Want to increase profitability and occupancy from your Airbnb rental? Optimizing your linen inventory is a strategic place to start. Efficient linen management ensures a seamless guest experience and enhances your overall hosting performance in a competitive market.

This guide provides hosts with valuable insights on building the ideal linen supply. We'll share practical tips to calculate and manage inventory based on demand, streamline turnover, and elevate service quality. Whether you're looking to accelerate turnover, delight guests, or scale your rental business, our advice will help transform your hosting experience.

Follow our proven strategies to optimize your Airbnb linen inventory. You'll be able to unlock the full profit potential of your property and stand out from the competition.

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How many sets of sheets & towels do I need?

As an Airbnb laundry service, we recommend having three to five sets of inventory. But, it's always a good idea to have backups! If your goal is to have guests checking in and out frequently, having extra inventory will prevent you from rushing your laundry service at a higher price.

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Without the extra sheets and towels, your house cleaner will have to wait for 2-3 hours at their hourly rate for the in-house laundry to finish or try to rush an order, typically with extra fees, with your local Airbnb linen service.

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We always recommend starting with a minimum of three sets. Once you have recovered your investment, you can consider buying a fourth, fifth, or even sixth set. The peace of mind will be well worth it, and with this approach, you'll soon grow to have plenty in no time!

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We’ve selected our favorite Airbnb Linen products:

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Ghost Sheets

Ghost Sheets, the sheet set from Ghost Bed, is a durable linen set that is built to last. These TENCEL® sheets are a favorite among laundry services because they are easy to treat, wrinkle-resistant, and can withstand commercial laundry cycles.

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American Soft Linen Towels

The American Soft Linen Bath Towels are the perfect choice for Airbnb. The hint of geometry on its border adds personality to the towel without adding color, making stain treatment easy. The ELS Combed Cotton construction also ensures quick drying.

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Do I need anything extra besides sheets & towels?

Yes, you do! You have invested hundreds of thousands of dollars in purchasing a beautiful rental property, so now is not the time to cut corners on inventory. Good, durable inventory to support your sheets and towels is critical for excellent Airbnb management.

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Mattress and Pillows: Invest in good mattresses and pillows as they work wonders for positive guest experiences. Pillows can make or break a guest's night's sleep, so spending a few extra dollars can make a significant difference in your Airbnb reviews. 

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We recommend these products from Ghost Bed:

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Ghost Bed Mattress

Ghost Bed has incorporated “Ghost Ice” cooling technology that absorbs your body heat during your sleep, which then distributes it evenly over the bed.

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Ghost Bed Pillow

Ghost Pillow‘s memory foam core provides support and comfort. Most importantly, it comes with a zipper-seal casing to easily clean between guests.

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Ghost Bed Mattress Protector

Consider mattress protectors as insurance for your investment. GhostProtector is a great watertight mattress protector that provides peace of mind against any accidents.

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Makeup Towels: Provide makeup towels to save your hand towels. These designated "makeup" towels for guests prevent your white linens from getting stained with black mascara. We recommend these simple Airbnb makeup towels from Amazon.

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Additionally, you may want to consider duvet covers, bed skirts, and shower mats for cosmetic purposes. Consult your local Airbnb sheets and towel service for more suggestions specific to your location.

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What is all of this Airbnb laundry inventory going to cost me?

A set of sheets usually ranges from $120 to $175. If you're looking to invest in higher-quality linens, the cost may go up to $200 to $250. While there are cheap options available, we advise against buying thin, cheap sheets like Amazon Essentials. These will need frequent replacement, resulting in a negative return on investment. Look for inventory that is tough enough to handle multiple turnovers and the high-frequency cleaning that an Airbnb requires.

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Similarly, for towels, we recommend a GSM (fabric weight) between 400-600 and a price range of $30-$40 for a set of four. Choose medium-thickness towels in either cotton or microfiber. Remember, Airbnb guests want to get dry but may not necessarily want the thickest towel on the market.

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Consider working with your Airbnb sheets and towel laundry service to see if they offer any discounts with preferred vendors. However, be prepared for the upfront costs required to get 3-5 sets of good inventory.

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How does extra inventory help you save money?

Operating your Airbnb rental property with just enough linens for one turnover can make things difficult and expensive. It puts a strict timeline on yourself, your house cleaners, and your Airbnb sheets and towel service. Having enough linens to keep your property properly stocked will:

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• Save money with your cleaning service.
• Provide flexibility for your house cleaners regarding timing.
• Ensure your guests never show up to a bed without sheets on it.

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Trying to stay ahead of guests and cleaners with a limited inventory can be incredibly stressful. Having extra inventory on hand is an easy solution.

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Quick tips for Airbnb linen inventory & management:

• Brushed microfiber bedding is a perfect bedding solution for hotel-style Airbnb laundry.
• Place just one pillow on each side of the bed with additional pillows in closets.
• Use a duvet inside a duvet cover and wash just the duvet cover after each guest.
• Keep additional covers, blankets, and quilts in the closet.
• For most stays, one set of linens per pair of guests is sufficient.
• Ask your guests if they need new towels, bedding, or an extra blanket. Emphasize that you do not like to be wasteful.
• Consider grouping with other Airbnb hosts in your area to meet minimum order quantities from larger distributors.

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Ready to get started with Airbnb sheets and towel service?

2ULaundry is a premium laundry and dry-cleaning pick-up and delivery service available in Charlotte, Atlanta, Tampa, Austin, San Antonio, Houston, and Phoenix. Learn more about 2ULaundry and sign up on our website.

Tired of sky-high linen service costs eating into your Airbnb profits? With the right strategies, you can slash expenses and maximize savings without sacrificing quality. This comprehensive guide reveals insider tips to reduce linen costs so you can earn more from your rental property.

We spoke with experienced hosts to uncover budget-friendly tricks for minimizing linen expenses. From investing in quality linens to streamlining inventory management, we'll provide proven methods to cut costs. Implement our money-saving linen strategies and keep more rental income in your pocket.

With our expert guidance on reducing linen service costs, you can establish an efficient system that lowers outlays and boosts profits. Read on to discover actionable tips that help take the pain out of linen expenses. Soon you'll be running a lean, money-making rental business that smartly manages linen costs.

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#1. Hotel-style, fast-drying, white bedding and towels are worth the investment.

Hotel-style doesn’t necessarily mean hotel price. After all, you’re not a hotel with the volume, purchasing power, or budget. So what does hotel-style mean?

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Hotel-style means two things:

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1. Pure white fabric– This makes stains easier to treat and remove than colored options that can’t be bleached. It will keep your laundry in circulation longer AND keep your stain treatment costs down. The exception to this rule is black makeup hand towels.
2. Standardized size – Keeping your inventory sizes standardized will prevent you from purchasing frequent replacements. If you have large towels for the master bath and smaller towels for the guest baths, when one is permanently damaged or lost by a guest, replacing it can be a headache. You’ll likely need to buy more than one – even if you only need one. Instead, consider standardizing your inventory to 4-6 items from room-to-room and stocking extra of these 4-6 items instead of 10-15 pieces.
3. Double up on flat sheets instead of fitted sheets – While it’s not for all Airbnb hosts, stocking double flat sheets and using them as fitted sheets (by tucking under the mattress) can give you a safety net for inventory management. Instead of rushing to order with your Airbnb linen service for one fitted sheet, you’ll rest easy knowing you have a large inventory of flat sheets that can double as fitted sheets. If you are not going to double up, be sure to purchase enough inventory! 

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We have found that GhostSheets by GhostBed are the perfect bedding solution for hotel-style Airbnb laundry. These sheets are quick-drying and easily stain-treated, making them the perfect balance between cost-efficiency, cleaning efficiency, and guest comfort. With the oversized top sheet and a 2″ GhostGrip elastic band around the fitted sheet, everything is strong enough to both 1) stay on securely, all night long and 2) withstand laundry service treatment at every Airbnb turnover.

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Just like  sheets, there are many towel options. Airbnb guests want to get dry but don’t necessarily want the thickest towel on the market. Remember – hotel-style? The thinner the towel, the cheaper it is to replace and the easier it is to both treat for stains and dry properly. We recommend white, medium-thickness towels made from 100% cotton – these American Soft Linen Bath Towels are our favorites.

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Laundry Service Recommendations for the Best Airbnb Sheets & Towels

As a laundry service, we see a lot of sheets and towels. We recommend GhostSheets Bedsheets and American Soft Linen Bath Towels for all Airbnb laundry service customers.

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Ghost Sheets

Ghost Sheets, the sheet set from Ghost Bed, is a linen set that is built to last. These TENCEL® sheets are a laundry service favorite because they are easy to treat, wrinkle-resistant, and stand the tough conditions of commercial laundry cycles.

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American Soft Linen Towels

The American Soft Linen Bath Towels are the perfect Airbnb towel. The hint of geometry on it’s border adds personality to the towel without adding color – allowing easy stain treatment. The ELS Combed Cotton means it’s quick drying too.

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#2. Stock enough inventory so you only need to send laundry to be cleaned once every couple of Airbnb turns.

Miscommunication happens when things get complicated. If you’re operating your Airbnb rental property with just enough linens for one turn, you’re complicating the cleaning process by putting a strict timeline on yourself, your house cleaners, and your Airbnb linen service.

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Having only a few linen sets means you are constantly sending your linens for cleaning. And, with most Airbnb linen services, your cleaning costs will be more expensive at lower volumes. Buying enough linens to keep your Airbnb rental stocked with clean inventory for a couple of turns will help you save money with your cleaning service, allow your house cleaners some flexibility on timing, and make sure your guests never show up to a bed without sheets on it.

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#3. Keep your Airbnb laundry & linens locked away from guests.

If you’re an experienced Airbnb host, you know that your guests will open every drawer, closet, and storage bin that you have. And, if you haven’t experienced this yet, you will! This is especially true with guests staying more than one night.

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If you have your extra inventory or safety stock (see above!) stored in an unlocked closet, the extra inventory WILL be used. This is most common with towels.

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Lock them away in a place that only you, your house cleaning team, and your Airbnb linen service have access to.

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#4. Request bleach and stain treatment.

We’ve found that Airbnb guests have a lower tolerance for stains than hotel guests. It’s backward…but it’s also true. While staying at a hotel, guests understand that hundreds if not thousands of guests have used the linens before. And, this subconsciously lowers their standards of cleanliness. However, at an Airbnb property rental, their standards seem to subconsciously increase – operating under the illusion that it’s their own private, boutique rental.

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If your laundry is white – as this is what we recommend – keep it white by making sure your Airbnb laundry service knows to add bleach or whitener. Hotels use a 15% chlorine bleach – ask for that!

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With this, set your laundry service preferences with some consideration for allergies. We always recommend hypoallergenic detergent (detergent without perfumes or dyes) to help protect your guests from reacting to your bedding.

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#5. Know the difference between an Airbnb laundry service, a third-party provider, and a local dry cleaner.

Whatever you need – there’s an app for that. But, is that always a good thing?

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While you might not care who is delivering your pizza, you should care who is doing your laundry. With the rise of middleman apps that pair you with the closest, cheapest, (insert any other superlative here) service provider, you have no idea who is picking up, cleaning, and delivering your clothes. And, this likely changes order-to-order based on how the middleman app chooses to schedule your service.

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These providers even opt to send orders to individuals to wash in their homes instead of a professional company operating in a professional laundry facility like 2ULaundry does.

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Here is the rundown:

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1. You’ll want to find an Airbnb linen service that ACTUALLY does your laundry: It takes a simple Google search. You’ll find a couple of options of app-based middleman companies that shop your laundry out to the nearest provider. These almost always cost you twice as much as going directly to the source. When deciding on an Airbnb laundry service, be sure to research or ask who is doing your laundry.
2. Dry Cleaners vs. Laundry Services: There is a difference. If you thought the third-party middleman apps were expensive, dry cleaners typically cost 3-4x the price of a true laundry service. Dry cleaners specialize in high volumes of small garments. While your Airbnb laundry service focuses on small volumes of bigger garments – sheets, towels, comforters, etc. And, for the most part, dry cleaning your linens is a good way to expedite the wear and tear on them. Check both the linen care tags and your dry cleaning receipts before using a dry cleaner.

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#6. Charge guests for damaged linens and remove the damaged linens for circulation.

Stains must be removed from circulation! But it doesn’t have to cost you anything. By charging your Airbnb guest for damaged linens, you don’t have to all your profits on new linens. Or even worse – cycling the stained linens through as cleaned linens for continued use by your guests.

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A good Airbnb linen service will offer stain treatment AND stain management. Stain treatment is obvious but stain management isn’t always as clear. By asking your Airbnb laundry service to pack damaged or stained inventory separately from the rest of your clean linens, you’ll have 1) an easy time making sure they don’t re-enter circulation 2) you’ll have easy access to pictures of the damage to show the guests that are responsible for the damage, and 3) you’ll know exactly how many items need replacing for a restocking order.

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And, if charging your guests seems like too much, be sure you at least leave yourself open to charging them by stating it in your Airbnb profile or rental welcome kit.

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At 2ULaundry, we know linens. We process hundreds of pounds of sheets, towels, and more every day for Airbnb hosts. Our service can be scheduled online for fast, contactless pickup and drop-off delivery the next day. Simply create an account or touch base with our commercial team, select your treatment preferences, and leave a note for any special requests on your orders. 

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Ready to get started with Airbnb sheets and towel service?

2ULaundry is a premium laundry and dry-cleaning pick-up and delivery service available in Charlotte, Atlanta, Tampa, Austin, San Antonio, Houston, and Phoenix. Learn more about 2ULaundry and sign up on our website.

Are you tired of your gym clothes smelling like a locker room? If you're looking for proven tips to banish stubborn odors and revive your stinky activewear, this guide is for you. We'll walk you through simple, effective odor-removal steps so you can finally say goodbye to smelly workout clothes.

Follow these easy methods to get rid of sweat smells for good. Our step-by-step odor removal guide will help you make even the stinkiest workout clothes fresh again. With the right techniques, you can keep your athletic apparel clean, fresh, and ready for your next fitness adventure. Let's get started reviving your gym gear!

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What’s so stinky?

Different odors require different cleaning methods, and the same goes for the clothing material itself. For example, some items may be severely stained and require a pre-treatment, like a stain and odor remover, bleach, heavy-duty detergent, or a DIY home remedy. Depending on the fabric and material, some items of clothing may not be suitable for washing machines and will need to be sent to a professional cleaner.

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To properly wash your clothes and avoid unwanted results, always read the label before washing or drying. Items like delicate workout clothes have specific instructions to be washed separately. Following these steps will help you maintain the appearance of your clothes and eliminate any future accidents. Always refer to these instructions before attempting to remove the odor for maximum results.

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Most workout gear is made with moisture-wicking performance fabric, which does an amazing job of sending wetness to the surface of the fabric to keep you cool and dry, but has extra nooks and crannies that cling to dirt and odors. Laundry detergent has a hard time penetrating those grooves, and can even trap the bad stuff. And since performance fabrics dry super fast, you might even forget just how sweaty your clothes got in the first place.

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Effective Tips to Freshen Up Stinky Workout Clothes

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• Air your clothes out before tossing them in the hamper. Don’t roll up your sweaty workout clothes into a tiny ball and stuff them at the bottom of the hamper. Spread them out to let them air out and let odors dissipate before throwing them in the hamper. 
• Freeze them! Wait, what? Toss your workout clothes in a plastic bag and put them in the freezer until laundry day. The cold air prevents bacteria from growing and kills odor until you can do laundry.
• Zip and button clothes to protect them from getting damaged. Workout clothes are delicate. Zipping up helps workout clothes retain shape and not damage other laundry.
• Use mesh bags for extra protection. Loosely pack your workout clothes in the mesh bags so the garments have enough room to tumble properly. 
• Wash with cool water. This prevents shrinking and color bleeding. While hot water does help with odors, it will shrink your workout clothes.
• Avoid too much detergent! This is an important one.  Too many suds can trap odors rather than remove them. If there are too many suds, they get heavy and can trap dirt and bacteria into your garments. 
• Wash your workout clothes inside out. Flipping clothes inside out helps detergent work on the smelliest parts of your clothes. This helps remove underarm and undergarment odor.
• Freshen up with baking soda, lemon juice, or vinegar. We do not recommend using fabric softeners on performance fabrics because they can clog the moisture-wicking fabrics. Instead, using a touch of baking soda, lemon juice, or vinegar can help get rid of smells.

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A laundry service you can trust with your stinky workout clothes…

Stop wasting your time trying to remove unwanted odors and stubborn stains from your workout clothes. Instead, leave it to the professionals. 2ULaundry is a laundry and dry-cleaning service you can trust with your delicate (and stinky!) workout clothes. We’re here to help you with all your laundry needs!

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Delicate fabrics? Hang dry options? You got it!

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Our easy-to-use laundry pickup and delivery service can be scheduled online for fast, contactless pickup and drop-off delivery the next day. Simply create an account, select your treatment preferences, and leave a note for any special requests on your orders. You no longer need to jump through hoops to get that stench out of your athleisure workout gear.

2ULaundry is a premium laundry and dry-cleaning pick-up and delivery service available in Charlotte, Atlanta, Tampa, Austin, San Antonio, Houston, and Phoenix. Learn more about 2ULaundry and sign up on our website.

Want to wake up refreshed on clean, hygienic sheets? Your bedding absorbs sweat, skin cells, oils, and more while you sleep. This dirt buildup can lead to allergies, irritation, and even illnesses.

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Luckily, with the right washing techniques, you can eliminate grime and allergens from your linens. In this article, we provide five foolproof tips for deep cleaning your sheets and promoting better sleep. You'll learn the optimal wash cycles, stain removal tricks, and best practices for keeping bedding fresh between washes.

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Read on for 5 expert tips to banish odors, brighten dingy sheets, and protect your bedding investment. With deeper, more effective laundering, you'll sleep cleaner, breathe easier, and enjoy bedtime without worrying about unseen irritants. 

