Chest vs. Upright Freezers: Which Danby Freezer is Right for You?

Revised Chest vs. Upright Freezers- Which Danby Freezer is Right for You_

As your family grows, so does your need to make sure there’s always something to eat. At first, this might seem like a simple task. But, as all big families know, keeping great food on-hand can be challenging, especially when freezer space is limited. Whether you have hungry teenagers, love the budget-friendliness of buying in bulk, or just always want to have a meal option on-hand in case of guests, adding another freezer can be one of the smartest decisions you make.

Of course, knowing which freezer to buy isn’t always easy. While the size of the freezer is the obvious place to start when determining which one to purchase, there are a lot of other features to consider. Your best bet when looking at all the different options, including chest freezers and upright freezers, is understanding what really makes them different, and which features are right for your family and your home. From there, you’ll be able to make a confident decision, one that keeps food always on-hand and your family fed.

The Pros and Cons of Chest Freezers

Danby chest freezer

A more traditional style, a chest freezer is typically what people think of when they hear the phrase, “We have an extra freezer in the garage”. Great for storing large items, chest freezers do take up more room, making them a tight (or impossible) fit for some spaces.

Chest Freezer Pros

  • Chest freezers are typically more energy efficient than upright freezers.
  • Chest freezers are usually more affordable and, therefore, a better option for families on a budget.
  • Because of their shape, chest freezers offer more storage options, making them a great choice for families interested in storing larger items, like large cuts of meat and bags of ice.
  • Because of the way they are designed, chest freezers are capable of keeping food fresh even during power outages.

Chest Freezer Cons

  • While their ability to store a lot is great, chest freezers can be difficult to organize, which means finding what you need isn’t always easy.
  • Chest freezers have a larger footprint than upright freezers, which means they’ll take up more space in your home or garage.
  • Chest freezers require you to manually defrost, which can be time-consuming.
  • Chest freezers work best when they’re in a cool, dry place located indoors, which means you might have fewer options when choosing where to put your new freezer.

The Pros and Cons of Upright Freezers

Danby Upright Freezer

The beauty of upright freezers is that they are great for organizing your food. And, because of their swing-door design, upright freezers make it easier to access and find what you need, without having to lift yourself up and over the edge of a giant chest. Available in a variety of sizes, up-right freezers are more compact than chest freezers, making them a fantastic choice for small homes and spaces, including offices and apartments.

Upright Freezer Pros

  • Almost all upright freezers come with an auto defrost feature, making them more convenient and easier to use.
  • Because of their design, upright freezers require less floor space, making them a great choice for homes and spaces short on room.
  • The design of upright freezers lends itself to better organization (almost all of them have shelves) so that it’s easier for you to find what you’re looking for right when you need it.
  • Unlike chest freezers, upright freezers have a swing door, which means it’s much easier for you to reach what you need when you find it.
  • Upright freezers tend to come in more options when it comes to appearance, making them easier to integrate into home spaces.

Upright Freezer Cons

  • In general, upright freezers have more features than chest freezers, which means they are more expensive.
  • Because of their shape, upright freezers can’t accommodate larger or oddly-shaped items.
  • In case of a power outage, an upright freezer will not keep your food frozen as long as a chest freezer will.
  • A lot of users note that upright freezers are noisier than chest freezers.
  • Because of their automatic defrost feature, upright freezers use more energy than chest freezers.

Choosing the Danby Freezer That’s Right for Your Family

Knowing your family’s needs, as well as your home’s requirements, can help you determine which Danby freezer is right for you – a chest freezer model or an upright freezer model. While both are great options, doing your research to understand the differences between the two can help make sure that the investment you make for your family is the best one possible.

While more expensive, an upright freezer can be the perfect choice for a smaller family that loves to keep things organized. Of course, if your family is as big as it is hungry, then choosing a more economical and larger chest freezer might just be your best bet.

When measuring for your new Danby freezer, make sure that you add a minimum of one inch to the overall width in order to ensure your freezer gets the air flow it needs to operate efficiently.

Once you’ve done your research and have determined which type of freezer is right for your home, find the one you need by browsing our online catalogue or by visiting us in store to get more information about our freezer options.

