your customers burst with joy and hang on to the Christmas season just a little bit longer!
At the end of the day, the ambience and overall vibe of your restaurant make a big difference to the overall experience.
3. Partner Up With Laundryheap
Our last tip for preparing your restaurant for New Year’s Eve is to partner up with a laundry service. With services like Laundryheap, you won’t worry about doing the laundry ever again. Laundryheap will tackle any stains on your staff’s aprons, table linen and towels.
All of your items will be cleaned to perfection and returned to your restaurant within 24 hours!
By partnering up with a laundry service, you will plan better for New Year’s Eve and it will also keep your staff happy as they don’t need to take their uniforms home to clean.
It’s the most wonderful time of the year! Christmas brings us the luxury of presents and togetherness. Amongst all that, it is a time when you need plenty of preparation with all the hosting, decorating, shopping, and eating (our favourite part!). Leaving all these to the last week will set off panic stations. To get you in the festive spirit, here are 4 ways to prepare for Christmas!
1. Make a List and a Budget
Christmas is associated with love, joy, and togetherness (don’t let the Grinch tell you otherwise!). To help you prepare for Christmas and stay organised, make a list of people you want to send gifts and Christmas cards to; Friends, family and even your children’s teachers!
It’s also worth creating a budget so you don’t have to worry about breaking the bank by the time Christmas day comes around.
2. Get The Kids Involved
The magical part of Christmas is spending time with family. It’s also an opportunity to get the kids involved with decorations. Kids no doubt love presents (thank you Santa Claus!) but encouraging them to get involved in the planning helps you to prepare for Christmas!
Kids are creative and will no doubt have a lot of inspiration on how they want the Christmas tree to look like.
In addition, get the kids in the kitchen and bake cookies together! Homemade chocolate cookies and eggnog lattes are crowd-pleasers!
We can’t begin to imagine how full the laundry basket is at this time of the year. All those events and hosting get-togethers make your laundry heavier than Santa’s bag of presents!
It’s always tempting to say ‘I’ll do it later’ but Laundryheap can help you prepare for Christmas. Having laundry done has never been easier.
By booking with Laundryheap, your laundry will be collected on the day and returned to you within 24 hours! No waiting, no Christmas stress and no laundry ruining the most wonderful time of the year!
4. Keep an Eye Out For The Mail Delivery Times
People love cards and presents as much as we love doing laundry but be on the lookout for the mail delivery times. If you have friends and family that live far away, you will likely be relying on the mail to deliver your Christmas cards and presents.
As you are aware, the post office becomes very busy during the holiday season, so we highly recommend buying your stamps early and sending out everything a little early to beat the rush.
December is a busy month for everyone but now we’ve told you 4 ways to prepare for Christmas, preparation should be easier!
T’is the season to be jolly and for your wardrobes to be packed with Christmas sweaters! After all, it wouldn’t feel the same without them – they set the tone and are great for those family pictures. However, not looking after your sweaters can ruin the most wonderful time of the year. To spread the festive cheer, we’ll guide you on how to care for your Christmas sweaters!
Read The Care Label
To avoid any laundry mistakes, shrinkage or material being ruined, it’s best to read the label for the best care for your Christmas sweaters. The label should say what type of cycle/settings to use on your washing machine.
If you don’t come across a label, we do recommend washing it depending on the material it is made from.
Wool Christmas Sweaters
Many Christmas sweaters are made of wool so they should be washed on the wool cycle in your washing machine with low-temperature settings. The great thing about wool, as a material, is that it’s an antibacterial material so you won’t need to wash it regularly.
We strongly advise against putting your wool garment in the tumble dryer because it doesn’t react well to heat.
Cashmere Christmas Sweaters
Cashmere is no different to wool when it comes to caring instructions. It should be washed on low-temperature settings on the washing machine. To maintain their softness, it’s best to turn the cashmere sweaters inside out before putting them in the washing machine. Much like wool, it should never be tumble dried.
Washing your cashmere sweaters by hand, in warm water, is also another option you can take when caring for your cashmere sweaters.
Furthermore, we do recommend using steam iron for the best results as opposed to ironing. This is because ironing can ruin the texture of the sweaters and your sweater may look slightly out of shape.
We hope this guide has given you great insights on how to properly care for your Christmas sweaters!
Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year, especially with a well-cleaned and stain-free Christmas sweater!
If the festive season is keeping you too busy to do your laundry, don’t worry – Laundryheap is available to help!
Just book a service so we can collect your laundry, clean them to perfection and bring them back to you within 24 hours!
Halloween day is here! The spooky decorations are up, and the delicious cookies are baked. While it is an exciting day for the family and especially the kids, there are still some scary stains that lurk on costumes and clothes. To avoid a laundry nightmare, here is our guide to removing common Halloween stains.
1. Chocolate
Who doesn’t love chocolate? It’s delicious but as far as Halloween stains go, they can be devilishly stubborn to remove. It’s important you have the patience of an angel and treat the chocolate stains with care and caution.
The first step in removing chocolate stains is to immediately treat them with a butter knife and rinse your garment with cold water so it doesn’t spread across the fabric.
Lastly, pour liquid detergent into the chocolate stain and after 5 minutes, soak the garment for 15 minutes in cold water and start to rub the stained area.
It wouldn’t be Halloween without Pumpkins but unfortunately, pumpkins are common Halloween stains. Although they look frightening, the good news is that they are easy to remove.
To remove them, inspect your garment closely and remove any pumpkin bits. After you’ve done that, wash them under cold water. Then pre-treat the stain with a laundry detergent and let it sit for 5 minutes. Finally, begin your laundry cycle.
Fake blood looks scary on the kids’ faces as it does when it drops on their costumes, clothes or even on the sofa! Because it’s made of syrup and dye, it can be a stubborn stain to tackle on Halloween.
Your best bet when removing fake blood stains is to apply white vinegar and put it in water overnight before returning to it the next day to wash it with detergent.
4. Drink Stains
If you’re hosting a Halloween party, one of the most common drinks is fruit punches (for the kids). You shouldn’t worry if your kids do make a mess and spill this drink on their clothes because the stains are easy to remove. All you need do is rinse the stained area with cold water and then wash it at 40 degrees.
Removing these common Halloween stains will be inevitable but don’t let them stop you from having a grand time with your family! Happy trick-or-treating!
A friendly reminder that if you need help, Laundryheap offers laundry services to tackle those stains for you and within 24 hours, we’ll bring your clothes back as good as new!
Spooky season is well and truly upon us! Whether you’re trick or treating or scaring yourself with a horror movie, Halloween is an exciting time. For parents, it can be overwhelming with all the planning. Just the thought of shopping for costumes, baking Halloween cookies and decorating the house can be haunting to hear! To lift your spirits, we’re here to help you out! Here is how to prepare for Halloween!
1. Get The Kids Involved
Kids love sweets and chocolates on Halloween (and we don’t blame them!) but if you want to prepare for Halloween, you should get the kids involved in decorating the house. Kids are creative and no doubt will have fun coming up with ideas to create a scary atmosphere at your house.
In addition, you should use Halloween as a time to introduce your kids to baking. If your Halloween plans include staying in and watching a scary horror with the family, then why not enjoy the night with homemade Halloween cookies? It’s sure to be a scream!
Don’t forget the pumpkins! It wouldn’t be Halloween without them. Ask your kids to carve the Pumpkins so they can truly show their artistic side and add an extra spooky vibe to your house!
Preparing for Halloween costumes requires time and patience but if you leave your Halloween shopping to the last day, you’ll be rushing and miss out on the best deals.
Ask your kids what costumes they like to wear and buy them as soon as they’ve made their decision.
We do recommend the idea of renting costumes as it can save you more money rather than buying them.
Even if you don’t plan on going out and prefer a nice cosy night inside, you’ll still get the chance to interact with the trick-or-treaters! You don’t want to scare the trick-or-treaters away by telling them you have no treats. Make sure you at least have a bucket of sweets that you can hand out to them!
Halloween is a time that the whole community gets involved so make an impression on the neighbourhood by stacking up pumpkins, spider webs and other scary Halloween decorations!
4. Don’t Ghost Your Laundry Duties
It’s tempting to tell yourself ‘I’ll do the laundry later’, especially when you have a whole week to prepare for Halloween. However, with our laundry services, you no longer have to ghost your laundry duties!
