It’s hard to know when and how to wash your microfibre cloths, so we’ve made this handy guide to help.
What is a microfibre cloth?
How long do microfibre cloths last?
How often should you wash microfibre cloths?
Wash
Dry
What is a microfibre cloth?
A microfibre cloth is a cloth made from very small fibres of polyester and nylon. These tiny fibres are split, creating more fibre surface and making the cloth incredibly absorbent. This makes them excellent for cleaning dirt, dust, and bacteria from surfaces around your house.
If looked after appropriately, your microfibre cloth can last for up to 5 years. Of course, this also depends on how often you use your cloth and what for.
You should be washing your microfibre cloths on a weekly basis, especially if they are regularly used. If your cloth is heavily soiled or pungent, it should be washed immediately.
Wash
Microfibre cloths can be washed in a washing machine on a warm or hot water cycle with mild detergent. Do not use fabric softener as you will clog the open spaces in the fabric, making the cloth less absorbent. Ideally, you should wash your microfibre cloths by themselves as they are likely to cling to any other material, such as cotton. You can, however, wash your microfibre cloths with other microfibre items, such as clothing or towels.
If you would prefer to hand wash your microfibre cloths, fill a basin with hot water and mild detergent. Use your hands, or a soft-bristled brush, to gently scrub at the fabric, removing any stains and releasing embedded dirt. Once you are satisfied that your cloth is adequately clean, thoroughly rinse it by running it under clean, warm, water.
Dry
To ensure that your microfibre cloth lasts, it’s best to leave it to air dry. Exposing your cloth to high-temperatures damages the fibres and will render your cloth useless. Instead, leave your cloth to completely air dry, refraining from using it until it is completely dry. Luckily, microfibre is an incredibly fast-drying fabric.
Rather than washing your own microfibre cloths, or any cloth for that matter, why not give them to Laundryheap? We will pick up your cloths, clean them, and redeliver them to you all within 24 hours. Head to the Laundryheap website or download the free Laundryheap app to book your service today.
Having healthy mental wellbeing helps us to cope with the challenges we face on a daily basis. Since the beginning of the COVID 19 pandemic, it’s safe to say that we have, at times, all struggled with our mental wellbeing. These 10 tips can help us to look after our wellbeing, and can lead to us living healthier and happier lives.
Speak out
Practice mindfulness
Take time for yourself
Step away from technology
Be active
Spend time outdoors
Eat well
Sleep well
Try something new
Seek help
Speak out
When we are feeling low it can be incredibly tempting to shut ourselves away from everyone. This, however, can lead to feelings of isolation and loneliness. Instead, it can be helpful to reach out to a friend or family member, and explain to them how you are feeling. Talking about our feelings can help relieve some of our more negative emotions and prevent negative thoughts from building up.
Mindfulness is all about being in the present and being aware of your thoughts, feelings, and surroundings. It is a practice that can help us feel more centered and aware of how we are feeling and why. Our daily lives are often incredibly hectic, which is why it may be useful to pick a specific time to practice your mindfulness. You can be mindful wherever you are, be that at home alone or on a train to or from work. Wherever you are, take a few minutes to observe your surroundings, your feelings, and your thoughts, and live in the moment.
Self-care is specific to each individual. Whether you are doing a face mask and watching rubbish TV, getting through your laundry, or even just having an extra hour in bed, it’s important for us to take time out of our day to do something that we enjoy.
Technology has improved our everyday lives in a number of ways, however, it can also be incredibly draining. Part of looking after our mental wellbeing is being able to step away from technology. Staring at screens, be that a phone, laptop, or TV, is draining both physically on our eyes and mentally, so stepping away from them during various parts of the day will keep our minds active and eyes healthy.
When we are active we release endorphins, which help to make us feel happy. In order to maintain healthy mental wellbeing, it’s important to take part in regular activities. Exercise can be particularly useful if you are feeling stressed, angry, or anxious, as moving your body will often release these emotions and leave you in a better headspace.
In addition to being active, it is important to spend time outdoors and around nature. Research has shown that being exposed to fresh air and the scents of flowers and plants helps relieve stress and anxiety. Spending time outside will also help to limit screen time and could help us be more mindful.
