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Somewhere along the way, someone taught you how to do laundry. In the time since, washing machines and dryers have evolved, the laundry detergent market has grown exponentially (It’s expected to top $223 billion by 2028, per a recent study by Polaris Market Research.) and a global health crisis challenged tried-and-true cleaning methods. As a result, searches for “laundry” reached an all-time high in January 2021, according to Google Trends. Some people questioned their laundry habits (How often should I wash my clothes?) while others simply wondered if those viral laundry stripping videos — you know the ones — were really worth the hype. Even if laundry is your most dreaded household chore, there’s no way around it: Your clothes, towels and bedding will continue to pile up until you clean them. Because of this, the Good Housekeeping Institute Cleaning Lab is always on the hunt for ways to make laundry day less of a chore, routinely testing essential products like washers, dryers and detergents, to find the best ones for every need and budget. With decades of testing and expertise under their belts, our cleaning experts have determined the steps you should take to effectively clean and dry your garments, no matter the type of machinery, fibers or amount of time you’re working with.

Danielle Occhiogrosso Daly

Read care and fiber labels.First things first, look at the care and fiber labels, often located on the side seams, back neck or back waist of garments. Together, these little labels tell you everything you need to know about your garment, including the fibers it’s made out of along with recommended washing and drying techniques. Instructions are often spelled out, but sometimes labels are just a list of laundry symbols. In this case, follow this guide on how to decode laundry symbols:

Mariana Tuma/GoodHousekeeping.com

Every now and again, you might not have labels to turn to, like if you cut it off prematurely or the writing has been worn away from repeated wear. If you don’t have a label to use as your guide, start with the most delicate washing and drying method to ensure that you don’t ruin your garments. But if you feel it’s safe to take things one step further, follow these guidelines that align with the specific fiber that you’re working with.Cotton: hot, warm or cool water; high, regular or low dryer temperature.Linen: cool or warm water; tumble dry low or air dry.Nylon: cool or warm water; medium or low dryer temperature.Polyester: cool or warm water; medium or low dryer temperature.Rayon: cool water; tumble dry low or line dry; hand washing is recommended. Silk: cool or warm water; air, line, or dry flat; hand washing is recommended. Spandex: cool water; line dry.Wool: cool or warm water; tumble dry low or dry flat; hand washing is recommended.

Danielle Daly

Sort laundry.Properly sorting your laundry requires a multi-step process. Start by sorting out the darks, lights and colors. Darks include anything with deep-colored dyes like black, red, navy, brown or dark gray. In addition to all-white garments, the whites pile should include pastel shades, cream, beige and light gray. Colors include anything in between like pink, lavender, orange, yellow, light blue and light green. When it comes to garments with multiple colors (think: a shirt with black and white stripes), perform a quick test to make sure that colors won’t bleed: Place a drop of water on the item and blot with a paper towel. If color doesn’t come off, then you can wash it with whites and lights, adhering to the guidelines on your garment’s labels. Then sort each pile by fiber type. Pull out any delicates that could be damaged by coarser fibers as well as items that should be hand-washed. Heavier, coarser fibers take longer to dry, so removing them will also prevent you from over-drying more delicate fibers. Also, keep in mind that you should never mix “lint-givers” (towels and rugs) with “lint-receivers “(knit and corduroy). From there, take out any heavily soiled garments. Really dirty items — whether stained, sweaty or extremely smelly — should always be washed separately from lightly soiled ones. Before moving on to the next step, give the care and fiber labels another glance to make sure that everything in your laundry pile calls for the same water temperatures and drying times.

Danielle Daly

Pretreat stains.It always pays off to spend extra time caring for your clothes before throwing them in the washing machine. If you notice any stains, whether fresh or dried, follow these stain-specific guides to get rid of them, stat.

