Babies are a blessing. They bring joy into your life and complete you. However, babies do come with a little extra work. It’s amazing how many stains such a little person can create. We can’t really help you with every aspect of being a new parent, but we can help with the laundry side of things. Baby skin is soft and sensitive, thus requires extra attention when it comes to what touches the skin. Baby clothes and toys should be the cleanest and softest things in your house. This is to avoid irritation, allergies, and overall discomfort to your baby.

 

Before baby’s arrival

The baby room is finally ready, cute tiny clothes are in the little drawers, and the crib is built and ready to go. You’re all set right? Bring on the baby! Not so fast.. Did you know how many things your baby’s clothes and blankets were exposed to on the way from the factory to the shop where you bought them? Brand new clothes may have been chemically treated, contain factory and warehouse dirt and dust, and germs from the people who handled the clothing as well as the germs of people who touched the clothing in the store.

 

Pre-washing your baby’s clothes is important to remove all the unknown stuff that may be living in them. This also counts for all bed sheets, baby blankets and other fabrics your baby will come into contact with. Wash the clothes at the highest possible temperature, according the to tag. Iron them (if the label allows) at the highest temperature as well, to kill remaining bacteria.

 

---

EXTRA PRE-BABY LAUNDRY TIP

Wash your washing machine! A lot of dirty clothes have been in your washing machine before your baby’s clothes. Make sure to clean your washing machine before washing your baby’s clothes. Run an empty wash cycle on the highest temperature with a cup of white vinegar to kill all bacteria that might be living inside of it. Do this every couple of weeks to keep your washing machine fresh and hygienic.

---

 

Detergents & cleaning agents used for baby laundry

There are many specially formulated detergents available to cater to the skin of your baby and young children. Most baby care detergents are available at your local supermarket. Some families simply opt for regular detergent without the harsh chemicals or fragrances, such as Neutral or other pH neutral and dermatologically tested detergents.

 

Do avoid using softeners in your baby’s wash, because the dyes and perfumes may irritate your baby’s skin. Instead, add 1/2 cup of vinegar to the load to naturally soften clothes.

 

Dealing with stains on baby clothes

Stains should be treated as soon as possible. The sooner you treat the stain the easier it will be to remove.

1. Scoop up or wipe away as much of the stain as possible before you start the treatment.
2. Soak the garment(s) in cool water for about 20 minutes. This may be enough to remove simple stains such as drool or formula. If the stain is stubborn such as excrement or urine, then pre-soaking will loosen up the stain before going in with cleaning agents. You can also add vinegar to the water to remove odors and brighten the clothes.
3. For stubborn stains, mix a few spoons of baking soda with water until it forms a paste. Coat the stains with the mixture and let sit for about 20 minutes.
4. Launder the clothes as usual, following tag instructions.

 

 

Baby toys & bacteria

Soft toys, such as stuffed animals are every child’s (first) best friend. However, stuffed toys take a lot of abuse and can easily collect dirt, germs and bacteria. It’s just as important to keep toys clean as it is to keep baby blankets and clothes clean. The fur and fuzz is an ideal breeding place for mold, dust mites, and pet hair. You can see how this may affect the health of a child if not washed periodically.

 

*You can keep a soft toy in the freezer overnight to start killing mites before you proceed to the next steps.

 

1. Place the toy in side a pillow case or wash protector.
2. Add (baby appropriate) anti-bacterial detergent and wash on the gentle cycle. To remove odor, sprinkle the soft toy with some baking soda before placing it in the washer.
3. Add some vinegar to the rinse cycle to keep the toy soft and fluffy.
4. Let air dry

 

Baby laundry note: wash toys separately from clothes and check toy labels for any specific washing instructions.

We all like looking and feeling good. We try our best most days, but on others we tend to be a bit lazy and think we can get away with a few of the following mistakes, especially #5. Looking fresh and polished can be quite easy if you simply make a few small adjustments to your routine. Below we list a few things that you should avoid if you want to show your best self.

1. Not Cleaning or Polishing Your Shoes

 

Would you leave the house in stained, muddy clothing? I don’t think so.. So why do you leave the house with dirty, unpolished shoes? Do a quick wipe before you leave the house to prevent dirt build-up. Your shoes and boots should be polished often to maintain softness and ease of movement of the leather. You should condition your leather shoes every 20 wears or so, to keep them in tip-top shape. Taking your shoes to the cobbler doesn’t have to be a burden on your schedule. Have your shoes polished and conditioned with Mr. Timesaver. Learn more about our shoe services here.

 

2. Wearing Clothes With Minor Damages Such as Tiny Rips, Holes, Frays.

The best way to get the most our of your favorite clothes is to attack the first signs of wear and tear as soon as you notice them. Small hole(s) in the armpit area of your favorite blouse or in your pants between the thighs? Take them to a tailor! They should be able to repair the small damages before the items are unsalvageable. Bad zipper? Replace it! Buttons falling off? Have them re-sewn. We (Mr. Timesaver) also offer this service. Including pick-up and delivery right at your door.

