Pandemic Apparel

Last week I started to clean my iron plate and found an article RealSimple made, but omitted a few of the steps since my iron manual advised against it. It came out pretty clean, As you can see from the first image, that I doctored (I realized in the middle of cleaning that this would be a good blog post). How I cleaned my iron: I used 8 Tbsp Baking Soda & 4 Tbsp Cold Water (its a 2 to 1 ratio). While the iron was cold I applied the paste with a towel, then I wiped it off with a clean towel. This didn't clean the iron, but it took some of the mineral deposits off. I then turned the iron ON and set it to HIGH and steam to HIGH. With a damp towel I wiped off the paste. Then, I placed a clean towel on a heat resistant surface, and started squirting it with water and started working the iron back and forth on the towel, using steam. Some of the iron's steam vents got clogged with the paste. I used a wet cotton swab to clean the baking soda from the vents. This was no easy task...

http://www.doityourself.com/stry/cleaniron By Susan M. Keenan Cleaning your iron on a regular basis is essential to maintaining clean, crisp clothes. At first glance, you may wonder how it is that one goes about cleaning an iron. In fact, you may even avoid the task simply because you don't know how to go about it. Fortunately, cleaning the iron is no more difficult than cleaning most other small appliances. All it takes is a little bit of time and a few simple tools. Cleaning the Reservoir The reservoir of your iron needs cleaning if it looks as though small deposits are being left in the small holes on the soleplate. Typically, the deposits are minerals from the water that you are using in the reservoir. The deposits may have a white color, and they may resemble salt. Cleaning the reservoir requires the use of white vinegar and a clean rag. Fill the reservoir of a cold iron at least one fourth of the way with white vinegar. Turn the iron on and place it on the steam setting. Stea...

How to make dryer sheets. Materials: • Cotton Fabric • Pinking Shears • Spray Bottle • Fabric Softener (any brand) Instructions: 1. Using your pinking shears cut fabric into 8"x8" squares. 2. Fill your spray bottle with fabric softener. 3. When you're ready to do a load of laundry, spray a cotton square 6 to 8 times & toss it in the dryer. Tip: Wash your squares every once in a while to remove buildup of softener. With a little care, these dryer sheets should last for years. "… Dryer sheets are made of fabric softener, like Downy, dried onto a small piece of fabric. It's just the stuff you put in the wash, but in solid form… If you make your own dryer sheets, one bottle of fabric softener can last you more than a year, & you'll save some big bucks…" [ Book: The Big Ass Book of Crafts by Mark Montano] After reading this book I decided to research this for myself and I found more recipes on how to make your own dryer sheets. Below are a list...