It’s vital that we eat a healthy and balanced diet in order for us to have healthy mental wellbeing. Eating regular meals, packed with vitamins and nutrients, can help us to find stability and routine when we may not be experiencing it in our everyday lives. In addition, eating well helps our brains stay active and alert, therefore helping us be more mindful on a daily basis.
On average, adults need between 6 and 9 hours of sleep every day. It’s important that we get a good amount of sleep so that our bodies have time to repair themselves, and we give our brains the space to consolidate memories and process information. There are several ways to achieve a better night’s sleep, including avoiding screens before bed, drinking herbal tea, and establishing a routine.
Constantly learning and experiencing new things helps us to enjoy life and maintain healthy mental wellbeing. If you are feeling particularly low or unhappy, it may be helpful to try and do something creative to unleash your emotions and help you to process your thoughts. Trying new and creative things is fun, whilst also keeping our brains active.
If you are really struggling with your mental wellbeing, there is no shame in seeking help. Reach out to charities and organisations that can offer you the support that you need. Alternatively, if you don’t know where to turn to, speak to friends and family and ask them for their support. It’s much better to talk to someone about your feelings than keep them bottled up.
Laundryheap is here for all of your laundry needs. From washing to dry cleaning, we can have your clothing picked up, cleaned, and re-delivered to you within 24 hours. To book your Laundryheap service, simply head to the Laundryheap website or download the free Laundryheap app.
Mouthwash is very effective at freshening breath, reducing tooth decay, and whitening teeth. If you happen to dribble some on your clothing, follow these simple steps as quickly as possible to remove the stain.
Remove excess
Pre-treat
Wash
Check
Dry
Laundryheap
Remove excess
Begin removing your stain by lifting any excess mouthwash from your garment. To do this, turn your item inside out and place the stained area under a cold running tap. This will help to flush out any lingering mouthwash and should make the stain easier to lift. Make sure that your tap is cold before placing your stain under it, as hot water will only set the stain further into your garment.
Next, pre-treat your stain using liquid laundry detergent. Simply pour a small dose of detergent directly on top of your stain, and leave it to soak for 15 minutes. After 15 minutes, gently rub the liquid laundry detergent with a soft-bristled brush to loosen it, and leave it to soak for a further 15 minutes.
Wash
After pre-treating your stain, check your garments care label and use the hottest wash setting applicable. Don’t rinse the pre-treatment liquid laundry detergent from your garment before washing it, as it will help with the final removal of your stain.
Once your cycle has finished, take your garment out and fully check whether your stain has been lifted. If your stain remains on your item, repeat the previous steps. If your stain has been removed, you can proceed to the drying process.
You can dry your garment using a tumble dryer or by air drying. If your item has remnants of a mouthwash stain and is white, placing your garment to dry in direct sunlight can help lift the remaining stain.
Once your item has dried, and you are satisfied that your mouthwash stain has been removed, put your garment away, ready to re-wear.
If you have stained an item of clothing and you are not confident with how to remove it, simply book a Laundryheap service and we will remove it for you. When you make your booking, let us know what item is stained, where, and what the stain is, and we will do everything to lift the stain and re-deliver fresh, stain-free, clothing to you.
To book your Laundryheap service, simply head to the Laundryheap website or download the free Laundryheap app.
A day of sunning yourself on the beach and splashing around in the water is idyllic. What’s less than idyllic is when you can’t seem to get rid of the sand relentlessly sticking to every inch of your clothing- towels included. Hopefully, these tips will help when it comes to the tiresome task of removing sand from your clothing.
Start from the top
De-sand your items
Bag your items
Wash away the sand
Clean up any lingering sand
Start from the top
Sand seems to find its way into every single space it can stick itself to. To begin the removal process, start from the very top of your body, and work your way down. If you are at a beach with access to showers, make use of them. The quickest way to get rid of sand is by washing it away. If there are no showers, simply begin by shaking out your hair, and rubbing as much sand away from your body and swimsuit as possible. To get rid of the sand on your feet, try adding baby powder once they are dry. This will prevent you from picking up any more sand as you make your way home.
