Raleigh Laundry | Coin Laundry Raleigh NC

February 28, 2018
by Laundry Expert
Comments Off

Beginners Guide To Laundry Part Two

Last post we began a Laundry 101 discussion about how to do the laundry. As we noted the laundry is not one of the most glamorous of a household chore but it is a necessary one. Clothing is one of our most expensive purchases and we have to learn to take proper care of it. Learning to do laundry properly requires some steps. Last post we gave some great tips for getting ready to do our laundry. This post will take us through the washing, drying, and folding/putting-away part of the chore.

Once the laundry is sorted and pre-treated if necessary, we are ready to wash.

Load the Washer | Coin Laundry Raleigh NC

When loading your clothing into the washer, do it by adding one item at a time. If you wad them up they will not get clean. Always make certain you do not cram the washer too full. The clothes need room to move freely about in the water. To protect some fabric finishes, turn any knitted items, corduroy, textured fabric and dark colors inside out.

Unload the Washer

Promptly remove wet laundry from washer to lessen wrinkles and prevent mildew. Do not leave wet laundry for any lengthy period of time. We promise they will begin to smell pretty quickly. Hang items that need to air dry. Lay sweater flat to dry. The rest you will place in dryer.

Loading the Dryer

Again, you will want to place your clothing one piece at a time into the dryer. Shake them out to prevent wrinkles. Check that any pretreated stains are gone. If they are not pre-treat again and re-wash. Placing them into the dryer will mean they may be permanently set and cannot be removed. If you did not use a liquid fabric softener in the wash you can now put in a dryer sheet. Choose the right cycle and temperature for the clothing type.

Folding and Hanging

This is one of the most important steps in doing laundry. Once your clothes are dry remove them immediately to prevent wrinkles. Either hang or fold your items. Doing so means fewer wrinkles. Once the clothes are either hung or folded they need to be put away. This will cut down on stress each day. You do not want to be running around in the mornings to get ready for work or school. Having a good laundry routine will keep the stress away. Ironing is also one of those dreaded tasks. Hanging and folding the laundry as soon as it is done will keep that to a minimum.

Laundry can be time-consuming and a bit overwhelming. The key is to never let it accumulate into a small mountain. A load a day will keep this task under control and keep you in clothes to wear every day.

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, coin laundry in Raleigh NC, It’s a great 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 to learn more about our quality coin laundry in Raleigh NC!

February 25, 2018
by Laundry Expert
Comments Off

Beginners Guide To Laundry Part One

One of the many life skills we need to learn is how to do the laundry. Learning how to do laundry is not difficult. It is not always a task we look forward to, but it is a necessary one. In today’s world fabrics, detergents, and machines take most of the mystery and a lot of the mistakes out of the process.

Beginner’s Tips to Laundry | Coin-Op Laundry Raleigh NC

Following these ten basic steps for doing laundry will help you to get started. Using these tips will ensure you’ll have clean laundry to wear every day.

First – Read the Labels

Always take the time to check the care labels on your garments and linens. They will tell you whether an item can be machine washed. Every type of fabric has elements that determine how it reacts to heat, water and cleaning products. Place all clothes that are labeled “wash separately” or “hand wash” into separate piles. As a beginner, trust us, if the label says, “dry clean only,” believe the label and place in a bag to take to the dry cleaners.

Second – Sort the Clothes

Start by sorting the laundry into three piles: Colors, Whites, and Darks. You may also want to add a pile of towels and bedding. Once this is done you may choose to sort again. Sheets are usually bulky and need to be washed separately from other items. In the dark colors, separate t-shirts and jeans from lighter weight items like blouses and dress shirts. This will keep your clothes looking new longer.

Third – Pick the Right Detergent

There are many types of detergent brands in the market today. This comes down to personal choice. Always select an all-purpose laundry detergent and read the directions to determine how much to use. This is an important part of the process. You will want to use the proper amount. Not too much or too little. If clothes have stains, pre-treat them before washing by using a stain remover or a small amount of the laundry detergent. Add the detergent to the washer drum or dispenser before loading to prevent residue on clothing.

Fourth – Pick the Proper Washer Water Temperature and Proper Cycle

Unless your clothing is caked with dirt and heavily stained, washing in cold water will serve your needs and prevent most laundry disasters. The exception is cotton underwear and bed sheets that need hot water to remove body oil. Bed linens and towels need to be washed at the highest recommended temperature at least every other wash to sanitize. Always rinse in cold water. Choose the best washer cycle for the fabrics in the load.

Fifth – Final Check

Check each garment for any stains and pre-treat them. Check all pockets and make sure they are empty. Tissues or pieces paper will create a disaster, especially in the dryer. Take the time to remove any accessories such as belts and jewelry. It is also a good idea to close all zippers and buttons on your clothes as well.

Our next post will give you the low down on how to next wash and dry your laundry. Be sure to come back!

Coin-Op 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 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!

February 21, 2018
by Laundry Expert
Comments Off

Best Ways To Rid the Laundry of Viruses and Bacteria

This year’s Cold and Flu season has wreaked havoc on many of our households. It has been one of the worst seasons in quite a while. This year, the flu vaccine has not been as effective as it was hoped and there are many different types of the flu strain out there. We always hope for a mild season but if your family becomes ill with a viral or bacterial infection you will want to take action. It is so important that we try to prevent the spread of the disease to not only other members of the family but to others, we come in contact with. This post will offer up some important research on how to kill the viral and bacterial infections in your family’s laundry in Raleigh NC.

Get Rid of Viruses and Bacteria | Laundry Raleigh NC

Though research has shown that it is rare to get an infection from simply handling the laundry, we suggest you still take precautions. When someone in your home has been ill you will want to launder their clothing and bedding separate from other family laundry. It is a good practice to wear disposable rubber gloves while handling the soiled laundry in Raleigh NC. Always throw these gloves away after you are done. The use of a plastic laundry basket is a good idea as well. this can be safely wiped down with a disinfectant after used. Always keep these things away from your face as well.

The use of a disinfectant to do the laundry is cheap and will not damage clothing if done in the proper manner. The following can be used by directions and are available at many big box store.

Pine Oil: This can be used in hot or warm water temperatures. It is safe for both white and colors. Add this at the beginning of the wash cycle. Make certain it is 80 percent pine oil for best effectiveness.
Liquid Chlorine Disinfectant: Use this in hot, warm, or cold water only on white fabrics. Do not pour directly on the fabric but dilute it with water first. Check your garment label before using any type of bleaching agent on your clothes.
Phenolic Disinfectants: These may be used in warm or hot water temperatures. It works well on white or colors. This may be used at the beginning of the wash or added to the rinse cycle if warm water is used.

These disinfectants will kill any viruses and bacteria on your clothing. Before you send them through the drying cycle you will want to check to be certain all stains are removed. Drying will set these stains permanently in most cases. Always use the hottest temperature the fabric will allow as well. Clean your machines after with disinfectant wipes inside and out.

Although it is more trouble to do laundry separately in this way you may prevent others in the household from getting sick as well. Isolating the person as much as possible and cleaning their dishes and laundry apart from everyone else will help in the battle.

Laundry Express knows your time at home with family is valuable. Doing laundry in Raleigh NC can be time-consuming. We can help you with all things laundry. 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!

February 9, 2018
by Laundry Expert
Comments Off

More DIY Cleaning Products

Last post we began looking at ways to be more “Green” when it comes to our cleaning products. Many of us want to keep as many chemicals out of our home as possible. The problem is that many of the things we use to “clean” our home and laundry are filled with harmful chemicals. There are some companies in the marketplace today that are trying to help remove these chemicals from the environment and in our homes. The problem is they are often really pricey as a result. This post will continue the conversation around how to make some of these items yourself. Our laundromat in Raleigh NC is here to help!