SHOP DANBY FREEZERS

Amanda, Your Appliance Expert

12 Mattress Terms You Need to Know When Buying a Beautyrest

12 Mattress Terms You Need to Know When Buying a Beautyrest

Mattresses are our business, not yours. As your local Beautyrest mattress experts, we make it our business to stay up-to-date with mattress trends and terminology – which means you don’t have to. You don’t expect us to stay current on rocket science or lawn care or whatever else it is that you do – that’s for you to know. But mattress — that’s our language.

We’ve come to realize that the language of the mattress is not one that all of our customers know. To help pass on our treasure trove of mattress-related knowledge, we thought it would be helpful to put it all together in one spot, right here! Get ready to go to school, mattress style.

1. Box Spring:

A supportive foundation that goes under your mattress. Some mattresses need them, while some don’t, but a box spring is generally useful in helping mattresses retain their shape. Can also come in a split box spring option, as well.

2. Memory Foam:

A type of mattress made from memory foam. Memory foam mattresses – unlike traditional spring mattresses – are known for their ability to adapt to a person’s body shape.

3. Bed:

Really? Do we need to define this one? Anything you sleep on. Ta-da!

4. Adjustable Bed/Foundation:

This one is pretty self-explanatory: An adjustable bed is any bed that lets you adjust the way and the angle that the bed lies at – giving you and your partner options in how you rest and relax.

Adjustable Bed Foundation

5. Murphy Bed:

You don’t run into these that often anymore, but these beds are the ones that can be folded up and hidden inside a wall. But hey, at least you know now if it ever comes up on “Jeopardy!”

6. Queen:

A possible mattress size – 60” x 80”.

7. King:

A larger mattress size than queen – 76” x 80”.

8. California King:

Not the same size as a regular King mattress. A California King is longer – 72” x 84”, to be exact.

Mattress in upholstered bed

9. Euro Top:

A type of mattress. A bit different than regular pillow tops, Euro Tops have an additional layer of padding that blends in with the look of the rest of the mattress.

10. Innerspring:

Just like Tigger, most mattresses can thank springs for their bounce. There are a lot of different types of spring systems, which is why it’s always better to come in and try out one of our awesome mattresses in person before making a final buying decision!

11. Hybrid:

No, this isn’t a type of mattress that runs on electricity and gas. Instead, a hybrid mattress combines foam technology with innerspring tech.

12. Duvet:

You know those nice, fancy covers that people have that can be removed and have a warm and fluffy inside? That’s generally referred to as a duvet. You’re welcome.

Now that you know the basic words used in the mattress world, our mattress experts are here to help you find the best – and most comfortable – Beautyrest mattress for your needs. Give us a call or stop in for a visit today and you’ll see the difference that comes from shopping with your local mattress experts!

Angela, Your Sleep Expert

Why Waking up Is Hard and How to Fix That with the Help of a Sealy Bed

Why Waking up Is Hard and How to Fix That with the Help of a Sealy Bed

Waking up is hard to do. No matter how many times that alarm goes off, sometimes it just seems impossible to roll out of bed in the morning.

Many of us are so used to the idea of miserable mornings that we assume there’s no other way. While it turns out there are some pretty good scientific reasons for our early morning sleepies, there are also lots of ways to tackle the problem and help you wake up feeling rested and ready for the day. An amazing mattress is a good place to start, but if you’re serious about learning how to rise and shine with a smile on your face, these tips and tricks should help you out.

Why Waking Up Is So Hard

It all comes down to sleep cycles. Every night, we experience cycles of sleep, during which we move through deeper and deeper sleep stages of rest until we reach REM (or Rapid Eye Movement) sleep. It’s during those periods of REM sleep that we dream and get our best rest.