That’s right, Laundryheap is here to take care of your laundry so you can focus on spending the week preparing for Halloween.
All you need to do is book a service with us and we’ll collect your dirty laundry within a day. Once cleaned, it will be returned to your house within 24 hours!
Travelling is fulfilling; you experience new places, and food and learn about different cultures. In the midst of travelling, it does come with challenges because wondering what to pack and planning for the trip can be overwhelming. What if we told you that it doesn’t have to be that way? In this blog, we will go through the 5 things to remember when travelling!
1. Research The Entry Requirements
Every country has its own requirements to enter. While you’ll always need a passport or ID, there are other documents that don’t catch our attention as much. Keep a look out for VISA requirements but fortunately, countries like Bahrain make the process seamless with digital eVisa registering.
In addition, vaccines and other health documents are important things to remember when travelling. Follow the protocols.
2. Prepare Financially
Travelling by plane is not expensive but touring the country can be pricey so keep a budget. There are things you can do to prepare for your trip financially.
For starters, it always helps to know the currency exchange and to see how your currency compares to the local one. Also, find out if your credit card can be used on your trip and contact your bank just so they don’t block your card from being used overseas.
3. Use a Laundry Service
Packing dirty clothes on your way back home can be tedious. Many people don’t do their laundry while on holiday because launderettes can be expensive.
Once booked, we’ll collect your laundry on the same day and return it back within 24 hours to your hotel! It saves you time and money on the tedious laundry chores and it makes your trip better!
4. Find Out What Your Hotel Offers
If you’re on a budget trip, the chances are that your hotel may not have everything you need. It’s worth remembering, when travelling, that you’ll probably need to bring your own toiletries or a good towel that you feel comfortable in.
Most hotels will usually have towels and basic toiletries but just in case they don’t, be prepared and remember the essentials.
5. Remember To Pack Plug Adapter Before
Plug adapters are essential things to remember when travelling abroad. We need them to charge our phones and laptops. Avoid buying them at your destination because they can be quite expensive.
Always be prepared and pack a plug adapter beforehand to save you money and the hassle of going from shop to shop looking for one.
Travelling is a great experience and an opportunity to create memories with friends and family.
These are 5 things to remember when travelling but perhaps the most important thing to remember is to have fun and enjoy your trip!
School is back and the familiar feeling of busier laundry chores also returns. For parents, this is a source of frustration because school uniforms can overfill the laundry basket. However, it doesn’t have to be this way. With better laundry preparations, the new school year can be managed better!
Here are our tips for better laundry preparations for the school year.
1. Separate The School Clothes
Separating school clothes from normal clothes does help with organisation. After all, school clothes don’t just include uniforms, but they also include sports kits and socks. Separating school clothes from other clothes prevents the problem of overloading the washing machine. In addition, it’s advised to turn everything inside out to reduce the probability of colours fading.
2. Look For Any Stains
The weather in September is still hot; typically, kids love to play sports during lunch breaks, which increases the likelihood of any mud stains. If your kid loves art, paint stains are also common. In general, ink stains are the most common throughout the school year.
For better laundry preparations, make sure you make your own stain remover. This can be usually done by mixing baking soda and white vinegar together. Highly effective against mud stains.
3. Book a Laundry Service
Booking a laundry service is a huge time saver for parents. Laundryheap is a reliable and convenient laundry service. Think of it like Uber but for laundry. Parents already lead busy lifestyles. Daily jobs, cooking, taking care of kids etc. the list is endless but booking a service with Laundryheap will help with laundry preparations because we’ll do the laundry for you! Just book a service and we’ll clean your kids’ school uniforms to perfection!
4. Introduce Your Kids To Laundry
Teaching your kids about laundry breeds discipline and work ethic. These are important life skills. Tell your kids about the basics of laundry; putting clothes in the basket, separating colours, using detergents, folding clothes to remove wrinkles etc. Not only does this help laundry preparations for you but your kids will become more independent.
The new school year can be challenging for everyone involved as it takes time to settle after a long summer. With better laundry preparations, the chores will be managed just fine!
Bahrain is a country located in Western Asia and a major tourist attraction for many due to its rich history. In a country that is known for its architecture, culture and museums, visitors have plenty of things to do. Here are the amazing sights to see in Bahrain.
