March 25, 2018
by Laundry Expert
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Money Saving Laundry Tips

For many families today sticking to a budget is not only good it is a necessary priority. We all know that the cost of running a household is expensive. A months grocery bill for the average family of four has skyrocketed. In order to afford the things we need we have to cut costs everywhere we can. The food budget is not the only place we can find some cost savings. Our laundry in Raleigh NC is one of the areas to look at.

Save Money With These Tips! | Laundry Raleigh NC

We are creatures of habit. Many of us use exactly the same products our parents used as we were growing up. Often we have not stopped to consider the choices we have. Take the laundry aisle at your local grocery store. Stand at the end of the aisle and marvel at all of the choices. It can be a bit overwhelming, right? So many choices. Powder, liquid, pods. Do you want the whitest and brightest?  What about smell? Every scent possible seems to be on the market these days. Pricing is also all over the place. So how on earth do we make a good choice?

First, take a good look at your family’s laundry. How dirty does it get really?  If it is just you or yourself and a spouse then your laundry overall may not get heavily dirty. If not then pick a detergent that is more for lightly soiled clothes. If you have a couple of kids who get really dirty or play sports then a more heavy duty detergent will be called for.  In this case, you can keep two kinds of detergent in the laundry room for differing loads.

We know that all the slick advertising will tell you a baby’s laundry needs a special type detergent. The truth is any fragrance-free, dye-free detergent is OK for a baby’s laundry. This type will not harm a baby’s skin and can honestly be used for your whole family if you would like. No need for a costly brand.

The biggest cost saving to you will be in determining the right type for your laundry that is most cost efficient. The next step is figuring out the proper amount of detergent per load you will need. Do not just fill the cap and dump. Take the time to read the label. Some loads of laundry take less, some take more. Using too much can not only cost you way more dollars but can also harm your clothing. This will, in turn, cost you even more money. You may find it easier to use a measuring cup such as a glass one. The cap can be hard to read. A clearly marked measuring cup will help you see the correct amount. You can use a permanent marker to draw lines you can actually see.

Some other ways to save are to make your own detergent. We suggest researching this thoroughly and breaking down the cost to make sure it is more cost-effective. As always, sales and coupons can help save you even more money. If you find a great sale then by all means stock up for later.

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 on your laundry in Raliegh NC when we can help! Visit us soon!

 

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March 21, 2018
by Laundry Expert
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More Real Laundry Problems That You Can Easily Fix

Last post we began the conversation about Real Laundry Problems That You Can Easily Fix. When doing the laundry we are most often the one causing laundry issues, not our machines. We can have the latest in technology when it comes to a washer and dryer but if we are not taking the time to use them properly we are setting up for a disaster.  The following are more ways in which we can solve some of the biggest problems we have.

Problem Solving Tips | Laundromat Raleigh NC

To recap we discovered in our previous post that in order to keep our clothing looking its best we must do the following:

  • Sort our clothes by fabric type, and most importantly by color
  • Purchase a really good detergent and laundry booster if needed
  • Use the proper water temperature. Cold is OK but sometimes you need warm or hot depending on the fabric and soil level
  • Use the proper amount of detergent in every load

These are the basics. We will now address some other laundry problems that you can solve. One of these that is very frustrating is finding holes in our clothes. Clothes our not exactly cheap so this is not an issue you want to have. The biggest culprit for holes is too much chlorine bleach. Chlorine bleach is really strong and you must take the time to not only dilute it properly but do not get any directly on the fabric. Even on totally white fabrics. Holes also come from not taking the time to prepare your clothes for washing. By this, we mean closing zippers, hooks, and metal buttons if necessary. These items can and will catch on other fabrics and holes will appear. You must also empty out pockets before washing. Leaving any items no matter how small can cause holes and possibly tears in your clothes.

Wrinkles are another common laundry problem. We cannot keep all wrinkles from forming but we can certainly reduce them as much as possible. Here again, the biggest problem is in the sorting of the clothes. Always make certain to wash like-fabrics together. Do not mix heavy fabrics with lighter weight ones. Jeans and delicates would be a no-no. Another good tip is to shake out each item before putting them in your dryer.