Most people go through about four to six of these cycles every night, and each cycle typically lasts about 90 minutes. But when we wake up in the middle of one of these cycles or get less than four cycles worth of sleep, that’s when the trouble arises. Waking up in the middle of our deepest sleep phases or getting fewer than four full sleep cycles can leave you feeling groggy all day, and can certainly make waking up difficult.

suffering from insomnia

Everyone’s nightly rhythms are different though, and if you’re consistently tired even after seven and a half hours of deep sleep, it could be that your sleep cycles vary from these typical standards. For example, if your sleep cycles are a bit longer than 90 minutes or your body prefers six or seven cycles per night, following conventional sleep cycle wisdom will leave you groggy and tired every time.

So, part of the reason you feel like a zombie on weekday mornings might just be the way you’re built, but luckily there are things you can do to take back your sleep schedule. Outside stimuli like light, exercise, stress, food, and simple force of habit can all affect your internal clock. With a few adjustments to your daily routine and sleeping space, even the groggiest mornings risers can get a fresh start on their sleep.

How to Wake Up More Easily

Don’t get us wrong, it will be a challenge, but with some dedication and a few adjustments to your routine, you can improve your morning mood and increase your productivity. Of course, the first step to improving your sleep habits is going to be getting a mattress you can trust, and if you’re having trouble sleeping, Sealy is the first place you should turn.

Sealy mattresses are the ultimate in comfort and support, so you can sleep soundly and wake up feeling rested every time. Sealy also offers mattresses with its unique Posturepedic technology, so you can always find options that support your body, improve your sleep, and keep you comfortable.

1) Get a Bed with Bounce

Sometimes it’s the simplest solutions that do the trick! When your mattress feels more like a headlock than a gentle hug, it’s probably time for a new one. Super soft mattresses with a lot of give might seem extra cozy, but they can be difficult to get out of in the morning, and mattresses that are TOO soft can even misalign your back.

Instead of fighting the urge to sink back into your bed’s embrace, try a Sealy mattress with Posturepedic innerspring. It has support where you need it, plus plenty of bounce. That way, you can get out of bed easily, and start your day with a spring in your step!

2) Keep Consistent

When it comes to improving your sleep habits, routine is everything. Things like going to bed at the same time every night, getting up at the same time every morning, and implementing calming habits around bedtime can make it much easier to wake up. That means no more sleeping in on the weekends! If you set your alarm for the same time every single day, getting up on Monday morning will be way easier, and eventually you’ll lose the temptation to hit that snooze button.

Why Waking up Is Hard and How to Fix That with the Help of a Sealy Bed (2)

3) Sleep More Deeply

Easier said than done of course, but getting a better quality of rest each night will eventually lead to you feeling well-rested on smaller quantities of sleep. Sleeping more deeply can mean anything from blocking out the windows so you aren’t disturbed by early morning light, or putting your phone across the room, or wearing ear plugs. Sound and light can cause tiny interruptions in your sleep that you might not remember, but you’ll definitely feel the next morning.

Your mattress could also be the cause of a crummy night of sleep. If your mattress isn’t giving you the support you need, you’re going to be waking up with aches, pains, and dead arms every night. Of course you’re gonna feel miserable in the mornings! If an uncomfortable bed is the problem, a Sealy mattress combining memory and gel foams can make all the difference by minimizing pressure on the neck, shoulder, and hips, giving you a deeper, uninterrupted sleep.

4) Stay Motivated

Give yourself a reason to keep at it! Maybe you want to run around the block or hit the gym before work. Or maybe you’d like to start journaling or drawing or practising an instrument before the kids wake up. The mornings are a great time to focus on yourself and your hobbies without any distractions! So, figure out how you’d like to make the most of that extra time and stick to your commitment. Having a reason to push through that morning grog can be a great motivator!

If you’re looking for a new lease on your mornings, these tips will help you wake up energized and stay alert throughout the day. With a mattress from Sealy, you’ll have the energy you need to be more productive and stop sleeping through your alarms. For answers to all your sleep questions and more information on what a Sealy mattress can do for you, come on down to our store. Our associates will be happy to give you all the support you need!

Angela, Your Sleep Expert

How to Make a Mug Cake in Your GE Microwave

The common misconception of baking is that it can be time-consuming. Some people see a cake and believe it could have taken all day to make, but the truth is, baking can take very little time and effort! Sometimes it only takes 30 minutes to prep and bake a dozen cookies! But baking also doesn’t need to take place in the oven – a microwave is fantastic for specific treats and takes almost no time at all!

