With July being National Picnic Month, it’s time to celebrate the great outdoors with good company and even better food (and drinks). Whether you’re a seasoned picnic pro or a first-timer, we’ve compiled a list of easy picnic recipes that will have your guests and your tastebuds thanking you! So, grab your picnic blanket, pack up the essentials, and get ready for a day filled with mouthwatering treats!
Summertime is all about enjoying delicious outdoor meals and soaking up the sun. However, it’s no secret that those mouthwatering BBQs, juicy fruits, and refreshing ice creams can sometimes leave stubborn stains on our favourite clothes. But fear not! With the right techniques and a little bit of know-how, you can easily remove summer food stains and keep your wardrobe looking pristine. In this blog, we’ll guide you on removing the most common summer stains!
The British summer is soaring. We all love ice cream and picnics, but the high temperatures can disrupt our sleep. Sometimes even opening all the windows and using a fan doesn’t make a big difference. In this blog, we’ll go through the things you can do to sleep better in the heat.
In the middle of a heatwave, it’s always best to stay hydrated with cool water. Your body is sweating throughout the day and by drinking water, you are replenishing the fluids lost from all the sweating. Carry a bottle of water with you and stay hydrated as it also helps to sleep better in the heat.
We feel you. The heatwave does exhaust our energy levels. You’d be forgiven for thinking napping restores our energy but it will make sleep difficult at night. Instead, you should stay active by going for walks and even for a jog. You will get better sleep if you feel tired.
If you’re not watching TV, turn it off because it will only spread more heat around your room. You want to prevent heat from building up in your room so use less electricity. At night-time, open your windows to allow the air to circulate all around.
Before you go to sleep, go for a quick cool shower so your body’s temperature goes down. Not only do cool showers help you to sleep better in the heat but they also have health benefits as they help improve blood circulation and help the muscle recover.
The key to a good night’s sleep in the heatwave is to choose the right bedding. The general rule of thumb is to use thin cotton sheets as these absorb sweat better.
We all love the smell of fresh bedding, and it does make for a cosy sleep so make sure you are washing your bedding regularly in the summer. If you need help, just get in touch with Laundryheap and we’ll launder it for you!
Summer is usually welcomed with open arms as it presents a lot of fun activities. However, it’s important you follow these 5 tips to sleep better in the heat. Sleep is important for the mind and to stay productive the next day.
We hope you have a great weekend!
To learn more about Laundryheap, visit our website or download the free app on iOS or Android.
Laundry is a repetitive chore; the job starts with putting dirty clothes in the basket and ends with hanging clothes outside to dry after they’ve been put in the washing machine. However, the chore doesn’t end there. Folding your clothes is the last task.
Essentially, there are benefits to folding your clothes!
Getting into a habit of folding your clothes means you’ll have more storage space in your wardrobe or drawer. Nobody wants to go home to find unfolded clothes on their chair or bed. Instead, if you fold them and put them away neatly in a contained place, you’ll save so much room and reduces the pile of laundry.
Additionally, folding your clothes will also help save space in your luggage for your next holiday!
If you have an important meeting to attend and noticed a wrinkled shirt, it could mean it wasn’t folded properly. To stop your big days from being ruined by a wrinkled shirt, make sure your clothes are folded to reduce wrinkles and creases in your laundry.
However, if you want to urgently get rid of the wrinkles and creases, book with Laundryheap and we’ll iron your shirts so you look smart in your meetings!
It may seem like a very small task but keeping clothes folded helps you stay productive, relaxed and organised. Leaving everything cluttered is not good for your mood. In addition, organising means you’ll find your favourite shirt easier the next time you look for it.
Significantly, folded clothes results in a better lifespan for your clothes. By folding them neatly and putting them away, you are eliminating the risk of buttons on clothes coming off or clothes being damaged. You’ve spent time laundering your clothes so make sure you increase their durability by folding them properly!
Folding your clothes itself is a skill and we hope next time when your clothes are cleaned and dry, you consider the benefits of folding them.
If you want to learn more about Laundryheap, visit our website or download the free app on iOS or Android.
