LilSugar

Casa Quickie: Hot and Then Cold

CasaSugar — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 07:00:09 PDT

If you own a top-loading washer, or live in a building that has older machines, you may be using soap flakes or powdered detergent instead of liquid laundry detergent. However, if you want to wash your clothes in a more energy-saving manner by keeping the water temperature on cold, you'll benefit from trying these tips with your non-liquid detergent.

First, try adding the powder to the bottom of the washing machine and letting a little water run before you add any clothes. This will help to ensure that the detergent will dissolve and not get stuck in folds of your clothes, which can damage the garment and guarantee another round of washing.

If this doesn't do the trick, try dissolving the powdered detergent in a pitcher of hot water before adding it to the machine. Problem solved!

Casa Quickie: Lighten Up

CasaSugar — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 13:00:00 PDT

A recent article in the New York Times brought up an interesting subject: how much dishwasher detergent should we use? Every time my detergent runs low - which is often - I wonder how little can I get away with. As it turns out, "Washing machines and dishwashers are made to use far less water now than older models and, therefore, need less soap. And detergents have also become increasingly concentrated." So, the answer is less is more. What a relief! If you're a numbers girl (or boy) like me, you may need digits: the Times' expert dishwasher repairman says that 1/8 to 1/2 of what's usually recommended should be enough. Try this at home! It should save us all a pretty penny.

I Don't Buy It: Special Detergent For Your Fitness Clothes?

FitSugar — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 08:00:00 PDT

Of course, I think it is imperative to wash your fitness gear after every workout, but come on - do you expect me to believe that I need special soap to do it? This Sport-Wash ($10) says you should use this instead of regular detergent to "keep the high-tech in your high-tech fabrics so your workout wear will continue to look good and perform its best." This soap claims that it "leaves no residue to interfere with moisture control, breathability, water-repellency or insulation. It even restores factory-applied waterproofing." Is it me or do you agree that this is a total scam? Now I know workout gear can start to stink after a while, and detergent that gets the funk out is a necessity for some clothes, so that I'm down with. As for this Sport-Wash, I think it's a waste of money because if the fabric itself can't withstand washing in regular detergent, then chances are the gear isn't going to last very long anyhow. What do you think?

Source

Ecotot: Baby Detergent

LilSugar — Fri, 14 Dec 2007 04:00:41 PST

Kids produce piles upon piles of laundry. While carting the clothes to the washer is one chore, lugging the weighty jugs of detergent is another. An earth-friendly option I found is ECOS Free & Clear concentrated liquid detergent that is 100 percent non pollutant, biodegradable, nontoxic and natural.

Two ounces of the fluid cleans an entire load of my children's soiled clothes as well as any mainstream brand and because it has a neutral PH, I don't have to worry about it irritating their sensitive skin. Sold in a recyclable container, 50 ounces is $8. Best of all, your children will have clean clothes and you won't have any more arm aches.

Lil Tip: Wash Up For Baby

babysugar — Sun, 11 Nov 2007 07:00:00 PST

Your shower has come and gone, and your due date is quickly approaching. Instead of just sitting around and waiting for baby, make sure all of those little onesies and sheets are ready for their sweet skin. Babies can be prone to eczema, atopic dermatitis and allergies so it's important to treat their clothes with a different kind of detergent than you would normally use.

All Free and Clear is free of dyes and fragrances, which help to protect your lil one's precious body. Dreft and Method Baby are popular detergent choices for moms, too. They are dye free, but both contain small amounts of fragrance, which I personally love.

Here is a list of things to wash:

All of Baby's clothes
Towels and washcloths
Bibs and burp cloths
Bedding sheets, blankets, bumper, pillows
You might want to wash some of your shirts, too

Also, steer clear of the fabric softening liquids and dryer sheets. They can
cause flame retardant clothes to lose their effectiveness.

Get to throwing those loads in the washer. As for folding, you're on your own!

The Simply Surprising Reasons French Women Have Enviably Glowy Skin

Jaime Richards — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 05:02:00 PST

When Bertrand Thomas and his wife, Mathilde, (pictured above) launched Caudalie in 1995 with just three items on the roster, it was the first company to use the antiaging benefits of grape-seed polyphenols in skin care. Since then, the vinotheraphy-based brand has launched a full range of products, using practically all parts of the grape, from skin to stalk. In fact, its radiance-boosting Beauty Elixir ($16 to $46), which contains grape fruit extract, is so popular, even Victoria Beckham has been tweeting about it.

