Speed Queen Consumer Laundry Washers and Dryers

Maggie's Laundry Room Madness

Hello Readers! Thank you all for your questions in the past months. To make sure we answer as many of them as possible, we've asked our favorite "Domestic Diva," Maggie to help us out. If you have a question for Maggie, you can e-mail her at comments@alliancels.com.

Dear Maggie,

Our second grader is really working on his writing skills. He likes to write with a pen, but always gets ink on his clothing. I've tried washing out the ink stains but they won't go away. Do you have some tips on removing ink from clothing?

Diane
Salt Lake City, Utah

Dear Diane,

Maybe it's time to coordinate his clothing colors to match the pens he's using. For the occasional slip of the pen, saturate the stain with hair spray or place the fabric face down on paper towel and sponge with rubbing alcohol. Rinse. If traces of the stain remain, rub detergent into the dampened stain and rewash. Some inks may be impossible to remove. Make sure all hair spray or rubbing alcohol is removed from the fabric before washing or drying.

Maggie

Dear Maggie,

Our son enjoys playing football with neighborhood friends, but in addition to the usual bumps and bruises, his clothes are taking a beating as well. Any suggestions for keeping his playing clothes in respectable shape?

Julie
Chicago, Illinois

Dear Julie,

Having your son sitting on the bench is the only way to avoid those extra dirty loads of laundry. Since nobody wants that, always pre-treat the stains. OxiClean® is a winner in our household. For heavily soiled clothes, use the regular cycle with a longer wash time. If available, use the Prewash setting for extra heavily soiled items.

Maggie

Plan for Spring Projects Now

(NAPSI)-Any time of year, including winter, can be the right time for a homeowner to consider landscape projects and hiring a landscape architect. Enhancements to a property made under the direction of this kind of professional can not only improve the look of your home, but increase its value by up to 20 percent.

Landscape architects are licensed to practice in 47 states and must pass a rigorous exam. Members of the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) have met the organization's membership requirements and keep up with the latest technology and trends through ASLA publications and continuing education programs.

Here are some tips to help you make an educated choice when selecting a landscape architect:

• Think about what you want and how you will use your landscape. Formal entertaining, herb gardens, and children's playgrounds are all possibilities. Don't limit yourself to plants and trees; maybe you would like a fence, fountain, deck, patio, fire pit, an outdoor kitchen, or another outdoor element.
• Look at books and magazines for ideas and start a file of plants, trees, gardens, yards, pools, patios, decks, fences, etc., that you like or dislike to show your landscape architect. This will help you communicate what you want to achieve-or avoid.
• Ask about maintenance. Be sure to let your landscape architect know how you feel about the upkeep of your investment.
• Interview a few landscape architects and ask for references.

A good designer will walk around the home and ask a lot of questions about your lifestyle, what you want to accomplish, and your budget. They will not hesitate to provide references for you to call, or to answer questions you may have about their services and fees.

To learn more or to find a landscape architect, visit www.asla.org.

Popular Colors have Mexican Theme

(NAPSI)-This year's sunniest looks - in deeply saturated colors of teal blue, chili, orange and sun bright yellows - are coming from south of the border.

Mexican-inspired architecture and colors are popular, thanks to the rapid growth of the Hispanic population in the United States and its impact on popular culture. There is growing recognition for important design leaders such as Luis Barragan, a Pritzker prize winner who is regarded as one of the most important architects of the 20th century.

"In the small towns and villages of Mexico, the mix of colors on the buildings is like nothing else in the world," said Joe Ruggiero, one of the nation's leading home furnishings authorities.

Ruggiero, a popular HGTV host, has traveled extensively in South America, Spain and Portugal in search of design inspirations.

"Mexican artisans have no rules when it comes to mixing colors on the facades of buildings," Ruggiero said, adding that the colors he saw in the town of San Miquel de Allende were the basis for his Casa Mexicana Collection of Sunbrella® fabrics."

"Color is everywhere in Mexico and every color goes with every other color," Ruggiero said. "Mexican architect Luis Barragan was quoted as saying color was the dominant element in his work ‘for the sheer pleasure of using and enjoying it.'"

For more information, visit www.norwalkfurniture.com, www.joeruggiero.com or www.sunbrella.com.