Use a GE Microwave for more than just warming up your leftovers. Try making this chocolate cake in a cup recipe and find out how you only need a couple minutes to make dessert in a microwave.

Ingredients for your mug cake

  • 1 Egg
  • 4 TBSP Sugar
  • 2 TBSP Oil (Canola oil, vegetable oil, olive oil, etc.)
  • 1 TBSP Flour
  • 2 TBSP Cocoa Powder

Put it all together and what do you get?

This may be the easiest cake that you’ve ever made in your entire life – and it only takes 1 minute and 40 seconds to bake! Just add all the ingredients into a mug and stir until completely blended. Once you’re done with that you just plop it in the microwave for 1 minute and 40 seconds or until it starts to look dry. Take it out and dig in! We’d say it’s simple as pie but really, it’s simple as cake.

How to Make a Mug Cake in Your GE Microwave (2)

If you happen to be someone who doesn’t enjoy taking a long time to make food in the kitchen, a GE Microwave will be the kitchen appliance to help you with that endeavour. And you aren’t limited when it comes to them either! You can choose from one as simple as a counter top or over the range microwave to something more luxurious like a drawer or built-in microwave. No matter what you decide on, you can’t go wrong with the GE brand! Talk with a sales person at your local appliance store to find out if there are any specials, discounts, or deals going on! Who knows? You may be microwaving a mug cake before you know it!

Amanda, Your Appliance Expert

The Best Teas for a Better Night’s Sleep on Your Concept Zzz

The Best Teas for a Better Night’s Sleep on Your Concept Zzz

There’s nothing like a hot mug of tea to help you get settled in for the night! Not only is a hot drink a soothing way to wind down after a long day, there are some teas that are especially effective at soothing nerves and promoting a good night of rest. If you’re trying to sleep more soundly in your Concept Zzz, get the lowdown on the right types of tea to sip before you snooze!

Decaf and Caffeine-Free: Know the Difference

First things first, know what to look for on the label of your tea. Everyone knows it’s important to avoid caffeine before bed, but caffeine can tend to sneak its way into your cup without you noticing. Despite how the names sound, decaf and caffeine-free teas are not the same, and if you don’t know the difference, you might be ingesting more caffeine than you mean to in your evening brew.

Caffeine-free means tea that naturally contains no caffeine. “Decaffeinated” tea, on the other hand, is tea that once had caffeine, but which had most of it chemically removed. The key word here is “most”: decaffeinated teas almost always contain trace amounts of caffeine, and that can be enough to keep you awake if you’re sensitive to it. While it certainly isn’t on par with an espresso in terms of caffeine content, it’s a good idea to try to avoid decaf in the evening and stick to caffeine-free teas, like the ones below!

The Best Teas for Sleep

1. Chamomile Tea

One of the most popular herbal teas, chamomile is a longtime favourite for soothing nerves and promoting a restful night of sleep. It’s known to relax the muscles and even help treat anxiety – so no matter how stressful your day, chamomile tea can help you wind down for a calm night in bed.

2. Valerian Root Tea

If chamomile doesn’t quite pack the snooze-inducing power you need, but you don’t want to venture into the territory of sleep medications, valerian root tea is a great option. It’s an all-natural sedative that battles insomnia nearly as powerfully as a medication, without the side effects. Alone, the tea has a distinctive smell that’s not everyone’s cup of tea (if you’ll pardon the pun), so you may want to find a tea blend that combines valerian with one or more of these other varieties.

3. Lavender Tea

Lavender is a common ingredient in soaps, bath salts, and aromatherapy sprays due to its relaxation-inducing qualities, and it has the same effects when used in tea. In addition to smelling great, lavender has the uncanny ability to melt away stress and help prime you for relaxation. And not only will lavender tea get you to sleep faster, some studies have even found that lavender can help you sleep more deeply once you get there!

