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school uniform hygiene tips

Photo by 周 康 from Pexels

With children now back at school, it’s important to take every precaution possible to ensure that their school uniform remains hygienic and COVID 19 free.

  • Wash daily
  • Make sure you are disnifecting 
  • Wear gloves
  • Wash inside out
  • Always use a hot wash 
  • Check the care label
  • Avoid shaking clothes
  • Don’t leave clothing in the washing machine
  • Let clothing dry completely
  • Don’t forget about school bags

Wash daily 

Your child’s school uniform needs to be washed every day to ensure that no COVID 19 germs linger on their clothing or transfer to their surroundings. 

Photo by RODNAE Productions from Pexels

Make sure you are disinfecting 

When washing your child’s school uniform, you must make sure that you are disinfecting, not just cleaning. Cleaning your child’s uniform will remove dirt and germs from the surface of their clothing, whereas disinfecting involves using chemicals to kill germs and bacteria to stop them from reproducing and spreading. 

Photo by Karolina Grabowska from Pexels

Wear gloves

When handling your child’s school uniform, or any clothing that may have been exposed to COVID 19, it is advised that you wear gloves. They will prevent germs and bacteria from transferring on to your hands and being spread to other surfaces. If you do not have a pair of gloves, make sure that you thoroughly wash your hands after handling clothing. 

Photo by Anna Shvets from Pexels

Wash inside out

Washing your child’s school uniform inside out will prevent piling and bobbling. You will be washing your child’s uniform frequently, so there is an increased risk of tears and rips in the fabric. Washing your child’s uniform inside out will help lessen this damage. 

Photo by Mary Taylor from Pexels

Always use a hot wash

Hot washes are the best way to kill germs and bacteria from clothing. For the best result of eliminated germs and bacteria, wash your child’s uniform at 60 degrees Celsius. 

Photo by Amina Filkins from Pexels

Check the care label 

Despite the fact that hot washes are the best way to eliminate germs and bacteria from clothing, always check the care label before washing your child’s uniform. Some items of your child’s uniform may not be suitable for hot washing, and doing so may leave the item damaged and unwearable.

Photo by Andrea Piacquadio from Pexels

Avoid shaking clothes 

Before and after you take your clothing out of the washing machine, avoid shaking it out. If you shake your child’s uniform, there is the potential of spreading COVID 19 germs and bacteria to the surrounding areas, even after you have washed your clothing. Wait until your item is completely dry before shaking. 

Photo by cottonbro from Pexels

Don’t leave clothing in the washing machine

Regardless of COIVD 19, it is never a good idea to leave your washed clothing sitting in the washing machine as it can cause damp and mould. If left wet in the washing machine, any of the remaining germs on your child’s uniform, which would be removed in the drying process, could rapidly multiply. For the best result, take your child’s school uniform out of the washing machine to dry as soon as possible. 

Photo by Rachel Claire from Pexels

Let clothing dry completely 

For the best result of removing COVID 19 bacteria, tumble dry your child’s school uniform. However, if you do not have a tumble dryer, air drying will work effectively. Viruses and bacteria thrive in damp environments, so it’s important that you wait until your child’s school uniform is completely dry before allowing them to re-wear it. 

Photo by Ketut Subiyanto from Pexels

Don’t forget about school bags  

It’s important to not only disinfect your child’s school uniform, but also their school bag. Similarly to their school uniform, bags need to be washed every day. If your child’s bag is made from a cloth-like material, you can wash it with your child’s school uniform. Alternatively, if your child’s bag is made of leather, or a leather-like material, you can use disinfectant spray or wipes to wipe down the surface of the bag. If you are using this method, make sure that you reach every corner of your child’s bag. 

Photo by Luis Quintero from Pexels

At Laundryheap, our top priority is our customers safety. That is why we offer a hot wash service, completely free of charge, whenever you book a Laundryheap service. 

To book your Laundryheap service, simply head to the Laundryheap website, or download the free Laudndryheap app. 


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A world of inspirational women

The world is overflowing with inspirational women. In celebration of International Women’s Day, here are just a handful of those inspiring women. 

