Meal Planning One : Tacos for Days

The weather is starting to turn... Which, if you're like us, means you're looking forward to all your cooler weather comforts. Fuzzy sweaters, a mug of coffee or tea or cocoa, and maybe in the not too distant future, even some snow.

When the weather starts to show signs of getting ready for fall, we like to start planning ahead. However, planning for later means figuring up and readying all the little things now - that way, you still have a couple of brain cells left for dealing with whatever other things sneak up on you.

Today's recipe is just as much an introductory meal plan as it is a recipe. We're going to figure out how to feed your crowd tacos on the cheap. Freeze the leftover filling, because next time around, we'll show you how to use exactly the same ingredients to do enchiladas. And as a bonus, for the recipe after that, we'll use the same ingredients to make tostadas. That's three meals in a row designed to use the same things - but without breaking the bank or running back to the store.

It's easy to fall down the rabbit hole of needing every single specialty item for a specific dinner. The real magic of meal planning is that it allows some of the things on the grocery list to do double or triple duty. Once you get this down, you'll be able to make three nights of dinner in one day. That doesn't sound like much... But just wait until you learn to apply it to a holiday dinner.

Ingredients

3 pounds ground beef (we like 80/20)

1 pound dried brown lentils

1 pound carrots

1 yellow onion, diced

1 24-count package corn tortillas

1 15-oz can black beans (or pinto, if you prefer)

3 10-oz cans diced tomatoes and green chilies (use chili-ready tomatoes for less heat)

2 packets taco seasoning*

1 large jar salsa (mild or hot, whatever you like)

4 oz (1/4 pound) cheddar or Monterey jack cheese (reserve the other 3/4 for next recipes)

1/2 head lettuce, chopped

8 oz sour cream

*feel free to sub in any other store-bought or homemade seasoning blend you prefer - or just toss in chili powder, salt, pepper and garlic, if you'd rather keep it simple!

Tools

large pot with lid, slotted spoon, large colander, cheese grater, cutting board, knife, mixing bowls, measuring cup, cooking spray

Pour your dried lentils into the colander, and give them a shake and a rinse. Weed out anything that either isn't actually a lentil (sometimes random debris gets swept up with them) and also anything that looks sad and shriveled. Dump all the good ones into the pot and add enough water to cover them twice over, plop the lid on top and crank up the heat to medium-high. Let them simmer away for at least 20 minutes - we like them to be soft but to still hold their shape. If you cook them much longer than about half an hour, though, they become easier to hide in the final product because they partially dissolve. (Feel free to consider that a picky eater tip, but also a word of caution.)

While your lentils are simmering, rinse out your colander and begin to crack open your canned goods. Pour your beans into the colander and rinse them - this removes the excess dark bean liqueur and prevents it from dyeing the rest of the food icky colors. As they drain, feel free to dump the tomatoes on top of them.

While you're still waiting on your slow-poke lentils (it feels like forever, we know), you can get started with your lettuce. Give it a quick wash and shake off the excess water, then plop it on the cutting board and chop it down to desired size. Set it to the side, since you won't need it for a while yet.

If your onion isn't already diced, this is a good opportunity to take care of that, too. To be honest, we've come to hate onion tears, and now tend to buy the boxes of diced onion in the grocery store cooler case. /lazy

Pick up the cheese grater and grate... the carrots. No, we really aren't kidding. Use the finest grate to shred the whole pound of carrots into a mixing bowl. Then give the grater a quick scrub and shred the cheese into another bowl.

Your lentils should be about done now - test a couple to make sure they're at your chosen level of doneness, and assuming they are, dump them into the colander. Allow them to drain out over the beans and tomatoes but don't rinse.

Preheat your oven to 375. Give your cooking spray a shake and lightly spritz both sides of eight of the corn tortillas. Drape them over the center rack in the oven so that they form a flat surface in the center and both sides are even. (If you're concerned about a mess, there's no reason you couldn't put a sheet of foil on the rack beneath them.) Allow them to heat up along with the oven. Once the oven signals you're at 375, set a timer for ten minutes. At the ten-minute mark, you'll likely be distracted by browning the beef - so it's fine to just turn the oven off and let your taco shells stay warm in there while you finish other tasks.