The Best Teas for Sleep

4. Mint Tea

The beauty of mint teas is that they’re perfect for any time of day! Like a hot shower, they can perk you up in the morning or relax you in the evening – whatever you need, a cup of mint tea is there for you. Peppermint is an especially good choice before bed, because it contains compounds that relax your muscles and help ease digestion, keeping you sleeping soundly through the night.

5. Catnip Tea

You read that right: catnip isn’t just for cats! In addition to making your feline friends go absolutely bananas, catnip makes a super relaxing bedtime tea for humans. This herb is usually mixed with other flavors when made into tea, like mint or chamomile, so the tea label might not prominently advertise that it contains catnip. If your sleepytime tea needs a little extra kick though, just check the ingredient list of your favorite flavor and make sure that catnip is listed.

6. Passionflower Tea

Despite the name, this tea tastes more earthy than floral or fruity, but it’s a lovely tea that works wonders on an over-stressed mind. Especially when combined with valerian in tea blends, it becomes a powerful insomnia treatment that’s sure to get you drifting off to dreamland faster than ever.

Even better, you can make all these teas cold as well, to help keep the temperature down on warm nights! Check out these tips on how to cold brew your favourite sleepytime flavors for a drink that’s as refreshing as it is relaxing.

Tea can be a powerful tool to help induce a good night’s sleep, but it’s just one of many. Without the right mattress, for example, no amount of tea will give you the kind of deep, restorative sleep you need! So if you’re struggling with insomnia on a regular basis and tea just doesn’t seem to be doing the trick, make sure you’ve got all your bases covered. Give us a call or stop by our store to learn how the right Concept Zzz mattress can help you get the restful sleep you’ve dreamed of!

Angela, Your Sleep Expert

For other tips on what you should eat and drink before bed, read these:

3 Easiest KitchenAid Microwave Oven Cleaning Hacks

3 Easiest KitchenAid Microwave Cleaning Hacks

Few appliances get messier faster than your microwave. Spattered soup, spilled sauce, and slopped spaghetti can all be a real challenge to remove from the inner walls of the microwave once they’re caked on there. But the good news is you don’t have to spend hours scrubbing away to get all those unsavoury messes cleaned right up! These three cleaning hacks will get your KitchenAid microwave oven looking good as new in no time.

1. Lemon

This method is probably the simplest, and it has the added bonus of making your whole kitchen smell great! Take an average-size lemon and slice it in half, placing both halves flat side down into a small bowl of water. Stick the bowl with the lemons into the microwave and heat on high for one minute, or until you see the microwave door start to steam up. Let the steam sit for a minute before opening the microwave door.

After a minute, open it up and wipe down the inside with a paper towel. The steam from the water should make all those crusted-on spills easy to wipe up, and the lemon fights bacteria and germs that may have been growing inside. Plus, it makes the whole thing smell citrusy fresh!

2. Baking Soda

Baking soda is a great, food-safe deodorizer and sanitizer, plus it’s gently abrasive, so you can get spills scraped off without damaging the interior of the microwave. Mix two parts baking soda and one part water to make a thick, abrasive paste. Apply your baking soda paste to the worst of the stains, giving the whole inside of your microwave an even coat, then allow it to sit for five minutes. At this point, you can either wipe up the paste and the stains with it, or you can double up using the next method.

cleaning a microwave with lemon, baking soda and vinegar

3. Vinegar

This hack is just about as easy as the first one, and you can do it alone or as a follow-up to your baking soda soak. Just fill a bowl with two cups of water and two tablespoons of white vinegar and microwave the mixture for one or two minutes. Vinegar has powerful cleansing properties and combined with steam it loosens up all the gunk caked onto your microwave. Keep the microwave door closed for a few minutes after it’s done running, to really let the steam go to work. Then open it up and wipe it down, making sure to remove any baking soda residue leftover from the previous method.

Now take a deep breath. Notice anything different? That’s right, no more burnt popcorn smell, or lingering odours from last week’s dinner! In addition to being great cleaners, all of these hacks strip away unpleasant smells from your microwave too. Now you’re ready to whip up an easy meal with no mess and no stress about germs or unwanted flavours.

For more hacks like this, plus all the information you never knew you needed about your KitchenAid appliances, come by our store! Whether you’re buying a new microwave oven, or just a little buy-curious, our associates are ready to share their expertise with you.