Wrinkles are also caused by improper detergent and water temperatures. This makes it even more important to take the time to use the right ones. Pay attention to the cycle you select as well. There are different ones on your machines for a reason. Take the time to become familiar with each one so that you can properly choose the right one for your load.

One of our pet peeves is also lint. Again proper sorting will help prevent this. Be careful to keep towels and terry cloth away from knits and perma-press clothing. Check the pockets as well. Paper or used tissues, no matter how small, will cause a huge lint problem. Once they are wet and then thrown into the dryer they will disintegrate into a million pieces. This will cause you a huge headache.

If you are being run ragged, just attempting to keep up with all your extra laundry. give Laundry Express a try! We offer state of the art machine for washing and drying your clothes at the best laundromat in Raleigh NC. 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!

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March 15, 2018
by Laundry Expert
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Real Laundry Problems That You Can Easily Fix

One of the most exasperating of all common household problems is laundry issues. It is easy to just place the blame on our washing machine. The real truth of the matter is we are the problem most of the time. Life gets busy and we get tired. Sometimes taking the proper amount of time to handle laundry and the problems that come with it is not high on our priority list. Not taking the time needed to address laundry problems can cost us more than time. It can cost us money. The next couple of posts will address some real laundry problems that we can solve pretty easily.

Quick Fix for Laundry Problems! | Fluff and Fold Raleigh NC

White clothing and linens will turn yellow when the dirt on our bodies is not completely gotten out of the fabric. The best way to remove deep soil and dirt is to use a good detergent and the right water temperature. This is not the time to skimp on detergent or to use cold water. You can also use a booster to help remove the stains.

The use of a chlorine bleach can also cause yellowing. It is formulated to whiten whites and will do that., The problem comes when you use too much. Another problem with using too much is that it can actually damage your items. Take the time to properly measure the amount needed for your load and this will not be a problem.

Sometimes whites yellow from a hard water problem. This is an issue for people with a well. There is often too much iron in the water or other minerals. This will cause clothes to look not only yellow but can turn them a brown color. This problem can be helped with a good filter system. A water softening system can help as well.

The biggest culprit for dingy laundry comes from putting too many clothes in a load and then not using the proper water temperature. Overcrowding a load of laundry will keep the clothes from circulating correctly. This means the dirt and soil will not be removed and the clothes will not come clean.

The water temperature plays a huge role as well. Many of us have grown used to using only cold temperature water to save energy. The facts are that warm and hot water temperatures work the best with almost all detergents. If your clothes are particularly dirty this is certainly the case. If you feel you must use cold water only then make sure you have a good detergent formulated for cold water temperatures.

Yellow clothing is not the only “color” problem. Clothes will also take on a gray look if they are not sorted and washed with like colors. If you place whites with jeans, or black items with lighter colors this will be a disaster. Proper sorting is extremely important when it comes to the laundry.

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 state of the art fluff and fold in Raleigh NC, 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!

 

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March 13, 2018
by Laundry Expert
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Laundry Sorting Tips

Spring weather is finally here. Spring can be one of the most fun seasons of the year, but with it comes with its share of laundry. As we begin to be more active outdoors it will mean more laundry and laundry piles up fast. This post will offer some great sorting tips you can use when it comes to dealing with spring laundry. We hope these will help you get a good handle on sorting your family’s laundry.

Have the Kids Help | Coin-Op Laundry Raleigh NC

Since they’re most likely the culprits of the excess in dirty laundry, have the kids make your life easier. Here are some simple things they can do:

  • Separate their dirty clothes into lights and darks
  • Neatly put away their clean clothes
  • Make sure clothes are right side out to cut down on your folding and hanging time

Get Rid of Stains

Sunscreen, barbeques, playing in the grass and dirt—you’re lucky if you go one day without getting a serious stain on your clothes. Have a good stain removal product on hand at all times and teach everyone in the family to use it. Have your kids help you by pointing out stains on their clothes so you know which clothes to pre-treat before they go in the washing machine.

