Raleigh Laundry | Coin Laundry Raleigh NC

June 28, 2018
by Laundry Expert
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How To Deep Clean Your Washer

As busy homeowners and parents, we struggle to get all of our to-do list done each and every day. Doing the laundry can be one of those never ending things we do on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis. Since it consumes so much of our time we want to make sure it gets clean the first time, right? Did you know that although a lot of detergent and water goes through your washing machine continuously it is not always as clean as it should be? This post will look at how to deep clean our washing machines and answer some questions about maintenance as well. If you need to use our facilities, stop by the best coin laundry in Raleigh NC!

Deep Clean Your Washer | Coin Laundry Raleigh NC

First, we should note that not properly cleaning and maintaining your washer will defiantly cause bad odors, icky germs, bacteria, and mold. You may begin to see black bits of something all over your laundry. You might begin to look for a culprit such as forgotten paper in pockets or maybe a random item that got into the laundry mix, but it didn’t go away. If this is the case, take a good look at your washing machine drum. Pull back the rubber seal and take a look between the drums. You may find that it is covered in black mold and built-up soap scum. The following are some good ways to deep clean the washer and remove this problem.

One of the best ways to clean the washer is by using vinegar and baking soda. These are really safe to use. They will be good at removing the limescale as well as deodorizing.

As you begin, take the time to clean the gasket and door seals really well. Soak some towels with white vinegar. Place these where the gaskets are and allow the vinegar to loosen up any mold or grease. After at least an hour, wipe the gasket and door seals clean with more towels. If needed you may use a toothbrush to scrub off any lingering residue.
Next, you will mix ½ cup of baking soda and 1 quart of white vinegar together.
Select the longest wash cycle available on your washer. Set the water temperature to the hottest temperature you can.
If you have a front-loading machine you will need to add white vinegar to the detergent dispenser. Add the baking soda to the machines softener dispense. Then begin the wash cycle using the same hot temperature and longest cycle.
If your machine is a top-loading washer then allow the water to run for a few minutes to add water. Once done you can then add in the baking soda and vinegar. Allow the machine to agitate for 1 minute to combine the ingredients. Once this is done you will then want to stop the cycle and allow this mixture to then soak for at least one hour. You can then let the cycle finish.
Once this first cycle is finished it is a good idea to run another cycle with just hot water. You may add some more vinegar to loosen up any residue left by the first wash.
When this second cycle is complete you will need to leave the washing machine door open to allow the inside to dry and to prevent mildew.
Vinegar is an acetic acid, but it is only a mild form of acid and will not kill all of the molds and mildew.

Laundry Express knows your time at home with family is valuable. Doing the laundry can be time consuming. We can help you with all things laundry. Come by and check out our coin laundry in Raleigh NC and the best laundry facility here in the Triangle area. We can help you get caught up as quickly as possible and get you back to doing things that are much more fun! Call us today!

June 25, 2018
by Laundry Expert
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More Dryer Safety Tips

One of the biggest fire hazards in our home is our washers and dryers. These two home appliances are necessary for getting our laundry done but did you know that they can cause devastating fires. We begin posting about dryer safety tips last time and our Raleigh laundromat will continue the discussion in this post.

Dryer Safety | Raleigh Laundromat

Current statistics show that between the years of 2010-2014 an estimated 15,970 home fires were the direct result of a clothes dryer or a washing machine malfunction. The annual losses were more than $238 million in the total property. There were also 440 injuries and 13 deaths also reported.

Did you know that clothes dryers are responsible for approximately 92% of all the fires? A washing machine fire comes in at 4%, and if you have a washer and dryer combination these accounted for 5% of all fires. As we noted in our last blog post a direct result that contributes to these home fires involving the clothes dryer is not cleaning or maintaining the machine properly. Mechanical and electrical failures are the direct result of most washing machine fires. Items that are being dried in a dryer also can contribute to a fire. Taking care not to dry items that are not recommended for your home dryer such as items that contain rubber or plastic products will go a long way in preventing any accidents.

There are some other things that you can do to operate your machines safely. One of those would be to make a certain that after each load of laundry you do you clean your lint filter in the dryer. Length is very combustible and the temperature of the dryer can easily reach 550° meaning this would be a common source of the ignition and the fire will result. Making it a habit to always clean the lint filter before beginning a new load or as soon as a load of closing is done will ensure that this won’t happen to you.

