“How Often Should I Wash This?” Here’s What Experts Say

Protect yourself from debt relief and credit repair schemes, a genius dust pan hack, and more. October 17, 2021 [View Online]( Good morning! After Dave and I got married, it didn’t take long for me to realize that I had far more questions about laundry than answers. Now that I’m older and wiser, I want to ensure you don't have the same issue. Today’s Good Thing seeks to arm you with clear answers to that age-old question: “How often should I wash this?” Also in today’s newsletter, there’s a new Stay Safe Out There segment that can help you avoid becoming the victim of a debt relief scheme. Consumer safety research has taught me that schemes are a lot like scarves in a magician’s sleeve—there are more of them than you'd expect. Jillee TODAY'S GOOD THING “How Often Should I Wash This?” Here’s What Experts Say [A photo of Jillee putting a comforter in her washing machine.]( Find out how often the experts recommend laundering your bedding, towels, and clothing. When it comes to laundry, determining when to wash different types of clothing and linens isn’t as intuitive as you might expect. But you no longer have to play the guessing game, because I’ve combined the expert advice of the American Cleaning Institute with my own insight and experience to create some clear and concise guidelines. You may have slightly different (or even vastly different) takes on these guidelines, and that’s okay. Guidelines aren’t rules or laws, so feel free to take what’s helpful, leave what isn’t, or use them as a baseline you can tweak over time to suit your own preferences. Guidelines For Laundering Bedding • Bed Sheets. Wash every two weeks at the very least, and more often if you sweat a lot at night. • Pillowcases. Wash once a week, or keep two sets of pillowcases and swap them out weekly. • Throw Blankets. Wash once a month. • Mattress/Pillow Protectors. Wash once a month. • Comforters, Duvets, And Pillows. Wash every six months. Guidelines For Laundering Towels • Bath Towels. Wash after three to four uses, and hang to dry between each use. • Dish Towels, Hand Towels, And Washcloths. Wash after one day of use. [Guidelines For Laundering Clothing ➜]( Related • [3 Surprising Reasons You Should Always Wash New Clothes]( • [Here's How To Rescue Your Favorite Sweaters From Pilling]( ⚡️QUICK TIPS⚡️ • Elevate your mac and cheese by adding feta and sun-dried tomatoes for “Mediterranean mac” or add other flavorful twists. [Read more ➜]( • Need to declutter but don’t know where to start? This list of things to get rid of in every room makes a great starting point. [Read more ➜]( • While you should absolutely dote on your grandkids, don’t forget that their parents still need your support too. [Read more ➜]( STAY SAFE OUT THERE Identify And Avoid Debt Relief Schemes [Photos of Jillee looking at credit cards in her wallet.]( Debt relief can be an attractive offer, but those offers may be from people who want to take your money. When your monthly bills are stifling, getting a call from someone promising to reduce or eliminate your debts may seem like a gift from above. But it's important to know that not all of these offers come from trustworthy companies, and some may come from individuals who just want your money. The Federal Trade Commission [has identified and shut down]( a number of schemes in recent years where people were charged for debt relief or credit repair services that were either unhelpful or non-existent. The best way to avoid falling victim to these schemes is to remember this one crucial fact: [It is illegal]( for a company offering debt relief services over the phone to charge you a fee before reducing or settling your debt. To find legitimate help with your debts, ask about debt counseling or debt relief services at local credit unions or your Cooperative Extension Service. (The Utah State University Extension, for example, offers a free tool called [PowerPay]( that teaches users how to create their own self-directed debt elimination plan.) And remember, no debt relief service can guarantee that creditors will forgive your debts or that collectors will stop calling. As usual, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is! WHY DIDN'T I THINK OF THAT? Tape Down Your Dust Pan [A photo of a dustpan with its front edge taped to the floor.]( This quick and clever hack makes it much easier to get every last bit of dirt into your dust pan. This may fall under the umbrella of "weirdly specific pet peeves," but there's something I find truly infuriating about that little line of dust that collects at the front edge of your dust pan. Try as you might, that dust line simply refuses to be maneuvered over the lip of your dust pan. But for those of us whose perfectionist tendencies refuse to let this go, there's a simple solution to that stubborn dust line. Before you sweep the dirt into your dust pan, tape the front edge of the dust pan to the floor with a piece of painter’s tape. The tape will bridge the gap and make it much easier to sweep up every last bit of dust. JILLEE'S PICK Adorn Your Walls With Your Favorite Books [Photos of the Umbra Conceal bookshelf on a wall.]( As much as I love audiobooks, they could never entirely replace physical books. Even those of us who have digital copies of our all-time favorites like to own physical copies too, even if it's just to see them on our shelves. So why not take it a step further and display those beloved books in a way that doubles as home decor? One way to display your favorite hardcovers is on a “floating shelf” like the [Umbra Conceal](. Just mount it to a wall with the included hardware, slide the bottom of the shelf between the pages and back cover of a book, then rest the back cover on the notches at the base of the shelf. Add a few more books and the shelf will be hidden from view, creating the illusion that the books are floating against the wall unsupported. How cool is that? A few of these shelves arranged in a cluster would make a great focal point on a boring stretch of wall. [See the Umbra Conceal Floating Shelf on Amazon ➜]( ASK JILLEE Removing Mildew Stains From Pillow Covers [A photo of a sponge being used to clean an outdoor pillow.]( Marie D. from Southport, North Carolina asked: "My colorful outdoor pillows got mildew on them this summer. I followed the advice of a friend and tried a product called Awesome which she swears by. I let them soak and put the pillow covers in a mesh bag for a gentle wash, but no luck. The spots are still there. How can I get these spots out?" My answer: Sorry about the mildew, Marie, and I’ll certainly do my best to help you get rid of it! In my experience, the most effective cleaning agent when you’re dealing with mildew is good old white vinegar. Start by pouring some vinegar into a spray bottle, then spray the mildew spots liberally and let it sit for about 10 minutes. While the vinegar works on the mildew, stir a tablespoon of dish soap into 2 cups of water, then dab the soapy solution onto the mildew spots with a clean cloth. Next you’ll wash the covers, and good instinct to use the mesh bag! I would do that again, and run the covers through a gentle wash cycle with 1 cup of vinegar added to the fabric softener dispenser. Once the pillow covers are clean and dry (and be sure they’re completely dry to prevent further mildew growth), I recommend treating them regularly with a water repellent like [Scotchgard Outdoor Water Shield]( to help prevent mildew issues in the future. Have a question you want to ask me? [Submit your question here]( for a chance to see it answered in a future newsletter! A FEW MORE THINGS... On This Day: In 79 AD, a citizen of Pompeii scrawled the day’s date (October 17) on a wall in charcoal. The inscription was [discovered in 2018]( during the excavation of a previously undisturbed area, contradicting the prevailing theory that Mt. Vesuvius erupted on August 24 of 79 AD. Many now believe it occurred on October 24. Happy Birthday: Notable figures born on October 17 include Arthur Miller (1915), Rita Hayworth (1918), Evel Knievel (1938), Alan Jackson (1958), Eminem (1972), and Felicity Jones (1983). If you’re celebrating a birthday today too, all of us at the OGT Team wish you a very happy one indeed! What did you think of today's email? [Not good]( | [Just okay]( | [Loved it!]( 🏠[Visit the By Jillee Shop]( 🤗 [Join OGT Free]( Let's connect! 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