Laundry Hacks
Drying white clothes outdoors on a sunny day has this additional effect.
What is whitening or bleaching? The early morning sun has a bleaching effect. Dry colors in the shade to avoid fading
Reading, typing, and speaking are measured by this abbreviation.
What is wpm? It stands for “words per minute.”
When you whip cream too long, you get this
What is butter? After margarine was introduced, a law was passed in the Vermont, South Dakota, and New Hampshire legislatures that required margarine to be dyed pink to differentiate it from butter. The battle went all the way to the Supreme Court, which struck down the “pink laws.”
This is the meat of a deer.
What is venison? It is so lean that you need to add some fat to it before cooking. It’s also more nutritious than beef
This is a covering that goes underneath one’s placemats at dinner
What is a tablecloth? Cotton and linen tablecloths have natural fibers that absorb messes more quickly, while synthetics are more stain- and wrinkle-resistant.
To avoid static cling in the winter, take the clothes out of the dryer before they reach this state.
What is bone dry (or similar)? Hang up clothes when they are slightly damp. You can “iron” them with your hands to remove any wrinkles.
This is a two-letter abbreviation for “for example.”
What is e.g.? People sometimes confuse it with the abbreviation that stands for “that is.”
This is the name of a bright yellow, smooth, waterproof coat that people wear in the rain.
What is slicker? The original coats in the 1800s were made of sailcloth and covered in linseed oil to make them waterproof.
This brand of tiny breath mints was introduced in 1969, is packaged in a small rectangular container, and packs a punch.
What is Tic Tac? Made by the same company that makes Nutella, the product’s original name was Refreshing Mints, which is not as catchy as Tic Tac.
These small, implanted devices in the chest regulate the heartbeat.
What are pacemakers? The devices monitor the heart constantly and give it a nudge when it needs regulation. Did you know your sinus node controls your heartbeat? It normally acts as the body’s own pacemaker.
If you don’t want to dry a small garment in the dryer, you can use this salad prep item to remove much of the water
What is salad spinner? This cuts your drying time in half
Navy SEALs got their name from these environments in which they operate
What are SEa, Air, and Land? Therefore, they are active in all environments
When you see a yellow sign, you generally think of this
What is caution? Yellow is the universal color of caution, just as red is the universal color for “stop.”
Arizona’s state flower should come as no surprise, as this plant covers the desert landscape.
What is cactus (blossom)? Specifically, it is the saguaro cactus, native to the Sonora Desert. It’s illegal to harm one of these cacti.
These luscious nuts are native to Australia but now are grown in places like Hawaii, Brazil, and Costa Rica.
What are macadamias? It grows on trees but falls to the ground when ripe.
Turning brightly colored clothes inside-out and washing them in cool water will help to keep them from doing this.
What is fading or bleeding? This technique prolongs the lifespan of your garments.
The abbreviation i.e. stands for this.
What is “that is”? You will see this in academic papers as well as in less formal pieces. It’s also used in conversation.
Back in the day, we looked up businesses in this.
What are the Yellow Pages? The Real Yellow Pages has moved online to the website yellowpages.com.
If you look at this state on a map, you will see how it earned its early nickname of “The Mitten State.”
What is Michigan? It earned its nickname in the 1800s.
You are considered this until the moment admission forms are signed at the hospital
What is outpatient? Care of this kind is sometimes called ambulatory or day patient care.
Don’t panic if you shrink a natural-fiber sweater in the dryer. Soak it in this before laundering again.
What is hair conditioner? Use more than 1/3 cup of conditioner. After soaking, hand-wash in a gentle detergent that’s safe for wool or natural fibers. After rinsing, roll the sweater in a towel to remove as much moisture as possible.
Salespeople live by the expression “ABC,” which stands for this.
What is “always be closing”? The phrase means don’t waste time on anything that will not end in a sale or some sort of lucrative endeavor.
These wasps often build their nests underground.
What are yellow jackets? They get their name from their yellow and black stripes and are also known as meat bees
Native Hawaiian women adopted this long, loose dress.
What is muumuu? It’s typically a long, brightly colored, patterned dress and was introduced by Christian missionaries in the 1820s
This word means “the same thing over and over; tediously repetitive” as well as “speaking in the same tone without varying intonation.”
What is monotonous? Ben Stein‘s portrayal of a teacher in Ferris Bueller‘s Day Off— notably his droning roll call, “Bueller… Bueller…”—exemplifies a truly monotonous delivery.