Liquid Laundry Soap | Laundromat Raleigh NC

You will need:

Washing Soda (available in most stores)
Borax (available in most stores)
Bar Soap ( You may make your own or purchase)

The Recipe:

Begin by grating one bar of soap with a cheese grater or food processor.
Put the grated soap in a pan with 2 quarts water and gradually heat. Stir the mixture constantly until soap is completely dissolved.
Next put 4.5 gallons of really hot tap water in a 5-gallon bucket. Then carefully stir in 2 cups of borax and 2 cups of Washing Soda until completely dissolved.
Once this is dissolved you will pour the soap mixture from the pan into a 5-gallon bucket. Again stir it well.
You will then need to cover it and leave overnight.
Shake or stir until smooth and pour into gallon jugs or other containers.
Use 1/2 to 1 cup per load.

Some things to note about DIY products. They do not always work well with every water temperature or washer type. It may take some tweaking on your part with the recipe or water temperature to get the right balance for you. This will ensure your clothes are getting as clean as possible. Clothes will become dingy if the right recipe is not used. One reason is because there is a chemical difference between soap and detergent. The conventional companies are able to formulate their products to work specifically with washing machine types. When you are using natural soaps you must keep in mind they are designed for skin and therefore are not as strong.

Many are afraid to try making a DIY laundry product because they think it will be time-consuming and difficult. The facts are that it is a relatively easy process. It is certainly inexpensive. As noted above the natural brands on the market today are pretty expensive. Making your own can make a lot of sense for you and your family. Removing as many harmful, toxic chemicals as possible from your environment is a huge goal. It is reachable as you discover ways to DIY cleaning products yourself.

Laundromat Raleigh NC

February 1, 2018
by Laundry Expert
Comments Off

DIY Cleaning Products

Many people today are trying to live as green as possible. This means living as naturally and self-sustainable as possible. This is particularly important when it comes to cleaning products you use every day to clean your home. Everything from the laundry to wiping counter-tops. Do it yourself cleaning products are not hard to make. This post will look at ways to make your own cleaning products as easy as pie.

DIY Cleaning Products | Laundry Raleigh NC

The reason many people want to make their own laundry detergent is that those conventional detergents contain loads of chemicals. They have sulfate fragrances, and phenols just to name a few. The biggest culprit is petroleum distillates. These have been directly linked to lung disease and cancer. That wonderful fragrance which makes us want to use certain brands are made up of a mixture of these harmful chemicals.

One of the easiest cleaning products to make is your own laundry detergent. This will save money and works just as well as a store-bought detergent. There are two versions. One for powdered detergent and one for liquid soap.

Powder Detergent Ingredients | Laundry Raleigh NC

Washing Soda (available in most grocery stores)
Borax (available in the grocery laundry aisle)
Bar Soap (any natural, unscented bar soap)

The Recipe:

First, you will need to grate the bar soap or mix in food processor until it is finely ground. Use the soap of your choice. You can use a use homemade coconut oil soap or a bar of Pure Castile Bar Soap. Choose a brand that has an exceptional quality. If you want to add a scent then there are some that are available in several different natural scents like lavender, tea tree, peppermint, almond and others. Check your local natural foods store for an excellent quality, no chemicals added kind.
Next in a large bowl, mix 2 parts washing soda, 2 parts Borax and 1 part grated soap. This means use 1 bar of grated soap and 1 cup each of washing soda and borax.
Once you have it mixed well then you will need to store it in a closed container. Any kind will work if you can keep the container lid tight. If you are using a big enough container, you can skip step 2 and just put all ingredients in storage container or jar and shake.
Use 2 Tablespoons to 1/4 cup per load of laundry.

Check back with us for our next blog post where we will look at other DIY Cleaning Products. There will also be a great liquid laundry detergent recipe for you to use as well. We will help you get your home laundry in Raleigh NC and cleaning routine as green as possible.

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 are laundry facility here in the Triangle area. We can help you get caught up on laundry in Raleigh NC as quickly as possible and get you back to doing things that are much more fun! Call us today!