Before putting your beach towels, flip flops, and any other items you have taken to the beach, back in your bag, give them a really good shake. Sand belongs on the beach, not in your personal belongings, so make sure to de-sand ALL of your items before heading home. If you miss this step you will be finding sand grains for days, maybe even weeks, after your beach trip. To help remove sand from smaller items, such as sun lotion or water bottles, use baby wipes. The moisture from the wipe will easily pick up the sand and remove it from your belongings.
Some items are harder to get sand off than others. For example, if your swimming attire is wet, sand will easily stick to it, and not so easily come off. For these items, it’s best to simply bag them up and deal with them when you get home. Make sure that you bring an ample amount of bags to the beach with you, as, if your clothing is particularly sandy, you may need to double bag. Securely tie your bags so that no sand can escape before you get home.
For your bagged items, it’s important to wash them as soon as you get in.
To wash your beach towels, use a hot wash setting unless stated otherwise, and dry either in a tumble dryer or by air drying. Once you have used the washing machine to wash your towels, run an empty wash. This will prevent sand from being transferred onto any clothes you wash in the future.
When washing your swimsuit, it’s important to avoid using the washing machine as this will stretch the material and damage the item. Instead, fill a basin with lukewarm water and add a mild laundry detergent. Place your swimsuit in the water, and leave it to soak for 15 minutes. After 15 minutes, swirl your swimming costume in the water, before lifting and rinsing it with cool water. After you have rinsed your swimming costume, leave it to air dry, rather than using the tumble dryer.
If you have any other items, such as umbrellas or windbreakers, you can wash the sand from them using a hose. It’s important to wash all your items once you get home, unless you want sand to linger in your house.
Sand is pesky and can linger for weeks after your beach trip. The best way to clean up lingering sand is by hoovering and mopping it up. Use a hoover to suck up small grains of sand, and go over the area with a mop to make sure that there are no remaining grains. It’s best to do this step last to prevent yourself from constantly having to hoover and mop after de-sanding each item you took to the beach.
Whilst you’re de-sanding, don’t let your laundry pile up. Book a Laundryheap dry cleaning service, and we will take care of your laundry for you. To book your laundry service, simply head to the Laundryheap website, or download the free Laundryheap app.
In order to maintain the status of a prima ballerina, it is essential that your ballet kit is adequately washed and cared for. Luckily, we have devised this ultimate guide.
Leotard
Tights
Leg warmers
Tutu
Ballet slippers
Leotard
Leotards are a staple of any ballet kit. They are usually made from lycra, which makes washing them slightly tricky.
Before you begin washing, first check the care label as some leotards are dry clean only.
If you are washing by hand, firstly, fill a basin with lukewarm water and add a gentle liquid detergent. It’s best to use liquid rather than powder detergent as powder detergent does not easily dissolve in cool water. It is also best to use a gentle detergent to prevent damage to the fibers of your leotard.
Turn your leotard inside out, and submerge it in your basin. To allow the detergent to fully penetrate the garment, swish it in the water using a circular motion. You can also place the leotard in between your hands and rub your palms together, moving downwards so that the entire length has been washed.
Once you are satisfied with the standard your leotard has been washed, remove it from the basin and rinse it. To ensure that your item has been properly rinsed, keep it under a cool running tap until no bubbles run from the fabric.
After rinsing your leotard, gently press the water from the fabric, making sure that you are not wringing it as this will cause it to lose shape. To finish drying, either hang your leotard on a washing line or lay it on a flat surface, somewhere away from direct sunlight.
If you would prefer to use the washing machine, you must use a short and delicate cycle. Anything other than a delicate cycle will misshapen your leotard. You will also need to use a cold wash setting to avoid unnecessary damage to the fibers of your item.
Ballet tights are thicker and more durable than normal tights, which means that you have to use an alternative method to wash them.
To hand-wash your tights, fill a basin with cool water and add a gentle detergent. Once your laundry detergent has dissolved, completely submerge your tights in the water, and swish them around in a circular motion. To ensure that the detergent reaches every area of your tights, rub them in the palm of your hands until you reach the bottom of them. Once you are satisfied, rinse them under a cool running tap until all of the bubbles have stopped running from the fabric.
If you would prefer to wash your tights in the washing machine, place them in a mesh laundry bag first. This will prevent any snagging and potential rips. Make sure that you use a cool and gentle machine cycle and a mild laundry detergent.
