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It’s funny…I have a daughter who will be a senior next year and before I know it, she will be off to college. I was thinking about all the things I want to be sure she knows before she is living on her own, away from the protective umbrella of her parents. I watched a reality TV show a few years ago which featured 2 young girls in their early 20’s. They were being interviewed about going on a road trip for several weeks, without their “entourage” to help them with the mundane tasks in life. The girls admitted they had never mopped a floor, ironed a shirt, cleaned a toilet or done a load of laundry. These are all things Caitlin needs to know in order to be an independent adult. Those thoughts led me to when I was her age and what my mom did for me.

As I was graduating high school and preparing for college, mom sat down with me to have a talk. She reminded me I would be more than 2 hours away, so she wasn’t going to be there to take care of me every day. She told me I needed to know how to cook a few simple meals. I wouldn’t have the money to eat out ever night and mom wanted to make sure I didn’t starve! I also needed to know how to manage my own apartment, which included keeping it clean and stocked. We had a week long training session in household management. What a great way to prepare me for the college life. When it came to laundry, mom said all I needed to keep my clothes clean and stain free was a bottle of Wisk detergent. Mom had been using it as long as I could remember. Now here I was, buying a few bottles from the grocery store as I headed off for freshman year.

Now here I am, having the same talk and training with my daughter. And what is she taking with her in her household goods box? Yep…Wisk! If you are old enough, you probably remember their Ring Around the Collar® ads? My dad was a bus driver and his would get that ring. Mom would just rub in some Wisk and that stain was just a memory! it is hard to believe this year marks the 60th anniversary of Wisk detergent. Did you know Wisk was the first liquid detergent? I remember how my mom marveled at that concept! Now it is all we use! Wisk is known for it’s The Wisk Deep Clean formula contains a patented blend of Micro-Cleaners®. These tiny clean warriors seek out and attack hidden body oils and sweat. These can get trapped deep inside the fiber of your clothes, so if you aren’t using the right product, those smelly interlopers of laundry! *Compared to the leading variant of the top three liquid value brand

I have been using the Wisk Deep Clean® Original (which cleans beyond visible stains and attacks trapped body oils and sweat) for a long time, but with out new washing machine, we have switched to the Wisk Deep Clean® High Efficient (specially formulated for high efficiency machines while still fighting tough stains), both of which we purchase from our local Kroger. You can also purchase your Wisk in the OXI Complete® (gives that powerful deep clean, with the added power of OXI, which fights a full range of stains, safely whitens whites, and brightens colors. And OXI is safe for both standard and HE machines.) The Fresh Breeze, delivers the same powerful deep clean with an added boost of freshness, which is also safe for both standard and HE machines.

The Wisk Deep Clean® Free & Pure, available at Amazon, is free dyes or perfumes and is gentle on your skin but tough on hidden body oils and sweat. This is perfect for my husband and son who have sensitive skin and it is safe for both standard and HE machines. The Deep Clean® PowerBlasts are single dose pacs that contain the right amount of super-concentrated detergent and the Wisk Deep Clean® PowerBlasts – Convenient Wisk PowerBlasts dissolve completely in all water temperatures and are safe for both standard and HE machines. So when you are doing your laundry, “Don’t Just Wash It…Wisk® It!” See how fans of Wisk® are celebrating #Wisk60!

A few other things I taught Caitlin were some of my favorite laundry hacks I use to make that chore a little easier. Here are my 5 favorites:

• When I do laundry, I will put a dry towel in a smaller load, which helps dry the clothes faster.
• I sort my darks, lights, and dedicates to keep like items togther in the wash.
• If I have a white shirt that isn’t as bright as it used to be, I will boil it with a sliced lemon and it will brighten right up in about 20 minutes! Then I wash as usual with my favorite Wisk product.
• I love using aluminum foil I have made into a ball. Pop this in the dryer and you can say good bye to static clean.
• Are you tired of losing socks? I wash mine together in my DIY Mesh Laundry Bag. It is super easy to make and is really cute. Each family member has one in their room, so they can just pop their socks in their bag and they no longer have to hunt for that missing sock!

Here is what you need and how to make your Mesh Laundry Bag!

• 1/2 yard mesh or tulle
• 1/4 yard cotton fabric (I chose a bright print)
• 1/8 yard of a complimentary fabric for the binding
• 1 All purpose zipper (mine was 12″, but you can go smaller or larger, depending on the size you want your bag.)
• Measuring tape
• Scissors
• Pen
• Sewing pins (I use quilting pins)
• Thread
• Sewing Machine

Step 1: Measure and cut your fabrics. For the mesh, you want to cut it as wide as your zipper plus an extra 2″, to allow for your seam allowance. We are going to use my 12″ zipper as a guide, but you can adjust according to your zipper length. For the length, you want it to double the measurement for the width (so for mine, it will be 26″. The mesh will be folded from the bottom to the top and then cut on the fold. For the larger piece of patterned fabric, you want to cut two pieces. Both pieces will be cut as wide as the zipper (mine is 12″) and add 2″ and 5″ long . For second patterned piece, you will cut it 1.5″ wide and 10″ long.

Step 2: Now you are going to make your zipper. I take one of the larger patterned pieces and fold is in half. Iron on the fold. Using a 3-4 long stitch, sew the open end of your piece of fabric. Cut along your fold and open up. Iron open along your seam. Lay your zipper face down on the seam. You should have your 1″ on either side. Sew your zipper. Flip the fabric piece over and using your seam ripper, open the stitches. Now your zipper is functional and will not pull apart.

Step 3: Attach your mesh to the right side of your zipper fabric and sew. Repeat on the other side. To secure this, I usually fold the sides over and reinforce with a tight zig zag stitch.

Step 4: Repeat the above step on the bottom with your remaining piece of the larger patterned fabric.

Step 5: Open your zipper and pull the bag right side out. Now take your binding piece and fold it down 1’2″ on the top and bottom. Iron flat. Now fold in the sides 1/2″ and iron that down. Now fold that in half and iron flat. Slide the open end of the binding onto the side of your bag. I use a zig zag stitch for this as well. Repeat on the other side.

Step 6: Put your socks in your new mesh bag and wash!

Do you have a favorite laundry hack to share?