For most, ice cream is a summer treat; the sound of the ice cream van brings joy and the temptation to buy ice cream during an evening walk is too much to resist. However, with every dessert, spillage on clothes is common and ice cream is no different. If you’re worried about your favourite top being ruined, no stress! We’re here to teach you how to remove ice cream stains!
The trick to removing ice cream stains is to treat them right away to avoid the stain settling into the fabric. If you freeze now, the ice cream stain will dry; making it difficult to remove!
As usual with any clothing material, read the instructions to make sure you aren’t handling it incorrectly. Every material needs different care.
Get a spoon or butter knife to scrape off the ice cream and then turn your clothes inside out and put them in cold water to make sure there is little ice cream left. It’s worth noting that you must avoid using hot water because ice cream is a protein product.
Once you’re done scraping off the ice cream stain, pour laundry detergent into the stain and then soak in cold water for 15 minutes.
Afterwards, put it in the washing machine. It is highly recommended you choose a cool wash setting for better results.
Once the washing cycle is complete, either put your garment on the clothesline or dryer but first double-check if the stain is completely gone!
Ice cream is commonly eaten outside on a picnic or at the beach. If ice cream drips on your clothes outdoors, go to a nearby toilet or bathroom and use soap and cold water to treat it. It may not do the job immediately but once you are home, place it in the washer!
Encountering ice cream spills is inevitable but that shouldn’t stop you from enjoying your summer and your ice cream! Now that you know the best way to remove ice cream stains, you will be better prepared next time!
If you need a hand, book a service with Laundryheap and we’ll cool off your ice cream worries and remove the ice cream stains!
Visit Laundryheap’s website to book a service or download the free app on iOS or Android!
The sunny days bring picnics, ice creams, BBQ parties and so much more! For parents, it can also be stressful as it does get overwhelming to make plans to keep the children happy and busy. Luckily, we have summer tips for parents to cool off the summer stress!
It almost goes without saying but planning trips with your family is important. Whether you’re travelling to Birmingham, USA, Denmark, Ireland, Dubai or Singapore, it presents a fantastic opportunity to spend quality time together and learn more about different cultures.
Taking Instagrammable pictures, eating different food and visiting sights are wonderful. If you think your family travels will get disrupted by laundry chores, worry not! We offer laundry services to help do your laundry for you!
Children have an abundance of energy and plenty of free time. They also get bored easily so use this time to introduce them to something new. Light up the creativity inside them and talk to them about joining musical or painting clubs. Or perhaps encourage them to read books to limit their technology use.
No doubt summer should be fun for kids, but it should also be a time where kids learn about responsibility and start slowly doing house chores. This is one of the most useful summer tips for parents as it prepares your children for the future when it comes to washing dishes, doing laundry, cleaning the house etc.
Parents’ job is already busy and full of responsibilities. Laundry days become more frequent during the summer; kids may play football matches and bring home muddy shorts that pile up in the laundry basket.
However, a summer tip for parents is to book a laundry service like Laundryheap! We are like Uber but for laundry. Just visit our website to book a service and we will collect your dirty clothes, launder them, and deliver them back within 24 hours! No stress, no hassle!
Going on trips, introducing kids to something new and booking laundry services may be great summer tips for parents but another useful tip is to make every moment count! Whether you’re at home, at a picnic or at the beach, you should strive to make it the best summer possible! Excitement fills in the air so just be sure to make every moment count!
We hope you have an amazing summer and enjoy the hot weather! These summer tips for parents out there should help make you better prepared!
If you need help with your laundry, visit Laundryheap website to book or download the free Laundryheap app on iOS or Android!
Summer has arrived! The BBQ Garden parties are lively and outdoors activities feel enjoyable again. While you’re enjoying time out with friends and family, it’s always best to know some summer laundry tips up your sleeve!
With the hotter weather, we are more prone to sweating, so we must continue to take care of our clothes.
Here are 5 Summer Laundry Tips you should use!
The first summer laundry tip is to make full use of your garden clothesline this summer.
Hang your clothes outside in the hot weather and let the natural sunlight do its magic on your clothes. Hanging your clothes outside is proven to get rid of bad odours and your clothes will smell fresh afterwards!