Once your tights have been washed, leave them to air dry. If you need to dry your tights quickly, use the air-only cycle of your tumble dryer.
Leg warmers keep the leg muscles of ballet dancers warm to prevent muscle spasms. They are often made from cotton or synthetic fibers, so the most effective way to wash them is by hand.
Begin by filling a basin with cool water and add mild liquid laundry detergent. Once your detergent has completely dissolved in the water, add your leg warmers. Allow them to soak in the water for around 10 minutes, before gently squeezing each leg warmer to ensure that the detergent has fully penetrated the fibers. Once you are satisfied that your detergent has been worked thoroughly into each leg warmer, rinse each warmer under a cool running tap until no bubbles are left running from the fabric.
To dry your leg warmers, never wring them out as this will only cause them to become misshapen. Instead, press out any excess water by gently squeezing each leg warmer between the palms of your hands. Lay your warmers on a clean towel, and wait for them to air dry. This may take a while, so be patient and ensure that you leave plenty of time between when you wash your leg warmers and when you next need to wear them.
The tutu is the stand out of any ballerinas outfit, which is why it must be cared for and cleaned.
To hand-wash your tutu, begin by pressing it in between two clean towels. These towels will prevent your tutu from tearing under its own weight or floating to the top.
Next, fill a basin with cold water and add a mild laundry detergent. Once your basin is filled, submerge your towel-covered tutu and leave it in the basin for 5 minutes. You must make sure that your tutu is completely submerged in the water to ensure that it is fully cleaned.
After 5 minutes, remove your towel-covered tutu and rinse both the towels and tutu with cold water. Continue rinsing until no bubbles run from either the towel or the tutu. Once you are satisfied that all of the detergent has been rinsed out, remove your tutu from the towels and check for any lingering marks. If you do find marks, gently scrub them with a soft-bristled toothbrush.
To dry your tutu, either lay it flat on a clean and dry towel, or hang it up. If you are hanging your tutu to dry, make sure that you hang it in an open area where there is plenty of fresh air to help with the drying process.
If you would rather use a washing machine to wash your tutu, make sure that you first place it into a mesh laundry bag to prevent any rips. You must also ensure that a delicate cycle is selected to prevent any unnecessary damage to the tule of your tutu.
Your ballet slippers are guaranteed to get dirty and dusty as you pirouette and plie. It’s important to remember that, no matter how dirty your ballet slippers become, you should never put them in the washing machine. This will only misshapen your slippers and create an ill fit the next time you wear them.
To remove any dirt and dust from your ballet slippers, simply use a wet cloth to gently rub them. This will lift any fresh dirt before it begins to set in. For tougher areas of dirt and dust, add a drop of mild laundry detergent to either a clean cloth or a soft-bristled toothbrush, and rub it into those tougher stains. Use a gentle circular motion to help loosen the dirt and lift it.
If you are dubious about washing your ballet kit, let us do it for you. We are experts in cleaning delicate items and will ensure that every part of your ballet kit is cleaned to the highest standard.
To book your Laundryheap service, simply head to the Laundryheap website or download the free Laundryheap app.
On average, we spend 26 years of our lives sleeping, and a further 7 years trying to get to sleep. If we’re spending an average of 33 years of our lives in bed, it’s worth taking the time to make said bed perfect.
How often should you wash your bedding?
How do you clean your duvet?
How do you clean your pillows?
How do you clean your mattress?
How often should you replace your pillows?
How many sets of bed linen should you own?
How do you store unused bed linen?
How often should you wash your bedding?
As you sleep you sweat and shed skin cells. To keep your bedding adequately clean, wash your duvet cover, bed sheet, and pillow cases every 2 weeks. If you notice an increase in the amount you are sweating over night, such as in the summer months, you may want to wash your bedding every week.
To make sure that your bedding is adequately sanitised, always check your beddings care label and use the hottest wash setting available.
How do you clean your duvet?
Your duvet should be washed every 6 months. How you wash your duvet depends on the material it is made from.
If you own a synthetic duvet, use the gentle spin setting on your washing machine and add ⅓ of the detergent that you would use in a normal wash. Once your duvet has completed its cycle, leave it to completely air dry before using it again.
Before washing a feather duvet, always check the care label to see if it is dry clean only. If your feather duvet is machine washable, use a gentle cycle and a gentle laundry detergent. Air dry your feather duvet completely before re-using it.
How do you clean your pillows?
Before washing your pillows check the care label to determine whether they are machine washable and safe to dry in a tumble dryer.
If you can machine wash your pillows, try and wash two at a time to save on multiple loads. Always use a gentle cycle to prevent any unnecessary damage to your pillows, and only use ⅓ of the amount of laundry detergent that you would usually use. If your pillows can be tumble dried, use a low heat setting, or leave them to air dry before returning them to your bed.
Regularly washing your bed linen does not deter you from cleaning your mattress. You need to clean your mattress every 6 months to remove dust mites and skin cells.
Begin cleaning your mattress by stripping you bed linen and hoovering the surface to remove any dirt and dust. Don’t forget to hoover both sides of your mattress and around the corners- dust and dirt can linger in these areas.
After hoovering your mattress, freshen it up by sprinkling baking soda over it. Sprinkle a generous amount over the whole of your mattress, using a soft brush or cloth to evenly spread it out. Leave it to set for 10-30 minutes before hoovering it up. This will help remove any lingering odours and body fluids from your mattress and leave it looking, and smelling, fresh.
After removing the baking soda, leave your mattress to air out for a few hours before re-dressing your bed.
As a rule of thumb, it’s good to have 3 sets of bed linen available per bed. This means that you have a set ready whilst you are washing your used set, and a spare set on hand if needed.
To ensure that your bed linen is sufficiently disinfected, book a Laundryheap dry cleaning service. To book your Laundryheap service, simply head to the Laundryheap website or download the free Laundryheap app.
Wax can be incredibly difficult to remove from clothing if not dealt with appropriately. Before you try any of these methods, scrape as much wax as possible from your garment using a dull knife or spoon.
Iron
Hairdryer
Boiling water
Freeze
Iron
One of the most effective ways to remove a wax stain is to heat it with an iron.
Place a paper towel over the stain and on the underside. For extra protection, you can place a thin cloth in between your iron and the paper towel. Use a low heat setting on your iron, and press it onto the stain. This will melt your wax and allow it to drip onto your paper towel.
If your stain is on a fleece or wool garment, it is best to use blotting paper rather than paper towels as the paper may stick to your item.
If you are wary about using an iron to remove your wax, you can use a hairdryer.
In the same way as you would use the iron, place a paper towel over and under your stain. Using a hairdryer, blast hot air onto the stain, over the paper towel, for 5 seconds. After 5 seconds, blot your stain with the paper towel to aid in it’s removal from your garment. Repeat this process until your wax has been removed.
Before using this technique, be careful when handling boiling water. You do not want to splash yourself with the water and burn yourself.
Begin by boiling a large kettle. Once your kettle has been boiled, carefully pour your water into a large basin or sink. Add 5-6 tablespoons of baking soda to your water and carefully stir it in. Dip your stained item into the boiling water, and leave it for 1 minute- you don’t want to leave your item for any longer as this could damage the fibres of your clothing. You may need to dip your clothing in and out of the water a few times to completely soften and remove the wax.
If you don’t want to add heat to your clothing, do the opposite and freeze the wax off.
Put your clothing in the freezer for an hour to completely freeze the wax. After an hour, remove your clothing from the freezer and snap off your wax. If there is any wax remaining on your garment, secure the stained area over a large bowl with rubber bands, and pour boiling water over the stain. This should melt the remainder of the wax and remove it from your clothing.
If your wax is not lifting from your clothing, send your garment to Laundryheap. Let us know what item of clothing your stain is on, where the stain is, and we will do the rest.
To book your Laundryheap order, head to the Laundryheap website or download the free Laundryheap app from the App Store or Google Play Store.
Pancake Day, is the perfect time to show off your flipping skills. If you flip well enough, you will be rewarded with a fluffy pancake, on top of which you can add an array of delicious toppings. Be careful though, because you don’t want any of your toppings flipping onto your clothing and causing a stain. Should this happen, follow these simple steps.
Maple syrup
Bacon
Jam
Ice Cream
Fresh berries
Maple syrup
Maple syrup is sweet, sticky, and perfect for drizzling all over pancakes. If you accidentally drizzle some on your clothing, you must act fast to avoid being left with a sticky stain.