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1. Treat Stains Before You Wash Bed Sheets

Before washing your bedding, it’s important to treat stains with a dedicated stain remover. Plant-based products are great options that are naturally free of dyes, chlorine, and phosphates. After all, do you want to rest your head on chemicals when you lie down at night?

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You can always try removing a stain by hand, but be aware that some stains can be very stubborn and persistent leading to discoloration of your bedsheets. There are also some home remedies like apple cider vinegar combined with water or baking soda that may help alleviate those stubborn stains if you’re looking for a natural route. It’s because of these stains that we recommend white linens. While white linens are easier to stain, they make stain removal much easier!

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2. Keep the Water Temperature Low

Lower temperatures are best for washing bedding. Most linen materials are sensitive, which means that higher temperatures can cause fraying or excess shedding. Always read the instruction labels before washing your bedding to prevent damage. Temperature settings at 80 – 100°F are ideal and will give you the best results. For better results, use a mild chemical-free detergent, as chemical detergents can end up damaging your nylon, linen, satin, or silk pillowcases and bedsheets if they are not administered properly.

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3. Turn Pillowcases & Duvets Inside Out

Turning your pillowcases and duvet inside out keeps the material from shedding or colors from fading and helps thoroughly wash away any accumulated debris. This simple strategy will also prevent damage to the duvet cover, extending its life expectancy and ultimately saving you money.

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This goes for your regular laundry as well. Wash your clothes inside out to keep them looking newer and longer. This way, the inside of the garment takes the abuse and fading caused by the agitation, not the outside. Clothes get just as clean when washed inside out.

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4. Wash Your Bedding in Separate Loads

Breaking difficult chores into smaller parts makes any chore easier––especially washing your bedding. Instead of washing all of your sheets, pillowcases, comforters, and duvets at once, consider separating them into different loads.

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One option is to wash your bedding by room. Wash one room’s bedding before moving to the next to prevent laundry burnout! Or, maybe it makes more sense to wash separate loads based on the bedding type. This would mean one load of sheets, one load of pillowcases, and one load of duvets. This is how professional laundry services process your bedding because it makes folding and organizing the clean laundry much easier!

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5. Use a Professional Laundry Service

A professional laundry service can alleviate the hassle of laundering your bedding. Get started with a pick-up and delivery laundry service like 2ULaundry to simplify your laundry experience while maximizing your results.

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2ULaundry offers flat-rate pricing on all linen orders – delivered straight to your door. If washing your sheets frequently is something you’re interested in but have been putting off, try it out! And, get ready for that first night in new sheets feeling!

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Need Some Help Washing Your Bedding?

Take care of your bedding the right way with a professional laundry service. When it comes to top-quality professional laundry service, 2ULaundry can help you with all your laundry needs.

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We pride ourselves on our convenient and professional pickup and delivery services. How often should you wash your bed sheets? As often as you need. Whether you need weekly laundry services for your clothes or occasional laundry service to care for your linens and bedding, 2ULaundry has you covered.

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With fast, contactless pickup and delivery, special treatment preferences, and top-tier professional results, you won’t ever go back to doing your laundry again. Learn more about our services and schedule your first pickup today.

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2ULaundry is a premium laundry and dry-cleaning pick-up and delivery service available in Charlotte, Atlanta, Tampa, Austin, San Antonio, and Phoenix. Learn more about 2ULaundry and sign up on our website.

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Laundry Service Picks: The Best Bleach and Laundry Whiteners

Everyone knows that bleach can be used on your white laundry to keep it looking fresh. But, the world of bleach and laundry whiteners is so much more detailed than that. Here are the best bleach and laundry whiteners – reviewed by laundry experts!

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You have some whites that aren’t looking so white anymore. What do you do? Most people reach for the bottle of Clorox bleach.

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Don’t do that! You can do better. Using a bottle of Clorox to brighten your favorite t-shirt is like using a tractor to pull one weed in your yard. You don’t need that much horsepower! And, that much horsepower can cause unnecessary damage.

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The problem is that most people don’t know the difference between bleach and laundry whiteners. There are also different considerations to make within the umbrellas of each.

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Unless you’re cleaning commercial laundry, you can likely skip the bleach and instead opt for a softer, more reasonable laundry whitener.

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This post will discuss the basics of laundry whiteners for use on your everyday laundry and linens. We will also go over everything you need to know about bleach and whiteners and the differences between the two. This guide covers what to consider while choosing either bleach or a whitener and the best laundry whiteners for delicate laundry.

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What is a Laundry Whitener?

Laundry whiteners are a type of laundry detergent that helps to brighten and whiten clothes.

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What is Bleach?

Bleach is the generic name for any chemical product that is used to remove color from fabric. It often refers, specifically, to a dilute solution of sodium hypochlorite, also called “liquid bleach”.

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There is a serious range of products under the “bleach” shorthand name – ranging from simple laundry solutions to highly concentrated pool cleaners or wood stainers. In short, bleach is very powerful and can be very harmful to your laundry.

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What is the difference between Bleach and Laundry Whitener?

Bleach is a bulldozer and laundry whitener is a small gardening shovel.

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If you’re clearing 10 acres of farmland, you use a bulldozer. If you’re picking one weed in the small garden, you use a small gardening shovel.

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Best Laundry Whitener Recommendations for White Laundry

What is the best laundry whitener for my laundry? As a laundry service, we get this question all the time.

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What laundry whitener should you choose? With the growth in popularity of laundry whiteners as replacements for harsh bleaches, there are many laundry whiteners to choose from.

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You can get any random grocery store laundry whitener, but if you’re looking for expert advice on choosing the best one for your needs, you’ve come to the right place. Here are our most popular laundry whiteners:

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White Brite Laundry Whitener

Remove stains from your clothes that bleach and oxi couldn’t get rid of using the White Brite Laundry Cleaner. This product can remove stains or yellowing due to iron or other impurities. You can also use this to remove red clay or soil stains. When it comes to washing white baseball pants and other white athletic equipment, the White Brite Laundry Whitener is a breeze.

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You should use this instead of bleach if you have any concerns about the safety of bleach on white or colorful clothes. Use it if you want your clothes to come out brighter, cleaner, and odor-free. It is compatible with septic systems and all types of washing machines.

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Molly’s Suds Natural Oxygen Whitener

You can use Molly’s Suds Natural Oxygen Whitener without fear of harming your clothes or your loved ones. It is a laundry booster with 100% natural lemon essential oil instead of synthetic scents, dyes, and pollutants, and it removes hard water stains and oil stains from clothing. As an all-natural brightener for laundry, it prevents light and white colors from being yellowed or greyed while still preserving vibrancy.

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It’s safe for most fabrics, and the Oxygen Whitener cruelty-free laundry soap helps whiten and brighten them. It is used extensively as a stain treatment and multi-purpose stain remover.

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Mrs. Stewart’s Whitener

Mrs. Stewart’s laundry whitener is offered in the form of concentrated liquid for use in the washing machine. You can use this solution to remove stains from garments, draperies, and carpets. It is also effective on other types of fabrics.

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Bluette Laundry Whitener

Bluette is a laundry whitener made in the United States that comes in a 16-ounce jar. Don’t be afraid to use it on delicate things! Unlike other laundry products, it is applied at the start of the wash cycle rather than at the end. Because it contains no bleach, it is safe to use on both synthetic and natural fabrics.

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Which form of laundry whitener is better?

Laundry whiteners come in gels, sprays, liquids, and powders. For each of them, manufacturers give their recommendations. But, is one better than the rest?

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It’s all about where you are using the laundry whitener!

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A pocket spray or pen is convenient when you need to urgently remove the stain without a complete wash. This is ideal for travel or carrying in your purse. However, you might not have it on hand when you need it.

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Gels, powders, and liquids require soaking or are usually added to the wash. If you always use the same washer, buying a liquid bottle might make more sense than using pods. However, pods make more sense to someone who is carrying their laundry and laundry detergents to and from a laundromat or a community washroom weekly.

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Can laundry whitener turn all yellow clothes white again?

If your white laundry has turned yellow due to an excessive use of bleach, there is no way to restore it to white. Chlorine bleach is great for cleaning and disinfecting, but it can cause yellowing if overused or if used on white synthetic fibers like nylon, microfibers, or polyester. The bleach weakens the fibers and returns the synthetic polymers to their original color, yellow. There is no fixing this.

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If your clothes are dingy due to natural wear, laundry whitener will be a great solution and restore the color to white.

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Do OxiClean laundry whitener pods contain bleach?

OxiClean pods do not contain bleach. Like other laundry whiteners, they contain chlorine-free, non-bleach stain-removing agents. They do not contain bleach and they do not have the bleach smell.

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Which laundry whiteners are best for greasy stains?

Laundry whiteners differ in their purpose. There are specific types of laundry solvents designed specifically for removing water-insoluble stains like grease, oil, and cream. They contain oxidizing agents, salts, and reducing agents.

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To not ruin your clothes, carefully study the product instructions: what types of fabrics you can use the product on and what technology to wash with. Test the stain remover first on a small area. A good laundry whitener should remove grease and dirt, but not paint.

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Best Bleach Recommendations for Bleaching White Laundry

What bleach should I buy for my laundry? As a laundry service, we get this question all the time.

