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Queen of Clean

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  • Cleaning Bed Linens
  • From "Spruce It Up With the Queen of Clean Inside the Castle"
    episode SCI-104
    advertisement

    Click here to view a larger image.

    Linda Cobb, the Queen of Clean®, shares several tips on bedding basics.

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    If you suffer with allergy problems, you should use a cup of white vinegar in your final rinse cycle, instead of using fabric softener sheets in the dryer.

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    Figure A

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    Don't forget to clean the lint tray after "each" drying.

    The Queen of Clean®, Linda Cobb, reveals tips and techniques for washing bed linens.

    Sheets

    • Be sure to wash whites and darks separately.

    • Use warm water for polyesters and blends and hot water for cotton.

    • If you don't have allergies, use dryer fabric softener sheets, but if you do suffer with allergies, use the following recipe:

      1/4 cup white vinegar in the final rinse (and no, you won't smell like a salad!)

    • If you have flannel sheets, to tame the lint, use the following Cobb-special recipe:

      1 cup white vinegar in the final rinse

      Allergy Alert: If you have allergy problems, don't sleep on flannel sheets due to the fact that they harbor lint. The more flannel sheets are washed, however, the more the lint disappears.

    Blankets

    • The first thing to remember when washing blankets is to inspect the care label. Be sure to follow all the instructions. If the label says to wash by hand never put it in the washing machine.

    • When storing blankets, be sure to keep some good-size plastic bags on hand. Another option for storing is to use a king-size pillowcase.

    Comforters and Bedspreads

    • With large comforters and bedspreads, be sure to use a commercial machine and dryer.

    • Use a favorite "mild" detergent, and when you're ready to dry the comforter/bedspread, throw in either a clean tennis shoe or a couple of tennis balls. They will fluff the comforter or bedspread right up.

    Pillows

    • If you have allergies, don't use a feather pillow, only foam.

    • To wash properly, fill a large basin or container with warm water and your favorite washing detergent. Dip the pillow one small section at a time in the solution and squeeze through the pillow (figure A). Once the pillow is clean, rinse not once or twice, but three times to remove all of the soap and residue.

    • Lay the pillow out flat to dry, and turn it frequently.

    • To fluff the pillow, take a couple of tennis balls and place in the dryer with the pillow and air dry for approximately 30 minutes.

    The Queen's Dirty Little Secrets

    • To make towels more absorbent, soak overnight in the washer with a cup of Epsom salts and then launder.

    Next: Reducing Allergy Problems


    RESOURCES :

    Talking Dirty With the Queen of Clean
    ISBN: 0743418301
    Author: Linda Cobb
    (1998) Simon & Schuster / Pocket Books
    Website: www.simonsays.com

    Talking Dirty Laundry With the Queen of Clean
    ISBN: 0743418328
    Author: Linda Cobb
    (2001) Simon & Schuster / Pocket Books
    Website: www.simonsays.com

    The Queen of Clean: The Royal Guide to Spot and Stain Removal
    ISBN: 0743437837
    Author: Linda Cobb
    (2001) Simon & Schuster / Pocket Books
    Website: www.simonsays.com

    A Queen for All Seasons: A Year of Tips, Tricks, and Picks for a Cleaner House and ...
    ISBN: 0743428315
    Author: Linda Cobb
    (2001) Simon & Schuster / Pocket Books
    Website: www.simonsays.com

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