To remove a maple syrup stain you will need…
A dull knife
Clean cloth or paper towel
Laundry detergent
Begin removing your maple syrup stain by using a dull knife to lift as much of the syrup off of your garment as possible.
Next, dip a clean cloth, or paper towel, into lukewarm water, and carefully blot the stain. Make sure that you are blotting and not rubbing, as rubbing will only force the maple syrup further into the fibres of your clothing. Continue blotting your garment until you notice the stain lifting and becoming less sticky.
Once you are sure that you can’t lift any more of the stain, wash your item on a high temperature, using laundry detergent. Before washing your garment, check the care label to see what the highest recommended temperature to wash your item at is.
If you are drizzling maple syrup on your pancakes, it’s best to throw some bacon on top. Be careful though, because bacon can often spit as you cook it, leaving a greasy stain on your clothing.
To remove a bacon stain you will need…
A blunt knife
Clean cloth or paper towel
Cornstarch or talcum powder
Heavy-duty liquid laundry detergent
A soft bristle brush (optional)
Begin by removing any solid pieces of bacon from your clothing using a blunt knife. Be sure not to press the bacon into your clothing, as this can cause extra grease to seep from the bacon.
Next, use a clean cloth, or paper towel, to gently blot the stain. This will help lift any excess oil from your garment.
Once you have removed as much oil as possible via blotting your stain, sprinkle some corn starch or talcum powder over it. The powder is fine enough to reach deep into the fibres of your clothing and help soak up some of the oil. Leave the corn starch or talcum powder on your garment for 10-15 minutes.
After 10-15 minutes, shake off the talcum powder or cornstarch, and apply a heavy duty laundry detergent directly on to your stain. Using a soft bristle brush, or your fingers, gently rub the detergent into your stain, making sure to really work it into all your garments fibres. Leave the detergent on your stain for at least 10 minutes.
Finally, check the care label of your garment for the highest temperature advised to wash your clothing at. With the laundry detergent still on the stain, put your item into the washing machine and wash.
Jam
Jam, similarly to maple syrup, is incredibly sweet and sticky- perfect for sandwiching your pancakes together. If you do get it on your clothing, follow these steps to remove it.
To remove a jam stain you will need…
White wine vinegar
Liquid laundry detergent
Rubbing alcohol
Clean sponge
Chlorine bleach
To begin removing your jam stain, place your stain directly under cool running water. This will flush out you stain and remove any jam residue.
Next, mix one tablespoon of white vinegar with half a teaspoon of liquid laundry detergent and a quarter of a cup of warm water. Place your stained item in your mixture and leave it to soak for 15 minutes.
After 15 minutes, remove your stained item from the solution and rinse it with lukewarm water. If you can still see your stain, use a clean sponge to gently dab rubbing alcohol over it. Once you see the stain begin to lift, or lighten in colour, rinse your garment thoroughly with lukewarm water.
Finally, check your care label to firstly check what the highest temperature it can be washed at is, and secondly to check if your item can be washed using chlorine bleach. If your garment can be washed using chlorine bleach, use that to wash your item on the highest temperature possible. If you can’t use chlorine bleach, use normal laundry detergent.
Ice cream
Ice cream is a great way to add a touch of frost to your warm pancakes. Just make sure that you don’t dribble any down yourself.
To remove an ice cream stain you will need…
Laundry detergent
Stain remover
Begin removing your ice cream stain by soaking your clothing in cold water for 5-10 minutes. Avoid putting your stained item in hot water as this will only set the stain further into your clothing.
After 5-10 minutes of soaking, remove your item from the cold water, and rub liquid laundry detergent directly onto the stain. Make sure that the laundry detergent is completely covering your stain, and has been well worked in, before re-soaking your item in room temperature water for 30 minutes. Every few minutes, gently rub the detergent into your stain.
After 30 minutes, rinse the laundry detergent from your clothing, and add a stain remover. Allow your stain remover to sit for 7-10 minutes before rinsing it off with cold water.
If your ice cream stain persists, repeat the whole process until your stain has completely lifted.
Fresh berries
Fresh berries are a gorgeously refreshing pancake toper. If you drop one on your clothing, however, you will have to act fast to remove the stain.
To remove a fresh berry stain you will need…
A soft bristled brush
Blunt knife
Heavy-duty laundry detergent
Stain remover
Chlorine bleach (optional)
Oxygen-based bleach (optional)
To begin lifting you berry stain, use a blunt knife to remove any solid berry from your item. Try not to squeeze the berry whilst lifting it as this can cause more juice to be squeezed onto your clothing.
After you have removed the berry, flush out your stain with cold water. The best way to do this is to hold your stain directly under a running tap. You should notice your stain becoming lighter in colour the longer you leave the stain under the tap for.
Next, cover your stain with a stain remover and work it into the fabric using a soft bristled brush, like a toothbrush. After working the stain remover in, leave it to sit for at least 15 minutes. If you don’t own a stain remover, use a heavy-duty laundry detergent.
Once you have waited 15 minutes, check your items care label to see what the hottest temperature is that you can wash your garment at. Use a heavy-duty laundry detergent to wash your item on the hottest temperature allowed.
If your stain remains after washing, mix a quarter of a cup of chlorine bleach, or oxygen-based bleach for synthetic fibres, with 1 gallon of water. Soak your stained item in this mixture for 15-30 minutes, before thoroughly washing.
Your wellies will help you through any cold and wet weather condition. To keep them intact, it’s important to regularly clean them.
General care guide for looking after your wellies
Exterior
Soles
Inside
Drying
Removing ‘blooming’
General care guide for looking after your wellies
Before explaining how to clean your wellies, let’s begin with some general care guide tips.
When you are not wearing your boots, keep them in a cool and dry area, standing upright with boot trees or rolled-up towels. This will help your boots maintain their strong shape. If you aren’t wearing your wellies for an extended period of time, you may also want to consider adding a sachet of cedar, lavender, or baking soda to the inside of them to keep them smelling fresh.
Make sure that you wear socks every time you wear your boots. They will help absorb excess moisture and prevent odours and stains.
Once you have taken your wellies off, allow them to completely air dry before wearing them again. You can speed up this process by stuffing them with dry, clean, towels or tissue paper for an hour.
Exterior
To maintain the flexibility and cleanliness of your wellies, you should wash them with lukewarm water after every wear to remove any mud or debris.
If there is dried mud and debris you will need…
A medium bristle brush
An old cloth
A clean cloth
Dish soap
Warm water
To begin cleaning your wellies, use a medium bristle brush to brush away any mud and debris. It’s best to use a circular motion to do this. To prevent getting mud and debris on your floor, complete this step on some newspaper or over the sink.
After you have removed as much mud and debris as possible, dip an old cloth in warm water until it is damp, and wipe the exterior of your wellies. This will help you identify any mud and debris lingering on your boots.
To remove the lingering mud and debris, mix one teaspoon of dish soap with two cups of warm water. Dip your old cloth into this solution and wipe your boot from the top to the bottom. The dish soap will help to break down the stronger mud and debris and remove it from your wellies.
Once you are satisfied that you have removed all of the mud and debris from the exterior of your boots, wipe them down with a clean cloth dampened with lukewarm water.
Soles
When you are cleaning the exterior of your boots it’s important that you don’t forget to clean the soles.
To begin cleaning the soles of your wellies, use a medium bristle brush to scrub the sole of your shoe. This will remove the mud and debris on the base of your sole.
Once you are satisfied with the cleanliness of the base of your sole, use your small bristle brush to deep-clean the grooves of your sole. Use a vigorous scrubbing motion to lift the dirt from these grooves.
Inside
If you don’t regularly clean the inside of your wellies, they will become odorous and begin to grow athlete’s foot fungus.
To clean the inside you will need…
Heavy-duty laundry detergent
Warm water
Two clean cloths
Distilled white vinegar
A spray bottle
To begin cleaning the inside of your wellies, mix one teaspoon of heavy-duty laundry detergent and two cups of warm water. Soak a clean cloth in your mixture, and wipe down the entire interior of your wellies. Make sure that you reach every surface to prevent odour and bacteria growth.
After you have wiped down the interior of your wellies, dip your second clean cloth in warm water and rinse the detergent solution away. Again, make sure that you reach every surface so that all of the detergent solution is removed from the inside of your boots.
