Caring for your Plover

• Wash all Plover bedding with like colors on the gentle cycle. Cold wash/cold rinse only, using a mild liquid detergent. Line-dry all quilted items. (Heat can cause the batting to bunch.) Non-quilted pieces may tumble-dry on low. Low iron. Do not bleach and do not dry clean.

Cleaning green

• Lower washing machine temperatures mean lower energy bills and lower emissions from power plants. Try to wash with cold or warm water, and always use cold for the rinse cycle. (The temperature of the rinse does not affect cleaning.) Go one step further and turn down the thermostat on your water heater to 120 F, which will save energy when you use hot or warm wash cycles.
• Line dry whenever possible to save even more energy.
• If you must use a dryer (ideally an energy-efficient model), set it to auto-dry instead of the timer. Dry similar items together to avoid over-drying, and remove items from dryer when they are still slightly damp to reduce the need for ironing. Also, be sure to clean the filter after each use to maximize your dryers performance. Check the outside dryer exhaust vent to make sure its clean and the flapper on the outside hood opens and closes freely.
• Use an eco-friendly detergent, one made without nonrenewable, petroleum-based chemicals. These detergents are biodegradable, with no optical brighteners, dyes or artificial fragrances. Or use an all-natural liquid soap made without artificial dyes or fragrances. (Add one cup of white vinegar to the final rinse water to eliminate the residue soap can leave on clothes when washed in hard water.) Conventional detergents, by comparison, are made from synthetic petrochemicals that are bad for the environment and for your skin, leaving toxic residue on your laundry that can cause rashes and other reactions.
• Instead of fabric softener, add 1/4 to 1/2 cup of baking soda to the rinse cycle to make clothes feel soft and smell fresh.
• Use a non-chlorine bleach, such as oxygen bleach, to whiten. Or soak clothes overnight in a solution of one part hydrogen peroxide to eight parts cold water, then wash as normal.