Put the pot back on the burner and brown up your ground beef in it. Once it's no longer pink, add the carrots and the diced onion and cook a little bit longer. As the onion starts to become translucent, get ready to drain the fat off. Same colander. Yes, for real. And yes, we know the colander is looking pretty full here; there's a reason we specified a large one. Remember you're batch cooking for three meals, so it's bound to look like a lot. It is a lot.

Pour everything from the colander back into the pot. Add eight to ten ounces of water to it, then pour in your packets of taco seasoning (or homemade seasoning) and stir thoroughly to make sure all your powdery ingredients dissolve. Allow it to simmer on medium-low, uncovered, for eight to ten minutes, stirring occasionally.

Pull your taco shells and stand them up on a plate - one of the big benefits of making your own is that they come out flat-bottomed and can stand up on their own! - to fill. Use a slotted spoon to transfer filling from the pot to the shells. Top with salsa, cheese, lettuce and a dollop of sour cream, and serve. Remember to refrigerate your remaining toppings

Once you're done enjoying your meal, the filling should have had some time to cool. Divide the remaining filling into two-gallon size ziploc bags, label them and drop them in the freezer. Come back next week to learn how to make it into something else!

Let us know what you thought over on our Facebook page, or in the comments below.

If you’re here because your freezer isn’t keeping things on ice, you can call us at ((214) 599-0055) or schedule an appointment via our contact page. We’re always here to help.

Which Grill is Which?

 Taking a look at different fuel types for different grills and what you can achieve. 

Already we’re nearing the end of summer! For many of us, Labor Day is the last chance to host a big backyard party. For just that reason, we’re taking a  look at grills. 

To many of us, a grill is a grill. You light the fire somehow, and you toss food on. You make sure to flip it occasionally, and you don’t let it burn. Then, yay, you have food. For those who are skilled in cooking with a grill, this is a gross simplification. After talking with experts we learned how different grills can actually be used to achieve a different effect. We aren’t talking models, but instead styles. The bells and whistles don’t matter here. 

Charcoal Grill 

One of the most popular types of grills, a charcoal grill is also extremely finicky. They take time to catch the flames and build up the heat needed. Usually, you need about 20-30 minutes to get a solid fire going, and you’ll need time in the end for the coals to be extinguished when you’re done cooking. The good thing about all of this time though is that whatever you cook on the grill is also going to have a rich, smoky, complicated flavor. You can grill anything you want, but steaks, salmon fillets, and as many vegetables as we can fit on the grill are our favorites. You can cook at much lower temperatures with a charcoal grill because the fire will keep going, without going out. 

Gas Grills

If you’re looking for something that heats quickly and can feed a crowd, this is it. Gas grills use propane to heat quickly and evenly, but you’re still able to manage the flame to get different temperatures.  A gas grill can give you a little bit of charring and a little bit of flavor. Even better they’re extremely easy to care for. So if your backyard party is large and you’re looking for the usual hot dogs, hamburgers, and corn, this is a  fantastic choice. 

Kadamo

Maybe you’re looking for something different though. You want something that can maintain the high temps of a gas grill and the low temps of a charcoal grill. Then what you’re looking for is called a kamado grill.  These are grills that are based on ones that China developed 3000 years ago. It can hold a temperature of 225*F or go as high as 1000*F.  They use lump charcoal for fuel, just like a charcoal grill, but their shape and composition allow them to get far hotter.  Unlike a gas grill though, it’s capable of not just grilling foods, but also smoking, roasting, and even baking. 

Pellet Grill 

Pellet grills are easy to use and heat up quickly, which makes them great for weeknights. However, we will point out they don’t get much about 475*F at their highest. This means that if you’re wanting them to sear your meat, you might look at something else. Many of them do have a digital thermostat though that allows you to specify exactly what temperature you want them to hit. A major downside, for us at least, is the difficulty of finding pellets compared to propane or charcoal.  You might be able to if you live in a major area, but not if you plan on taking it with you when you travel. 

Now that you’ve got your preferred grill selected, let’s quickly talk about fire safety. (We know you know, but humor us, ok?)  Every year outdoor cooking fires account for $37 million in property damage. So to prevent your home from being on this list, here are a few things you can do. 

• Make sure you don’t have anything too close to the grill. If it can fly, flap, or be shoved by wind, move it at least 3 feet away from the grill. 

• At the beginning of the day and again at the end, take a few minutes and clean out the grease trap. Doing this can prevent your grill master from getting burned.

• If it’s lit, don’t leave it unattended. If you need to step away, switch places with someone else. 