Amanda, Your appliance Expert

10 Things You Should Never Put in Your Bosch Dishwasher

10 Things You Should Never Put in Your Bosch Dishwasher

When faced with a pile of dishes at the end of the day, don’t be afraid to call in reinforcements – after all, Bosch dishwashers were made to make household cleaning easier.

But that doesn’t mean you can just put anything and everything in there and expect it to come out clean. There are a few items that could get ruined during even the gentlest of dishwashing cycles.

Prevent your Bosch dishwasher from breaking down by only ever putting the correct kitchenware inside. Discover the list of
items that are unsuitable below to ensure your helpful appliances stay in good shape for years to come!

1. Wood

Hot water and heat from the drying cycle can cause wood items to warp and bend out of shape. Hot water can also dull the finish of wood kitchen items. Do you have wooden utensils, bowls, or cutting boards? Be sure to hand-wash and air-dry them to maintain their beauty and function.

2. Crystal

When it comes to washing crystal dishware, do it by hand! The material doesn’t play nice with dishwashers because of the intense heat during the water cycle. The hot water has the power to chip, crack, and even break fragile crystal. Take the time to lightly wash your crystal dishes and glasses by hand, otherwise you may end up only having pieces of them left.

3. Vintage

It’s best to keep any vintage or gold trimmed items out of the dishwasher. The colour and detailed patterns from vintage and antique pieces can get faded in the dishwasher. Not to mention, detergent is extremely harsh on vintage ware.

And if gold had an enemy — no it isn’t silver — it would be detergent. Gold-rimmed glasses and plates, vintage bowls and dinnerware, and gold-trimmed flatware should only be hand-washed to maintain their beautiful finish and value. And while ceramic and porcelain may seem vintage, they’re safe to put in the dishwasher just as long as they aren’t hand painted.

4. Copper

Copper pots and pans — and everyone’s favourite Moscow mule mugs — are best left out of the dishwasher. It’s recommended that they be hand-washed with mild soap instead.

Insulated mugs don't go in the dishwasher

5. Insulated Mugs

Insulated mugs are fantastic for keeping your drinks extra chilly or hot for lengthy periods of time. But if you put one in a dishwasher, there’s a good chance it won’t ever do that again. Seriously. No joke: The space between the outer and inner layers of an insulated mug can fill with water if placed in the dishwasher, thus damaging its insulating effect.

6. Cast Iron Skillets

If you want to experience the taste of rust, go ahead and put your cast iron skillets in the dishwasher. If you don’t though, leave it out. Water can leave cast iron items vulnerable to rust and will also strip it of its seasoning. Clean yours by thoroughly washing it by hand and without soap. Dry it off with a wash cloth immediately afterwards and voila! That’s all it takes to clean a cast iron skillet.

7. Items with Adhesive

Bottles and jars that have adhesive labels on them will peel off and clog the drain. The label pieces can also get stuck on other items in the dishwasher and cause a mess once dried on. Hand wash these items instead.

Nonstick pans don't go in the dishwasher

8. Nonstick Pans

Be sure to read manufacturing instructions before washing your nonstick pans. Some brands of nonstick pans can go in the dishwasher, but if you’re not sure, it’s best to leave them out. A few extra moments washing your nonstick pans is far better than ruining the nonstick quality forever. And yes, I am speaking from experience on this one.

9. Knives

If you want your kitchen knives to stay sharp, you should never put them in the dishwasher. Dishwashers can dull knife blades, making them work more like a butter knife than one that can slice through tougher and heartier food. Hand wash your knives to keep them from going blunt and frustrating you in the future.

10. Graters

The small holes in graters used for zesting and grating cheese, lemons, and limes can be plugged when placed in a dishwasher. These items are best cleaned by hand-washing with a soft-bristled brush.

We all know that washing dishes is probably the least liked chore out there, but taking a few minutes to clean those delicate belongings will help keep them and your Bosch dishwasher in good condition for years to come.