Another great tip is to make certain that your venting materials are made of a flexible metal or are made of something rigid. Not using the proper type of material for your vent can create clogs, trap lint, or cause a blockage in your venting system. Any of these can cause a fire with your dryer.

You will also want to be sure that your machines are plugged in correctly. Dryers need to be accurately grounded and the proper electric plug and outlet used. To double check all of your connections you can hire a licensed professional to come into your home and check your dryer and your washer to make certain that your electrical outlets are not overloaded and are the proper ones that need to be used. Often when electrical sockets are overloaded they can blow fuses or trip circuit breaker’s and cause a fire.

One last tip is to make certain that you never leave your dryer running when you are away from home or when the family is sleeping. This is a good safety tip along with keeping a fire extinguisher near your machines in case you do need them.

If you find yourself behind on a mountain of laundry, check out our Raleigh Laundromat. Laundry Express offers state of the art machines for washing and drying. We also offer laundry services that include dry cleaning, wash, dry, fold services, and stain removal. Don’t get behind when we can help! Visit us soon!

June 19, 2018
by Laundry Expert
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Dryer Safety Tips

One of the biggest causes of fires in the home is from your dryer. Many of us put a load of laundry in Raleigh NC to dry and do not give a thought about fire. However, it really is something to think about. Doing the laundry is just one of those routines we do daily to keep the laundry under control. Making certain that our machines are in proper working order is a vital part of this laundry routine. Safety needs to be exercised always. Over the next couple of blog posts, we will look at how to avoid a tragic fire in the home caused by a dryer.

Dryer Safety Tips | Laundry Raleigh NC

The first things you will want to consider are the proper professional installation of your machines and the servicing of them. When you purchase your dryer or washer/dryer combo, make sure to allow a professional to install them. Most companies provide this service as part of the delivery. The technicians from the company have the expertise to ensure your dryer is properly installed. There are some differences in gas and electric models. Venting will be different so make certain they explain these differences to you. They will also be able to check for any potential hazards in your laundry area setup and help you avoid any issues.

These professionals can also stress to you about having your machines serviced regularly. Many of us never take the time to service them properly. Only when the machine fails do we understand the reasoning behind servicing. Most experts will tell you fires caused by dryers is the direct result of not cleaning or maintaining the dryer. The worst culprit is lint buildup. The area behind the dryer is where this buildup is likely to occur. Taking the time to clean behind the dryer at least monthly will help keep this buildup away.

Another place to check for lint buildup is in the dryer vent hose. If these hoses are not placed properly with no bends or kinks they can become blocked with lint. This can potentially cause a serious dryer fire. The airflow will be cut off and your clothes will not dry as they should as well. A professional can spot these bends and kinks and give you good advice on reducing lint buildup before it causes a fire issue. We all know we should clean the lint basket or filter on the dryer after each load. Just doing this regularly can also decrease the lint buildup that can cause problems.

Be sure to look for our next post where we will identify more dryer safety tips. Remember these can keep a tragic fire from happening in your home while doing laundry in Raleigh NC.

If you are being run ragged, just attempting to keep up with all your extra laundry in Raleigh NC. give Laundry Express a try! We offer state of the art machine for washing and drying your clothes. We also offer laundry services that include dry cleaning, wash-dry-fold, and stain removal! Don’t get behind on your family’s laundry. We are here to help! Visit Laundry Express soon!

June 13, 2018
by Laundry Expert
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How to Launder Hats

When it comes to doing the household laundry even if you consider yourself to be an old pro at it there are some things we can still learn it will make this job easier. We began the discussion last blog post and will continue today with some more tips on how to get our laundry done. If you need help, visit our laundromat in Raleigh NC for all our services!

How to Launder Hats | Laundromat Raleigh NC

One little-known laundry tip is how to wash a hat. Men are known to have all kinds of bottle caps. It is somewhat of a hobby to collect them and they can get pretty dirty over a period of time. Hats can be washed but you must take care not to jeopardize the shape of the hatch. The following are some steps you can take to wash a hat.

