Dryer lint. A ever ending result of drying our clothes!  Before we can discuss what to do with it lets first examine what it is.  Dryer lint is made up of the small fibers our clothing naturally sheds as they are dried in the dryer.  It can also contain any perfume, soap, hair, threads ect. our clothes shed.  It can also vary in nature depending on what you are drying at any given time.  One thing is for certain….There is always a never ending supply of the stuff! Most of us clean the lint trap and like me you probably have a trash can nearby that you throw it into.  Did you know that instead of throwing it away there are some pretty neat things you can do with dryer lint?  The following are some really cool ideas for using dryer lint.

Things to Do With Dryer Lint! | Coin-Op Laundry Raleigh NC

• Dryer fires account for more than 2,900 fires in the United States alone each year. Most of these fires occur due to a buildup of dryer lint.  Dryer lint is highly flammable!  If you begin collecting it instead of throwing it away you can use it to start fires of the good kind.  A really good way to do this is to mix it with melted wax and put it in empty cardboard type egg cartons.  Some also stuff it into empty bathroom tissue rolls.  You can then use it on camping trips or at home in your own fireplace.
• In the garden you can insulate your plants using the lint as a layer under your mulch.  Over a period of time this dryer lint will break down over the soil. It can also be used to start seeds again using those empty toilet paper rolls with the bottom folded in.  Mix seeds with the lint to make a biodegradable way to start seeds.  You will want to be sure your laundry detergents and any fabric softeners you use are free of harmful chemicals.

These are just a few of the many ways you can re-purpose that annoying dryer lint. For more tips on how to use your endless supply of dryer lint, be sure to visit back with our next blog post, soon!

Laundry Express | Coin-Op Laundry Raleigh NC

Here at Laundry Express we understand the frustrations of doing the laundry.  If you find yourself overwhelmed and needing some help with your laundry take advantage of all our laundry services at Laundry Express!  Contact us with questions or to learn more about wash-dry-fold services and more!

Its that time of the year. Football games, leaves changing into beautiful colors, hot chocolate, and breaking out our warm sweaters.  From evenings spent at the county fair to beautiful drives along the parkways enjoying the awesome fall colors, along comes chilly weather.   With that change in temperature most of us are scrambling to get out those warmer sweaters.

Unfortunately in our hurried, very busy lives we often accidentally toss our much beloved….and expensive sweaters into the dryer where they shrink to a size not even the family cat can wear!  Yikes! Can anything be done or is it a toss?  We are happy to say if you work quickly you may still be able to save you favorite sweater with the following tips!  The key here is to get the fibers in the sweater to relax.

Supplies | Coin-Op Laundry Raleigh NC

• Several large bath towels
• Clothespins or some type of clips
• Hair conditioner or baby shampoo  any brand
• A foam poster board or bulletin board
• Your sink or a plastic bucket any type

Loads of PATIENCE | Coin-Op Laundry Raleigh NC

First fill your sink or bucket 1/2 full of room temperature water and add 2-3 tablespoons of your baby shampoo or hair conditioner.  Allow the sweater to soak and then knead it gently.  This will help to relax those fibers.  You will want to give it a good soak for about 30 minutes.

Once it has soaked you can drain the water but DO NOT rinse the sweater.  The fibers must remain coated to help them not stick together again.  PRESS the sweater to remove excess water.  You can use the sides of your container if needed to help you press.  It is vital that you do NOT twist or wring the garment.

Put your large towel down and place the sweater flat onto it.  Place a second towel on top and then roll your sweater up and press down.  Now you will need your board.  Take the sweater and very gently arrange your garment back to its original shape and size.  Use your clothespins or clips to hold it in place on the board.  Once you have it attached you can place it upright against a wall and be sure to put another towel under it then simply let the sweater air dry!

Once you see it is COMPLETELY dry (this step is important) you can remove it.  Does it look good as new?  If not you can repeat this process again.  Sometimes re-pining during the drying process helps.  Just always remember to be gentle!  This method does not always work but it is successful most of the time.  Patience is the key word here.

No one wants to shrink a favorite sweater but it does happen.  This is just a reminder to us to slow down and be careful with our beloved but fragile laundry items.

Laundry Express | Coin-Op Laundry Raleigh NC

This time of year as we bring out colder weather items out of storage and put up the warmer ones we can get a bit frazzled with all the extra laundry.  If you find this to be the case for you check out Laundry Express!  We offer state of the art washers and dryers.  Our laundry services include dry cleaning, and a great wash-dry-fold service to get you back on track and enjoying the season.  Come by and visit us soon!

Lets face it!  We all love our pets and enjoy the pleasures of pet ownership. However, none of us enjoy the hair they tend to leave behind!  On the couch, the rug, our clothes, it seems to be on everything.  It would be great if they could clean up after themselves but well getting everyone else to do that is impossible it seems! Let’s look at some tip for getting this hair out of our washing machines  since it tends to stick inside there after washing some of these items.

Easily Remove Pet Hair! |Coin-Op Laundry Raleigh NC

First you will want to run a wash cycle with the washer empty.  Use the hottest water temperature possible and add liquid fabric softener.  Next you will want to open the door to your washer  and allow it to dry out thoroughly.  Once it and the drum inside are dry you can take a soft brush attachment for the vacuum cleaner and simply vacuum the hair out.  You can also use a wet cloth to wipe it out thoroughly. Pay particular attention to the drain pump filter as the hair getting trapped inside can keep the washer from being able to drain in the proper way.  You can remove this filter and clear out the accumulated hair.

Keeping the Washer free of pet hair requires some work ahead of clothes washing.  Teach each member of the family to use a lint roller on their clothing BEFORE putting them into the dirty laundry hamper.  Putting one of these lint rollers into each room of the home will help them remember to adhere to this really great habit.  Keep one in the laundry room itself so that before placing the clothing into the wash it is there for another going over if necessary.

White Vinegar | Coin-Op Laundry Raleigh NC

Believe it or not a fantastic tip is to use white vinegar in the wash.  Just add some to every load.  It will really help keep the hair from sticking to your clothing by reducing the static electricity that causes it to cling to your clothes.

Making sure to empty your lint tray in the dryer each and every time you remove and add another load will also help since it becomes an endless cycle otherwise.  These machines work together and keeping them both clean will save you time and energy you would rather spend on something much more fun!

Remember to fold your clothes away from furniture or other areas occupied by your pet.  You will also want to be sure not to leave your cleaned laundry where your pet can use it for a nap!  Pets love nice warm clothing….it attracts them to use as a great bed.  Trying to keep your clothing and washer as hair free as possible can seem like an endless task.  Taking these steps to prepare our laundry and to keep our laundry machines clean will help us in this ongoing battle.  We love our pets and there is nothing better than cuddling up with them to relax us and make us feel warm and certainly loved!

Laundry Express | Coin-Op Laundry Raleigh NC

If you find yourself overwhelmed with you accumulation of laundry and need some help catching up contact us at Laundry Express!  Our services for coin-op laundry in Raleigh NC can help you do all your laundry at once.  It will cut your laundry time in half giving you loads more time to spend outdoors during this beautiful fall season here in the triangle!  Visit us today!