Mike
Ga
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GH’s resident home care dynamo shares her top tips and
favorite tricks to conquer your toughest messes and trouble spots
ASK THE
GH CLEANING LAB
I’m using my
grandmother’s
heirloom china
for the holidays.
What’s the best
way to wash it?
— MELISSA M.A: How nice it is to have something so special! Your dishwasher
probably has a delicate spray setting for china, but in this case
I wouldn’t recommend it, especially if the pattern has a raised design
that’s applied on top of the glaze. (Dishwashers can sometimes
damage or even remove these designs.) Instead, put on a pair of rubber
gloves, like GH Seal star Playtex, to make sure you have a secure grip,
and hand-wash one plate at a time in a plastic basin of warm, sudsy
water. Wash with a soft cloth or sponge and rinse, being careful not to
let the plate hit the faucet. Set each plate to drain in a rack before
washing the next one. To keep your china from chipping, never stack
it in the sink or have any other items, like utensils, in the basin. If you
prefer to wash the plates under running water, lay a towel in the sink
for cushioning. Hand-dry your set and store in zippered quilted bags.
A: That’s an important question, because in today’s supersize machines, if you’re skimping on detergent,
your items might not be getting clean. The scientists at P&G, maker of GH Seal star Tide laundry
detergent, follow these guidelines to calculate how much they recommend using for each load size:
If your dry clothes fill the washer drum about halfway, that’s a medium load, while a large load fills
the drum about three-quarters of the way and an extra-large one fills it completely while leaving enough
room for clothes to tumble. To get the best from detergent, measure out the liquid version — don’t just
pour it in — and if you use packs, add more than one if needed.
Detergent bottles give amounts to use for medium
and large loads. How do I gauge my load size? — NICOLE G.
Q
Q
Q
CAROLYN FORTé
GH HOME CARE
LAB DIRECTOR@fortecarolynGH
CLEANING
LAB44H^ GH DECEMBER 2019
Cleaning ex ert advice
A: Regular upkeep is a
must — your humidifier could
become a breeding ground
for mold and bacteria.
Follow this once-a-week
routine for a humidifier
that’s used daily: Unplug,
empty and take apart the
humidifier. Pour one to two
cups of full-strength white
vinegar into the water tank;
replace the cap and swish
to completely wet the
interior of the tank. Next,
carefully pour one to two
more cups of vinegar into
the base. Let the vinegar
sit in both parts for 20 to 30
minutes. With a soft cloth or
a brush, go over all surfaces
and scrub crevices where
deposits can cling. Empty out
the vinegar, rinse the parts
well, let them air-dry and
reassemble the machine.
Note that some models have
dishwasher-safe parts or may
be better cleaned with a
diluted-vinegar solution, so
check your brand’s cleaning
instructions. Never wash a
mesh wicking filter; when it’s
clogged, replace it. And
always clean a humidifier
thoroughly before storing it.
How do
I clean my
humidifier?
— SHIRLEY D.