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What bleach should you choose? There are many bleach options to choose from. We want to make your choice as easy and convenient as possible.

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You can get any random white laundry bleach, but if you’re looking for expert advice on choosing the best one for your needs, you’ve come to the right place. No matter what your laundry bleach needs or your budget, we’ve done an in-depth analysis to include the top-rated options suitable for different needs and different budgets.

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Seventh Generation

This Oxygen Bleach is made for sensitive skin. The U.S. EPA Safer Choice-certified product contains safer ingredients for human health and the environment.

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Grab Green Pods

Bleach pods? Yes! Grab Green packs a big punch with a little pod! It does not contain any chlorine or hard chemicals and it is meant for both cold & warm water washing.

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Guard H Tablets

Great for travel or on-the-go use at a local laundromat, these bleach tablets are quick and economical. You aren’t paying for extra packaging or extra water.

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What types of bleach are meant for laundry?

The available bleach types can be divided into two main groups: 1) Oxygen Bleach and 2) Chlorine Bleach.

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Oxygen Bleach is the safest. It works best by mixing with hot water and pre-soaking your fabrics before washing them. Each manufacturer indicates the recommended time and amount on the package. If you soak things in oxygen bleach, it will not cause any harm to health and clothes. You can safely experiment with oxygen bleach at home since it does not have the same corrosive, toxic, and harmful properties that chlorine bleach does.

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Chlorine Bleach works faster than oxygen bleach. Be careful though, it works fast! Do not soak in Chlorine Bleach for more than 30-60 minutes to prevent damage. These products are the most affordable and have excellent disinfectant properties for cleaning toilets and removing mold. However, it is typically too much for personal laundry. Chlorine Bleach is very aggressive. It can be harmful to your laundry, your health, and the environment. The most practical laundry use of Chlorine Bleach is for commercial towels or linens – not your favorite t-shirt.

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What type of bleach is best for getting rid of stains?

Both remove stains.

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But… we recommend that you stay away from Chlorine Bleach if possible. Start with Oxygen Bleach. After bleaching with Chlorine Bleach, your laundry and linens will wear out faster and gradually turn yellow. While Chlorine Bleach will likely get the stain out, you will decrease the lifespan of the fabric and you will risk an irreversible yellowing.

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Oxygen Bleach makes things much easier! It is suitable for all types of fabrics, doesn’t destroy them, and it prevents the environmental impact of Chlorine Pollution.

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On top of being better for your laundry and linens, Oxygen Bleach is much more environmentally friendly when compared to its Chlorine counterpart. Oxygen Bleaches do not require high temperatures when washing, they enhance the effect of detergent, and they thoroughly rinse out in a basic rinse cycle.

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What is the best bleach for children’s clothes?

Do not use Chlorine Bleach with children’s clothes! We do not recommend using any bleach on children’s clothes. Chlorine is not just an unpleasant smell but can also affect a child’s delicate skin, which can lead to irritation or allergies.

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There are enough environmentally friendly and natural products available that you should not need to consider bleach on children’s clothes. Oxygen or all-purpose bleaches are usually chemical-free and work well on various stains. However, we recommend basic laundry whiteners for these items instead.

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Are homemade bleaches and stain removers suitable?

There are thousands of bleach recipes out there. They often use citric acid, peroxide, soda, salt, and other additives. These recipes claim that with just a few simple ingredients from your pantry, you can make homemade bleach that will brighten your whites and disinfect germs without toxic fumes or skin irritation.

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We have nothing against these homemade bleach recipes. If you are the type to do it yourself, go for it! However, be careful when choosing your homemade recipe.

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You can find anything on the internet. On the internet, we found a website that says that “tar soap can be recommended for bleaching baby clothes.”

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We would never endorse that. Folk remedies cannot replace a good stain remover or bleach, especially when it comes to removing traces of grass, blood, juice, or fruit stains.

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What are bleach tablets?

Bleach primarily comes in liquid form. However, it is available as tablets too. We recommend using liquid bleach products primarily. However, tablets are an option for those traveling or packing light.

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Most bleach tablet providers direct you with the following user instructions.

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Use one tablet for a single load (<20 pounds or one wash cycle) of white laundry. Like a detergent pod, you just toss it in the washer drum before starting the cycle. Drop a tablet in the washer before starting the cycle and wait for the tablet to dissolve first.

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If mixing in the washer drum is not an option, you can always dilute the tablet in water and then add the diluter bleach mix to your wash cycle. Dissolve one tablet in 3/4th cup of water and put this solution in your washing machine dispenser, then start your laundry.

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Our bleach tablet recommendation is GuardH Bleach Tablets.

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How much bleach should you use with a load of laundry?

It depends on the size of your load.

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You will adjust the amount of bleach you add to your wash cycle based on the size of your load, the size of your machine, and the soil level.

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Generally, you will add ½ cup for a residential washer. You will use 1 cup of bleach for washing machines that are over 30-pound capacity. These commercial washing machines are most frequently found at laundromats.

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If your white laundry is heavily soiled, you will increase the amount of bleach used by 1/2 cup. If you are increasing the bleach use, you will want to opt for the extra rinse on the washing machine. This extra rinse makes sure there is no bleach residue left on your clean laundry.

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Laundry Service Picks: The Best Bleach and Laundry Whiteners

You have some whites that aren’t looking so white anymore. What do you do? Most people reach for the bottle of Clorox bleach. Now, you know better!

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Consider using a laundry whitener or some of these recommended bleach alternatives instead of Clorox. Your favorite clothes will thank you!

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2ULaundry is a premium laundry and dry-cleaning pick-up and delivery service available in Charlotte, Atlanta, Tampa, Austin, San Antonio, and Phoenix. Learn more about 2ULaundry and sign up on our website.

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It’s no secret that washing delicate clothing can be tricky. Sometimes the label doesn’t have washing instructions, and even if it does, it can be hard to decipher or you might not have the time or energy to follow every little detail.

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We’ve compiled some tips and tricks on how to wash your delicate laundry to give you a better idea of how to clean your more sensitive fabrics. For more washing advice, check out our other blogs!

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Hand Washing vs. Machine Washing – What You Should Know

When washing delicates, hand washing them is typically the best option. Hand washing is the most effective way to keep your delicates in the best condition and it also allows you to control the temperature and amount of pressure used at each stage of the cleaning process.

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It is important to note when hand washing, using a laundry detergent meant for delicates is important. In your sink or tub, combine the detergent with cold or warm water, and gently swirl your garments around the mixture. Remove stains by gently rubbing them as needed.

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While hand washing is typically the best option for protecting your delicate clothing long-term, we understand that hand washing is not always an option – and a lot of washing machines have settings that are fine for delicates.

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Washing machines typically include a “delicates” cycle, allowing you to save time and energy on hand washing. If your washing machine doesn’t have a setting meant specifically for delicates, make sure to put it on the gentlest setting option – typically with cold water.

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To Dry or Not to Dry?

When it comes to delicate laundry, it’s a good rule of thumb to avoid using a dryer and opt for air-drying instead. This is because dryers are notorious for shrinking and/or fading delicate materials. (We have a whole blog about drying your delicates too!)

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Be careful when choosing how to air-dry your garments. Some garments can dry by hanging on a hanger. However, drying on a hanger can damage heavier garments, like sweaters, because the weight of the damp fabric uses gravity to pull and stretch the garment down. A safer bet is to ‘flat-dry’ your garments by laying them flat to dry on a perforated surface.

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However, if you have a dryer with an air-dry or air-fluff-only setting, you could place your delicate garments in mesh bags and dry them for half a cycle (making sure to check the clothing label first to ensure this is okay), then lay your items flat or on a line to dry, away from direct sunlight.

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Delicate Laundry Detergents

When washing your delicates, you’ll want to be mindful of the type of detergent you’re using. Some standard laundry detergents may be too harsh for certain fabrics, causing them to tear, fade, or shrink.

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The best detergent for delicate laundry typically includes gentle ingredients and a pH that is close to neutral to clean without damaging the fibers of the fabric.

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Some detergents are designed to provide extra care for a specific fabric but there are also good all-purpose detergents designed to be extra-gentle if you don’t want to deal with purchasing multiple products. Just make sure to look for a detergent that is free of harsh synthetic chemicals such as sulfates, bleaches, and brighteners.

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These are some of our favorites!

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Dropps Laundry Pods

Made for sensitive skin, it comes in recyclable and compostable cardboard packaging, which helps reduce single-use plastic.

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The Laundress – Signature

The Laundress laundry detergent blends the finest modern perfume into the brand’s best-performing detergent formula.

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Charlie’s Laundry Liquid

Each bottle contains just four ingredients. There are no suds involved, just a deep clean that leaves your delicate laundry intact.

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At the end of the day, washing your delicate laundry does not have to be a stressful or difficult experience. You can keep your delicates in excellent condition for a long time if you add just a few extra steps to your regular laundry process.

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2ULaundry now offers a Delicate Laundry Bag!

You can now choose which items get which treatment! This Delicates Bag is a flat-rate bag that you can stuff full of your delicate laundry.