First, you will want to locate a container that has a leak-proof top. Place the hat inside along with warm water to cover the hat and then add some detergent. You will then want to shake the container around and as you do you will begin to see the dirt in the water and you will know that your head is getting clean. If your hat has a sweat line around the brim you can use a mixture of water and soap to form a pre-wash and place it where it is needed and soak overnight. Once this is done and you have washed your hat rinse it well and then allow it to dry.

There are some folks who swear by the dishwasher method of washing your hat. If you would like to try this method you can place your hat on the top rack of the dishwasher. It is recommended that you wash several hats at one time. Use your regular dish wash in the container and use the coldest wash possible. Once the cycle has run place your hats on a towel to dry.

Another laundry problem is when our clothing shrinks in the wash. We automatically think that that the item is ruined but we can offer a few tips to maybe help you rescue your items. You will want to use lukewarm water and some baby shampoo. First, fill the sink or a bucket with lukewarm water and add to it at least one cap of baby shampoo. Place your item into this water and allow it to become saturated with the soap and water. Using your hands gently work the water and soap throughout the garment. This relaxes is the fibers and will help on shrink the clothing. After allowing it to soak gently squeeze the water out being careful not to ring it yet. Do not rinse the item but place it on a large bath towel and lay it flat. Once you have laid the item onto the clean towel and shape it you will then roll the towel up with your item inside. You may then press gently on the towel. This will remove excess water from your garment. Next to place your garment onto a second bath towel and shape your item as it dries. Always air dry the garment. You may repeat this process until your item is returned to the original size.

Laundry Express knows your time at home with family is valuable. Doing the laundry can be time consuming. We can help you at our laundromat in Raleigh NC. Come by and check out our state of the are laundry facility here in the Triangle area. We can help you get caught up as quickly as possible and get you back to doing things that are much more fun! Call us today!

June 1, 2018
by Laundry Expert
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Laundry Tips You Might Not Know About

One of the biggest household chores that we learned early on is how to do our laundry in Raleigh NC. Unless you are lucky enough to have a parent, who did your laundry for you, you learned at an early age how to take care of your own laundry. By now you may consider yourself a professional when it comes to laundry, but did you know that there are some laundry tips you might not have learned. This post will look at some ways in which you can solve some laundry problems and maybe save money in doing so.

Unique Tips for Laundry in Raleigh NC

Most of us will either use fabric the softener in the washer or dryer sheets in the dryer. But did you know aluminum foil can help with static cling in your dryer? Just toss a few balls of aluminum fall into the dryer and you will find they do an excellent job getting rid of the static that builds up during a drying cycle.

Another tip for your dryer is, make your own dryer sheets. We all love the convenience of purchasing a box of great smelling dryer sheets, but you can make them on your own. This is an effective way to get a scent that you personally enjoy. You can use any kind of cloth either old terrycloth towels cut into squares or those socks that seem to have lost their mates over the years. You will then want to have some essential oils on hand in your favorite fragrance. Add a few drops to your material or sock and throw it into the dryer just as you would a normal dryer sheet. You may also do this by adding regular fabric softener to a washcloth or material pieces as well. Tennis balls or wool dryer balls can also be used, and essential oils added to them as well. This can save you money, but also regular dryer sheets are known for creating sticky residue over a period of time and this can cause your dryer to work harder which will cost you more money electricity. Another tip is that increasing the heat of the dryer does not always make your clothing drive faster. The truth of the matter is if you use hot temperatures your clothes will bear the brunt of that. They will wear out much faster at a hotter temperature. Use a medium heat for a longer period of time and your closing will likely shrink less and last longer.

When it comes to washing your clothing if you have jeans that or a dark wash and you do not want them to fade make certain that you turned them inside out before washing. Doing so means that the abrasion from being washed with other items will not fade them as fast. You will also want to take care to use cold water with these dark items. Cold water will help to set the dye and keep the items from fading as fast.

We will continue this discussion in our next post. Be sure to check back for more great laundry tips. If you are being run ragged, just attempting to keep up with all your extra laundry in Raleigh NC. give Laundry Express a try! We offer state of the art machine for washing and drying your clothes. We also offer laundry services that include dry cleaning, wash-dry-fold, and stain removal! Don’t get behind on your family’s laundry. We are here to help! Visit Laundry Express soon!