  • Helen Sharman OBE
  • Sinéad Burke
  • Crown Princess Victoria
  • Aletta Jacobs
  • Sandi Toksvig OBE
  • Ruth Bader Ginsburg 
  • Sarah Al-Amiri
  • Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad Al-Thani
  • Noha Nabil
  • Tanzeel Jabbar-Khadir
  • Deborah Emmanuel

Helen Sharman OBE

In May 1991, at 26 years old, Helen Sharman became the first British astronaut. Hand selected from 13,000 applicants, Helen underwent a rigorous 18 months of training, before she was launched into space. She was in space for just under 8 days, conducting media and agricultural research. Today, Helen is the Outreach Ambassador for Imperial College London, inspiring the next generation of astronauts to, quite literally, reach for the stars. 

Sinéad Burke

Sinéad Burke is a writer, academic, disability activist, and director of the consulting organisation Tilting the Lens, which works to raise the baseline standard in accessibility to design a more accessible world. When she was 16 years old, she began blogging about the fashion industries exclusion of disabled people. Since then, she has done an incredibly successful TED talk, ‘why design should include everyone’, has been invited to the White House under the Obama administration to highlight the importance of inclusive design, and was one of the 15 women selected for the cover of the September 2019 issue of British Vogue, guest edited by Meghan, Duchess of Sussex. In 2020 she published her first book, ‘Break the Mould’, which includes lessons for children and adults on accepting who you are. 

Crown Princess Victoria

Crown Princess Victoria is the heir to the Swedish throne and, when she becomes queen, will be the first queen of Sweden since 1720. Aside from fulfilling her royal duties, Princess Victoria is heavily involved in charity work, focusing specifically on children. The Crown Princess Victoria Fund was established in 1997 and provides support for leisure and recreational activities for children and young people with chronic illnesses. She is also an LGBTQ+ advocate. 

Image by Håkan Dahlström Photography

Aletta Jacobs

Physician and women suffrage activist Aletta Jacobs, was the first woman to officially attend a Dutch university, and was one of the first female physicians in the Netherlands. After graduating in 1879, Aletta began providing medical services to women and children. She grew increasingly concerned with the health of working women as there were no laws protecting them, meaning that their economic position was compromised. In an attempt to help, Aletta opened a free clinic in 1882, to teach women about hygiene and child care, as well as provide contraception advice and methods. Her clinic was the first birth control clinic in the world. She continued practicing medicine until 1903, however, her attention was always focused on women’s rights and she was instrumental in the establishment of the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom. 

Image by Jim Forest

Sandi Toksvig OBE

Sandi Toksvig OBE, is a British-Danish writer, comedian, broadcaster, actor, podcaster, and political activist. She has worked on some of the biggest shows on British TV, including The Great British Bake Off and QI. In 2015 Toksvig founded the Women’s Equality Party, a political party that campaigns for gender equality. She explained the reason behind setting up the party was because “it’s not too late to fight the good fight.” 

Ruth Bader Ginsburg 

From 1993 until her death in 2020, Ruth Bader Ginsburg served as an associate justice of the Supreme Court of the United States. She was the first Jewish woman and only the second woman to serve on the Court. Throughout her legal career, Ginsburg was an advocate for women’s rights and gender equality. She worked to upend legislation that discriminated based upon gender, was a founding counsel for the American Civil Liberties Union’s Women’s Rights Project, and designed and taught law courses on gender discrimination laws. She is and will always be a feminist icon. 

Sarah Al-Amiri

On February 9th, 2021 the Hope spacecraft from the United Arab Emirate’s space agency went into orbit around Mars. Sarah Al-Amiri was the project’s lead scientist who, along with her 80% female workforce, launched Hope into space. In October 2017 Amiri was named Minister of State for Advanced Sciences in the United Arab Emirates Cabinet. In 2020 Amiri featured on the BBC’s 100 Women list, and in 2021 she was named in the Time’s list of Next 100 Most Influential People. 

Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad Al-Thani

Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad Al-Thani was named the most influential person in art on Artreview’s Power 100, and was listed in Forbes The World’s 100 Most Powerful Women. After graduating with a B.A. in political science and literature, Sheikha Al Mayassa established Reach Out To Asia, an NGO that helps victims of recent natural disasters in Asia. Alongside her philanthropy, Sheikha Al Mayassa is the chairperson of Qatar museums, chairperson of the Doha Film Institute, and is a member of the Board of Trustees at the Qatar Foundation for Education, Science, and Community Development. 