Amanda, Your Appliance Expert

How to Make White Clothes Whiter in a Whirlpool Washing Machine

How to Make White Clothes Whiter in a Whirlpool Washing Machine

There’s nothing worse than pulling your favourite white clothes out of the laundry, only to find out that the once-brilliant white has faded to look dull and dingy. The good news is that there are ways to reverse the damage and get those white fabrics looking fresh and like new again.

A Whirlpool washing machine is a great place to start — with tons of unique features that save time, energy, and wear-and-tear on your clothes, you’ll get the best whitening results. If you want to restore your white clothes’ natural look without the use of harsh chemicals like bleach, try out these tips for freshening up your fabrics and making white clothes white again.

Baking Soda and Lemon

Baking soda is the jack-of-all-trades when it comes to household cleaning, and it turns out it’s also a powerful, non-toxic bleaching agent. Adding a bit of lemon can also increase your bleaching power. To concoct an effective home bleach recipe, mix about ¼ cup of baking soda with ¼ cup of lemon juice. Add the mixture to your washing machine along with your detergent, and your white clothes should come out brighter than ever.

Vinegar

White vinegar can help strip away residue left on your white clothes by soap and detergent, and naturally brighten fabrics. To make a simple vinegar soak for your laundry, fill a big stock pot full of water and mix in a cup of white vinegar. Bring the pot to a boil, then remove from heat. Add in your white clothes and let them soak overnight. The next day, run the clothes through the washer as usual and you should have a much cleaner, fresher-looking result than ever before.

Using liquid bluing to whiten your laundry

Laundry Bluing

This unusual product makes your fabrics whiter — by dying them blue! No, your whites won’t come out turquoise, but it does give them a slight undertone of blue, which looks cleaner and brighter to our eyes than dingy-looking shades of yellow.

To use bluing liquid in a top-load washer, dilute it in water according to instructions on the packaging, start your wash cycle, and once the barrel is about halfway filled with wash water, add in the solution.

For a front-load washer, dilute about ¼ teaspoon of bluing in 1 or 2 quarts (1.89 l) of water, then add it to the dispenser drawer after the machine has filled with water. If your dispenser drawer locks during the wash cycle, just dilute according to the packaging and add as much as you can fit into the drawer before you start the cycle. Don’t add any other laundry products besides detergent — they can make the blue stain!

Whirlpool’s Touch Control Functions

Your Whirlpool washer comes with a variety of options to customize each wash cycle for your laundry’s needs. Most Whirlpool machines come with a cycle especially for white fabrics, so they should come out clean and bright every time. You should always wash white clothes in hot water when possible, so select the right temperature and soil settings using your machine’s Intuitive Touch Controls. Whirlpool washers also come with Adaptive Wash technology, which helps sense the needs of each individual load and gently flush away soap residue and grime without fading whites and colours.

Dry in the Sun

It might be tempting to throw your clothes right into your Whirlpool dryer and get the load done quickly, but try drying your whites outside instead. The sun has natural bleaching qualities, which can help give your whites a little extra push if they need it. Hang them in a clean, dry place where there’s no risk of stains, and let nature do the work for you.

Amanda, Your Appliance Expert

How to Remove Blood and Other Stains From Your Sealy Mattress

How to Remove Blood Stains on a mattress

Accidents happen. There’s just no way around it. And just because your mattress has a sheet over it, doesn’t mean it’s an exception. A sheet won’t prevent a spill to seep through and soak your Sealy mattress. A sheet doesn’t have super powers that deflect an accidental pee incident from staining the mattress. The only real way to prevent these sorts of messes from occurring is by investing in a mattress protector. If you don’t feel like doing that and an accident does happen, then here are a few things you can do to prevent that stain from living on your mattress forever.

1) Removing Blood

The most important part about removing any stain is doing so right away – especially when it comes to blood. If you get to it quick enough, all it takes is some cold water to remove the little annoyance. We tend to think hot water will clean everything, but blood responds better to cooler water. When blood touches cold water, it dissolves! Dabbing it with paper towels and cold water should completely remove it.