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The Delicate Laundry Bag is for your wash-and-fold garments that need gentle washing and air drying. For some people, it’s used for a few pairs of their favorite jeans. For others, it’s for workout gear and leggings. However you decide to use this delicates bag, rest assured that the garments in this bag are getting specialized and separate treatment from the rest of your order.

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2ULaundry is a premium laundry and dry-cleaning pick-up and delivery service available in Charlotte, Atlanta, Tampa, Austin, San Antonio, and Phoenix. Learn more about 2ULaundry and sign up on our website.

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Whatever business you’re running, a commercial or business laundry service partner is one of the most important partnerships you can make. If you are still debating whether or not to take the plunge into a commercial laundry service partnership, here are some tips to help you learn more about the benefits of a business laundry service partnership!

The Top 5 Differences Between a Business Laundry Service vs Doing The Laundry Yourself

You wouldn’t hesitate to hire a plumber when the pipes are leaking, right? Would you hesitate to hire a web developer to help build and maintain your website, right?

Why would you hesitate to hire a commercial laundry service to help with your business’s laundry? Hiring a professional laundry service comes with plenty of benefits and perks – ranging from the equipment, process, and efficiency used. Let’s explore the 5 key differences between commercial laundry service vs doing the laundry yourself:

#1: Less Time and Hassle On Your End

With work, social, and family responsibilities contributing to your busy daily life, the last thing that you want to worry about is staying on top of your laundry chores. Lucky for you, all of the time spent sorting, folding, and transferring your laundry is gone with the help of a professional laundry service, all of which will save you time and hassle in the long run.

#2: Much Higher Load Capacity

The chances are your home has just one washer and dryer available to wash your linens in, which isn’t always enough to do all of the laundry needed for your business or family. Professional-grade washers can withstand much larger loads without the risk of breaking over constant use as a piece of at-home washing equipment would.

#3: Money Saved On Replacing Washer

There is no denying that the upfront cost of commercial laundry services is greater than that of an at-home job. However, it is important to note that there is ample money saved in other ways. Not only will outsourcing your laundry save you on the money it would take to replace an overused washer at home, but there is also no need to constantly purchase detergents, dryer sheets, and other smaller laundry fees that add up across the years.

#4: More Thorough and Precise Clean

Even if you’re using the best of at-home laundry techniques, there is nothing quite like the level of cleanliness accomplished through a professional clean. This is because commercial laundry services have stronger detergents and higher-quality washing and drying equipment to get the job done right and clear away pesky stains each and every time.

On top of that, the team of professionals found at commercial laundry services knows exactly how to handle a variety of materials, linens, and clothes to achieve the best clean possible.

2ULaundry is a premium laundry and dry-cleaning pick-up and delivery service available in Charlotte, Atlanta, Tampa, Austin, San Antonio, and Phoenix. Learn more about 2ULaundry and sign up on our website.

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At 2ULaundry, we’re committed to providing a quality experience for all of our laundry & dry cleaning customers, unlocking more free time with each pickup. The team has been hyper-focused on pivoting to still provide the same level of service while navigating the updates around COVID-19. Due to the unique set of circumstances that we’re all attempting to navigate, our team took a moment to assess the overall future of 2U.

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In January, the team rallied behind the launch of our third market, Raleigh! We have spent the last three months or so building out the team, getting our 2U vans on the road, and providing our customers with a best-in-class laundry & dry cleaning service.

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Unfortunately, we didn’t have quite enough runway to sustain and then grow a new market during these uncertain times. And as a company, we have to be able to provide a quality experience to our customers, which has proven to be more complicated as customer behaviors have adjusted. At this time, we have decided to suspend all service in Raleigh, indefinitely.

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2ULaundry will end service in Raleigh, effective Friday, March 27.

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Our last pickups in Raleigh will be Thursday, March 26.

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This is an extremely tough decision that wasn’t made lightly. We wanted to fully understand the impact on our team and the lives we’ve already changed before even considering the possibility of an exit.

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“And we haven’t totally given up on Raleigh, it’s still an exciting market for us. As we all figure out our new normal, the team plans to revisit our return to the Triangle Area.” –Alex Smereczniak

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As a startup, we were (naturally) excited about the growth and amped to get the chance to get our feet under us as we focused on expanding, changing the way folks take care of their clothing in an area as progressive as Raleigh. The full implications of COVID-19 are yet to be determined, but we plan to still be around for years to come. And our service suspension in Raleigh will help guarantee that for us.

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“Who knows, we may be back soon! But we wanted to give ourselves a chance to provide the best service possible to all of our customers while ensuring we’re setting ourselves up for future success.” – Dan Daquisto

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Thank you to all of those Raleigh customers that tried 2U since January. And those few customers who still have items in our possession have received additional communications about their delivery. Any outstanding gift card balances or bag bundles will be refunded for the total remaining value. If you have any questions along the way, our team is ready to support in any way we can. Reach out to us in our Mobile App, via SMS at 545-55, or email us at Care@2ULaundry.com.

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We look forward to continuing to serve our Charlotte and Atlanta customers for years to come, as we all navigate these challenging times.

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Alex & Dan, Co-Founders of 2ULaundry

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2ULaundry is a premium laundry and dry-cleaning pick-up and delivery service available in Charlotte, Atlanta, Tampa, Austin, San Antonio, and Phoenix. Learn more about 2ULaundry and sign up on our website.

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At 2ULaundry, we’re committed to not only providing a quality service but also being transparent every step of the way. Currently, we are following the developments around COVID-19 very closely and want to keep you updated on the measures we’re taking to protect our valued employees and our customers. We also wanted to provide our customers with the most recent information about service updates and impacted schedules. We’ll use this blog post as the main source of information for 2U’s response to COVID-19.

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Our Team

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First, we are advising any employee who feels any sign of the symptoms to stay home for a minimum of 14 days, based on the guidelines communicated from the CDC. With our unlimited vacation policy, our employees can focus on getting healthy and not worry about any financial impact.
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Additionally, we have provided employees with an excess of the items meant to help keep us all safer, including hand sanitizer, gloves, and face masks. We’ve also implemented increased usage of disinfectants to ensure a healthy and clean work environment in our offices and facilities.
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Pursuant to the North Carolina Governor’s reopening plan, all employees have their temperature screened and are asked a series of questions surrounding if they have any symptoms prior to starting work. We have also created more space within our facility to allow our teams to spread out more while working.

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Our Cleaning Process

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Thankfully, our current cleaning process aligns with the recommended guidelines for your clothing care. Both of our detergent options and the heat from our commercial grade dryers will continue to act as powerful disinfectants, as we clean your clothes. Here is an article we recommend reading covering five tips when washing your clothes in response to COVID-19.
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Our Service Plans

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2ULaundry has updated its service to varying degrees in our markets. Please continue reading below to find out up-to-the-minute updates in your location. In the locations we are still operating, we continue to maintain a focus on keeping our employees and customers safe.
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For any further adjustment to our current services, we will ensure you’re directly informed and also keep this blog post updated. We will also continue preventive measures like frequent (and thorough!) hand washing and more frequent surface disinfection.  
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Our Schedule Updates

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If you have any scheduled services that are impacted by any updates, you will receive direct communication with more information and any next steps. However, if you have any questions along the way, please don’t hesitate to contact our Customer Care team at Care@2ULaundry.com.
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Our Community

2ULaundry has partnered with Charlotte Medi to deliver more than 50,000 face shields and counting for local medical practices and health care workers in Charlotte. You can find out more about the initiative here.
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We are also providing a way for you to get involved with a Buy One Give One deal. For each face mask that you purchase from here, 2ULaundry will donate a face mask to frontline healthcare employees in Charlotte.

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Below is a current list of our city-by-city service updates. This list was last updated on Monday, June 1 at 9 am.
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Charlotte

There will not be any order pickups on Fridays. However, customers with a Thursday pickup will still get their order deliveries on Fridays.
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Atlanta

⚠ All services have been temporarily suspended, starting Friday, March 27. The final pickup for the foreseeable future is Thursday, March 26.

Raleigh-Durham

⚠ All services have been suspended, starting Friday, March 27. The final pickup for the foreseeable future is Thursday, March 26. You can read more about our announcement to exit Raleigh-Durham here.
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We want to remind you to adhere to the CDC guidelines during this sensitive time. Wash your hands, practice social distancing, and take advantage of the beautiful summer weather in a safe, responsible manner.

Additionally, we have a gift card offer for a 20% bonus on every purchase over $50 to help remove one more thing from your to-do list right now (or in the future!). We’re a small team, but we’re confident that we’ll come out of this ready to provide you with more free time and clean clothes to all of our amazing customers.
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If there’s anything we can do to help make this moment just a bit easier for you, please let us know by reaching out to our Customer Care Team at Care@2ulaundry.com.

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2ULaundry is a premium laundry and dry-cleaning pick-up and delivery service available in Charlotte, Atlanta, Tampa, Austin, San Antonio, and Phoenix. Learn more about 2ULaundry and sign up on our website.

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No one understands the gift of time more than Lauren.