1. Muharraq
One of the sights to see in Bahrain is Muharraq. If you are visiting Bahrain to explore its history further, we recommend Muharraq because it dates back to the Dilmun Civilisation and used to be the capital. The most iconic place to see in Muharraq is the Sheikh Ebrahim Bin Mohammed Al Khalifa Centre for Culture and Research. A place that is enriched with heritage.
Muharraq isn’t just known for its historical attractions, however. If you love football, you can visit the local team’s stadium too.
2. Bahrain National Museum
For a proper dive into Bahrain’s history, we recommend visiting the national museum in Bahrain. You’ll marvel at the architecture around it as you are walking toward the museum. There is so much more to offer when you go inside the museum.
3. Bahrain National Theatre
Bahrain’s national theatre is a must-see sight in Bahrain due to its majestic presence and iconic status in the Arab world. Currently, it is the third-largest theatre in the Arab world with a seating capacity of 1,001! If you love entertainment, you’ll love this theatre for its charm!
4. Bahrain International Circuit
The Bahrain International Circuit is one of the best sporting sights to see in Bahrain. The circuit has become a big attraction among Formula One fans and traditionally hosts the Grand Prix. Not only was this circuit the first in the Middle East to host a Formula One Grand Prix but it was also awarded the best ‘Organised Grand Prix’. If you really love cars, you can hop on a race car and ride along the F-1 track!
5. Wahooo! Water Park
If you’re travelling with family, the Wahooo! Water park is a beautiful sight to see in Bahrain. The waterpark is packed with rides, games, and pools to relax in. You and your family will have a great day out in this water park, especially if you go on super fun rides like Master Blaster, Matt Racer, Wave Pool etc.
Your clothes will get wet but you can always contact us to help you get them cleaned and ironed!
The water park is in the city centre that is home to the malls and restaurants. Once your family have experienced the water park, you can go look around the shops in Bahrain or go for a nearby meal.
The sights in Bahrain are breathtaking with the perfect mixture of historical and modern attractions. If you are planning to visit, we wish you a great trip to a great country!
If you are staying for a week, consider booking a service with Laundryheap! We can handle your laundry for you while you enjoy your trip with no laundry hassle!
Abu Dhabi is the capital and second-most populous city of the United Arab Emirates (after Dubai). The city is located on an island in the Persian Gulf, off the Central West Coast.
The whole of the UAE is home to over 200 nationalities, with Emiratis making up roughly 20% of the total population. It’s such a popular destination for Expats. This list will tell you all you need to know about moving to Abu Dhabi.
What is it known for?
The capital of the UAE is a culturally unique city on the shore of the Arabian Sea. Abu Dhabi has been the traditional home of the federal government. The emirate owns 95% of the UAE’s oil production. As a result, the city provides a wealth of opportunities to ex-pats by allowing residents to live tax-free.
Abu Dhabi Island is the centre of the city, connected to the mainland by three bridges and surrounded by several smaller islands. The last decade has seen the city concentrate on developing its tourism, education, financial and cultural sectors.
Things to know before you go
Before you go to the UAE, you will need to apply for a visa. Most noteworthy, you will need a work permit, residence visa and an Emirates ID card. Often employers will apply for the visas for you and once granted, they last for up to two years. To get a residence visa for your family, you will need to show you earn at least AED 4,000 a month.
Information to know once you arrive
The main airport in the city is the Abu Dhabi International Airport, the second-largest in the UAE after Dubai. Another important detail to know before arrival is the currency, which is the UAE dirham (AED or Dhs) and is pegged against the US dollar at US$ 1: AED 3.6725.
Arabic is the leading language spoken in Abu Dhabi, with English generally spoken throughout. As well to English, the other common languages spoken are Farsi, Hindi and Urdu.
Where to live?
One of the most desirable areas to live in the city is The Corniche on Abu Dhabi Island. The area is home to many mixed-use developments, hotels and malls. Similarly, the highly sought-after modern luxury developments found on other islands such as Al Reem prove very popular with Expats. Saadiyat Island is currently being developed with a host of villas and high-end apartment blocks and will be home to about 160,000 residents.
While most Expats move to one of these Island suburbs, there are plenty of suburbs on the mainland suitable for potential Expats, such as Khalifa City along the Abu Dhabi – Dubai Road.