Post-Party Cleaning Tips

(NAPSI)- Cleaning up after a party, entertaining guests or simply eating dinner with the family doesn't have to be a chore. Try these simple tips:

• Clean efficiently. Finish one room before moving on to the next. Work left to right and top to bottom to avoid repetition and to keep from spreading dust.
• Use certified professionals. When a cleaning service comes to your home, you deserve the highest caliber of professionalism. It is a good idea to use certified professionals for carpet, rug, hard surface or upholstery cleaning.
• Do research. Before hiring professionals, confirm their licensing, insurance and certification in the type of service to be performed. Also, get an estimate and receive a written contract or invoice confirming the total amount and any guarantees.

The above tips are from experts at the Institute of Inspection, Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC). For more information, visit www.certifiedcleaners.org.

Shopping Can be Fun for Kids

(NAPSI)-With attractive packages at eye level and within reach, grocery stores can look like playgrounds to children. Noisy and crowded with unfamiliar people, stores can be intimidating, too. No matter how your child reacts, taking him along can be a challenge.

"Planning ahead can make a trip to the grocery store less stressful and more enjoyable for you and your children," says Sharon Bergen, senior vice president of education and training for Knowledge Learning Corp., the nation's leading provider of early childhood care and education. "It's possible to transform a shopping trip into a learning opportunity."

Starting a shopping trip with a well-rested child is the first step to avoiding problems. To help your child feel more secure in an unfamiliar environment, bring along a toy or blanket. Keep up a soothing conversation with your child or distract him with a favorite song or nursery rhyme.

As you make your way through the store, your young one is sure to see lots of items he simply must have. Be prepared with a treat, and you'll reduce the "I wants." Raisins or apple slices are healthy choices, and a handful of cereal may keep a child occupied for an entire shopping trip.

Look at the store as one big classroom. Turn school-age children into helpers by asking them to read labels, find particular items and compare prices. Preschoolers can learn about colors in the produce department, search the shelves for favorite cereals and count out three apples or four bananas. Toddlers can point out shapes, get a whiff of fresh bread baking and feel the difference between a room-temperature juice bottle and a chilly milk carton.

Expect good behavior in the grocery store, and children are likely to reward you by behaving well.

Slow-Cook Meals: Recipe for Success

(NAPSI)-Slow cooking is more popular than ever, as today's busy families discover how easy it is to recapture the wholesome, hearty flavors and aromas of childhood. Slow cookers provide the best of both worlds-delicious, home-cooked meals and convenient preparation. Weeknight dinners are a snap with the slow cooker. It perfectly tenderizes and seasons meat and vegetables during the day so the meal is ready to serve when the family comes to the table. During cool weather months, slow-cooked favorites, like stews, pot roast, pulled pork, chili, and soups are a perfect way to warm up.

Whether a slow-cooker novice or seasoned pro, these tried and true tips from the flavor experts at McCormick® can help create delicious results:

• Always defrost meat or poultry prior to adding to the slow cooker
• For richer flavor, brown meat before slow cooking
• Cut meats and vegetables into smaller pieces for a faster cooking time
• Take advantage of pre-blended seasonings, like McCormick Slow Cookers Seasoning to get the perfect flavor every time. Made specifically for slow cookers, these flavor blends will stand up to long cooking times
• Slow cookers should never be used to reheat leftovers
• For faster preparation, cut up vegetables the night before, then refrigerate until ready to start slow cooker. Hint: If adding potatoes, cover with water after peeling and chopping

Savor the warmth and comfort of an American classic-pot roast-with this simple, delicious recipe.

Slow Cooker Savory Pot Roast

Ingredients:

• 21/2 to 3 pounds boneless chuck or rump roast, well trimmed
• 5 cups cut-up fresh vegetables, such as carrots, celery, onions, and potatoes
• 1 package McCormick® Slow Cookers Savory Pot Roast Seasoning
• 1 cup water

Directions:

1. Place roast and vegetables in slow cooker.
2. Mix Seasoning and water until blended. Pour over roast and vegetables. Cover.
3. Cook 8 hours on low or 4 hours on high. Remove roast and vegetables to serving platter. Stir sauce before serving.

For best results, do not remove cover during cooking.

Makes 8 servings.

For more flavorful slow cooker recipes and tips, visit www.mccormick.com

Stain Removal Corner

With holiday gatherings and special events behind us, now it's time to work on packing up decorations and perhaps taking care of some stain removal tasks we've put off. Often, our clothes may not have weathered the festive season as well as we have. Listed below are a few of the most frequent - and frequently unpopular - stains clothing may have sustained through the holiday season. Following the stain removal instructions, may ensure your holiday finest returns to the closet in just as good a shape as when it left.

