Tips to Save Money on Laundry

Laundry is a never-ending chore in most households. We don’t typically think about how much it costs to do laundry at home, nor do we worry about the impact of washing our clothes has on the environment. But we should concern ourselves with doing laundry as efficiently as possible.

Here are some tips for a more efficient wash day.

• Clean the lint trap every time you use the washer or dryer. This not only improves the efficiency of laundry machines, but also can help prevent dryer fires.

• Do full loads. Don’t overstuff the washer or dryer, but wait to clean clothes or bedding or towels until you have a full load, to make maximum use of the machines.

• Use cold water. Most modern detergents are formulated to work well in cold water. Cold water is less hard on cloth, so your clothes will last longer. And you won’t use (and pay for) the energy required to heat a laundry tub full of hot water.

• Use high spin speeds. This removes more water from the clean laundry before it goes into the dryer. The time wet clothes spend in the dryer is reduced, saving you additional money on your energy bills.

• If you will be buying a new washer or dryer, look for a certified Energy Star model. These machines use less water and less energy, which will save you money over the worklife of the new machines. 

Tip - Why You Should Clean Your Refrigerator Coils

The coils on the back of the refrigerator release the heat extracted from the food inside into the air in your kitchen. If these coils are coated with dust, lint or pet hair, they are not able to operate efficiently.

You can increase the efficiency of your refrigerator by pulling it (carefully!) from the wall and cleaning off those coils. Do this at least twice a year, and more often if you have a pet that sheds. Leaving the cooling coils dirty not only shortens the life of your fridge, but also increases the energy costs of your refrigerator by up to 35%.

Save your money and help the environment by keeping your refrigerator’s coils clean.

Love Cats? Contribute to Science!

Here’s your chance to advance our understanding of cat behavior, genetics, evolution, and health by providing data about your pet. While domestic cats have lived alongside humans since neolithic times, cats are surprisingly understudied.

 

The nonprofit organization, Darwin’s Ark, is conducting a citizen science project called "Darwin’s Cats."

 

Participants from around the world can add to a massive database of cat information by filling out a quick survey about their feline friends. The survey takes only about 15 minutes to complete.

 

If you choose, you can donate to sequence your cat’s DNA. This is not required in order to participate in this project.

 

To find out more about this fun science project, please visit Darwin’s Ark at https://darwinsark.org/darwins-cats and create an account.

 

P.S There is a parallel "Darwin’s Dogs" project (https://darwinsark.org/darwins-dogs) that has already contributed to knowledge about dog cancers.

The heat and humidity are brutal this summer. Plan ahead to stay comfortable and healthy during the hottest time of the year (in whichever hemisphere you reside). Here are some suggestions to keep you comfortable and healthy.

• Be aware of temperature changes throughout the day. Pay attention to more than just the predictions for highest and lowest points. Avoid going outside during the hottest time(s) of day.

•Keep cool by staying in air-conditioned places. If you don’t have AC at home, try to spend time during the hottest parts of the day in a cooler public place such as a mall, library, or movie theater.

Some states and communities even open public cooling centers in hot weather.

• Your body tries to remove excess internal heat by moving warm blood to the skin, where it can escape into the air. If the air is cooler than your body, a fan blowing on you can move the warmed air away from your skin. Set ceiling fans to spin counterclockwise in hot weather.

• Evaporative cooling is important. When liquids evaporate off your skin, they remove heat from your body. This is why you sweat! But you lose water from your body as the sweat evaporates, so it is important to stay hydrated.

While fluid needs vary among individuals, the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics recommends women drink about 11.5 cups of water daily, and men about 15.5 cups. If you sweat a lot, you will need to drink more.

About a fifth ofwater intake comes from foods, so be sure to eat plenty of hydratingfoods such as soup and watermelon in hot weather.

• You can aid evaporative cooling by wiping your arms and the back of your neck with wet wipes or spritzing your skin with a spray bottle of cool water. For extra coolness, keep the wet wipe pack and spray bottle in the refrigerator between applications.

• If you must be outside in very hot weather, take breaks regularly to rest where it is cooler. Always wear sun protection. Sunburned skin can’t release heat.

• Dress to feel cooler. Wear loose, lightweight clothes so that air can circulate near your skin and increase evaporative cooling as you sweat. Some high-tech clothing is made from special fabrics that wick sweat from your body to improve evaporative cooling. Many types of cooling clothing, including cooling vests, bandanas and hardhat liners can make life more comfortable in hot weather.

You can make your own cooling clothing. Wet a kitchen towel in cold water, then wrap it around your head or neck. Soak a cotton T-shirt in cold water before putting it on. Rewet the item as it becomes dry.

• Cool your skin. You can take a cool (not cold) shower or bath in water that is tepid, slightly cooler than your body temperature. Once you get out of the shower or tub, stand in front of a fan to increase evaporative cooling. For quicker cooling, submerge your hands and arms up to the elbows in cool water for up to 5 minutes.

Ice packs or sacks of frozen peas applied where large blood vessels are near the surface of the skin (the back of the neck, armpits, groin) will help cool the body down. A chilled drink bottle works too. Icepacks even work throughsynthetic and plaster casts!

You can make your own frozen gel packs too. Just don’t put them directly onskin; always put a cloth between your skin and the ice pack. Don’t leave it on too long, either, as excessive cold is damaging to skin.

• Cool down internally by drinking cool water, eating a popsicle, or sucking (not biting!) ice chips. Just don’t do this too fast, as that can lead to gastrointestinal upset.

• Be aware of when to seek medical assistance due to heat exposure. If you have tried several of the tips above and still aren’t cooling down, go to the nearest emergency room.

Keep in mind the symptoms of heat exhaustion:

•     cold, clammy skin

•     dizziness or faintness

•     excessive sweating

•     extreme fatigue

•     fast or weak pulse

•     headache

•     muscle cramps.

If you experience these symptoms, seek medical help or call 911.

Infants, children, senior citizens, pregnant women, outdoor crews, individuals who take medications that make them less able to sweat, and people with health conditions such as cardiovascular disease are all more prone to suffering heat exhaustion. If you’re not in one of these high-risk categories, be sure to check on people who are.

For more information, read “How Hot Is Too Hot For The Human Body?” in the link below:

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-hot-is-too-hot-for-the-human-body1/