• Make sure to have a sand bucket nearby. Yes, the food would be absolutely terrible after, but at least you won’t’ be on fire. 

Follow these four rules to enjoy your next outdoor party without worrying. 

Which one are you most interested in? Grills aren’t something we fix, but we do love grilled food as much as the next person, so we’re interested in hearing what you have to say. Let us know in the comments below or over on our Facebook page!

If you’re not up for grilling next weekend though, that means you’re cooking. If your range is giving you trouble, you might want to give us a call. Whether it’s broken, behaving oddly, or you just want to give it a thorough going-over, we’re here for you. You can reach out to us at our contact page or by calling us at ((214) 599-0055).  

Additional Reading: 

Fire in the Kitchen

7 Reasons To Build An Outdoor Kitchen 

What To Know Before You Build Your Outdoor Kitchen

Brown Sugar - Cinnamon Oat Bars

 AKA Tablespoon Cake - AkA The Easiest Cake You’ll Ever Make

This one started out as a copycat recipe - we tried some fancy, expensive diet company snack bars this week. We enjoyed them, but we didn't enjoy the price tag quite so much. So we decided we were going to take a crack at producing something similar, with similar nutritional value. We're even going to do out the irritating math for you, so you know what your calorie intake and your approximate nutrition facts are for each serving.

Keep in mind, for that to stay accurate, you'll need to follow the instructions to the letter... But you could also be like us and wing it, and then re-do the math later. Like we did. Three times.

There was a lot of "less this, more that," and a lot of "what if?" in the making of this one. If you make it better, let us know over on our Facebook page!

Ingredients:

7 Tablespoons granulated sugar

4 Tablespoons quick oats

2 Tablespoons coconut flour

2 Tablespoons whole wheat flour

2 Tablespoons light brown sugar

1 Tablespoon ground cinnamon

1 Tablespoon ground flax seed

1 Tablespoon water

2 eggs

Tools:

Mixing bowl, one! measuring spoon - a tablespoon, fork, 9x9 baking pan, aluminum foil, baking spray

Grab your trusty tablespoon and let's get to work.

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.

Measure your two different kinds of sugar and your two different kinds of flour into the mixing bowl - and please do not add more coconut flour in an attempt to make the recipe gluten-free unless you have used coconut flour before. Coconut flour is a very mercurial ingredient and can really muck up a recipe if you're not familiar with its properties.

Add in your oats, your ground flax and your cinnamon. If you're not a fan of the texture the oats add to this, feel free to toss them into a blender for a few pulses and chop them down before you add them.

Take the fork we suggested you have handy, and stir all your dry ingredients together. We know it's all basically one color to start with, but still, you want these things to be uniformly distributed. Otherwise you'll end up with pockets of too much sugar, caramelizing and causing divots in the final product. We're not against crunchy spots where the sugar turned into hard candy, or spicy little lumps of cinnamon for that matter - but these things are not part of the original goal.

Break your eggs into the dry ingredients and toss that tiny little bit of water into the bowl while you're at it. We know one tablespoon doesn't sound like a lot, but it's very important in this recipe. It's low enough moisture to start with that every bit is absolutely necessary - and the coconut flour is going to make it disappear really quickly.

The fork is still the ideal tool to mix your batter. That batter is going to be thick, and it's also going to be sticky. We promise, that's actually what you want. It will yield a dense, chewy oat bar with a brownie-like texture and crunchy edges good for grabbing and running. And since that was the big nameless diet company's original intention with it, we think we're doing alright with this copycat thing.

Once you have everything mixed well, line your baking pan with a layer of aluminum foil (leave enough around the edges to lift by later) and spray the bottom thoroughly with cooking spray. Scoop your batter from the mixing bowl to the center of the baking pan, scraping the sides of the bowl as you go. After you've gotten as much as you can from the mixing bowl, take the fork (yes, again!) and use it to smooth the layer of batter out and push it as far as you can into the corners of the pan. Be gentle and work slowly so that you don't accidentally poke through the aluminum foil.

Pop the pan into the oven and let it bake for half an hour. If you're not sure if it's done after the half-hour, give the pan a little shake. If the center jiggles, put it back for five more minutes. If not, it's ready.

Let it cool for ten minutes, then lift the aluminum foil out of the pan. Invert it over a plate and peel to remove the foil from the bottom of the oat bars. It helps to hold the center down gently and lift up from the corners of the foil.

Flip that plate over onto another so your creation is right side up again, and cut into four equal pieces. We know we've called them oat bars this whole time, but we like to cut them into triangles to mix things up a little.

Each of these four servings will have 5 grams of protein and just under 4 grams of fiber, along with almost 40% of your daily value of vitamin D and 10% of your necessary iron - all for about 190 calories.

Be mindful that there's quite a bit of sugar and carbs in this, also - so it's not exactly a diabetic-friendly recipe as shown here. A little quick math says using Stevia instead of granulated sugar would make quite a dent. That could trim calories down to 130 a serving, cut sugar from 23 grams to only 5 grams, and take total carbohydrate per serving from 34 grams to 18, while also giving a tiny boost to iron and potassium. Even bigger diet company goals accomplished - still without the big name brand price tag!

And if you need new appliance performance, preferably also without the jumbo-sized price tag, maybe reach out to our service department. You can reach them through our contact page, or by giving us a call at ((214) 599-0055)

How Your Home Can Help You Sleep

It’s Time to Get Some Real Sleep

Table of Contents

Kitchen

Living Room

Bathroom

Wardrobe

Bedroom

It's another restless night and you're stuck, staring at your ceiling trying to figure out how you're going to survive tomorrow. You know the questions you'll get.  Did you not get enough sleep? Did you go to bed too late? Did you stay up partying all night? And worst of all, have you tried going to bed earlier? These questions don't help anybody. They're well-meaning, but all they do is leave you more frustrated. We're hoping to help you turn your entire home towards the goal of helping you get a better night's sleep. 

So the first thing to understand is what are the different things that affect sleep. 

Temperature- For your best night's sleep your room should be somewhere between 60 and 68° F. Scientists have found that this is the ideal temperature to help you fall asleep and stay asleep. Being too hot or too cold can either keep you awake or send you into nightmares.

Blue screens - Wherever you are right now look around and count the number of screens that you see. Phones, they count. Computers, they count. TVs, they count. All of these emit blue light. Our brains have a certain rhythm that they follow every day. It's called the circadian rhythm. For some people, they wake up early with the sun and go to sleep with the sun. Some of us stay up till 2:00 a.m. and sleep till 10:00 a.m. each person has their own rhythm. While you can change your rhythm intentionally, exposing yourself to blue light at the wrong time of day can drag you off course without you realizing it. 

Stress - Think about the last time you had a major project due. The night before were you stuck staring at the ceiling unable to stop thinking? 

Light - Aside from blue light, having light from digital displays, power cords with lights on them, or that cute baby Yoda your niece got you. All of these things can admit light, and keep your brain running.

Alarms at the wrong time -  Just like your brain has a circadian rhythm, it also has a certain rhythm when you're asleep. You have times of light sleep, REM sleep, and deep sleep. And you'll vary between these as the night goes on. However, if your alarm wakes you up in the middle of REM or deep sleep, you'll be groggy and harder to wake up.

Mattress and pillow comfort - Do we need to explain this one? If your mattress or your pillows aren't comfortable, if you're tossing and turning all night, you're not sleeping.

Sound - Your neighbor's baby crying, the car down the street going off, your spouse in the living room with the TV on. When you're going to sleep your brain kicks into a heightened state of awareness for these sounds. Any and all of them can keep you awake or wake you from sleep.

Not having a wind-down ritual - Our brains like rituals. They like having touchstones throughout the day moments to connect to and say "ah I know what we're doing right now and next". Not having a wind-down ritual can leave your brain confused. It needs time to transition from being awake being aware into the calm patterns of sleep.

Caffeine -We drink caffeine to keep awake. Most of us don't realize how long that caffeine stays in our systems though. If you're drinking caffeine too close to bed, whether it's a soda or coffee or tea even, most people are going to have trouble falling asleep.

Let's Start In The Kitchen. 

Ideally, you should eat dinner 3 to 4 hours before you go to bed. Foods high in fats and complicated carbs sit more heavily in your stomach and need more energy to process. This means that your body will keep you awake even if you don't know why. To avoid that, make sure to eat 3 to 4 hours beforehand. If possible try to make it a lighter meal, although we understand that's not always an option. After all, a heavy meal would make many of us fall asleep at work. If you absolutely need a snack closer to bed, try something with simple carbs and proteins. Something like toast and scrambled eggs is a good go-to. It's fast to whip up and easy to break down, but it will leave you feeling full. 

Before we leave the kitchen, put down the coffee and leave the soda in the fridge. Caffeine should be avoided for most people, after 2:00 p.m. . Instead try stocking your cabinet with cocoa, or herbal teas like chamomile or passion fruit. These warm drinks will soothe and relax away the day, and help you fall asleep when the time comes. 

The Living Room 

Moving on we go to where many of us wind down at the end of the day. Start by looking at your curtains. Are they sheer? Do you have street lights right outside your house? As you mentioned up top lights set our circadian rhythm. By exposing yourself to more light as you're trying to wind down, your brain becomes confused. We suggest having two sets of curtains on your windows. An interior sheer curtain that you use for privacy, and a blackout curtain. The blackout curtain not only helps to block out light at the end of the day, but it also will help to keep out heat in the summer, and cold winds in winter. Multiple benefits for you and your pocketbook. 

Moving on let's take a look at your lamps. Smart bulbs such as the Philips Hue bulb, can be set to different colors. You can also set them for either bright white light or a warmer light. We suggest having your lights set to a timer on your home central hub, or via the app. When it becomes say 9:00pm, an hour before you would usually go to bed, the program runs, and all of the lights switch to a warmer tone. This removes the blue light that would otherwise keep you awake. 

From that central hub you could also connect to your thermostat to turn the temperatures down. While you don't have to make your living room as cold as your bedroom is, if you're winding down in your living room, it can help to start the process. So if your bedroom is comfortable for you at 65°, you might set your thermostat in the living room to 68 or 70.  

You can also try adding a blue screen protector to your TV. Although most companies make them for computers, there are some that are made for TVs. Or if that's not to your taste you can always keep a set of blue screen glasses in your living room and just wear those while watching your TV. 

One last tip for your living room, is to make a cell phone charging station. This can be as simple as a dedicated spot with a charger. Or you can make it as complicated as a wireless charger, with an air diffuser and inspiring words to start your day. The point is that when you're getting ready for bed, your phone goes here to its bed. This way you aren't tempted to stay up all night scrolling and wandering on the internet. 

Next Up Is Your Bathroom 

Now you're starting your get-ready for bed routine. Brush your teeth, wash your face, maybe take a relaxing bath. So your bathroom is just as important as any other room in your home. Just like in the living room we advise including blackout curtains and programmable lights. 

However, we also suggest including a diffuser or a lotion set. Scents like lavender and chamomile have been shown to reduce stress, calm the mind  and relax the body. 

You might also consider a small night light or a strip of dim LED lights that you can hide under cabinets or baseboards. This way if you do wake up in the middle of the night, there aren't jarring bright lights to wake you up. 

And last but not least we suggest including some sort of noise-producing unit. We have seen people that use fans, or HVAC units. There are also speakers designed specifically to play noise within the white, pink, or brown ranges. These units are meant to block out other sounds so that you don't get woken up suddenly by them. All of this so that when you're winding down for the night or wake up suddenly to go to the bathroom, you aren't forced to wake and have to start the process over. You can stay in that lovely in-between stage and drift easily back to sleep once you're back in bed. 

On To Your Wardrobe

We have one last stop before we head into the bedroom. Fortunately, it's a quick one, your wardrobe. Take a look at the clothes that you're wearing to bed, are they light, are they comfortable, are they restrictive, are they hot? You want something that is comfortable to wear and will wick moisture away if you end up getting too warm. 

Finally, The Bedroom

Last but not least, let's take a look at your bedroom. Again we're going to say curtains, lights, and temperature. All of those things that were important outside the bedroom are even more important now. If possible, you want to block out all sources of light. Even those on your alarm clock can be dimmed by throwing a piece of painter's tape over top if necessary. You can sleep with a mask, but we find that they make some of our suggestions for later more difficult. 

Now let's take a look at your mattress. The important thing here is that it supports your spine in whichever way you want to sleep. So if you sleep on your back, it needs to keep your spine relatively neutral. If you sleep on your side it needs to give in more at the hip and shoulder in order to do the same thing. When your spine is out of alignment not only do you not sleep well, but you wake up miserable. Your mattress is something that you should replace every 10 years to protect spinal integrity. We advise starting to put money away as soon as you purchase a new one, but that's for a post on finances.

 Again we suggest having some sort of noise machine. You want something soothing and quiet that's going to block out other noises and keep you relaxed. For some people that might be the sound of the ocean or woods. And there are systems that can recreate or play those sounds. For others, you might consider a fan as a source of airflow and a dull noise. What's important is that you aren't going to be jarred awake suddenly. 

This brings us to our next point, your alarm clock. As we mentioned up above most of us use the alarms that our phone offers, which isn't a bad thing. If your phone offers a functionality it makes sense to use it. Unfortunately, the one offered by your phone isn't the greatest at waking you up slowly or picking when to wake you up. It goes off when the alarm says to go off, no sooner no later. We prefer something like the alarms offered on smartwatches. Many of these will analyze your sleep and choose a point when you are closest to waking already. Another option is a sunlight alarm. This will slowly begin brightening your room so that when the alarm does go off you're already close to being awake. This is why we said wearing a sleep mask is not always the best idea. 

Now we aren't saying that your home's only purpose should be to ensure a good night's sleep. However given the advancements of technology, if you have the means, why not? Many of the different technologies that we pointed out in today's post have multiple different settings and routines that can be programmed to them. So that if you can make them a part of your home setting up the routine to increase your sleep and your comfort seems only natural. But we want to hear from you! What have you tried and found success with? Let us know over on our Facebook page or in the comments down below. 

Now if your creaky old dryer rattling and clanking away is what's waking you up early or keeping you up late, that's a different matter. We can help with that and any of your other larger appliances so long as you live in the McKinney area. You can give us a call ((214) 599-0055 ) or reach out to us on our contact page. We at Appliance Rescue Service want to keep your home running smoothly from dawn till dusk.

8 Ways to Whiten Your Clothes When You Don’t Have Bleach

Because you don’t always have it on hand. 

Table of Contents: 

The Sun

Lemons

Baking Soda

Powdered Dish Detergent

Aspirin

Distilled White Vinegar

Borax

Hydrogen Peroxide

Have you ever bleached your favorite shirt one too many times? It starts to wear and have thin spots. Whether it's a set of sheets or an article of clothing, bleach will eventually 'eat' at the fabric as much as it eats at the stains. There are also other concerns with using bleach. It can cause skin irritation or burns if not properly diluted, it can make you dizzy from breathing in fumes. As if that isn’t enough, given enough time on your shelf, liquid bleach will break down and no longer be functional. Fortunately, there are plenty of options that you can use instead of turning to bleach that will preserve your clothing. 

Item Used: The Sun(!)

Soak Time: NA

Water Temperature: NA

This is the only one in our list that is applied after you’ve washed your clothing, and that’s why it’s going first. And, it’s the SUN. For this you need to turn your clothes inside out after washing them and then hang them on a clothesline outside. While the sun will whiten  whites, it can also fade your clothes if they have other colors on them. Using this method also means that you will be cutting your electric bill some, as well as making your clothes smell nice. 

Item Used: Lemons

Soak Time: 2 hours or overnight

Water Temperature: Hot Water 

If you need to get rid of set-in stains,  grab a few lemons. You can use these delicious fruits in one of two ways. You can either soak the clothes for 2 hours, or you can soak them overnight. Either way, you're going to want to slice your lemons into slices about 1/4" thick,  and use more depending on how much dirt there is. We estimated at 1 lemon for a standard level of dirt and 2 lemons if you're dealing with more. 

Item Used: Baking Soda

Soak Time:  standard wash

Water Temperature: standard wash

If you want to whiten your whites in a "set it and forget it way," try this. Note: This method is only going to work if you have a top-loading washing machine. 

Start by setting your machine to the desired load settings, but don't add your clothes yet. Instead, let the drum fill with water. Once it has grab 1/2 cup of baking soda and add it to the water, stirring the water if needed until the baking soda has fully dissolved. Once that's done, add in your clothes and let the machine run as normal. 

If it's a larger round of laundry you can put in as much as 1 cup of baking soda. 

Item Used: Powdered Dishwasher Detergent

Soak Time: 30 minutes

Water Temperature: Hot 

If you don’t have bleach but you do have powdered dishwasher detergent, you’re in luck. Although this post is mostly about avoiding using bleach, we know that there are some occasions when you’re short on time and you need that stain busting power fast. Most dishwasher detergents of the powdered variety contain sodium hypochlorite. This will whiten most whites, but it works especially well on natural fibers like cotton, wool, hemp and linen. 

To use this you’ll want to use ¼ c per 1 gal of hot water. Mix the two and ensure that the detergent has fully dissolved before adding your clothes. Allow them to soak for 30 minutes before rinsing in cold water and transferring them to the wash. 

Item Used: Aspirin

Soak Time: Several Hours

Water Temperature: Boiling

When in doubt, if you have nothing else in your house, head to your medicine cabinet. If you have aspirin tablets, you’re in luck. For this, you’re going to need 10 tablets for every 1 gallon of water. 

Grab a large pot, and figure out how much water you need to cover whatever it is you’re working on without overcrowding the pot. Now remove the clothes and set the pot to boil. While that’s working, count out the number of tablets you need and start to crush them. You want them to be in a fine powder before you add them to the water. They’ll dissolve more easily that way. Once the water is at a boil add the powder and stir till it’s dissolved. Now remove from the heat and add the clothes to the mixture. Allow them to soak until the water is cooled. 

Item Used: Distilled White Vinegar

Soak Time: Several Hours

Water Temperature: Warm Water

DIstilled white vinegar is an item many of us keep in our homes. From recipes to cleaning, it’s a staple in many homes.  You can use it for softening clothes, getting rid of that gross musty and mildew-y smell that towels seem to pick up, AND for whitening your whites. 

There are two ways you can use it. You can either wait until the last rinse cycle of a wash and add in ¼ c to the load. Or you can get a basin of warm water, add 1c to it and then soak the clothes for a few hours.  It depends on how bad the stain or smell is, and what your schedule looks like.  

Item Used: Borax

Soak Time: 30 min or longer

Water Temperature: Warm

Borax is one of those household superheroes that we don't really think about. There are many different sites that proclaim its many uses around the home for everything from getting rid of bugs to removing stains and residue on your clothes. But, we're willing to bet that at least 50% of you don't have it in your homes. (Not that we blame you, you can't keep /everything/ in your home.) 

For a gallon of warm water, you'll mix in 1/2 c of borax and swish it around until it dissolves. Then add in your clothes and allow it to soak. You can use this on most clothing, without having to worry. We do recommend avoiding delicate items though, just to be safe. 

Item Used: Hydrogen Peroxide

Soak Time: 30-60 minutes

Water Temperature: Wash Standard

Hydrogen peroxide, H202, or “the bubbly stuff you put on cuts,” whatever you call it, you’re bound to have it in your medicine cabinet. It’s wonderfully useful stuff that can be used several different ways to help with laundry. 

If you’ve got a standard load that needs some whitening: When you go to start your load of laundry, pour in 1c of 3% hydrogen peroxide into the detergent or bleach dispenser. You can use this as it’s own secondary wash, or you can include it as part of a standard wash cycle. Either way, continue to load and run your machine from there. 

If you’ve got set in stains that need help: Grab some liquid dish soap from your kitchen (we suggest Dawn as that’s what we’ve used to best results.) Apply a few drops of that to your stain and then pour the peroxide over it. You need enough to soak the stain and the area around it. Now grab a small scrub brush and scrub for a minute or so. Set the item aside and leave it alone for at least an hour.  When you’re ready to wash it, come back, rinse it with cold water and then toss it in the wash. 

If you’ve got underarm stains turning your shirt grey:  Mix up equal parts water, hydrogen peroxide and baking soda. Apply the paste to stains and let it set for 30 minutes to 1 hour. Once your done scrub off the paste into the trash, we advise using a scrub brush. Now wash as normal. 

With all of that said, what do you think? Which of these did you know of? which ones had you never heard of till now? Do you have any family tricks that we missed? Let us know in the comments below or over on Facebook! 

If you're here because your washing machine is broken, or any of your major appliances really, we can help. Fridges, ovens, stovetops, ice makers, washing machines, and dryers, we service them all. If yours has decided to start giving you trouble, now is the time to call and set an appointment so we can get things back into working order for your home. Even if you're just uncertain about a particular sound or how something is working, we're happy to help. We do repairs as well as maintenance checks on all major appliances in the hope of keeping your home running smoothly. You can reach out to us by phone at ((214) 599-0055) or by going to our website. 

Additional Reading: 

What You Can't Use Vinegar to Clean 

Green Home Cleaning

Deep Dive on Washing Machines Part One

How To Hand Wash Your Clothes