2) Removing Urine

As your kids go from diapers to big kid undies, there tend to be a lot of mess-ups along the way. Luckily, all it takes is two ingredients to remove the unwanted liquid from your mattress bed! First, remove as much of the liquid as you can by blotting the urine spot with paper towels. Then simply combine 1 bottle of diluted white vinegar and some baking soda in a spray bottle and spray the whole area. Let it sit for about 10 minutes before blotting more of the liquid out with a paper towel. Then cover the whole thing with more baking soda and let it sit for approximately 8 hours. Grab your vacuum and clean up afterwards and you’ll be happy to see no urine stain and no odour taking over your bed!

How to Remove Blood and Other Stains From Your Sealy Mattress

3) Removing Wine

Sure – maybe you like to have wine in bed. Why not? If it spills, though, you’ll be stuck with a tough stain to remove. With the help of a wash cloth drenched in sparkling water, you’ll be able to get it out. Make sure to keep some on you in case you’re a wine drinker in bed.

4) Removing Vomit

It’s gross, but it happens. Sometimes you’re too sick to make it to the toilet which can leave you in an unpleasant situation. Get rid of the mess by pouring half white vinegar and half water in a spray bottle to attack the stain. Blot it as much as you can and then let it sit for about an hour. Come back to it and vacuum it up. No smell and no stain – it’s like it never even happened.

Sealy mattresses can take a lot of beating. But does that mean they should? You want your mattress to be clean and fresh; you sleep on it every night for crying out loud! Protect your Sealy Mattress with a mattress protector to get the most out of your bed. If you are looking for a new mattress drop in to our store to find a Sealy Mattress made to handle your messes.

Shop Our Sealy Mattresses Now!

Angela, Your Sleep Expert

3 Tips for Beautyrest Mattress Upkeep

Tip for Beautyrest Mattress Upkeep _ change your sheets

After taking the steps to buy a Beautyrest mattress, you may be thinking you don’t have to do anything else except for sleep on it now. Well, while beds are low-maintenance, they do need a few things from you to stay in mint condition. With a little more care and upkeep, the mattress can look and feel better for longer. Keep your Beautyrest Mattress clean and looking good for years by following the following tips I’ve laid out for you. It’s easier than you think!

Need more information, read this Should You Flip Your Mattress?

Rotate

One very simple way to always ensure your bed isn’t sagging is with a quick rotation. Ok, it may take two people to actually move your bed around, but it’s worth it and shouldn’t take you more than a minute. The reason this tip is so important is because your mattress can start to sag if you sleep in the same spot every night. By rotating your Beautyrest mattress every three to six months, your bed will stay firm and wear evenly so that you can continue having the best results.

Change Sheets

You’ve been taught to do this chore since you were a child and now you must change your sheets not only for your benefit, but also for your mattress’s. Your sheets only protect your mattress so much, and the longer you go without washing your bed sheets, the dirtier your mattress could get.

Even if you’re the cleanest person in the world and shower before bed, you’d be surprised to know how much dead skin falls off your body throughout the night and stays on mattresses. It’s not a pretty number, so all I can say is wash your sheet every one to two weeks and your mattress will live a long and healthy life.

I also recommend using a mattress protector which will assist in sparing your mattress from dirt and germs. Clean yours every couple of months to keep your bed looking pristine and fresh.

You might also like : Why You Need a Mattress Protector

Tip for Beautyrest Mattress Upkeep _ no food in bed

Less Jumping and Food

It may be fun, but no jumping on your bed. I mean, you’re an adult and can do what you want, but if you want a bed that’ll support your back, then jumping on the bed is out of the question. If you want a lumpy bed then by all means, pounce away!

Another activity you’ll want to stay away from is eating in your bed. You may think you’re being careful with that midnight snack you brought into your Beautyrest bed, but you’re probably creating crumbs everywhere. And, you know who likes crumbs? Bedbugs. Keep the food out and you’ll be safe from the horrendous things that come with snacking in bed.

Here at BrandSource, we want you to have the best experience possible with your new Beautyrest mattress. But, owning one and maintaining one requires a little work from your end. Show your Beautyrest bed a little love here and there and you’ll get a loyal mattress for years to come!

Angela, Your Sleep Expert