Noha Nabil

Noha Nabil has been named the most influential figure in the Arab world (2018), was ranked by Forbes in the Top 10 Most Influential Arab Women in Social Media (2017), and Most Influential Arab Figure (2016). She is a businesswoman, model, and media personality. Nabil works with luxury brands, such as Fendi, Armani, and Fendi, and in 2020, Vogue Business described her as “by far the biggest influencer in the Arabic Middle East”

Tanzeel Jabbar-Khadir

Australian native but Bahrain adoptee Tanzeel Jabbar-Khadir is the creator of #100BahrainStories. What began as a social media project in 2016, turned into a book, published in 2018. Tanzeel wanted to get to know the everyday people of Bahrain, so interviewed them and posted their stories online. She used the same format in her book, writing down the stories of Bahrain natives for the world to read. 

Deborah Emmanuel

Deborah Emmanuel is a Singaporean artist, best known for her poetry. From TEDXSingapore to the Performance Theatre, Emmanuel has toured the world with her poetry. Her work is heavily influenced by political and feminist discourse. 

Whilst you celebrate International Women’s Day, we will take care of your laundry. To book your Laundryheap service, head to the Laundryheap website, or download the free Laundryheap app. 

Photos to promote Laundry Heap. For advertising and promotional purposes.


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Quarantine entertainment

Photo by Daria Shevtsova from Pexels

At first glance, hotel quarantine may not sound like a lot of fun. Confined to a small space for 10 days, with only a TV, WIFI, and whatever you travelled with, for entertainment. That being said, there are some fun, useful, and productive ways to stay entertained during your hotel quarantine. 

  • Exercise
  • Yoga
  • Learn something new
  • Read
  • Listen to podcasts
  • Catch up with family and friends
  • Do something creative 
  • Catch up on life admin
  • Do some cleaning 
  • Allow yourself to relax

Exercise 

Despite not having a lot of space in your hotel room, it is still essential to do at least a little bit of exercise. You will be moving very little during your 10-day quarantine, so it’s important to do a small amount of activity every day to stimulate your body and mind. This can be in the form of walking from one side of your hotel room to the other 10 times every hour, completing an exercise video, or even doing a home workout. Doing a small amount of exercise will keep your body energised and release endorphins to help keep you feeling optimistic during this tough time. 

Photo by Karolina Grabowska from Pexels

Yoga 

As well as doing physical exercise, try doing yoga. Yoga is a great way to stretch your body, improve your flexibility, and focus your mind. In addition to this, yoga doesn’t require much space, so it’s easy to achieve in a small hotel room. 

Photo by Tim Samuel from Pexels

Learn something new 

Quarantining for 10 days, completely away from distractions, provides the perfect opportunity to learn something new. You could learn a new language, take an online course, or try something creative, such as art. As long as you can find the supplies, and your new activity doesn’t require too much space, the sky is your limit. Push yourself, and you will be surprised at what you can achieve. 

Photo by Tony Schnagl from Pexels

Read

In our normal lives, we are surrounded by so many distractions, that it’s hard to find a quiet moment to relax and escape in a book. Your hotel quarantine experience provides the ample opportunity to do just that. Turn off your phone, get comfortable, and lose yourself in an alternate universe where you aren’t quarantining in a hotel for 10 days. 

Photo by Dina Nasyrova from Pexels

Listen to podcasts

Whatever your interests are, there is a podcast for you. From true crime to comedy, DIY to baking, you will definitely be able to find an interesting podcast on your chosen subject. Simply choose a podcast, get comfortable, and listen. Be warned though- they are extremely addictive, and before you know it you will have spent a whole day intensely listening to the same one. 

Photo by cottonbro from Pexels

Catch up with family and friends 

The COVID 19 pandemic has made all of us focus on cherishing our loved one. That being said, in between working, looking after families, and finding time to focus on ourselves, sometimes it’s hard to reach out to the ones we love. Take your time in quarantine to ring, video call, or voice note your loved ones. Check in with them and make sure that they are okay. It can get lonely in quarantine, especially if you are on your own, so it will feel good to see or hear a loved one, even if it is through a phone. 

