Flowers are blooming, days are getting longer and there are chocolate eggs all around us! Easter is a fabulous time to spend with family but it can also be a stressful time of chores and preparing. To egg you on, we’ve made a list to help you prepare better so your easter is less egg-hausting and more-eggciting.
Easter is a time for celebration, spending time with family, and eating lots of chocolate. Don’t let stains get in the way of your Easter fun, use these tips for removing stains from clothing and continue having a great weekend.
The sugar high that comes with eating copious amounts of chocolate, can easily lead to melted chocolate stained clothing.
To remove a chocolate stain you will need…
To begin removing your stain, use a butter knife or spoon to gently scrape as much of your chocolate off of your clothing as possible. Be careful to not push too hard when doing this as you don’t want to cause rips, or spread the chocolate stain further.
After you have removed as much chocolate as possible, flush your stain with cold water. Make sure that you are using cold and not hot water because hot water will only set your chocolate stain further into your clothing.
Once you have flushed out the stain, gently rub heavy-duty laundry detergent over the top of it. Leave your garment for 5 minutes to allow the laundry detergent to soak into the stain. After 5 minutes, soak your item in cold water for 15 minutes, gently rubbing over your stain every 3-5 minutes to loosen it.
Finally, remove your garment from the cold water and flush your stain once more with cold water. You should notice your stain has either disappeared or is lighter in colour. If either of these options is the case, wash your item as you usually would. The wash should remove any remnants of the stain. If, after you have washed your garment your stain remains, repeat the process.
Hot cross buns are complimented perfectly when topped with a generous amount of butter. If you accidentally drop some butter on your clothing, don’t panic, simply follow these instructions.
To remove a butter stain you will need…
If your butter stain has been caused by a blob of butter, begin the removal process by using a butter knife or spoon to gently lift as much solid butter from your clothing as possible. Be careful not to press too hard on your fabric as this can cause rips, and possibly spread the stain.
After you have removed any solid bits of butter, use a clean white cloth, or paper towel, to gently dab the stain. Make sure that you are dabbing and not rubbing, as rubbing will cause your stain to set further into your clothing.
Once you have removed as much excess oil from the stain as possible, sprinkle a generous amount of cornstarch, baking soda, or talcum powder over your stain. Allow your powder to sit on your stain for at least 15 minutes to give it an ample amount of time to absorb as much oil as possible. After 15 minutes, gently brush the powder off of your item.
Next, add a generous helping of liquid laundry detergent to your stain, and use your fingers to gently rub it in. Leave your detergent for at least 15 minutes.
Finally, wash your item as you usually would. If your stain has not been removed, repeat the process.
A fun Easter activity is painting eggs bright colours using acrylic paint. Unfortunately, acrylic paint is incredibly easy to drip on yourself.
To remove wet acrylic paint you will need…
Wet acrylic paint acts very similarly to water-based paint, which makes it easier to remove. To begin removing your stain, place it under cold running water. The water will flush-out the acrylic paint, so leave your garment under the running water until it begins to run clear.
Once you are satisfied that your stain has been sufficiently flushed-out, place an ample amount of heavy-duty laundry detergent over your stain and leave it for 15 minutes. Your laundry detergent will lift any remaining acrylic paint.
Finally, wash your item as you usually would. When taking your stained garment out of the washing machine, make sure to check that the stain has been completely removed before drying. If your stain hasn’t been completely removed, repeat the process.
To remove dried acrylic paint you will need…
If you leave your acrylic paint stain to dry, the paint is slightly harder to remove, but not impossible. The paint forms a plastic layer that acts similarly to an oil-based stain, meaning that flushing it out won’t be effective.
To begin removing dried acrylic paint, apply an ample amount of rubbing alcohol, nail varnish remover, or alcohol-based hairspray to a clean white cloth and rub your stain. Before rubbing your stain, you may want to check the liquid you’re using won’t further stain your item by rubbing a small amount on an inconspicuous area. Continuously rub at your stain until you visibly begin to see it lighten in colour.
Once you are satisfied with the lightened colour of your stain, you can proceed with the same method as removing wet acrylic paint.
Easter is a great time to get crafty. Not only can you decorate eggs, but you can make Easter baskets, Easter masks, and even an Easter pinata. Crafting is a great way to keep occupied over the Easter period but also means there is an increased risk of glue being spilled on clothes.
To remove water-based glue you will need…
Before you begin removing your glue stain, you need to wait for it to completely dry. You will know that it has dried when it goes clear.
Once dried, use a butter knife or spoon to scrape off as much of the glue as possible. Don’t try and remove the whole patch of dried glue as this could cause your garment to rip. Instead, focus on removing the top, hard, layer of the stain.
When you have removed your hard layer of glue, submerge your item in cold water for 24 hours. Make sure that your water is cold as hot water will only set the glue stain further into your clothing. The cold water will soften the remaining glue and make it easier to remove.
After 24 hours, remove your garment from the cold water, and immediately pour a small amount of liquid laundry detergent directly onto your stain, and gently work it in with your fingers.
Once you are satisfied that your liquid laundry detergent has been completely rubbed in, wash your garment as you usually would. If, after washing, your stain persists, repeat the process.
To remove superglue stains you will need…
As with removing water-based glue, you need to wait for your superglue stain to completely dry before beginning the removal process. Once your stain has completely dried, you can try and remove some of it using a spoon or butter knife, however, do not expect to lift much.
Apply a small amount of acetone to a clean cloth or cotton wool pad, and gently dap your superglue stain on both sides of your garment. The acetone will break down the superglue, softening the stain and making it easier to lift from your clothing.
Once you notice the superglue becoming loose, use a dry, clean, cloth or toothbrush to gently brush away the loosened glue. You can repeat the acetone and brushing process as many times as necessary to remove the majority of your stain.
If you notice that your stain is being particularly stubborn, you can use an emery board or fine-grained sandpaper to gently wear it down. Be very careful when doing this, as you want to lift the glue without damaging your clothes fibers.
Finally, wash your garment as you usually would, checking that your stain has been completely lifted before drying it. If your stain has not been lifted, repeat the process.
Whether you’re enjoying an Easter egg hunt in the garden or playing some Easter-themed sports, grass stains are inevitable when it comes to Easter fun.
To remove grass stains you will need…
Begin the grass stain removal process by soaking your garment in cold water for 15 minutes. The cold water will soften the stain, and make it easier to lift. Make sure that your water is cold, as hot water will only set the stain further into your clothing.
After 15 minutes, use your hands to rub laundry detergent directly onto your stain. You can use liquid detergent for this, however, powder detergent is particularly effective at removing stubborn outdoor stains.
Once you are satisfied that you have adequately rubbed your detergent into the stain, wash your item as you usually would.
If your stain has not been completely lifted after washing, you may want to consider repeating the process or using rubbing alcohol or hairspray on your stain. The alcohol found in these products breaks down the green pigments in grass stains.
If you are using rubbing alcohol, dab a small amount onto a clean cloth, and gently sponge it over your stain. When you see the colour lifting, rinse your garment in cold water and continue with the usual removal process.
To use hairspray, spray a liberal amount over your stain and wait for it to completely dry. Once it has dried, used a soft-bristled brush, such as a toothbrush, to scrub at your stain. When you notice the colour begin to fade, flush out the hairspray with cold water, and continue with the usual stain removal process.
Easter is supposed to be spent with friends and family, not worrying about doing the laundry. Book your Laundryheap service and let us take a load off.
To book your Laundryheap service, simply head to the Laundryheap website or download the free Laundryheap app.
We will all be spending this Easter weekend in self-isolation. But that does not mean that we can’t have a fun-filled Easter. Here are 10 fun activities to do in self-isolation this Easter weekend.
Easter egg hunts are an Easter weekend staple that doesn’t have to stop because you’re in self-isolation. Whilst shopping for your essentials, pick up some Easter eggs of varying sizes. Utilise the space that your home has to offer and hide them in new and inventive places- think inside a plant pot, hidden under a lampshade, etc. If you have a garden, utilise that space as well.
To make the hunt more interesting why not make it themed? Or leave clues scattered around your home that hint to where the eggs may be. You can even video call your friends and family and get them involved.
Egg decorating is just as fun for children as it is for adults. Plus, decorating eggs provides you with colourful new Easter decorations for your home. Either hard boil or poke a small hole into the bottom and top of an egg to drain all of the liquid from inside of it. Grab all the crafty things in your home together- pens, paint, googly eyes, pipe cleaners, cotton balls, anything at all- and let your imagination run wild. You could even make this activity into a game and award a prize for the most inventive egg decoration.
Easter nests are easy to make and come with the added bonus of being edible.
You will need:
Begin by melting your chocolate either in a saucepan or in the microwave- make sure to keep a close eye on it to ensure that it doesn’t burn. Once the chocolate is melted stir in 3 tbsp of your golden syrup and your cereal of choice. Stir the mixture well to make sure that ALL the cereal is covered in chocolate. Spoon your mixture into cake cases and complete your birds’ nest with a sprinkling of chocolate eggs. Leave them to cool in the fridge for 30 minutes before digging in to an eggcellent Easter treat.
Bingo may come with connotations of pensioners but Easter bingo is fun for all ages. It’s much the same as normal bingo, but instead of calling out numbers you call out Easter related words. You can even make the game more interesting by including Easter themed images. If you head over to Pinterest, there are an abundance of free Easter bingo print-outs you can use, or you can spend an afternoon making your own before settling down for a night of friendly Easter competition.
Get messy this Easter and finger paint your own Easter bunnies. All you need is an array of colourful paints, plain paper and your own fingers. This activity is perfect for keeping your children, and your inner child, entertained for an afternoon. Just make sure that all hands are washed before they touch anything other than their canvas.
Who said that Pinata’s had to be saved for birthdays? Why not get creative and make your very own Easter chick piñata?
You will need:
Firstly, blow up you balloon and tie off the end. Then, cover your balloon in strips of newspaper dipped in glue, 3 layers should be sufficient. Once the glue has dried, cut off the bottom so that you can insert your sweets. Mark on the eyes and mouth, before painting the balloon yellow until no newspaper is showing. Next, cut your crepe paper into 2 inch squares. You will need to completely cover the balloon, however they don’t all need to be uniform. Cover your piñata with the squares, being careful to avoid the eyes and mouth. Use your card to form a beak for your chick by cutting out two triangles. Draw on your chicks eyes, or, if you have them available, use googly eyes. For the finishing touch, cover your piñata in feathers and insert your sweets, making sure to glue the bottom of the balloon back on to seal them in. Grab your household and enjoy an Easter Fiesta!
Awaken your competitive spirit this Easter and host your very own Easter Olympic Games. Gather your household and set a series of challenges to be completed, each with an Easter twist. Think, egg and spoon race, bunny hop challenge, and even pin the tail on the bunny rabbit. Award each challenge with a bronze, silver and gold award, until the person with the most gold medals is declared the winner. Take your Easter Olympic games one step further by creating your own medals out of yogurt lids and string. May the best athlete win!
Another way to get your households creativity flowing this Easter is by making Easter masks.
You will need:
Firstly, cut out two eye holes so that the mask wearer can sufficiently see. Next, think about what Easter character you want to create. Are you going to be a chicken? A bunny? Or maybe a lamb. Once you’ve decided on your character, use your crafty materials to construct your character however you see fit. Once done, and any wet materials are dried, cut a length of string that can reach around the back of your head without being too tight or loose. Use two bits of sellotape to secure each end of your string to your mask and then show off your creation to the rest of your household.
Sometimes the best way to spend Easter is by relaxing with your loved ones, feasting on Easter eggs and watching Easter films. There are plenty of films to be enjoyed by all the family, and plenty of chocolate to eat, so don’t forget to have some downtime this Easter weekend.
From all of the team at Laundryheap, Happy Easter!