The weather
The climate of the UAE features a desert climate with hot summers and cold winters. Most days are sunny and pleasant except in the middle of the summer season (July – August) when it is VERY hot in the UAE.
As a result, the nicest period is during wintertime, which runs from October to March. The weather is moderate and pleasant during this time, making it ideal for sightseeing and outdoor activities.
Moving to Abu Dhabi with family
The UAE is a very family-friendly country and a place you can make a fresh start with your spouse and children. Fortunately, English is widely spoken in Abu Dhabi, which makes the initial move more comfortable.
Family is highly valued throughout the United Arab Emirates, and this will give you a simple way to bond with locals and new colleagues. As for Education in Abu Dhabi, private or international schools are abundant, so there is plenty of option for your kids.
What is the food in Abu Dhabi like?
Brunch is very popular in Abu Dhabi, and beyond in the UAE. It is not uncommon for people to settle for double or even triple brunches in one day. Yes, you read that correctly, some people will repeatedly jump from one brunch to another once the weekend comes round.
One staple food found all over the region is the national fruit: dates. You will see these fruits being sold everywhere and will often find them incorporated into local recipes. As well as these regional delicacies, you will be able to access almost every type of dining in Abu Dhabi, from high-end to fast food. Because of its diverse population, Abu Dhabi has a plethora of different cuisines, as you’d find in any big city.
Another reason to go to Abu Dhabi is that Laundryheap operates there! We offer the people of Abu Dhabi a same-day laundry and dry cleaning collection with free next-day delivery.
To learn more about Laundryheap, visit our website or download the free app on iOS or Android!
Nothing says it’s picnic season like the summer holidays and July – national picnic month. To mark this occasion, we’ve compiled a list of 5 cheap picnic ideas for you and your family. After all, a picnic is one of the joys of the summer so why not enjoy it even more on a budget?
1. Simple Appetiser
Make the most out of the sun shining by planning appetisers that will please the family. Picnics would be incomplete without appetisers after all.
For cheap picnic ideas, you can’t go wrong with salad. Not only are they cheap but they are easy to make and simple to transport. Some examples of salad recipes would be Greek salad, potato salad or fruity pasta salad.
If you want more variety, go with hummus and carrots to get the picnic rolling! You’ll see your family members’ faces light up with excitement as they go for their first hummus dips but remember to bring the napkins!
2. Simple Food
Simple foods are made for picnics. You don’t have to cook a big meal instead you can just bring budget-friendly food from the local supermarkets. Pasta, sandwiches, wraps or even canned tuna are all cheap picnic ideas that the whole family will love! If you ask us, sandwiches are the best budget-friendly picnic food because they don’t take much space in the basket.
Don’t forget about the drinks, plastic cutlery, and rubbish bags!
If you do leave food stains on your clothes, don’t stress! Our services have got you covered!
3. Bake Desserts or Use What You Have At Home
Great memories always include desserts! To save money, bake a dessert at home! Chocolate brownies or banana cakes are simple to make and bring to the picnic. You’d be surprised at how much money you’ll save by avoiding buying already-made desserts.
However, if you’ve left it late and urgently need desserts, don’t hesitate to buy muffins or cookies from coffee shops to bring to the picnic. They don’t usually cost a lot!
4. Bring an Ice Cooler
Additionally, ice coolers will save you money as you don’t need to constantly buy ice every time! Days prior to the picnic, prepare well by filling your ice cube tray and keeping it in your freezer.
If you have ice cream at home, take it with you and put it in the ice cooler. Not only does it make your kids happy but it will save you from spending money on ice creams from ice cream vans around the park!
Don’t overcomplicate your picnics, they don’t have to be fussy, but they do need to be fun! Look for parks that are free and have good opening hours. Do a little research about the parks so you are aware of the rules. If you are planning a BBQ, look for BBQ-friendly parks.
Ideally, if you are with kids, find somewhere they have free access to a playground or sports place. Or bring a kite, ball or frisbee to provide entertainment!
These are the cheap picnic ideas for you to consider. Spending a lot of money isn’t needed to have a great picnic this summer. All you need is great company, simplicity and great weather!
Enjoy your picnic on national picnic month!
To learn more about Laundryheap, visit our website or download the free app on iOS or Android.