Sort Properly

The main ingredient in any laundry recipe is the laundry. Whites, light colors and darks: Most of us have learned to separate our laundry into these three piles.

Here are some less obvious but equally helpful sorting tips, in case your piles are still mountainous:

  • Separate lint producers (towels & blankets) from lint magnets (corduroy & fleece).
  • Natural fibers from synthetic fibers, because they dry at different rates.
  • Tough fabrics (jeans) from delicate fabrics (lace camisole).
  • Keep lingerie and hosiery in a mesh bag — straps and stockings won’t tangle up in the washer.
  • Wash garments with bright colors on white (for example, red-and-white-striped shirt) separately for the first wash. If the dye runs, it only ruins one garment. Then you can call it a design element or your attempt at a new creation!

 It Isn’t Necessarily Dirty After the First Wear 

Things like jeans, shorts, towels, and bathing suits don’t need to be washed every time they’re used. A swimsuit can be rinsed and hung up between uses. Our rule of thumb is if it’s not visibly dirty and it doesn’t smell, it can be worn again without being washed.

 Stay Organized

Investing in a couple of extra hampers can make all the difference when clothes are migrating all over the place. Put one in each room for every member of your family, you can also put a hamper in the bathroom or linen closet so that towels and linens are all together. It’ll make your collecting rounds easier and will encourage everyone to put their dirty clothes in the hamper and not just on the floor.

Coin-Op Laundry Raleigh NC

If you find that you are behind on your laundry chores and need a little help catching up give us a try! Laundry Express offers many kinds of laundry services including a wash, dry, fold service that will catch you up in no time. Stop by our coin-op laundry in Raleigh NC today!

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March 1, 2018
by Laundry Expert
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Laundry Tips for Spring

With the warming temperatures come different routines. After being inside where it is warmer for many months, we now want to be outdoors enjoying the warmth. This is also the time of the year when we want to spring clean and make new routines. In today’s blog post we are going to look at some great laundry tips for the season of spring. We hope you will find some new ways to do your laundry and help you will some common laundry problems.

Spring Laundry Tips | Coin Laundry Raleigh NC

In today’s market, there are all kinds of new products to help you with your laundry routine. Many require no scooping out a powder, no measuring of a liquid, no mess at all. There are all kinds of detergent “pods” that have everything already measured for you. Just throw one in the wash and voila, done! If you love a lot of great scents, then there are “beads” that will boost the great smell of your clothes for up to a week or more. These will also be a help to neutralize any odors your clothing might hang on to.  In the dryer, there are many dryer sheet products with loads of scents to help with static and wrinkles. These are simple to use as well. Just throw one in before you dry.

Spring is the perfect time to go through your clothing as well as your accessories. This is a time for beginning to sort as you do the laundry. You can begin to pack up the heavier sweaters, jackets, gloves, and hats to store for next winter. If there are items that you have noticed do not fit well anymore put them in a donate pile. Be ruthless here. Not only will it feel good to shed some unwanted items from your wardrobe, but you will love it when next year your winter clothes are perfect.

Take the time to properly clean your washer and dryer. If your washer is not cleaned regularly it can build up odors. This can and will transfer to your clothes. This can be done with white vinegar, baking soda, and hot water. There are also some cleaning solutions designed for the washer available on the market as well. Give your dryer a cleaning as well.

Always take the time to address stains on your clothes as soon as possible. Leaving them will mean they may become permanent and result in your having to throw away the item. It is estimated that 65 pounds of clothing is thrown away each year by the average American. That is a whole lot of clothing. Keep a stain removal product handy and take the time to use it as soon as you notice the stain. Many of these products are available to carry around in your purse. These are very portable so invest in one to have on hand. This will save you money as you are able to rescue most stained clothing.

Laundry Express | Coin Laundry Raleigh NC

If you are being run ragged, just attempting to keep up with all your extra laundry. give Laundry Express a try! We offer state of the art machine for washing and drying your clothes. We also offer coin laundry in Raleigh NC and 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!

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