Washing Greens--Do you add anything to water?
brad9
15 years ago
Featured Answer
Sort by:Oldest
Comments (15)
boulderbelt
15 years agogardener1908
15 years agoRelated Discussions
Is there anything that cannot be HOT water washed?
Comments (11)Clementine, I also responded to your post in the cleaning tips forum. To clarify, your allergies aren't to the dust or even the mites, rather, your allergy is triggered by the shed skin and fecal matter of the dust mite. With that said, washing with soap should remove the allergens. I don't know that it's necessary to wash everything in hot. Personally, I wash only my whites in hot. Your dryer is going to run hotter than the water temps, so with regard to your allergies and water temps, I think the sole purpose of washing in hot is to help dislodge any of the dust mite's shed skin or fecal matter from your bedding and clothing. By that logic, warm water and soap would probably suffice. I still wash all my darks in cold, and my allergies are under control. The most important thing to keep in mind is that skin cells are food for dust mites, so the more you clean, the less chances they have to survive. They also need a relative humidity of about 70% in order to live. See the link below for more info regarding dust mites and allergies. In the winter months when the air is typically less humid, when I change the bedding and vacume the mattress, I also open my bedroom windows while I am cleaning and I close the room off for a few hours. Leaving the windows open is also going to lessen their chances of survival as the relative humidity will drop. Use a dehumidifier in the summer months, or run an air conditioner. Additionally, I use a good quality filter in my furnace, I run air conditioning in the summer, I have a dehumidifier in my basement, and all of my "throw" pillows have removable, washable covers. Fortunately, I don't have carpeting in my home - all hardwood with throw rugs, but I hand wash the floors including behind furniture and underneath the beds. If the average mattress were tested, you'd be surprised how many dust mites are harboring there. It pays to vacume your mattress regularly. Good luck. Hope this helps. Here is a link that might be useful: Dust Mite info...See MoreElectrolux WaveTouch EWFLS70J Photos (Add more water)
Comments (18)asolo, I suppose even an old service manual is better than none. Most manufacturers don't do a complete overhaul when updating their line. When Whirlpool "facelifted" the Duets, the bulletin said that 95% or so of the parts were interchangable between old and new units. The numbers quoted by Chris are identical to the ones from the manual. It's nice to see that Hot is 131F. However, the manual for the EIFL55 says Hot is the default for Whites. Well, washerdryerinfo.com measured only 103F on a Hot Whites wash. Hm... Either the service manual is a little optimistic or the institute changed the settings. Same with the Frigidaire they tested: preset to Hot on Whites Whites but peaked at 104F. Anyway, what I'd like to see are more detailed cycle descriptions - like Miele does it in Europe. But I'm sure that ain't gonna happen, since most people don't even touch the manual these days... Alex Here is a link that might be useful: http://www.washerdryerinfo.com/content/Electrolux-EIFLS55IIW-Washing-Machine-Review/Efficiency.htm...See MoreCan you add zones to old hot water radiators?
Comments (3)If it is a hot water system, you can throttle the radiators using the hand valves. Most hot water radiators use a quarter-turn valve. It will take some fussing over a couple of days, probably, but essentially you throttle the valves closest to the thermostat to cut down on heat transfer there while making sure that the valves in the other parts of the house are fully open. There are also thermostatic valves that can replace the hand valves that will do the same thing. Finally, if you have hot water or steam, you don't have a furnace, you have a boiler. Boilers have MUCH longer average lives than furnaces, especially if the boiler sections are made out of cast iron. It may well not be as efficient as a new boiler, but it's not unheard of for a boiler to last 50 years or more. The steam boiler in the house where I grew up was originally a coal boiler and dated from around 1898. It was finally replaced with a newer, MUCH more efficient boiler around 1982. The old boiler was still going strong. It was just inefficient as all hell. If you do decide to rezone, it's not going to be cheap....See MoreIs there any reason to ever hand wash anything?
Comments (39)I've successfully washed wool in a standard top loader also. A warm fill on gentle cycle, add detergent, agitate just to incorporate ddetergent into water, shut machine off, use my hands to push clothing/blanket down into the water and leave it soak 5/10 minutes. .no agitation. Than advance dial to spin and advance again wash with warm, again let soak for 5 minutes or so but I usually let agitate on gentle for only a few seconds this time. Than advance again to spin. Done. My boys bought Amiees BF a beautiful wool scarf and socks for Christmas. I wrote down the washing instructions in a card ...he showed up here for a visit one day giving me the scarf and asking if I would return it for a exchange..it was shrunk, and has white fuzzy stuff all over it..turns out it was washed with a mixed load ( these people don't sort) I told him I could never return something that was improperly washed..he was offended, he see's nothing wrong with his mothers or his laundry practices, and indeed see's me as a laundry obsessed crazy lady ( imagine me of all people being laundry obsessed, the nerve of some people LOL)...See Moreveggierosalie
15 years agoboulderbelt
15 years agospogarden
14 years agogardener1908
14 years agoboulderbelt
14 years agoanoid1
14 years agothinman
14 years agogardendawgie
14 years agotshutch
14 years agogardendawgie
14 years agothinman
14 years agoiochroma
4 years ago
Related Stories
GREEN BUILDINGJust Add Water: Rain Barrel Magic
Take your rainwater storage from practical to beautiful with a new breed of design-friendly rain barrels
Full StoryGREEN DECORATINGEasy Green: Big and Small Ways to Be More Water-Wise at Home
These 20 tips can help us all make the best use of a precious resource. How do you save water in summer?
Full StoryGREAT HOME PROJECTSHow to Add a Radiant Heat System
Enjoy comfy, consistent temperatures and maybe even energy savings with hydronic heating and cooling
Full StoryBEFORE AND AFTERSLiving Area Lightened Up and Ready for Anything
Porcelain tile and outdoor fabrics prepare this lakeside home for the challenge of pets and kids
Full StoryDECORATING GUIDESBulletproof Decorating: Upholstery That Stands Up to Anything
Kids and pets are no match for fabrics as durable as these, which meet higher style standards than ever
Full StorySAVING WATERGreat Plants for Lush, Low-Water Gardens
Water restrictions making your garden look washed out? Give it living color with unthirsty grasses, flowers and succulents
Full StoryYELLOWCitrus Hues Add Zest to Rooms
You almost don't need to clean when you wash your spaces with the refreshing colors of lemons, limes and oranges
Full StoryBATHROOM DESIGNGreen and Clean: Sleek Water-Wise Bathroom Fixtures
By choosing ecofriendly faucets, showerheads and even toilets, you can save loads of water and money without sacrificing style
Full StoryHOUSEPLANTSHow to Add a Living Wall
Learn how to choose systems and plants, and what it will cost to bring a bit of the outdoors in or green up a garden wall
Full StoryDECORATING STYLES7 Ways to Add Mediterranean Elegance to Your Home
Embrace the easy style and romance of the Mediterranean through color, texture, classic accents, and light
Full Story
gardendawgie