Get Rid of the Most Common Stains

Pick the right detergent and fabric softener. All laundry detergents claim to remove stains, whiten, keep colors bright and generally refresh garments. The problem at hand: There are hundreds of detergents to choose from and some work better than others. That’s why the Good Housekeeping Institute routinely tests laundry detergents to find the best ones on the market, taking into account different needs, price points and ingredients. In the most recent test of 42 laundry detergents, the Good Housekeeping Institute Cleaning Lab determined which ones work best for every need, budget and concern.

Although some people may skip fabric softener (sometimes called “fabric conditioner”) altogether, it’s recommended if you want to keep fabrics soft, reduce friction and keep wrinkles at bay. It pays off in the long-run, too: With consistent use, fabric softener, like GH Seal Star Ultra Downy Free & Gentle Liquid Fabric Softener, can extend the life of your most-loved garments. There are a few instances when you shouldn’t use fabric softener like when you’re washing microfiber, sportswear, towels, flame-resistant clothes (specifically children’s sleepwear) and water-repellent fabric. Select the water temperature and cycle on your washing machine.

mbbirdy

Each washing machine manufacturer tries to make their machines unique, which means cycles can vary from one brand to the next. Today’s washing machines are pre-programmed, as the wash time, water temperature and spin speed will pop up as soon as you select a cycle. You can override these selections to a certain degree if, say, your clothes are heavily soiled and need a longer wash time than the normal cycle calls for. Read your washing machine’s user manual to learn the differences between the wash cycles. When deciding which is best, consider the durability and soil level of your items. In general, the more durable (towels, sheets and heavy cottons) and dirty the items, the longer and hotter the cycle should be. If you’re working with delicate, stained or bulky items, keep the following cycle descriptions in mind (but know that they may differ for your washing machine).Delicates are typically programmed with a cool or cold water temperature, but you can typically change it to warm. This cycle has a gentler agitation and a slower spin seed to prevent damage.Casual or Permanent Press Cycles cool the water gradually and have slower spin speeds to minimize wrinkles. Stain Cycles start cold to keep stains from setting in and then heat up gradually to fully remove stains. Bulky Bedding Cycles may add in a second rinse or increase the spin speed to extract more water than a normal speed cycle.
The Right Way to Clean Hard-to-Wash Items

Danielle Daly

Load items into the washer or hand wash. Take these steps before you throw your garments in the washing machine to ensure an easy, damage-free wash. Check buttons, pockets and zippers: Help clothes keep their shape by emptying pockets, zipping zippers and fastening button on jackets, knits and pants. If you have time, fasten a few buttons on shirts and blouses. Always remove belts from dresses, pants and robes, and wash them separately. Turn certain items inside out: Anything dark (jeans, especially) or embellished should always be washed inside out to preserve color and detail. Do the same with items where the inside neck or sleeves get especially dirty. Stick delicates and small items in a laundry bag: Protect delicate items (underwear, bras and other lingerie) from damage by placing them in a mesh laundry bag before washing. While you’re at it, round up small items, like socks and fabric belts, and add them to the bag to make sure they don’t get lost in the wash.Measure detergent: Always use the cap or scoop that comes with your liquid, powder or packet detergent. Measure the amount based on the size of your load and level of soil.For both top-load and front-load washers with separate dispensers, load the clothing in, then add liquid or powder detergent and fabric softener to the dispenser and start the machine. If you’re using single-use detergent, like Tide Pods, place it in the machine before adding your clothing unless you’re using a newer machine with a dispenser designated for single-dose packs. At this point, place the items in the washing machine, making sure that nothing is tangled or twisted. If your top-load washer doesn’t have a detergent dispenser, place it directly into the tub, start the water and add in the clothing as it’s dissolving. Follow a similar approach for front-load washers without detergent dispensers: Place single-use detergent packs in the machine first, add the clothing, close the door and start the machine. For older machines without fabric softener dispensers, add it directly to the rinse water in the washing machine. Make sure to pour it in open pockets of water rather than on top of fabrics to avoid staining. If you determine that hand-washing is the safest bet, follow this guide on how to wash delicates:

Danielle Daly

Fill sink with water — cool, lukewarm or warm, per the garment’s labels — and place garments in. (FYI: Wool, silk and bright colors clean best in cold water.) As the sink is filling, add the recommended amount of detergent, so it can properly dissolve before you add the clothing. Once the detergent is completely dissolved, lay your garment in the water and gently press it down to fully immerse it. If the water turns color at this stage, it may just be excess dye washing off, which shouldn’t result in any color loss after washing.Rinse thoroughly. If you have a sprayer on your faucet, place lightweight garments, like lingerie or swimsuits, in a colander and rinse clean. Otherwise, fill the sink with cool, clear water, immerse the garment and squeeze the water through to rinse. Repeat as needed.Remove excess water. Wringing out wet, delicate fabrics may cause damage, so instead, lift the garment with both hands and gently squeeze out as much water as possible. Lay it flat on an absorbent towel, and roll the towel and garment together until the water is absorbed.Lay items flat to dry. To prevent delicates, especially knits, from stretching out of shape, block them back into shape after washing before laying them flat to dry. Speed up the drying process by laying sweaters or swimsuits on top of a dry towel, and let them air dry. Once the front is dry, flip them over.

Danielle Daly

Unload the washer and load items into the dryer or air dry. Promptly remove items from the washer to prevent mildew and reduce wrinkles. Shake items out after removing them from the washer to prevent wrinkles in the drying process. Dryers let you adjust the time, temperature and dryness levels of most loads, but always check your garment’s care label for recommendations. Most dryer cycles are automatic, which means that a dryer can sense when the load is dry and end the cycle. This ultimately saves energy and prevents fabric damage from over drying. Time dry cycles run for the length of time that you select and should be used for bulky items, like comforters or jackets, that take a long time to dry. Here’s a breakdown of the most common dryer settings, along with recommendations on when you should use them.Regular, sometimes labeled Mixed Loads or Cottons, is safe for most items, including sheets, towels, underwear and regular clothes.Permanent Press, sometimes labeled Casual, is best when you want to minimize wrinkles on items like chino pants and shirts. Delicate is best for delicate items since it has a low temperature and tumbling motion. Air Fluff tumbles without heat, making it a great option for fluffing pillows or removing dust from drapes. Once you stick your clothes in the dryer, place a dryer sheet, like the ones from GH Seal Star Bounce, on the top of the pile before you select the cycle. Not only do dryer sheets leave clothes smelling clean and feeling soft, but they also reduce overall static. Similar to fabric softener, avoid using dryer sheets when drying sportswear, microfiber, towels, flame-resistant clothes (specifically children’s sleepwear) and water-repellent fabric.

Mike Garten

Hang or fold items. Hang or fold clothes as soon as they are dry to prevent wrinkling. But when the inevitable happens (a.k.a. wrinkles), give your clothes a quick steam or iron to get rid of them. While you may prefer one de-wrinkling method over another, there are particular instances where steaming or ironing is recommended.

Mike Garten

Use a garment steamer to de-wrinkle soft, flowy fabrics and tough-to-iron items like jackets.Hang the garment on a hanger from a hook or rod, grasp the bottom of the garment with one hand and pull it taut. Hold the steamer slightly away from the fabric and move it up and down, allowing the soft steam to penetrate the fabric. Move the steamer closer to the fabric for a longer period of time to get rid of stubborn wrinkles.

Mike Garten

Ironing is the way to go if you prefer crisp fabrics with sharp creases. Select the correct temperature and steam settings for the fabric. Linen and cotton can handle high heat and heavy steam, but synthetics, wool and silk need lower temperature settings and less or no steam. Aside from fabrics like silk or rayon, mist the fabric with the iron’s spray button. Iron each section with smooth forward, backward, and side-to-side strokes. Apply a burst of steam to iron stubborn creases. Move to another section and repeat the steps.Clean your washer and dryer regularly.Leftover laundry detergent, fabric softener and built-up debris can get stuck in your machine, eventually causing your washer to grow mold and develop a musty smell. To avoid this, make sure you clean your machine often and well.After every wash, remove any debris or pet hair, so it doesn’t redeposit on future loads. Once a month, give your washing machine a deep clean. Even if your machine has a special cleaning cycle, thoroughly clean it by adding 1/2 cup of liquid chlorine bleach to the dispenser and running a normal cycle with hot water (or follow what your machine’s manual says). You can use a specialty cleaner, like Affresh or Tide Washing Machine Cleaner. If you have a front-loader, wipe and dry the rubber seal on the door. Similar to washing machines, dryers require regular maintenance. Along with cleaning the lint filter after every single load, make sure you clean the chamber that houses the lint filter once a month. To do this, pull out any lint you can grab and use your vacuum’s crevice tool or a dryer cleaning brush to grab what you can’t reach. Once a year, pull your dryer away from the wall, so that you can easily vacuum behind and under the machine. Remove the dryer’s duct and vacuum as far as you can, as well as the opening at the back of the dryer. Be sure to check outside venting for leaves or debris that may be blocking it. For a more thorough dryer and duct cleaning, hire professional services, like Dryer Vent Wizard. Now that you’ve got the steps down, make sure your laundry room is stocked with all of the best products, all tested by the Good Housekeeping Institute Cleaning Lab. More

Even though pizza is your favorite Friday night dinner, it’s often the culprit behind life’s worst grease stains. “Grease is one of the most common stains I get asked about and it can be one of the toughest to remove, especially from synthetic fabrics, like polyester,” Carolyn Forte, Director of the Home Appliances & Cleaning Products Lab at the Good Housekeeping Institute, says. Shout Advanced Grease-Busting Foam worked the best on grease in our Cleaning Lab tests, but if you’re at work or nowhere near a laundry room, there are a couple of easy remedies that will help get out fresh grease stains. Forte’s go-to for removing grease stains on the go: dish soap. It’s made to cut grease on your plates, so it can also help with your clothes. The condiments on your table can work magic, too. A sprinkle of salt or artificial sweetener helps prevent an oil stain from setting into the fabric and makes it easier to lift when you’re doing laundry later on.How to Get Grease Stains Out of Washable Clothes Follow these six simple steps for getting out new and old grease stains, no matter where you are (or what oily food you spilled). MaterialsSalt or artificial sweetenerDish soapShout Advanced Grease-Busting Foam or another pre-treaterStep-by-step InstructionsIf you’re out and about, quickly sprinkle a little salt or artificial sweetener on the stain to keep it from setting. Brush off the powder after a few minutes. At home, immediately work a little grease-cutting dishwashing soap into the stain and rinse with warm water.When it’s time to launder it, rub in liquid laundry detergent or apply a pre-treater, like Shout Advanced Grease-Busting Foam. Wash in the hottest water safe for the fabric. Air dry the garment until you are sure the stain is completely gone. That’s it! Consider your work shirt officially saved.

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Coffee spills always happen at the most inconvenient time: as you’re running out the door, at the end of a long dinner party, or just when you finally sit down to curl up with a book. Similar to some red wines, coffee stains can be extremely hard to remove. This is because many beverages — coffee, tea, and red wine included — contain tannins due their high temperatures.Luckily, Carolyn Forte, Director of the Home Appliances & Cleaning Products Lab in the Good Housekeeping Institute, is here to share the best tips and tricks on how to remove coffee stains from clothes, upholstery, and more. ClothingSponge the stain with cool water or soak the garment in cool water for 30 minutes. Pretreat the stain with a prewash stain remover, like Resolve Stain Stick, and launder with chlorine or oxygen bleach, if it’s safe for the fabric. If your coffee had milk or cream in it, make sure you use a detergent with enzymes in it that will help break down stains, like Tide Coldwater Clean Liquid Laundry Detergent. “Most stain-fighting detergents have enzymes, but check the packaging to make sure your brand does,” Forte says. UpholsteryMix 1/2 tsp of liquid dish soap with 2 cups of cool water. Using a clean, white cloth, sponge the stain with the mixture. Repeat until the stain disappears, then sponge once more with cold water and blot dry. CarpetBlot up as much of the coffee as you can. Then, mix 1/2 tsp of liquid dish soap and 1/2 tsp of white vinegar, and 2 cups of warm water. Using a clean, white cloth, sponge the stain with the mixture. Apply a little bit at a time, blotting frequently with a dry cloth until the stain disappears. Finally, sponge with cold water and blot dry.MugsIf you’ve ever left your mug in the sink for a couple days, you know the struggle that is a stained ceramic cup. Forte says all you need is a Good Housekeeping Seal Star Mr. Clean Magic Eraser to wipe off marks. Or, if you don’t have one on hand, sprinkle some baking soda on top of your dish soap to add an extra oomph of abrasion and clean as usual.

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If you don’t have spring break plans, you’re not alone. In a recent survey from Lowe’s, 70% of people responded that they don’t plan to take a leisure trip until late summer. That being said, the retailer wants to help consumers jazz up these next couple of months of warm weather by helping them turn their homes into the ultimate destination this spring.In April, Lowe’s will host SpringFest, a new home and garden experience that will feature special events, markdowns on our favorite warm-weather products, travel-inspired content, and more. Throughout the month, customers will be able to learn new skills through online and in-store demos in select stores. Think: lawn care maintenance with Scotts and paint demos with Sherwin-Williams. All events will follow safety and social distancing guidelines.In addition, Lowe’s will also be giving away free Garden-to-Go kits every Thursday in April starting on the 8th. To receive your complimentary kit, all you have to do is head on over to Lowes.com starting April 1st to reserve one. You can then pick it up the following Thursday during a special curbside event. There will be a different Garden-to-Go kit each week — two of which will come in unique packaging.

Available April 8, this Garden-to-Go kit includes a Bonnie Foodie Fresh Plant, 8-quart Miracle-Gro Potting Mix, 8-oz Miracle-Gro All Purpose Water Soluble Plant Food, globes and more.
Lowe’s

Lowe’s shared a few details about the four kits complimentary kits.The Garden-to-Go kit sponsored by Miracle-Gro, available on April 8, includes a Bonnie Foodie Fresh Plant, 8-quart Miracle-Gro Potting Mix, 8-oz Miracle-Gro All Purpose Water Soluble Plant Food, globes, and exclusive recipes from professional cook and food stylist Amanda Frederickson. The Lowe’s Mystery Garden Pinata by CAMP, available on April 15, includes a biodegradable flower pinata, mystery seed bombs, and mystery growfetti. On April 22, the Garden-to-Go kits include tree saplings given out in honor of Earth Day (species varies by region). Lowe’s by CAMP Butterfly Quest, available on April 29, includes wooden pieces to assemble and decorate, paint, a paintbrush and milkweed seeds to help families create a butterfly garden.

This pinata-themed Garden-to-Go kit, available on April 15, includes mystery seed bombs and mystery growfetti.
Lowe’s

This butterfly-themed Garden-to-Go kit, available on April 29th, has all the tools for families to make their own butterfly garden.
Lowe’s

Not a bad way to celebrate spring if you ask us. You can shop all of Lowe’s outdoor and spring-related products here.

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Your air fryer is probably one of your favorite kitchen appliances, and it comes in so handy to cook foods fast and without excessive oil, perhaps using recipes from Good Housekeeping’s Air Fryer Cookbook. Think about crisped-up fish sticks or chicken wings with no added oil, and perfect al dente zucchini noodles, and leftovers reheated to perfection.That said, air fryers need to be cleaned after every use. Even after using minimal or no added oil, food bits and grease can accumulate and cause your air fryer can smell, or even begin to smoke. Whether you use a basket-style or tray air fryer, here are some tips from the Good Housekeeping Institute to make cleaning it a breeze:How to clean your basket-style air fryerWhat you’ll need: Degreasing dish soap, like Good Housekeeping Seal star DawnSoft-bristled bottle brush, like Casabella’s Soft cloth, like Skura’s Reusable Microfiber Wipes, or paper towel, like Good Housekeeping Seal star BountyTurn off and unplug the air fryer, and allow it to cool completely. Pull out the drawer and remove the basket or tray. If your air fryer is dishwasher-safe, place the drawer and basket or tray, depending on what your air fryer has, upside down in the dishwasher, preferably on the top rack, if it fits. If using the dishwasher is not an option, wash the removable parts in warm soapy water and use the brush to scrub off gunk and get into the vents and nooks and crannies of the tray while protecting the metal or nonstick finish. Rinse well and dry.Wipe down the bottom interior of the air fryer, as well as the exterior, with a damp cloth or paper towel. Replace the basket once clean.GH Lab Tip: Use the top rack of the dishwasher (space-permitting) where it is further away from heat and is exposed to gentler water jets – this will help the nonstick finish last longer. How to clean an oven-style air fryer What you’ll need: Degreasing dish soapSoft-bristled bottle brushSoft cloth or paper towelTurn off and unplug the air fryer, and allow it to cool completely.Remove the racks and either use the dishwasher to clean them, or hand wash them in warm soapy water using your dish brush to scrub away grease and food bits. Rinse well and dry.Empty any oil from the drip tray – but don’t flush it down the sink. The tray can be placed upside down in the dishwasher to clean it, or hand wash it, then rinse it well and dry.Wipe down the bottom interior of the air fryer, as well as the exterior, with a damp cloth or paper towel. Replace the trays once clean.GH Lab Tip: If the drawer or drip tray has any oil in the bottom, don’t flush it down the kitchen sink. Instead, empty it into a can or small jar and keep the container in the fridge to throw away when it’s full.How to deep clean your air fryerIf you accidentally overstuffed your air fryer (or cooked something extra splattery), you might have gunked up the heating element. If your air fryer smells bad while you’re cooking, or starts to smoke, there’s probably baked-on residue on or near the heating element. What you’ll need:½ cup of baking sodaA few tablespoons of water to make a pasteSoft dishcloth or paper towelsRemove the basket or racks first, and clean them.Leave it upright so any bits of gunk you brush off will fall onto the bottom of the interior and not get caught in the mesh, heating element or fan at the top. Use a clean, dry, soft-bristled brush to scrub and release burned-on bits from the mesh covering the heating element, and wipe with a damp clean cloth or paper towel. Then, turn the air fryer upside down to make it easier to clean the heating element.Use the baking soda paste and a soft damp cloth, and gently scrub away the grime.Rinse the cloth with water, wring it out and wipe away the residue. Flip the air fryer right-side up and replace the clean basket and/or trays.GH Lab Tip: Overfilling the air fryer will almost certainly guarantee the heating element will need cleaning. To prevent this chore, make sure the quantity of food you’re cooking at one time doesn’t exceed the amount that’s recommended for your model of air fryer.

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Making the decision to own a home is a major commitment. Once you’ve moved into your dream property, completed any renovations (a standout kitchen is a must!), and executed your decorating plans, you still have to consider the routine upkeep that’s necessary to ensure it looks its best for years to come. And it’s not just about aesthetics. There are certain measures all homeowners should take to guarantee that their families remain safe in any property they live in. Regular maintenance, involving tasks that need to be handled monthly and annually, should not be overlooked. Whether it’s getting into the habit of examining electrical systems, removing debris from gutters, or hiring a professional to inspect your roof once a year, investing the time and money to maintain a polished property can save you headaches in the long run. To get you started, here’s a thorough home maintenance checklist to protect one of the biggest assets you own. What to Handle Monthly:Test carbon monoxide detectors, smoke detectors, and fire extinguishers, which should be kept on every floor at a minimum. Clean your garbage disposal.Unclog bathtub and sink drains throughout your home. Deep clean dishwasher (be sure to remove and wash the filter, too). Clean range hood and furnace filters.Deep clean washer and clothes dryer, including the chamber where the filter sits. (Also, keep in mind that your dryer’s lint filter should be cleaned after every load. Its vent should be cleaned every six months to a year, depending on use.)What to Handle Annually: Maintain quarterly appointments with an exterminator to keep your home pest-free.Clean your bathroom’s exhaust fan grill to avoid dust from building up.Check all radiators and surrounding pipes for leaks or cracks. [image id=’328d2780-fd02-4d08-9da9-81247394b6ca’ mediaId=’535e56d5-ecb8-4b19-81fd-dc468c659f09′ align=’center’ size=’medium’ share=’false’ caption=” expand=” crop=’1×1′][/image]See below for what areas of your home you should be checking in on each season.Spring:In early spring, clean your lawn and take the time to remove dead foliage, weeds, and debris as well as prune your trees. Evaluate exterior siding to determine if repairs or replacements are needed.Hire a professional for a chimney safety check and cleaning.Service your air conditioning system. Upgrade faulty windows and replace with energy-efficient designs.To avoid water damage, re-apply caulk to bathtub, shower, and sink. Summer: Seal any exterior cracks in stucco, windows, and doors and touch up exterior paint.Walk around the deck to make sure wood and nails are in good shape. Tend to your lawn as needed — consider the Good Housekeeping Institute’s lawn mower recommendations. Fall: In early fall, you should bleed your radiator — remove any trapped air from it — to make sure it works well. Make appointment to have your roof inspected.Clear rain gutters to prevent water backup.Drain hot water from the hot water heater, as it can help clear any debris. Service heating systems/furnaces.In late fall, schedule an irrigation inspection. This will involve checking lawn sprinklers to make sure they’re focused on your garden rather than your home’s exterior, which can lead to wood damage.Winter: Inspect basement and attic for pests and leaks. Vacuum refrigerator coils to remove dust and dirt. Insulate exterior pipes in basement and garage to prevent freezing. Upgrade winter storm essentials, including your generator, flashlights, and snow shovels.
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A great craft for kids and adults to try their hands at this spring are these adorable origami bunnies. Not only are they easy to make, but they are super cute and will make adorable decorations anytime this season — especially for Easter. In our video tutorial above, you’ll get step-by-step instructions on how to DIY paper rabbits. By the end, your furry friend will have floppy ears and a little bunny tail.After you’ve made three or so, you can use them as decor for a table, mantel, or just about any room in the house. We used pastel hues, but feel free to use any color paper you’d like to go with your decor. And when you’re done making these little critters, try your hand at paper Easter eggs. How to Make Paper Origami Bunny Rabbits:Fold your paper diagonally and fold the top corner to the bottom. Make sure to create a deep crease.Take the right corner and fold it down to the bottom corner. Repeat on the left side.Bring the left and right corners to the center. Giving each a deep crease. Fold the left and right inner flaps to the outer edges of the paper.Unfold the right flap and open it up. Make sure each side of the right flap has two pieces of paper. Then, stick your finger inside to fold the flap down. Repeat on the left side.Flip your shape over and fold it in half vertically, and then turn it so the flat line is on top.On the right side, you should have a loose flap, which you’ll fold over to the left side.Flip your shape over, and fold the left-side flap over to the right side.Fold that flap in half into itself.Flip the shape over and do the same thing on the other side.Fold the front flap over the ear line. Make sure you press hard to get a crease. And then unfold. Flip over and do the same thing on the other side.Now comes the tricky part of making the face and tail. For the detailed instructions on how to complete your bunny, watch the video above!

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Your dishwasher is constantly cleaning, so it must be one of the most pristine appliances in your home, right? Not quite. With regular use, your machine—and its hidden parts—accumulates bits of food, grease, limescale (that chalky-looking film you see as a result of hard water), and undissolved detergent. These things can interfere with how well it cleans, says Lynn Redmile, Testing and Product Review Analyst in the Good Housekeeping Institute’s Cleaning Lab.Thankfully, with a few simple strategies and the right products, taking care of your machine is easy. Here’s what the experts recommend.Once per month, use dishwasher cleaner to remove grease build-up and mineral deposits.[product contentProductId=’a1c0ed14-22f8-46ea-abe8-49b90564800f’ mediaId=’fcd4fd2b-62c6-4eeb-b861-945e1c226215′ align=’right’ size=’small’][/product]As mentioned, build-up of any kind can result in your dishes not being cleaned properly or lead to food residue, which can make your dishwasher smelly and unhygienic.To combat this, use a dishwasher cleaner, like Finish® Dishwasher Cleaner Liquid, approximately once per month, says Redmile. The process is low-effort—simply use as directed: Set an empty machine to the hottest cycle, remove the sticker on top of the bottle’s cap and turn it upside-down on the lowest rack, close the door, and start the dishwasher. As the cycle runs, the cleaning solution tackles all of that built up grease and limescale—even on hard-to-reach parts of the machine, like the filters, spray arms, and pipes.Scrape or wipe items before loading.[image id=’d92c0e9a-4246-4afe-ac83-71c75aca0628′ mediaId=’62e95079-64b2-41b8-b7f6-2dfbde9f6d6f’ align=’center’ size=’medium’ share=’false’ caption=” expand=” crop=’1×1′][/image]Simply scrape off any remaining food from your dishes—there’s usually no need to pre-rinse if using a high-quality detergent, like Finish QUANTUM. This step dislodges any bits of food that were hanging on before items go into the dishwasher, where detergent takes care of the rest.Face all items toward the center where the spray is strongest. As a general rule of thumb, always position the dirty side of any dish down or to the center of the machine to ensure that water can reach and effectively clean it, says Redmile. To load the machine properly, plates should go on the bottom rack with the dirty surfaces angled where the water spray is strongest, usually the center of the rack. Pots, pans, and casseroles should also go on the bottom rack, angled down for the best cleaning results. Glasses should go on the top rack and between the rack tines—not over them—to minimize water spotting and to prevent them from breaking. If your dishwasher has a flatware basket, place forks with the tines facing up, knives with the blade down, and spoons alternating, so they don’t nest into each other.Avoid overlapping items or blocking the spray arms.[image id=’2d799952-9385-4d87-bc49-cd5c3fb2f40b’ mediaId=’425a49f2-fc7d-4455-810c-016b3a1525dd’ align=’center’ size=’medium’ share=’false’ caption=” expand=” crop=’1×1′][/image]As tempting as it may be to cram dishes into the dishwasher that won’t fit, resist the urge. You should never stack items, because the water spray won’t be able to reach (or clean) the dish that’s on top, says Carolyn Forte, Director of Good Housekeeping Institute’s Home Appliances and Cleaning Products Lab. Remember: “If the water can’t reach it, it won’t get clean,” she explains.Regularly clean the filter. If your dishwasher’s filter isn’t clean, you’ll have trouble getting your dishes as clean as they could be, says Redmile. And luckily, it’s not too hard to do. The easiest way to keep it clean is with regular use of a dishwasher cleaner, like Finish. But in between deep cleanings make it a habit of pulling out the bottom rack to look for and remove any leftover food that may have fallen into the well below the lower spray arm. It’s also a good idea—if your dishwasher has a removable filter—to give it a quick check from time to time. On most models, simply unlock and remove it (usually found below the bottom spray arm, though your owner’s manual can direct you further) and rinse it under hot running water, says Forte. Then, go over the mesh screen and plastic frame with a sponge or soft brush, like an old toothbrush, to remove any grease or particles stuck in the crevices. Then, just lock it back into place.Before calling it quits, you should also wipe around the door’s edges and rubber gasket with a wet cloth or sponge to ensure no grease or food particles are left behind, says Redmile.
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