 

3. Not Ironing Your Shirts, Tops & Other Pieces of Clothing

 

You work hard. We get it. Ironing is not fun and takes a lot of your time. If your image is something that is important in your day-to-day life, because of your job for example, you may want to put a bit more effort into your clothes.

 

The easiest way to tackle wrinkles is to prevent or at least minimize the chance of it happening in the first place. Read your labels well to make sure you wash and dry at the correct temperatures. Another thing you can do is to hang up your shirts and blouses immediately after they dry.

 

Some clothes still need to be ironed regardless of how you wash and dry them. It may be easier to use a service like Mr. Timesaver. We pick-up, clean, press and/or fold your items, and deliver them back to you. All for about the same price you would pay at your local dry cleaner/laundromat.

 

4. Wearing Clothes That Are Worn-out

 

Sometimes the damages go unnoticed until it’s too late. Small holes/rips in your jeans where your thighs rub together can turn into embarrassing accidents. This happens faster to the clothes we love most, because we tend to wear them the most. Wear and tear is normal with clothing. They can’t last forever. Consider giving away clothes that are still wearable to charity, if not, it may be time to say good-bye.

 

5. Leaving Pieces of Lint and Animal Fur on Your Clothes

People tend to notice things. Especially lint and animal fur on your clothes. It’s even worse when you wear mostly dark clothing. Just keep a lint-roller handy. If you don’t have a lint-roller on hand, some tape will do just fine. If you have pets, such as cats, you should leave a few lint-rollers in easy to find spots, such as your car, bathroom or purse.

 

6. Pants That Are Way Too Long

Hem lines should not touch the floor. They may get dirty and will also become damaged easier and faster. Bring them to your local tailor or have Mr. Timesaver pick them up for you. Just mark the correct length with pins and we’ll shorten your pants for you. Learn more about our repair service here.

 

7. Not Repairing Your Best Pair of Shoes

Footwear is extremely important. Your shoes impact your walk, your posture and not to forget how you present yourself. Whether they’re dress shoes, boots, stilettos or your favorite pair of loafers, their lifespan decreases significantly the more you wear them. Every year, millions of shoes get thrown away, even the “all-time favorite” pairs. Well this is exactly where a cobbler comes in. What most people don’t realize is that a professional shoe and boot repair service can help restore your favorite pair of shoes and boots, thus making them last longer. It may seem old-fashioned, but trust us: your feet and wallet will be thankful for the special care.

 

Need more reasons to use Mr. Timesaver?

There are many benefits to using a dry cleaning delivery service as you may have read in one of our previous blogs, but why should you use Mr. Timesaver instead of other delivery services? Well, there’s no other like us. Check out the next points to find out more about why we’re the better choice for you. Find out why you should use Mr. Timesaver here.

 

 

It’s true. Women are attracted to men in suits. It has a lot to do with the aura of self-confidence it brings along, which also commands the respect of other men. So it can be said that investing in, and maintaining a good suit has its advantages. Part of the maintenance includes taking your suit to dry-clean, but how often is that necessary? When should you dry-clean a suit?

 

A universal rule doesn’t seem to exist with regards to dry-cleaning suits. Opinions on the topic seem to vary. Based on our customer behavior, we created a suit dry cleaning guideline just for you!

 

You DON’T have to dry clean your suit each time you wear it.

Especially if your suit is made out of natural fabrics, like wool or linen.

 

Wool is self-cleaning and has no scent. The creatine in wool works as an anti-bacterial and prevents unwanted scents.

Linen is light and is water resistant. Because of its heat-regulating quality, you always feel cool.

 

Clothing items made from wool or linen don’t need to be washed often, and musty scents can be aired out by hanging the items outside in fresh air. A ten minute steam session in the shower does wonders against wrinkles. Wool and linen do of course need to be washed occasionally.

 

Pants lose their freshness much sooner than jackets.

 

 

You wear a shirt under your jacket, which absorbs most of the sweat. So, when purchasing a jacket, make sure to also buy 2 identical pants to rotate. This way, if both pants and the jacket start losing their freshness you can take the whole set to the dry-cleaner in one go. This also prevents color fading differences between the pants and jacket.

 

👉 Pants can be worn an average of 3 times.

👉 Jackets can be worn an average of 6 times.

 

You probably have more than 1 suit hanging in your closet. You won’t need to use dry cleaning services every other day. But always trust your eyes and nose as the main guides. If your pants still smell fresh, you can also choose only pressing instead of dry cleaning. That is less costly while still looking sharp.