When Charlotte native, Lauren Palmer, and her family found out that their young son, Jennings, was diagnosed with a rare form of childhood leukemia, an entire community rushed to support them in any way they could. Whether it was through home-cooked meals, grocery delivery, babysitting services, or prayer, one of the most significant gifts they received was the gift of time.
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Raising newborn twins who were born two weeks after her child’s diagnosis while striving to maintain a “normal” life for her then 4-year old daughter, all the while dedicating all of her “free” time at the hospital to be at Jennings’ side, there was never any time to focus on the day-to-day. A community of neighbors and community members collected a large sum in the form of a 2ULaundry gift card, and it was our privilege to match the amount to give Lauren and her family back the time they needed to focus on what mattered most.
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Flash forward almost two years, the Palmers have recovered and Jennings has made it through a major bone marrow transplant where his older sister, Caroline, was his bone marrow donor. It’s the strength and support she found in that trying time,that has made her a nominee for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Woman of the Year.
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We got to catch up with Lauren and talk about her family’s journey and understanding the gift of time through 2ULaundry.

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How did you come to learn about 2ULaundry?

I was pregnant with boy-girl twins in the Fall of 2017, I already had a 4-year old daughter and a 2-year old son. When you’re pregnant with twins, you get more uncomfortable a lot faster, and I was physically so tired all the time. A friend of mine (and 2U customer) told me about you guys and I started using 2ULaundry once a week as I prepared to welcome the twins.

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What was the moment when everything changed?

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On December 4, 2017, we found out our 2-year old son, Jennings, was diagnosed with a very rare and aggressive form of childhood leukemia. That event started the period of time when 2U became such a godsend for my family. We have an amazing preschool community that just wanted to help, and one of the ways they wanted to help was through 2ULaundry!

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Do you remember how you felt when you received the 2ULaundry gift card?

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I can’t really articulate what a gift it was during that time. I was trying to care for a critically ill child but also raise twins, and try to keep my 4-year old daughter’s life somewhat normal. Being able to be freed up from laundry gave me the time I needed to focus on my family. We will be 2ULaundry customers for life.

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What does this LLS Woman of the Year campaign mean to you?

It means a great deal to us personally, because we have lived the nightmare of dealing with pediatric blood cancer. This campaign is our way of giving back big as a family and helping the next generation of children diagnosed with blood cancer. I am so thrilled to have 2U’s support in this endeavor.

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How would you tell other people about 2U?

Even if you can’t use the service, gift it. Whether it’s for a new mom or someone in a time of crisis, give them the gift of 2ULaundry. When people are in crisis, they don’t need stuff, they often need support with their day-to-day. This is a great way to do that.

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What are some goals your family has this year outside of the LLS campaign?

We are excited just to be a normal family and enjoy family time together like beach trips and camping and even routine things like school, which were taken from us when Jennings was sick. We are just thankful to a normal family with a healthy child.

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Lauren Palmer has been nominated for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Woman of the Year. Without help from 2U, her church community, and fellow 2U customer Jenny Helms, Lauren, and her family wouldn’t have been able to make it through such a difficult time.

To support Lauren and her efforts to ensure that all children get their survivor story, please help us in supporting her efforts by making a donation to her campaign for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society here.

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2ULaundry is a premium laundry and dry-cleaning pick-up and delivery service available in Charlotte, Atlanta, Tampa, Austin, San Antonio, and Phoenix. Learn more about 2ULaundry and sign up on our website.

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We Americans are trashy people. We heap tons of trash into landfills every year, and the waste keeps piling up. But if each of us takes a few steps toward making our kitchens zero waste, we save the environment, money, and time.

Here are five ideas for creating a zero-waste kitchen.
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1. Refuse

Start with the easiest zero waste principle of all. Refuse to buy products that have too much packaging or come packaged in single-use plastic. That doesn’t mean finding a replacement product in different packaging. Think outside the box or plastic bottle.

Instead of buying laundry detergent, which often comes in a big plastic bottle, softener (ditto on the plastic bottle), and dryer sheets, which are not recyclable — consider outsourcing your laundry to a service that buys everything in bulk.

Imagine how much waste you’ll eliminate over the course of a year. Bonus: You’ll also save on your energy bill by not using electricity to run a washer and dryer.
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2. Reduce

Buy less, and use less. That goes for everything, from food to household cleaners and everything in between. The U.S. Department of Agriculture tracks about $160 billion in food waste every year. That adds up to a lot of trash!

And that’s not counting everything else that gets tossed. The Environmental Protection Agency says Americans produce just under 270 million tons of trash a year.

Not only will reducing what you buy and use mean less trash, it means fewer ants and other pests in your kitchen. The most environmentally friendly way of getting rid of bugs is to not invite them in in the first place.

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3. Reuse/Recycle

Thanks to local recycling programs reusing and recycling has gone mainstream over the last few decades. Americans recycle more than 67 tons of waste every year. The trend is rising as we stay home more and receive more deliveries in cardboard boxes that we repurpose.

You probably do your part to recycle the paper bags and aluminum cans that come into your kitchen. But how about cereal boxes, flower bags, and packaged goods? Buy in bulk and store your non-perishables in glass containers. You may never have to take out the trash again.

Another easy step toward a zero-waste kitchen is reusable shopping bags. Bring along your fabric or heavy cloth bags to the store, instead of accepting the single-use plastic bags most grocery stores offer.

While some stores barred or discouraged reusable bags at the peak of the coronavirus pandemic, many of those restrictions and limits have eased.

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4. Rot

Rot is also known as composting. Take your kitchen scraps, your lawn clippings and your yard trimmings. Layer them together, keep everything moist and occasionally turn the mix, and voila! Your waste turns into organic compost that helps enrich your garden soil.

Not only is composting a great way to reuse your kitchen waste, you’ll cut down on your need to buy fertilizer, which often comes in plastic packaging.

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5. Restroom Detour

There’s another room in the house that’s easy to overlook when it comes to zero-waste practices, and it’s just a few steps away from the kitchen.

Recycling isn’t usually top of mind when you’re using up the last of the shampoo in the shower, or replacing a roll of toilet paper.

Consider a small recycling bin in the bathroom, right next to the trash. You’ll be surprised at how much trash ends up in the recycling bin when you think twice about what you’re tossing.

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Patience and zero-waste principles pay off

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Finally, have a little patience as you work toward making your kitchen (and restroom) zero-waste. Start by putting these principles into practice, and consider what changes you can make along the way to a zero-waste home.

Going to zero-waste in your kitchen probably won’t happen overnight, but the payoff for your home, your bank account, and the environment will be worth it.

By Larry Jergins

Larry Jergins has worked in his county waste management division for 20 years and recently became certified as a recycling specialist. His favorite project is turning Christmas trees and yard waste into mulch for the community.

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2ULaundry is a premium laundry and dry-cleaning pick-up and delivery service available in Charlotte, Atlanta, Tampa, Austin, San Antonio, and Phoenix. Learn more about 2ULaundry and sign up on our website.

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While staying at home as much as possible is an important part of keeping our families and our community safe during the COVID-19 pandemic, for those with kids it can lead to a lot of extra work.
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In addition to working from home and taking on the role of homeschool teacher while schools and daycares are shut, many parents are finding it difficult to plan for and prepare all the extra meals and deal with the magnified mess of kids at home all day.
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If you’re on the hunt for ways to lighten your load during this stressful time, check out the list of ideas below for inspiration!
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1. Prepare multi-purpose meals

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It can be hard enough trying to plan, shop for and prepare breakfast and dinner every day but with the whole family now needing lunch everyday too, lots of parents are feeling burnt out in the kitchen. Lighten your load by preparing multi-purpose recipes that can be stretched into two or three meals.
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For example, if you roast a chicken for supper on Sunday, you can use leftovers to prepare chicken soup on Monday and chicken quesadillas on Tuesday.

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2. Make cleaning a family affair

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If everyone is making the mess, everyone should be responsible for pitching in to clean it up. Even small children can pick up and put away toys and older children can be tasked with sweeping, vacuuming, dusting and doing the dishes.
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At a minimum, kids should be responsible for picking up the game or toys they’re playing with before moving on to their next activity.

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3. Get outside as much as possible

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While getting outside won’t help you knock out any cleaning tasks, it will help you prevent your kids from making indoor messes that need to be cleaned up.
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Play in the backyard, take a walk or spin around the block on your bikes and, while you do, rest assured that the inside of your home isn’t being wrecked.
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Gentle reminder to still follow social distancing guidelines!

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4. Outsource where you still can

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While home cleaning services are a no-no right now, there are plenty of things you can still outsource – one major one being your laundry.
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Instead of tossing in load after load that never gets folded and put away, make a pick up request with 2ULaundry and watch your clothes come back fresh, clean and folded the next day.

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5. Plan for some alone time

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As much as extra time with our kids can be a blessing, it’s easy for parents to feel burned out after weeks of 24/7 parenting with no break.
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If you have a partner, make it a point to take turns taking breaks and getting some alone time. While you can’t go out (or at least should be cautious when going out) with friends or relax with a pedicure, taking a nice solo walk around the block or a relaxing bubble bath, or simply sitting and reading alone at home while your partner takes your kids out to ride their bikes can be just the break you need to recharge!
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There’s no doubt that these are tough times for everyone in the community but with a little forethought and planning ahead, you should be able to lighten your load at least a little bit this spring!

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2ULaundry is a premium laundry and dry-cleaning pick-up and delivery service available in Charlotte, Atlanta, Tampa, Austin, San Antonio, and Phoenix. Learn more about 2ULaundry and sign up on our website.

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During the Coronavirus pandemic and resulting stay-at-home orders, most people’s social lives have been greatly disrupted. While for lots of people this means they’re feeling pretty bored, there’s one group of people that probably don’t have the chance to get bored: parents of young children.
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For parents of young kids who are now at home 100% of the time, the day is likely a never-ending parade of games and meal-making and mess-cleaning and entertaining.
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And the evenings are likely a mad dash to return emails, complete work that got pushed to the side during the day, and get the house in some semblance of shape before the next day of mess making begins.
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For these parents there is no time for new hobbies or social Zoom calls or the learning of new skills.
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It’s constant parenting, working and upkeep.
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If you’re a parent who has been feeling overwhelmed by the overwhelming amount of life being thrown your way, check out these ways to relax, even when you don’t have much down time.
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1. Download a good book

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There’s nothing better than a good book but, if you’ve got little ones by day and loads of work by night, there’s a pretty good chance you don’t have the time to curl up with a good book and a cup of tea.
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Instead of trying to jam some reading time into your day, download a good book and plug in your headphones as you complete the evening chores you know you need to get done for tomorrow to happen smoothly.
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Immerse yourself in a different world as you do the dishes, fold laundry or meal prep and you’ll be amazed at how you suddenly relax.

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2. Try a new recipe

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While cooking with the kids isn’t always the most relaxing activity, trying a new recipe is a good way to stretch your brain and feel good about how you’ve spent an afternoon.
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Instead of a kitchen free-for-all, pre-measure and prepare all the ingredients in advance so that cooking with the kids actually is relaxing.
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Whether you relax as you cook or as you enjoy your new recipe, you’ll certainly feel better than you would if you had opted for spaghetti for the fourth time this week!
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3. Indulge during self-care time

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Self-care at home probably looks a little different than your ideal self-care activities but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t take care of yourself.
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While you can’t get a babysitter for some alone time with your partner or head in for a massage or pedicure, consider what you can do at home and then do it.
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Use your favorite bath products, give yourself a pedicure or paint your own fingernails if it makes you feel better!

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4. Claim some downtime

If you have a partner, now is the time to negotiate with them to make sure you each get just a little bit of “off” time during your time at home.

Even if it means leaving the house a little messy or not meal prepping for the next day, do your best to trade off responsibilities so that each of you get at least one night “off” during the week. That can mean skipping out on bath time and bedtime in favor of a long, solo walk, heading to bed early yourself or simply parking it on the couch to watch a WHOLE movie while your partner deals with the kids after bedtime antics.

A little “off” time can make a world of difference!

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Being at home with young kids while juggling work and other responsibilities is simply overwhelming. While this will pass eventually and you will get to have a babysitter one day, for now, focusing on what you can do to relax is a great way to feel calmer throughout the day!

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2ULaundry is a premium laundry and dry-cleaning pick-up and delivery service available in Charlotte, Atlanta, Tampa, Austin, San Antonio, and Phoenix. Learn more about 2ULaundry and sign up on our website.

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If you’re like most people, your kitchen is one of the most used rooms in your home. Not only is every meal prepared there, it’s also a gathering space for friends and loved ones and a storage space for all your often (and not-so-often) used kitchen gadgets and tools.
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If you’re on the hunt for ways to kick your kitchen organization into gear and to make your most-used room even more welcoming and functional, look no further!
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Check out the expert tips below for creating the most organized kitchen on the block!
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1. Ditch what you don’t need
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Like any good clean-out, the first step to getting organized is getting rid of everything you don’t need.
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While clearing out the pantry of old or unused food, the cabinets of mismatched plastic containers and the shelves of unused kitchen gadgets can take some time, doing so will leave you with only what you truly need and use in the kitchen, making it much easier to actually get organized.

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‍2. Maximize cabinet space
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Whether you have shelves or cabinets in your kitchen, you’ve likely found yourself, at one point or another, wishing you had more space. Instead of shoving items to the back or stacking them haphazardly, maximize your cabinet or shelf space by storing smartly.
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The items you use most often should be stored on the lowest shelf, with less used items stored higher up.
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If you find you simply have too many dishes, consider downsizing your collection to only what you really need to save shelf space.

Neighbor.com’s blog post has more smart storage ideas!

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3. Focus on the pantry
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Your pantry should be a functional space that makes it easy to identify and grab the food items you’re looking for.
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After thoroughly clearing out the pantry of all expired items and donating anything you simply don’t or won’t use, take the time to think deeply about what you find yourself reaching for most and organize with this in mind.
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Consider also sorting items by type (sauces, pastas, baking goods etc.) and creating divided sections so that everything has a place. Check out Delish for more pantry organization ideas!
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3. Focus on the pantry
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Your pantry should be a functional space that makes it easy to identify and grab the food items you’re looking for.
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After thoroughly clearing out the pantry of all expired items and donating anything you simply don’t or won’t use, take the time to think deeply about what you find yourself reaching for most and organize with this in mind.
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Consider also sorting items by type (sauces, pastas, baking goods etc.) and creating divided sections so that everything has a place. Check out Delish for more pantry organization ideas!
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5. Keep rarely used items elsewhere
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Most of us have some kitchen items we only rarely use.
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Instead of storing your holiday plates and platters in with the rest of your dishes, consider finding them a new home, perhaps with the rest of your holiday decor in the garage. Same goes for kitchen gadgets you only use seasonally like that snow cone maker or s’mores kit.

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While cleaning out and organizing your kitchen might be a big task, it’s one you’ll be glad you did every time you prep a snack, cook a meal or even find yourself flipping through a cook-book at the kitchen table. Happy organizing!

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2ULaundry is a premium laundry and dry-cleaning pick-up and delivery service available in Charlotte, Atlanta, Tampa, Austin, San Antonio, and Phoenix. Learn more about 2ULaundry and sign up on our website.

Organizing a clothing closet can feel so overwhelming that many people never muster the courage to take the first step. While it can feel daunting to step into a small space filled with so much stuff with the goal of wrangling it all into its proper place, having a neat and organized closet is something that will make a seriously positive impact on your day to day life.
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From helping keep your bedroom clean to making it easier to find what you need while you’re getting ready in the morning, the benefits of an organized closet are endless.
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While the process for getting your closet organized is pretty simple (empty it, sort it, make a place for everything and then put it all away) there are some tips and tricks that can make getting the organized closet of your dreams easier than you ever imagined.
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Check out the tips and tricks below for helping you get (and keep) an organized closet!

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1. Make time for a fashion show

An essential part of organizing a closet is clearing it out to ensure you only make space for the things you really want, need and wear. Instead of guessing as to whether an item really fits and flatters you as you are, make time for an at-home fashion show so you can get a peak (and a feel) for every item in your closet.
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As a good rule of thumb, if you haven’t worn it this season you should at least put it on to make sure it still works before deciding that it belongs in the ‘keep’ pile.

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2. Get creative with bulky clothing

Sometimes our favorite, coziest items are also the toughest to store. While hanging shoe organizers are great for shoes and other accessories, they can also serve as an excellent place to store rolled sweaters and other bulky items that might stretch or pull if hung on a traditional hanger.

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3. Use clothing dividers!

Hanging clothing dividers are a great way to help keep you accountable as you strive to keep your closet as organized as it was on day one. Some people choose to divide their clothing by type while others prefer seasonal or setting specific dividers. Whatever you choose just be sure to stick to it!

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5. Make a seasonal plan

Most people have winter clothing and summer clothing along with a few pieces that they tend to wear year-round. While it can feel like a heavy lift to organize your closet more than once per year, making a quick switch to where your items are stored as the seasons shift will ensure your space is as accessible and usable as possible.
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Whether you simply shift around your dividers and move seasonal items to the front of your closet or you totally move out-of-season items to another location, having a closet that reflects the season will help you feel organized and ready for the day!
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If you want more ideas for what to do when different seasons come around, check out some of our Spring Cleaning Hacks.

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While a disorganized closet is easy to hide behind closed doors, it’s impact on your day to day life is hard to ignore. This season, take the plunge and dig into creating an organized, usable space that you’ll love!

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2ULaundry is a premium laundry and dry-cleaning pick-up and delivery service available in Charlotte, Atlanta, Tampa, Austin, San Antonio, and Phoenix. Learn more about 2ULaundry and sign up on our website.

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If you’re like me, you probably have a hamper full of damp and dirty laundry in your bathroom or closet. Some of our readers might even leave that dirty hamper sitting there for weeks. Am I describing you?

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Nooooo… You’d never do that!

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Well, for everyone else, it’s an awful idea to continue this bad habit. Here’s why…

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1. Fecal Matter

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Did this catch your attention? It caught ours! Dr. Charles Gerba, renowned microbiologist at the University of Arizona, said that

“The average adult undergarment has about a tenth of a gram of  fecal matter.”

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When you add dark and damp conditions, this can actually be quite dangerous. Especially these days in the midst of the Coronavirus outbreak.

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2. Salmonella

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Every year, about 1.3 million people are infected with Salmonella, with 26,500 individuals hospitalized due to the infection and 420 dying from it, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

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Contamination typically happens after infected feces comes into contact with animals, crops or water and people then consume or touch those items and don’t wash their hands. This makes you take our #1 a little more serious doesn’t it?

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Salmonella, aka Salmonella Enteritidis and Salmonella Typhimurium, can live in your dirty hamper for weeks as they don’t die off as fast as fungi or some viruses. So that dirty hamper of yours may be more dangerous than you think.

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3. Staphylococcus aureus

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This nasty bug causes staph infections. And if you’ve ever seen someone with a staph infection, you’d place your order with 2ULaundry right now! The worst part about Staphylococcus aureus is that it can survive for months as it’s extremely hardy.

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According to the Department of Health, It’s the leading cause of skin and soft tissue infections such as abscesses (boils), furuncles, and cellulitis. Although most staph infections are not serious, S. aureus can cause serious infections such as bloodstream infections, pneumonia, or bone and joint infections. Did we mention this can live in your laundry?

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4. E. Coli

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Germs such as E. coli, salmonella, and Klebsiella oxytoca can cause pneumonia, skin infections, abdominal cramps, vomiting, and diarrhea, especially in people with compromised immune systems.

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In fact, this nasty germ can live in the place that you clean your dirty clothes. That’s right. Your washing machine rarely gets cleaned itself. And germs like E. coli are very tough, lasting for weeks inside your dark and damp machine.

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Experts say that the newer, eco-friendly machines are doing you no favors in this regard either. Because they generally wash your clothes on lower temperatures, it never gets hot enough to kill the bacteria. Therefore, it’s best to wipe it down every now and then with disinfectants.

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2ULaundry is a premium laundry and dry-cleaning pick-up and delivery service available in Charlotte, Atlanta, Tampa, Austin, San Antonio, and Phoenix. Learn more about 2ULaundry and sign up on our website.

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Ahh spring time, there’s nothing quite like the fresh scent of spring on the breeze, flowers blooming brightly in the garden and a fresh and tidy house for the new season. While the fresh scent of spring and blooming flowers might come naturally with the turn of the season, you’ll have to put in some work if you want the tidy house that spring calls for. Lucky for you, we’ve rounded up the very best spring cleaning tips and tricks to help you get your house under control with as little stress as possible. Check out the spring cleaning hacks below and your house will be spring-ready in no time!

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1. Make a list

Before you get started, it’s important to make a list of everything you want to accomplish during spring cleaning. Take a few minutes to inventory your household and either make a list of your own or download a handy one like 2ULaundry’s or like Hey y’all! 2ULaundry just put out a Spring Cleaning Guide with hacks from bloggers you may know around Atlanta and some of their other customers. Definitely worth checking it out! this from Martha Stewart.

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2. Clear your calendar

While you can probably squeeze your regular cleaning sessions between your other regular to-do’s and must-do’s, a spring cleaning session calls for a clear calendar so you can truly focus and get the job done without leaving any lingering jobs. Take a peek at your calendar, designate a day as your spring cleaning day and don’t make any other plans for that day.

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3. Enlist help

While a lot of people find deep cleaning relaxing and gratifying, spring cleaning can be tiresome for even those who typically love to clean. Instead of trying to do it all yourself, enlist the help of your partner, children or roommate to give you the helping boost you need!

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4. Clean by category, not room

When you clean room by room, it’s easy to accidentally carry piles of clutter from one place to the next without ever really getting rid of them. Instead of cleaning by room, make a plan to clean by category so that everything that gets clean stays that way. Start with a category like surfaces, floors or upholstery to get going.

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5. Make sure you have the right tools and products

There’s nothing more frustrating than getting into a cleaning groove only to discover that you don’t have enough furniture polish to get the job done. Before you start cleaning, take inventory of your products and make sure you have enough of everything to finish the job. If you want to be extra thorough of everything at home, look into downloading a home inventory app.

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6. Clean your cleaning tools

When you’re spring cleaning you want to make sure everything is truly clean and sanitized when you’re done. To do that you’ll probably need to do some pre-cleaning before you get started. Sanitize your sponges or purchase new ones, clean your broom, mop and vacuum and run a sanitize cycle on your dishwasher and washing machine before you ever start your spring cleaning session.

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7. Just do it!

Once you’ve made a list, cleared your calendar, inventoried your cleaning products and made sure your cleaning tools are ready to go, there’s nothing left to do but jump in and get it done! Take small breaks as you go but do your best not to get distracted and leave the job half done.
Spring cleaning is a major undertaking but, once it’s done you’ll have the benefit of living in a clean, organized space you can enjoy all season!

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2ULaundry is a premium laundry and dry-cleaning pick-up and delivery service available in Charlotte, Atlanta, Tampa, Austin, San Antonio, and Phoenix. Learn more about 2ULaundry and sign up on our website.

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If you didn’t come over here from our Spring Cleaning Guide page, make sure to download and print out the checklist from there so you’re on top of all your to-do’s this season. Since you couldn’t get enough of the tips from there, here are some more spring cleaning hacks heard straight from our customers!

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Julianne, one of our 2020 Timekeepers, has a few hacks that she and her family are keeping busy with to make their whole house clean. This includes sweeping the garage, organizing the pantry, planting flowers and seeds, washing their car, and even donating their extra clothes to 2ULaundry! Outsourcing the smaller tasks to her children while working cooperatively on the larger ones is a great way to bond with your family during spring cleaning!

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Lauren & Julie, 2ULaundry Legacy Brand Ambassadors have a couple tips for you as well. When the weather starts getting better, they use 2ULaundry to wash their winter clothes. Like every wash, dry, fold as well as dry cleaning orders, 2ULaundry returns them in airtight plastic bags. They like to store them until the next winter season comes around! You can put them away with the peace of mind that they’ll be clean when winter rolls back around. It’s a great way to keep clothes clean for months and seasons at a time!

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2ULaundry is a premium laundry and dry-cleaning pick-up and delivery service available in Charlotte, Atlanta, Tampa, Austin, San Antonio, and Phoenix. Learn more about 2ULaundry and sign up on our website.

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Amidst the novel Coronavirus pandemic, you – like most of the world—are probably social distancing yourself right now, working from home, and possibly going a little stir-crazy. If you need a break from working, vacuuming, Netflix-ing, and scrolling endlessly through Instagram and Facebook, we have some ideas for you. And no, they aren’t the traditional ideas you’ve heard (baking, learning guitar, or reading). While all those activities are great for the potential weeks of isolation, we suggest that you take time to do some deep cleaning.

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We all (hopefully) wash our sheets once a week, our towels every 3 days, and our clothes as often as needed, but when was the last time you washed your pillows?

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Not your pillowcases – your pillows.

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When was the last time your couch got that scrub down it’s been needing? Never? Okay, well now is your chance! Stop putting those daunting tasks off and get clean!

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Washing pillows is something most people don’t think of doing, but do you know how much bacteria 1 pillow can harbor? A lot. More than your toilet seat. It’s said that 1/3 of your pillows weight is due to skin, dust mites and bugs – gross! Luckily, it’s easy to clean pillows!

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Follow these steps:

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1. Remove pillow case
2. Fill washing machine with the hottest water setting and your favorite detergent
3. When cycle is complete, rinse 2-3 times
4. Pop pillows in the dryer, or air-dry them
5. Put on (clean) pillowcases
6. Sleep like a baby

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Now that you’re done with your pillows, let’s move onto the couch. Yes, the couch where you fall asleep watching Sunday afternoon golf, the couch your kids have spilled food on, the couch you have spilled wine on, the couch that is harboring millions of germs, dust mites, and bacteria. This couch can also contain listeria, the flu-causing virus. Still want to Netflix-and-chill on that germ-infested comfy couch? Neither do we. So how can you clean it?

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1. Remove the couch covers
2. Throw those suckers in the wash – make sure you zip up the covers first!
3. Hang dry these guys – you don’t want them to shrink and be rendered unusable

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As for the part of the couch that can’t be thrown in the wash:

1. Mix 1 cup water, ½ vinegar, and 1 TBSP of dish soap in a spray bottle
2. Spray the mixture on the remaining parts of the couch (back, arms, large pillows that can’t be put in washing machine)
3. Let that mixture soak in for a few minutes and then gently rub back and forth with a soft cloth
4. Now just let the coach sit and absorb
5. Check back in an hour and make sure there aren’t any super wet spots
6. Once couch is dry, spray with your favorite disinfectant and finish with some Febreze (your family will thank you)

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We aren’t suggesting you waste time during these social isolation weeks. 2ULaundry is still running and still making laundry and dry cleaning dreams come true. Schedule your pickup today and have clean laundry and dry cleaning done tomorrow! Don’t risk going to the dry cleaners right now, let us do the dirty work for you. Stay home. And as always, stay clean.

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2ULaundry is a premium laundry and dry-cleaning pick-up and delivery service available in Charlotte, Atlanta, Tampa, Austin, San Antonio, and Phoenix. Learn more about 2ULaundry and sign up on our website.

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