Removal of musty smell from towels
I ’ m a stickler for hanging up wet towels to dry . Unfortunately , my son and husband are not . What results is a musty smell that lingers no matter how many times I wash them . Luckily , I have found an ecologically friendly solution that works . The main ingredients were in my kitchen cupboard – vinegar and baking soda . I honestly can ’ t remember where I came across the information , possibly a Google search , a Facebook post or on Pinterest . Either way , it works and has saved countless towels and my sanity . Here ’ s how I get the stink out :
• Wash towels with one cup of white vinegar and hot water
• Do a second wash with one ½ cup of baking soda and hot water
• Dry on hottest setting
To keep the stink away , avoid fabric softener sheets that leave a film on towels which can trap odor-causing bacteria . Instead , try dryer balls or even tennis balls when drying . Also , use vinegar in place of fabric softener . Wash after every three uses and of course , hang your towels up to dry !
Recycle that holiday wrapping paper
Once the presents have been opened , you ’ re left with piles of wrapping paper . Before you toss that in the garbage , consider recycling . Generally , non-laminated paper that has no glitter , foil or gift labels can be recycled . To determine if it ’ s recyclable ,
Treehugger says to do the scrunch test . Squeeze it into a ball and if it stays that way , it can be recycled . If the paper opens , it cannot . Before tossing the used gift wrap in the recycling bin , make sure all ribbons , gift tags
and tape are removed . And you ’ ll want to find out if your municipality or trash hauler accepts wrapping paper . Some do not . After the holidays , a school in my community collects old wrapping paper and boxes to be recycled . Check to see if any organizations in your town do the same .
You can also reuse wrapping paper . Try to open presents with care so that the paper doesn ’ t rip . Or try composting . Gift wrap that isn ’ t glossy or metallic and tissue paper without glitter can be tossed in your compost pile as brown material .
When buying wrapping paper , check for eco-friendly options .
Spritz by Target and Hallmark sell recycled and recyclable gift wrap . To avoid wrapping paper all together , use a piece of fabric like a scarf or gift bags that can be reused . Get creative . Your present will stand out from the rest , not to mention you ’ ll be helping out the environment .
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