We recommend always double-checking that your clothesline is clean. Summer is a great season, but it also invites all the insects and birds to your garden so if you spot any mess on your clothing line, clean it before hanging your clothes.
Summer is a time when kids have fun and play with their friends. However, laundry is an important life skill and in the 6 weeks of the summer holiday break, find time to slowly introduce your kids to laundry. Start giving them small tasks such as folding clothes or organising the pegs. They’ll no doubt run to the door once they hear the ice cream van but teaching them slowly will get them into the habit of organisation.
This summer laundry tip may sound obvious but never underestimate summer fabrics. Always read the labels on your clothes carefully.
Certain clothes or fabrics such as silk and cotton will need to be washed differently due to the hot weather. Silk is a very delicate fabric that requires careful attention. Ensure temperatures don’t go above 30 degrees. Whereas cotton fabric can be managed to be in the washer at a hotter temperature of 90 degrees.
The same goes for choosing the right detergent. Summer clothes, as explained, as made from different materials and fabrics from winter clothes. To avoid ruining your clothes, our tip for you is to read the labels on your detergent to make sure it’s suited for delicate clothes.
We recommend using a gentle detergent for the best results and keeping your summer clothes in good condition!
Whether it’s at the swimming pool or at the beach, people love swimming in the summer. You’ll want to make sure your swimwear is in good condition after you’ve finished swimming.
Before you put your swimwear away in the wash, always handwash them to ensure the sand isn’t in the machine. After you’ve hand-washed, put them in the washing machine and set the settings to 30 degrees. Once the cycle is over, the strong smell of chlorine will go away, and you’ll have freshly delicate-looking swimwear again!
You have the essential summer laundry tips to look after your clothes! If you feel that laundry will overwhelm you this summer, book with Laundryheap and we’ll do the laundry for you! No hassle, no stress!
Book with us, choose a collection day and we’ll deliver your laundry back within 24 hours!
Visit the Laundryheap website or download the free Laundryheap app on iOS or Android!
Working from home is challenging at the best of times, but it’s made even harder during the summer months. Studies have shown that hot days can decrease productivity by 24%. That being said, these tips will hopefully make working from home in the summer a little more bearable.
One of the joys of working from home is that, unless on a video call, nobody can see you. That means that you can dress, or underdress, in whatever way makes you feel comfortable. If that means wearing shorts and a vest to help cool yourself down, that’s up to you to decide. You make your own dress code when working from your own home.
Have you ever been so hot that you wish that you could stick your feet in the freezer until autumn comes? Well, that’s because your feet and ankles have many pulse points and are sensitive to heat. If you put something cold on them then your whole body will cool down. Try and freeze a hot water bottle, or a similar object, and rest your feet against it whilst you work. You will notice your body instantly cooling.
This may seem obvious, but a good way to help cool yourself down is to let in the fresh air. What may not be as obvious is to open your windows but shut your curtains. Blocking the sun with your curtains will prevent your home from becoming a sticky greenhouse, whilst keeping your windows open will allow any breeze to drift through and cool your abode.
Although fans are a popular way to stay cool during the summer they are not the best way to beat the heat. Fans circulate the hot air in a room rather than cool it, which means that once the fan is turned off you are still left with a stiflingly hot room. If you are going to use a fan, place a 2-liter bottle of frozen water in front of it. This will help to cool the air slightly rather than just circulating it.
Pulse points are the areas of the body where blood vessels are close to the surface of the skin, which is why we can feel our pulses. Because the blood vessels are so close to the surface of the skin, they are also a great way to quickly cool down our blood and, subsequently, body temperature. Take regular breaks throughout the day to apply ice packs to your wrists, neck, chest, and temples. It may also be a good idea to apply a damp cloth to the back of your neck whilst you’re working to maintain a cool temperature throughout the day.
Staying hydrated keeps our body temperature regulated, prevents infection, and provides nutrients for our body’s cells. We should be drinking 6-8 glasses of water every day, however, when it is particularly warm we should be drinking water more regularly. Make sure that you keep track of how much water you drink throughout the day and moderate it depending on whether you are drinking enough.
