Hey there, world- it’s been awhile.
In the time since we last chatted, much has happened;
I got married to the love of my life, The Chickadee’s Dada a little over a month ago and we have been settling into life as an official family (not that we haven’t been, always- my husband and I have been a family since the day we got together, but I’ll stop that gush before I have to mop it up).
One thing that has been consistent every day before and since the wedding has been the constant ebb and flow of laundry; if it’s not my clothes, it’s towels and sheets, if it’s not that it’s baby clothes and pajamas.
Oh, goodness, baby pajamas.
Anybody who has little ones can tell you, modern baby pajamas are the biggest mystery.
You can wash and wash and if you don’t understand what you’re dealing with 2 things will still be true fresh out of the dryer;
- They will still be dingy, and,
- They will smell like anything that might have dripped on them, like milk, only old and mixed with detergent.
In an effort to understand this phenomenon I trolled the internet (in the interest of not throwing away a pair of the Chickadee’s pajamas that she loves), and finally found the reason why baby and toddler pajamas tend to be difficult, and what we can do to rectify that.
I found the answer through Martha Stewart’s website; apparently, federal law dictates that all baby and toddler pajamas be treated with flame retardant chemicals, and it’s that addition to the fabric that leaves them looking dingy and dirty even after a wash.
Martha’s solution was stupid simple and has become a staple in my laundry game, and it’s this;
That’s right, folks; simple, distilled white vinegar added to the wash, or in the case of dingy baby pajamas added to the wash and left to soak for 30 minutes resolved the issue.
The pajamas all emerged from the wash sparkling clean and looking brand new!
I never thought I would say this, but thank you, Martha Stewart!
Vinegar is a laundry wonder drug and has become a staple of my laundry game due to it’s inexpensive cost and versatility; it can be used to combat hard water stains on clothes, stinky socks and dabbed on a paper towel can be used while ironing to make the creases on the arms of dress shirts and Chef coats razor sharp (that last tip came from my Gigi, not Martha Stewart. Thanks, Gigi!)
Give it a try if even to just freshen up a load of laundry, and let me know what you think!
What are your laundry tips and hacks?
Until next time!
Love,
The Chick and her Chickadee