10/19/11

It's important to clean out the lint trap in your dryer every single time you use it to maximize the energy efficiency. But you should also give it a good wash twice a year to remove all the trapped lint, dust and debris that build up where you can't manually clean everything out. Just place the lint trap on the top rack of your dishwasher to clean it, let it dry, and place it back in your dryer.

10/18/11

When you get a nasty stain on your clothes from food or grease, you probably spot-treat it with detergent and toss it into the washing machine. Sometimes it works, but often it doesn't. The reason? The laundry detergent needs time to penetrate the stain and break it up. Next time, spot-treat the stain and rub in the detergent, letting it sit for 15 minutes. Then wash your garment. It should be spot-free.

10/17/11

The automatic dishwasher can be far more water and energy efficient than washing by hand. But if your dishwasher isn't quite getting the dishes clean enough, it may be one simple problem: The detergent door is stuck. Make sure you don't pack the dishwasher so tightly that it jams the detergent door. If the door can't open completely, the detergent won't dissolve properly and won't clean your pots, pans and dishes.