Photo by Artem Podrez from Pexels

Do something creative 

Sometimes we become so invested with the everyday, that we don’t find the space to be creative. Take your quarantine as an opportunity to explore your creative side. Express your emotions through art, try creative writing, or even film your quarantine experience. Try and find a creative outlet to express your emotions. 

Photo by Steve Johnson from Pexels

Catch up on life admin 

We all have life admin that we either never have the time to tackle, or are constantly finding excuses to avoid doing. Now is your time to tackle that life admin. Set an hour aside everyday for the 10 days that you are in quarantine and get your life admin out of the way. You may not even need 10 days to complete it.

Photo by Cup of Couple from Pexels

Do some cleaning 

Despite the fact that you will be staying in a hotel room, it is your responsibility to keep your room clean for the 10 days that you are staying. Pass some time by making the bed and making sure that your room and bathroom is clean and tidy. A tidy room may help tidy your mind and lead to an increase in productivity. 

Photo by cottonbro from Pexels

Allow yourself time to relax 

Life is hectic, and this pandemic has been, and still is, incredibly hard to navigate. Whilst you are quarantining, allow yourself time to fully relax. Take some time to practice mindfulness. Spend a day watching mindless TV. Take a nap. Whatever it is that you do to relax, allow yourself time to do it. This will help you re-set your mind, and prepare you for life post hotel quarantine. 

If you are concerned about running out of clean clothing whilst you are in quarantine, worry no more. We’re here to help. At Laundryheap, we will pick up your clothing from your hotel, dry clean your garments, and re-deliver them to you, within 24 hours. 

To book your Laundryheap service, simply head to the Laundryheap website, or download the free Laundryheap app from the App Store or Google Play Store. 


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How to get laundry done in a quarantine hotel

Photo by Tatiana from Pexels

You’ve arrived back in the UK, lugging your suitcase, and you’re immediately told that you must isolate for 10 days in a quarantine hotel. You will be provided with 3 meals a day, WIFI, and regular COVID tests. What won’t be provided, is a way for you to wash your clothes. How are you going to get your laundry done? 

  • In the sink 
  • Through the hotel 
  • Laundryheap

In the sink 

To wash your smaller items of clothing, such as t-shirts and underwear, you can use your quarantine hotel room bathroom sink. Before doing so, check with your hotel that you can have access to some form of laundry detergent. 

To hand-wash your clothes, fill your bathroom sink with warm water, and add the laundry detergent.

Place your items in the water, you may have to do this one item at a time depending on how big your sink is, and use a plunging motion to wash them. 

Once you are satisfied with the cleanliness of your items, rinse them with warm water. Make sure that you thoroughly rinse your clothing or you could be left with laundry detergent lingering in your garments. 

After rinsing your clothing, hang it over the shower and leave it to air dry. This could take some time depending on the warmth of your room and how many items you are trying to dry at once. 

Photo by ato de from Pexels

Through the hotel 

Some quarantine hotels may offer an in-house laundry service, at an additional cost. It is likely that a laundry service will only be available at certain times, so you will have to adjust your schedule accordingly. There is no guarantee that your quarantine hotel will offer a laundry service, so it is best to check before hand. 

Photo by Andrea Piacquadio from Pexels

Laundryheap

Laundryheap is an on-demand laundry and dry-cleaning service. We will pick-up your laundry from your quarantine hotel, launder it, and have it re-delivered to you within 24 hours. We are fast, flexible, and efficient.

Our number one priority throughout the COVID 19 pandemic continues to be keeping our customers and partner drivers safe. That is why we offer a hot wash service, at no additional cost, and all of our deliveries are contactless. 

At Laundryheap, we understand that this is a scary time, and that having to quarantine in a hotel for 10 days is not easy. That is why we are here to help you get through it, with fresh clothes. 

Booking your Laundryheap order could not be simpler. You can head to our website, or download the free Laundryheap app from the App Store or Google Play Store. 


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Laundryheap 2020 roundup

2020 has been a strange and difficult year for all of us. We have had to adapt to living and working in a completely new world. At Laundryheap, we have been listening to what our customers want, and adapting our services to suit their needs. This is how our 2020 has gone. 