In addition to drinking plenty of water, another way to stay hydrated is to eat smart. Fresh foods, such as lettuce, cucumber, and celery, have a high water content which helps us to hydrate when we eat them. When it’s particularly warm try to eat more fresh fruit and vegetables and avoid eating meat. When our bodies break down meat we use extra energy, which causes us to sweat, otherwise known as the ‘meat sweats’.
If there is a gentle summer breeze, then make sure to take regular breaks and go outside. Take a walk around a park, your neighbourhood, or even your own garden, but make sure that you make the most of the nice weather and breathe in some fresh air. Not only will the breeze help to cool you down, but regularly breathing fresh air increases productivity as it de-stresses the body and clears the mind. Of course, if it is a particularly humid day going outside may cause your temperature to increase rather than cool you down, so try and avoid heading outside in such conditions.
When working from home, it can sometimes be luxurious to work from the comfort of the couch or even a bed. That being said, when it is warm the last thing you want is a hot laptop sitting on your legs. Avoid this unnecessary heat by working from a desk, table, or any surface where you can place your laptop and sit comfortably.
As the sun sets the temperature drops, making for much more comfortable working conditions. If you are in a job that allows you to do so, have a conversation with your manager/HR department about altering your working hours. Pitch starting later in the day and working until later in the night so that you can avoid the hottest hours of the day. This could help increase your productivity and prevent you from suffering through working in the heat.
Working from home is difficult regardless of the weather. Let us take one thing off of your mind by taking care of your laundry. Simply head to the Laundryheap website or download the free Laundryheap app to book your order now.
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.
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.
There’s nothing quite like being completely immersed in a new book. That’s why this International Book Lovers Day, we have devised a list of the top five best summer reads.
How to Disappear is the latest psychological thriller from the Sunday Times Bestselling author Gillian McAllister. The story focuses on Laura and her daughter Zara, who witnesses a terrible crime. Zara speaks up about what she has seen, which leads to her having a target on her back. Laura realises that the best thing for her daughter is for both of them to disappear, but she soon finds out that staying hidden is harder than disappearing.
If you are a fan of psychological thrillers that keep you guessing every page, then this book is the summer read for you.
The Shelf is an exploration of our modern society. The story’s protagonist, Amy, is surrounded by friends getting married and having children. When her long-term boyfriend takes her on the holiday of a lifetime, the last thing she expects is to be dumped and thrown into a reality show. On the show, she must compete against 5 other women in tasks that will determine who is ‘The Keeper’.
Throughout this novel, Acton explores what it means to be a woman in the modern-day and what could be worse than being left on the shelf.
Love in Colour is a collection of the most beautiful love stories from history and mythology, vividly rewritten by Bolu Babalola. Throughout each story, Babalola decolonises love and shows the different varieties and colours that love can come in. From business to family to romance, Love in Colour crosses continents, perspectives, and genres, to celebrate love in its many forms.
If you are a lover of love, then Love in Colour is a must-read.
If you love a classic Rom-Com than you will fall in love with The Love Square. The story follows the life of Penny, who is unlucky in love. However, in true Rom-Com fashion, she meets a remarkable man who sweeps her off of her feet. The issue comes when another man sweeps her off of her feet, followed by another man. Penny has to decide which of these men, if any, is ‘The One’ in this laugh-out-loud Rom-Com.
If you were a fan of Laura Jane Williams’ book Our Stop, then make sure that you pick up a copy of The Love Square.
Sisters by Daisy Johnson is perfect for lovers of Gothic thriller. As the title eludes, this book focuses on two sisters, July and September. When they were young, the sisters forged a blood-promise, however, after moving to a new house, they find that their bond is fading away. In a house that never seems to sleep, and where no one seems to be able to get any sleep, what will the fate be of these two sisters?
If you are an avid Stephen King reader than give this short thriller a try.
Don’t let your laundry interrupt your reading. Book a Laundryheap dry cleaning service by heading to the Laundryheap website or by downloading the free Laundryheap app.