But what is it about French women that makes them seem so pleasantly content and perfectly complected? In the NYT best-seller, French Women Don't Get Fat, author Mireille Guiliano describes a lifestyle that is full of variety, where deprivation is replaced by savoring things to the fullest. And when it comes to beauty, Thomas explains it's a similar mindset: "Balance is the key word: French women balance food their food and balance their lifestyle." To see just what Thomas means on how French women get it right, keep reading.

Clean Up Your Act With Earth- and Baby-Friendly Laundry Products

LilSugar — Mon, 25 Jul 2011 12:09:50 PDT

Everything changes when a baby comes along, especially parents' perspectives on safety. Every decision is made with protective goggles on as parents want the best bottles, the healthiest food, and household products without toxic chemicals. This is especially important when it comes to washing tots' tiny clothes and cloth diapers. What's good for baby is generally what's good for earth, and detergents made with irritating petrochemicals are harmful to both. Check out these products that are both eco and baby conscious.

Clockwise from top left:

Vaska Spotoff Advanced Botanicals Spot Remover ($10), and Vaska Herbatergent Light Lavender, 48 oz. ($12): Vaska products earned recognition by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Design for the Environment Program as they break down quickly to non-polluting compounds. The natural lavender scent actually smells like lavender because it is - unlike most brands which use manufactured scents.
Rockin' Green Classic Rock Laundry Detergent ($15): One of the most popular brands used to clean cloth diapers, this detergent was developed by a parent whose kids had very sensitive skin that broke out with every cleanser they tried.
Seventh Generation Liquid Laundry 2x Ultra Concentrate, Baby, 150 oz. ($22): Seventh Generation products have been a go-to for eco-conscious mamas for a while. The liquid is super concentrated so a little really does go a long way.
Biokleen Laundry Powder, 5 pounds ($22): This nontoxic, biodegradable powder is gentle while strong enough to launder cloth diapers - and everything else. The price is also right so customers don't have feel like they have to choose between green (eco) and green (money).
Method Baby Laundry Detergent, Sweet Pea ($15): When Method launched a line of laundry detergents in 2010, it was an instant hit with fans of green, clean laundry. The cleverly designed pump bottle means multitasking mamas can do laundry and hold the baby at the same time.

Staff Members at Animal Shelters Can Use These Things

Morgan Ashley Parker — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 07:50:01 PST

While we usually think of giving things to shelters for the animals, the staff can use your help, too! It helps to contact your local one to learn exactly what they need, but I gathered up a list of recommendations that you may be tossing, or can easily spare, this New Year.

Camera: If you were lucky enough to get a new camera for Christmas, a doggie shelter could use your old one! Supply the cables, too, and staff can upload photos of their available dogs to their website or Petfinder.
Computer: Ditto goes for your computer. Many animal shelters don't have budgets to upgrade their computers so it's possible your hand-me-over is better (and newer) than what they're working with.
Printer: Sure, they probably have one but it helps to have a backup in case one breaks.

Learn other things that most shelters need that won't break your bank and

Clean Up Your Home: 5 Chemicals to Avoid in Home Cleaning Products

Rebecca M Gruber — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 08:32:32 PST

Keeping a clean and healthy home is a priority for many moms - so much so that it is the number one thing moms think they are judged about - but what they clean with may be doing more harm than good. Even products labeled as "green" and "kid safe" can be causing allergic reactions or contributing to long-term health issues.

Healthy Child Healthy World has teamed up with Women's Voices For the Earth to share the results of a surprising study about hidden chemicals in household cleaners. An independent lab tested 20 of the name-brand cleaning products and found allergens and toxins in bottles, detergents, dryer sheets, and air fresheners from some of the most popular companies around. Take a look at which products landed on the list, and see what to look out for before buying your next cleaning product.

The Dos and Don'ts of Caring For Wooden Cutting Boards

Katie Sweeney — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 05:12:41 PST

Although some people prefer plastic cutting boards because they can be put in the dishwasher, I've always loved large wooden chopping blocks. Perhaps it's because I have fond memories of my father chopping on his custom-made wood cutting board, but there's something that's rustic and cool about old-school boards. Since I'm the proud owner of a giant (and incredibly heavy) new wooden cutting board, I figure it's high time I learned the proper technique for cleaning it. To find out the dos and don'ts of wooden cutting board care, keep on reading.