· Use a cup the size of the amount needed and fill to top.
· Use Hi-marksor bump dots placed on dials and numbers.
· Use bleach pen for spots on white clothing.
· Ask someone you trust to check your clothing for spots, stains or tears.
· Pin socks together or use sock-sorting gadgets or mesh, zippered, laundry sock bags for easier matching.
· Place a safety pin on top part of blanket or bedspread.
Wool dryer balls – they are easier to find in the dryer than dryer sheets, reduce static and shorten drying time. They are reusable and not scented. They don’t get lost in the laundry like the dryer sheets can. They can be bought at Walmart, Target, and other areas for about $10 - $17 for 2. Keep them away from your pets. There is another type that is made of plastic for about $15.00 for 2.
Mesh laundry bags – wash and dry socks in pairs. Also good for washing delicate items like bras, underwear, blouses with strings, etc. Rod has a bag with 4 pockets but has since had a hard time finding another one like that. They are available at Amazon, Target, etc.
Sock Sorters or Matchers – you can stick a sock in each end to keep them together. There are regular and heavy-duty sock sorters. Takes longer for socks to dry when inserted into sock sorters.
Stains on clothing – Does any use a stain stick or stain wipe? Stain sticks are small tubes of laundry remover or soap. Use as soon as you get a stain to help remove the stain. Stain remover spray – spray the whole front of the shirt or pants. Coreen uses hydrogen peroxide spray to remove stains. You can tell if you’ve gotten the stain because the hydrogen peroxide heats up on the stain. Dawn Dish Detergent (blue original Dawn) works really well for dirt, grease, and grass stains.
Detergent Pods – Does anyone use the detergent pods? You don’t have to measure it, can’t spill it. They can be more expensive. If you are measuring liquid, put your finger in the cap to see how much you have. Another new item is detergent sheets. No spilling, not heavy, and they dissolve in the washing machine. There is less packaging waste with the detergent sheets, no big bottles to recycle.
Hadley Institute for the Blind has instructional recordings and videos for laundry care. They can be reached on line at https://hadley.edu or by calling 800-323-4238.
New very fancy washing machines and dryers are not accessible. Touch screen panels are not accessible, they are only visible. Always look for basic machines that have buttons and dials. According to a local appliance dealer, he told us that touch screens do not last very long and buttons and dials seem to be coming back.
Fitted sheets – put safety pins in the hem on one corner in the bottom so you always know how to put the sheet on the bed.