Spoon and steam get the laundry done

Did you know a spoon could help you iron around buttons? Rowenta offers laundry tips. This company sells high-end steam irons and other tools that look like kind of space age when placed by my iron. They sure look like they’d get the job done, and therefore be worth the investment. I’ve never used a Rowenta product, but I encourage you to look at their site and they’ve encouraged me to share these:

DIY Ironing and Garment Care Tips

Ironing

· Do not put on the garment immediately after ironing. This can actually cause new wrinkles to form. Instead, let it sit for 5 minutes, which enables the press to set.

· Many people like the extra crispness that spray starch can provide, particularly with shirts. The correct way to obtain that look is to spray the starch on the shirt, roll the shirt into a ball, and wait about 30 seconds before pressing. This allows the fabric to absorb the starch.

· Large items should be ironed at the wide end of the ironing board. To help keep the item clean, lay a plastic table cloth or old sheet on the floor beneath the board.

· To reduce shine caused by over-pressing or wear, soak a press cloth in water, and then ring it out. Place the damp cloth on top of the shiny surface and press. Repeat several times until the area is almost dry, then, using a soft brush raise the nap of the fabric.

· For razor sharp creases, iron the crease and then set it with a burst of steam.

· When ironing over delicate buttons, cover them with the bowl of spoon and press the surrounding fabric.

·

· Pleats should be ironed from the bottom, starting with the inside of the pleat, and then moving to the outside of the pleat. If necessary, pin pleats to the ironing board at top and bottom; avoid ironing over the pins. To set pleats, use a burst of steam.

Gee, your hair smells like lemon verbena

Remember the TasselAire I just wrote about? Dip the center of a decorative tassel into a sent and you get the double pleasure of viewing and inhaling. Agraria has a whole line of candles, perfumed burning sheets, bath salts, etc. I just treated myself to a lemon verbena shampoo that has layers of scents. I keep finding reasons to need another shower. Here’s the description from the site: Bright & brisk, Lemon Verbena evokes the fresh, clear exuberance of lemon-scented verbena leaves, enhanced with a touch of Caribbean lime & hints of rose & jasmine.

I want to make this bottle last as long as possible, but there are other shampoos and bath gels to try: Lavender and Rosemary, Balsam and Bitter Orange, which sounds delightful as we head into fall.

ddoiron@panews.com