 

👉 Pro dry cleaner tip for always looking (and smelling) great:

While it’s okay to wear your suit jacket and pants more than once, it is NOT okay to “double wear” shirts! Wearing shirts more than once can reheat body oils previously absorbed by the fabric and create (sometimes permanent) stains. You know those pesky yellow armpit and neck shirt stains? The main cause is wearing a shirt multiple times without washing.

 

Another good dry-cleaning moment for your suits is when you return from a business trip.

Suitcases ironically, are not really jacket, pants, & shirt friendly. The dry-cleaner will make sure your clothes are back in tip top shape after your trip. Mr. Timesaver even does it in 24-hours!

 

Never rush to the dry-cleaner after work again.

You can easily plan your pick-up & delivery time at home, or at the office. A friendly time-agent will pick-up and deliver your items back to you at the time you selected. Mr. Timesaver is currently active in: The Hague (including: Leidschendam-Voorburg, Wassenaar, Rijswijk, Leidschenveen, & Wateringen), Leiden, Rotterdam & Delft.

If you’re busy, household chores often take a back seat to other more important tasks. You say to yourself “I’ll do it tomorrow”. Tomorrow probably doesn’t work for you either. Before you know it a week goes by and you haven’t done any of your household chores. Your floors look dusty and your laundry pile is now a mountain surrounded by clouds. You could probably use a few tips for a more efficient laundry routine right? Well, we’ve got you covered. Here are 10 tips to make you a laundry pro!

 

 

1. Create A Laundry Basket System

To sort dirty clothes, it’s best to acquire a couple of laundry baskets. One for whites, one for darks, and one for pastels. With this system you sort by colors. You can also sort by types of clothing. Fill each basket with pants, sweaters, socks, etc.. After washing and drying you’ll already have your clean clothes sorted, ready to be folded and put away.

 

Do you live alone? Then it’s more efficient to not sort at all. You probably wont be able to fully fill each basket/load with your clothes. Just wash everything together! Do wash new clothes (especially darks) separately the first time to prevent color bleeding in the future.

 

2. Apply The Golden Laundry Rule

Do you have to go down on your hands and knees looking for socks and picking up shirts in the bedrooms before every wash? Give each kid his or her own laundry basket, and maybe even your husband (or wife!). Present the golden laundry rule: only the clothes that are in the baskets get washed!

 

 

 

3. Clean Your Washing Machine Periodically

The washing machine itself needs to be cleaned once in a while too. Doing this is not only good for the durability of the machine, but also for consistently spotless wash loads. Vinegar is an excellent cleaning solution for you washing machine. You can find instructions on how to do that here.

 

4. A Towel In The Dryer

You waited too long to wash a pair of pants that you want to wear right now. But you’re stuck waiting for the drying cycle to end. Sound familiar? Add a soft, dry towel to the drying load. Your clothes will dry much faster!

 

5. Use Your Dryer As An Iron

Do you hate ironing? Stupid question. Of course you do. Add your clothes to the dryer for 10 minutes, take them out and hang the warm-and-damp pants or t-shirts to air dry. You wont need to iron them anymore! Sadly, this trick does not work for button-down shirts (cue the sad violin).

 

 

6. Hang Directly After Washing

Take wet clothes out of the washing machine directly after the cycle ends. By leaving your wet clothes in the drum, you give bacteria the chance to play freely and your load can start to smell. You should also fold clothes straight from the dryer to prevent wrinkles. You’ll notice that your iron won’t be used as much.

 

7. Add Socks To A Small Laundry Bag

You run your wash cycle and notice that fewer socks came out than you put in. The sock mystery is an issue most people have dealt with at least once. Where in the world is that other sock?! Sometimes they hide in pant legs or bed sheets. Other times they get eaten by your washing machine. The solution: wash them in a small mesh laundry bag like the one below.

 

 

8. Make A List Of “Dryer Proof” Items

Letting your significant other or older kids take care of the laundry saves you a lot of time and energy. You’re just not home 100% of the time. To make sure you do this without the worry you can leave washing instructions on the washing machine and a list of dryer proof clothes on the dryer. Items that are not on the list need to be hung to air dry.

 

9. Use Mr. Timesaver’s On-Demand Delivery Service In The Hague, Leiden, Rotterdam & Delft

Leave your laundry, & dry cleaning (and ironing!) to professionals. This way you know your clothes are being properly taken care off. You can place an order online and set your preferred pick-up & delivery times. Mr. Timesaver picks-up your items at home and delivers them back to you in 24 hours!

 

10. Consistency

The most important tip for a more efficient laundry routine is: be consistent! If you let your laundry basket bulge out every time, you’ll always feel like you have to move a mountain before you actually move your mountain of clothes (to the washing machine). You just don’t know where to start. It helps to set a standard laundry day every week. It may sound old fashioned but it adds structure to your household. Mr. Timesaver can help you set this up asap! Choose to have your dirty clothes picked up and delivered on standard days every week, every other week, or once a month. Whatever works best for you. Just email us at info@mrtimesaver.nl