I had a pretend iron when I was a little girl, and I loved to use it and pretend to iron clothes. But when I got old enough to really use an iron, suddenly the appeal of my childhood toy was gone. Ironing became work and not play. I also quickly learned that a dirty iron can ruin clothing, ironing in stains, as it irons out wrinkles. Cleaning an iron is not difficult, but it is necessary maintenance.

Our washing machine is trying desperately to die on me, but I'm determined to nurse it back to health. I have tried to ease the loads by handwashing a few items. Even with our modern appliances, most households still have some clothing items that need to be handwashed. It may seem like a lot more trouble than being able to use a washing machine, but Anne-Marie Barton's video will show you just how simple hand washing clothes can be.

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The basics. The bare minimum. What's the least we can clean on a daily basis and still have a livable home? Sometimes this basic cleaning list is all we can manage, but by completing just a few chores on a daily basis we can keep our home a haven. We'll have more to do on other days, but these daily cleaning chores keep our home functioning.

I'm sure you've had the frustration of opening a washing machine or a dryer and seeing an unpleasant surprise inside. Major mistakes with your laundry may seem difficult to repair, but it is possible to fix whites that have been turned pink, sweaters that have shrunk, stains that have been dried, and many other laundry disasters.