Next, mix a 50/50 solution of distilled white vinegar and warm water. Put this solution in a spray bottle and lightly spray the inside of your wellies. This is an added precaution to ensure that no odorous bacteria or fungi are lingering inside your wellies.
Drying
After you have cleaned the exterior, sole, and interior of your wellies, you need to leave them to completely dry before wearing them again.
To dry, leave them in a cool and dry location, away from direct sunlight and heat, to air dry. It is important that they are left to air dry away from heat as this will break down their strong structure and leave them droopy. If you want to speed up the drying of your wellies, insert dry, clean, towels or tissue paper, inside your boots for one hour. This will help absorb some of the excess moisture and limit the drying time.
Removing ‘blooming’
‘Blooming’ is when a white marbled film develops on the outside of your wellies. This happens as a result of the rubber, which is a natural product, in your boots being exposed to certain temperatures, causing insoluble particles to rise to the surface. It doesn’t affect the durability of your wellies, however, it can be removed if you don’t like the cosmetic look.
To remove ‘blooming’ you will need…
Olive oil
A clean cloth
To remove ‘blooming’ from your wellies, simply add a few drops of olive oil to a clean, dry, cloth and wipe it over your boots. For the best results, work from the top of your wellies down to the bottom, working on small areas at a time to ensure that every surface is covered.
Never add the olive oil to the sole of your wellies. This will only result in the sole of your wellies becoming slippy and could result in you falling over.
Whilst you are cleaning your wellies, we can clean your laundry. From general washing to dry cleaning and ironing, we have a service that will fit your needs.
To book your Laundryheap service head to the Laundryheap website or download the free Laundryheap app.
Chocolate is undoubtedly delicious, but, if on your clothes, can be difficult to remove. This is how you can remove a chocolate stain.
New chocolate stains
Old chocolate stains
Dry clean only clothing
New chocolate stains
Regardless of the type of stain, it is always best to treat it as soon as possible. Chocolate stains are no different.
To treat a new chocolate stain you will need…
A butter knife or spoon
Heavy-duty laundry detergent or dish soap
Stain remover gel or spray
Cold water
Begin removing your chocolate stain by using a butter knife or a spoon to remove any excess chocolate. Be careful whilst you are doing this. If you push too hard you can damage the fibres of your clothing and cause rips in the cloth. Be wary of spreading the chocolate to clean parts of your garment, you don’t want to accidentally make your stain bigger than it is.
After you have removed as much of the excess chocolate as you can, rinse your stain with cold water. Make sure that you are running the cold water through the back of the stain so that the chocolate is pushed out through the fabric and not embedded deeper into it. Do not use warm or hot water during this step as that will only set the stain deeper into your fabric.
Once you have flushed out your stain with cold water, gently rub a heavy-duty laundry detergent, or dish soap if you do not have laundry detergent, into the stain. Allow your stained garment to sit for 5 minutes and absorb the detergent or soap, before soaking it in cold water for 15 minutes. Whilst your stained clothing is soaking, gently rub the stained area between your fingers every 3-5 minutes to loosen the stain.
Finally, using cold water, rinse out the stain, and wash your clothing as you usually would. If your stain is still present after you have washed your garment, try using a stain remover gel or spray on the stain, and repeat the previous steps.
Old chocolate stains
Chocolate stains will set with heat and time. If you notice a dark brown stain on an item of clothing, this could be an old chocolate stain. Despite the fact that these are harder to remove than fresh chocolate stains, it is not completely impossible.
To treat an old chocolate stain you will need…
Heavy-duty laundry detergent or dish soap
Cold water
Colour-safe non-chlorine bleach
Mild bleaching agent (if your stained clothing is white)
To begin removing your stain, rub some heavy-duty laundry detergent, or dish soap, directly onto the stain, and soak your garment in cold water for 30 minutes. Repeat this process until your stain becomes lighter in colour.
Once you have completed soaking your stain, wash your garment with colour-safe non-chlorine bleach. If your stained item is white, you can use a mild bleaching agent, such as lemon juice.
After your garment has been washed with your bleach, completely rinse your item, and wash it as you usually would. If your stain has not lifted, repeat the process.