  • Contactless deliveries
  • Hot wash services 
  • Healthcare worker discount
  • NHS support initiative 
  • Essential packs 
  • Eco bikes
  • Expanding internationally
  • Pay it Forward scheme

Contactless deliveries

Our main priority has, and will always be, to make our customers experience with Laundryheap as easy and pleasurable as possible- this includes keeping them safe. As of March 2020, all of our orders have been picked-up and delivered completely contactless.

When our customers place their order, we ask them to specify a safe and secure pick-up and delivery location so that we can ensure that all of our orders can successfully be carried out. This prevents our customers and drivers from interacting with one another, and therefore prevents the spread of COVID 19.

We will be continuing our contactless orders into 2021. 

Hot wash services 

High temperatures have a higher success of killing bacteria and viruses that are lingering on your clothing. For that reason, we have been offering a hot wash service since March 2020.

Our hot wash service is a free add-on for all of our customers, however, we do warn that all care labels need to be checked prior to placing a hot wash service as hot washes can damage delicate materials.

Similarly to our contactless deliveries, we will be offering hot wash services in 2021. 

Healthcare worker discount 

When the COVID 19 pandemic hit, and the world went into lockdown, it was our healthcare workers who looked after us and our loved ones. At Laundryheap, we wanted to show our health workers our appreciation for all that they do. From March to June 2020, we offered all healthcare workers a 30% discount on their orders, in all the countries we operated in. It was a small gesture of our massive appreciation for everything that they had done, and are still doing, to help beat this pandemic. 

NHS support initiative 

At the beginning of the pandemic, there were NHS staff that were travelling far distances to work in hospitals across the country. To help these members of staff, we teamed up with our partners Under the Doormat, the award-winning luxury home accommodation business, to provide NHS workers in London with temporary homes close to hospitals. Under the Doormat provided the homes, and Laundryheap provided all of their linens. 

Photo by Alexander Zvir from Pexels

Essential Packs  

When the world first went into lockdown, people were urged to only go to the shops for essential items. To help those, in London, who didn’t feel comfortable going to the shops, we devised the Essentials Pack- a pack of essential toiletries that were delivered, contactless, straight to your door. Our Essential Packs included soap, toilet paper, washing up liquid, shampoo, shower gel, toothpaste, cleaning liquid, and liquid soap. 

We collaborated with AGE UK to send Essential Packs to those who were most at risk of contracting COVID 19. To contribute to this initiative, our customers could buy an Essentials Pack and enter ‘AGE UK’ into the address section of the order. Each pack that was bought for AGE UK went directly to an elderly person to help them during this troubling and scary time.

Thank you to everyone who helped us with this initiative. 

Eco bikes 

Laundryheap is a fully committed environmentally conscious business. As such, we are constantly striving to make every part of our business as environmentally friendly as possible.

In October, we launched a trial of our brand new eco bikes, designed by EAV Cargo, in London. Eco bikes have the ability to slash carbon dioxide emissions from  transport by 50%. Not only do our delivery bikes lower our businesses carbon footprint, but they also limit the time our drivers spend in traffic, meaning a speedier delivery for our customers. 

We, at Laundryheap, are incredibly pleased to announce that our London eco bike trial period was incredibly successful. In 2021, we will be bringing our eco bikes to 4 more cities in a bid to continue making Laundryheap as environmentally friendly as possible.

 Expanding internationally 

At Laundryheap, we want to make as many people’s lives as easy as possible by eliminating the task of laundry. In 2020, we have been lucky enough to grow Laundryheap internationally, expanding out business to America, the Netherlands, Singapore, and Denmark.

We hope to continue growing Laundryheap internationally throughout 2021, and, if we don’t already, we hope to operate where you are soon. 

Photo by NastyaSensei from Pexels

Pay it forward scheme 

When COVID 19 hit, we wanted to help our customers as much as possible. Since March 2020, we have been adding an additional amount of money to all of our Laundryheap gift cards. Whichever gift card amount you buy, we add an extra amount, at no additional cost to yourself. This is just our way to help our customers get the most out of our services. 

We would like to wish all of our customers a very happy new year. In 2021, we will continue growing our business, and helping as many customers with their laundry needs as possible.

We can’t wait to see you in 2021. 


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Celebrating Hanukkah

Image by ooceey from Pixabay

The Jewish festival of Hanukkah is upon us, and this is how you celebrate it. 

  • The meaning
  • Dates
  • The menorah 
  • Food
  • The dreidel
  • Gifts

The meaning

Hanukkah is the Jewish Festival of Lights. It celebrates the defeat of the Syrian Greeks, who had taken over the Jewish Temple in Jerusalem and outlawed Jewish practices, by the Maccabees, an army of Jewish rebels, in 164 BCE.

You may have seen Hanukkah spelt several different ways, including Hanukkah, Hannuka, and Chanukah. This is because Hanukkah is a Hebrew word meaning dedication and there is no direct English translation. 

Dates

Hanukkah is based on the Hebrew calendar. Despite always starting on the 25th day of the Hebrew month Kislev, in the Georgian calendar this can translate to anywhere from late November to late December. This year Hanukkah begins on Thursday 10th December 2020, and will end on Friday 18th December 2020. 

The menorah 

The menorah was a seven-branched candelabra that lit the ancient temple in Jerusalem. It was lit only by a specially, ritually-pure, olive oil that took over a week to prepare. After the Maccabees defeated the Greeks and rededicated the temple to God, legend has it that they found a small amount of this pure oil. Normally, the small amount that they found would only have lit the menorah for one day, however, somewhat miraculously, the menorah stayed lit for eight days. This provided enough time for more oil to be prepared. 

To celebrate the miracle of the menorah staying lit, Jews light nine-branched menorah’s, called hanukkiah, for all eight days of the festival. 

Food 

During Hanukkah, the sacred oil that lit the menorah is also celebrated by eating fried food. The two most traditional foods to eat are latkes, fried potato pancakes, and sufganiyot, jelly donuts. 

The dreidel

The dreidel is a small spinning top which children often play with at Hanukkah.

Prior to the Maccabees defeating the Greeks, Jews were forbidden from worshipping God or studying the Torah. Despite this, they continued to read the Torah, but simply hid their scrolls away if a Greek was nearby and played with a spinning top.

Today, dreidel’s are played with to commemorate this time, and are marked with 4 Hebrew letters which stand for the phrase, nes gadol haya sham- A great miracle happened here. 

Gifts 

Giving gifts was never a Hanukkah tradition, until the rise of Christmas gift-giving prompted American Jews to begin giving gifts at Hanukkah. Traditionally, Jews would give their relatives gelt (money) on Hanukkah. To acknowledge this tradition, many Jews will exchange gifts and give gelt in the form of chocolate coins. 

Happy Hanukkah from the whole Laundryheap team.

If you would like a helping hand with your laundry, book your Laundryheap service by heading to the Laundryheap website, or downloading the free Laundryheap app. 


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Your questions answered on washing face coverings

Image by Marco Verch Professional Photographer and Speaker

We have all been advised to wear face coverings when entering enclosed spaces outside of our own home- but do you know how to care for your face covering? These are your face covering questions, answered. 

  • How often should you wash your face covering?
  • How do you safely remove a face covering?
  • What should you do if you can’t wash your face covering immediately?
  • Can you wash your face covering with other laundry items? 
  • What’s the best way to wash a face-covering in the washing machine?
  • How do you hand wash a face covering?
  • How do you dry a face covering?

How often should you wash your face covering? 

You should wash your face covering after every wear. Your face covering will create a barrier to catch any virus-filled droplets that are breathed out in your everyday life. It is important to remember that you may encounter some people who will not be wearing masks and their virus-filled droplets could attach to the front of your face covering. To avoid any cross-contamination of COVID bacteria it is safest to wash the front and inside of your face mask after every wear. 

Image by Anna Shvets from Pexels

How do you safely remove a face covering?

Remove your face covering with care. Use the strings securing your covering to loosen and take it off. When removing, and once removed, avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth until you can wash your hands. You should wash your hands immediately after handling your face covering to remove any harmful bacteria that may have been transferred. 

Image by Anna Shvets from Pexels

What should you do if you can’t wash your face covering immediately?

If you can’t immediately wash your face covering, simply place it in a disposable bag until you can. Avoid placing your covering directly onto a surface as this can spread potentially harmful bacteria. If you do place your covering on a surface, make sure to disinfect the surface as soon as possible. 

Image by Anna Shvets from Pexels

Can you wash your face covering with other laundry items?

You can wash your face covering with other laundry items, as long as your covering is not overly delicate. COVID bacteria are highly unlikely to transfer from one material to another before the laundry detergent eliminates it. 

What’s the best way to wash a face covering in the washing machine?

The best way to wash a face covering in the washing machine is dependant on the material of your covering. Put your face covering in your washing machine with similar materials so that it does not get damaged. Prior to putting your covering in your machine check the care label to see what the highest appropriate temperature is. There is no need to buy a specific laundry detergent, whatever brand you usually use is completely fine. Once you have inserted your face covering with your other laundry items and inserted the detergent, set your washing machine to the highest appropriate temperature, and wait for your cycle to finish. 

How do you hand wash a face covering?

If your face covering is made from a particularly delicate material it may be best to hand wash it. If this is the case, all you need is laundry detergent and warm water. Pour a decent amount of laundry detergent onto your mask and use some warm water and a scrubbing motion to make the material soapy. Scrub your mask for a minimum of 20 seconds, making sure that all areas of it have been covered. After 20 seconds or more, rinse your mask with warm water, making sure that all of the soapy residue has been washed off. 

How do you dry a face covering?

The most effective drying method for a face covering is either by tumble drying or air drying. If you are using the tumble dryer, set the dryer to its highest temperature, and leave your covering in until it is completely dry. Alternatively, lay your face covering completely flat on a flat surface and wait for it to air dry. If possible, dry your mask in direct sunlight.

If you decide to air dry your mask make sure that you iron it once it has been dried. You want to use some form of heat to make sure that all of the bacteria from your mask have been eliminated and using an iron is the fasted way to do this. 

At Laundryheap, we want to ensure that you stay safe. That is why we offer a hot wash service and will deliver your laundered clothes contact-free. Book your slot by heading to the Laundryheap website or by downloading the free Laundryheap app. 


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Everyday quarantine essentials

Being in quarantine can be stressful, boring, exhausting, and worrying. But, there are ways that you can make it easier for yourself and those you’re isolating with. These are the everyday essentials that you will need in quarantine. 

  • A basic first aid kit 
  • Groceries 
  • Essential toiletries 
  • WiFi
  • Moisturiser
  • Loungewear
  • A book 
  • Video chat
  • A bath bomb
  • Board games/puzzles 

A basic first aid kit

With the stress that the world’s hospitals are under, coupled with the fact that we are only supposed to be shopping for the essentials, it is vital that everyone has a basic first aid kit in their home. Your kit should include medical basics such as plasters, bandages, antiseptic cream, tweezers, and paracetamol. Having a simple first aid kit to hand will mean that you will only have to leave your home and concern the emergency services when it is absolutely necessary. 

photo by Senior Airman Kirby Turbak

Groceries 

We all have to eat, so groceries are an absolute essential during quarantine. When shopping for your groceries you should strike the right balance between a nutritious diet and treating yourself. These are worrisome times that we are in, so if you want to buy 3 different types of biscuits or a giant bar of chocolate, go for it. Just make sure that you balance your treats with some healthy, hearty, meals. 

Image by Mittmac from Pixabay

Essential toiletries

Items such as toilet roll, toothpaste, shampoo, and shower gel are all essential to keeping ourselves clean. It is vital that, despite being in quarantine, we maintain our physical hygiene. Having regular showers, and even taking on a task as simple as brushing your teeth, can improve your mental health and give you a more productive state of mind. If you are struggling to find essential toiletries in your local store and you live in the UK buy one of our Essential Packs and we will deliver your essentials to you. Additionally, you can buy an Essentials Pack for someone vulnerable by adding the AGEUK address to the delivery information.

Wifi 

Living in the age of the internet means that WiFi has become essential in our everyday lives. Now, it is an essential during quarantine. It would be near impossible to work from home and stay connected with your colleagues without WiFi. Outside of work, WiFi can be used to watch movies, TV shows, and to browse the internet to stay entertained. 

Moisturiser 

We should all be washing our hands to maintain cleanliness and prevent the spread of COVID19. However, constantly washing your hands can lead to dry, cracked skin that can be painful. To alleviate the pain, use moisturiser to soften your hands. Dry skin on your hands should not prevent you from frequently washing them, so a high-impact moisturiser is an essential quarantine item. 

Loungewear

Loungewear is essential to achieving maximum comfort whilst in quarantine. