BrianWoodcock.GH’s resident home care dynamo shares her top tips and
favorite tricks to conquer your toughest messes and trouble spotsASK THE
GH CLEANING LAB
How do I spruce
up stained
flowerpots?
— ELLEN L.A: It’s a smart idea to clean your planters at the start of the season
to remove any leftover salts, mildew or fungi that can be harmful to
new seedlings. Dump out old dirt and debris and remove loose
deposits with a stiff brush. Mix one part chlorine bleach to 10 parts
water in a basin or tub (or pour this solution into a spray bottle to
saturate big pots). Immerse small pots; scrub all sides and soak
10 minutes. Rinse plastic, glazed and large pots with a garden hose.
Soak small clay pots in clear water for 10 minutes to rinse; air-dry.Q
62 GH APRIL^2020
Cleaning ex ert advice
A: The most important
step is to make sure your
sweaters are totally clean
before packing them away.
Even invisible food stains,
perfume and sweat can
attract moths! After you
wash or dry-clean the
sweaters, fold each one
softly in thirds, then in half,
and wrap it in acid-free
tissue paper. Stack them in
a clean storage box with
a tight-fitting lid (with the
heaviest at the bottom to
prevent creases). Cedar
blocks can help deter moths,
but don’t let them touch the
cashmere, as cedar oils can
stain. Stash the box in a cool,
dry spot like a hall closet,
avoiding the basement and
attic. If you have space, place
special pieces in a resealable
plastic bag with a six-inch
square of cotton batting
to absorb moisture and store
them in your freezer.What’s the best
way to safely
store cashmere
sweaters?
— NANCY K.Q
Q
A: Definitely! It’s counterintuitive given that the toys soak in the suds along with your child at bath time, but
water that seeps inside and doesn’t drain is a breeding ground for mold. Don’t worry, though — there’s an
easy fix. When your child’s bath is over, rinse toys and squeeze or shake out as much water as you can,
then stand them up so air circulates around them and water drains out — mesh toy caddies keep the tub
area neat but may not allow all toys to drain fully. Sanitize colorfast plastic toys with a five-minute soak in
a mix of 1⁄2 cup of chlorine bleach and 1 gallon of water. Rinse with warm water and air-dry. The best
bath toys either are made of solid plastic without holes or come apart for easy cleaning and drying, like
Sago Mini’s Bath Collection ($24, amazon.com). If you see black deposits when you hold a toy up to the
light or squeeze it, it’s best to toss it out. GH Cleaning Lab hack: Place bath toys securely in your
dishwasher’s top rack. Corral small pieces in a mesh laundry bag and air-dry any that come out wet.Should I be cleaning my child’s bath toys? —MELISSA S.
CAROLYN FORTé
GH HOME CARE
LAB DIRECTOR
@fortecarolynCLEAGHNING
LAB