Red Wine Stain Removal

Red wine can be the drink of choice anytime adults gather for an evening of fine dining or socializing. Red wine stains, however, can be a very unpleasant. If you find yourself in the unfortunate situation of staring at a red wine stain on your favorite outfit, time is of the essence. Follow the instructions below to ensure your garment doesn't end up in the waste basket.

• Treat immediately.
• Rinse with cold water or club soda.
• Rub dampened stain with detergent and let stand several minutes.
• Apply a pretreat product and wash.

Candle Wax Stain Removal

Most of us love the smell of fragrant candles and use them to create a warm, pleasant atmosphere when hosting guests or just relaxing with family at home. Not so warm and pleasant is noticing a candle wax dripping on your clothes. Relax, candle wax stain removal can be almost as easy as lighting you favorite scented

• Put stain between paper towels and press with a warm iron.
• Place stain face down on paper towels and sponge with rubbing alcohol (WARNING: Be sure the fabric is safe to treat with alcohol. Apply a small amount in an inconspicuous area.)
• Let it dry; and wash.
• If traces of color remain, wash with commercial color remover (Rit®, Putnam®, etc.) or, if safe for fabric, hot water and chlorine bleach.

Lipstick Stain Removal

No matter what shade looks best on you, no color lipstick ever looks good on your clothing. Lipstick stain removal, however, is a snap and easy to remember.

• Rub dampened stain with a bar of soap
• Wash.

Tips for Staying Safe in Winter

(NAPSI)-Even when the temperature drops, there are steps you can take to keep your safety up and your risk of injuries due to cold-weather hazards down. That can be wise, since experts say one in three people 65 years of age and older experiences falls each year.

To protect yourself and your loved ones, consider these tips:

• Shovel safely - Before you tackle the snow, make sure you're in good physical health. Check with your doctor before engaging in such a strenuous activity. If you are up to the challenge, pace yourself and listen to your body. If your back hurts, take a break. Always lift with your legs and use a snow blower to lighten the load, if possible. If you must lift the snow, scoop small amounts into the shovel and walk to where you want to dump it. Holding a shovelful of snow with your arms outstretched puts too much weight on your spine. It's not wise to remove deep snow all at once. Instead, shovel an inch or two at a time and never throw snow over your shoulder.
• Get your muscles feeling cozy - Take some time to stretch to prepare your body, since warm muscles work better. If possible, wait until the afternoon before engaging in any outdoor activity. Many disc injuries occur in the morning, when there is increased fluid pressure in the disc.
• Bundle up - Light, layered, water-repellent clothing provides both ventilation and insulation. It also is important to wear an appropriate head covering, mittens or gloves and thick, warm socks.
• Warm up to working out - Exercise helps improve strength, coordination and balance, which can not only help prevent falls, but in the event of an injury, can help you bounce back faster.
• Drink your hot cocoa - Don't forget your calcium. This important nutrient helps build strong bones and prevents osteoporosis. That can minimize the damage from a fall and aid in recovery.
• Boots are better - Shoes with heels and no traction make it difficult to keep your balance. Walking on snow or ice is especially treacherous, so a pair of well-insulated boots with good rubber treads is essential. Keeping a pair of rubber overshoes with good treads that fit over your street shoes is also a good safety precaution.
• Walking in a winter wonderland - On ice or snow, take short steps and stroll at a slower pace so you can react quickly to a change in traction. Hold onto a railing or firmly grip the arm of a friend.
• Outsmart the cold - Pay attention to your surroundings. Most falls occur out of carelessness. Do not go sledding at night when potential hazards can be hidden.
• Salt those sidewalks - Many people slip and fall on outdoor steps and walkways. Make sure your neighborhood streets are frequently plowed and salted to prevent other accidents.
• Fun in the snow - When engaging in sporting activities, use protective equipment and make certain your skis, skates, shoes and other gear fit you correctly. Helmets are a must for skiing, sledding and snowboarding. If you will be competing, make sure you condition in the off-season. If you're trying a new sport for the first time, get proper instruction from an expert.

North American Spine Society (NASS) President Dr. Joel Press said, "Just because it's winter does not mean you have to stay inside all day in order to avoid the elements and the risk of falling or slipping. It's a great season to be active and enjoy the outdoors. Just make sure you dress appropriately, warm up your muscles and follow these helpful tips to prevent potential hazards to keep your spine safe and sound."

Individuals interested in locating a spine care professional or improving their spine health can access helpful information at www.spine.com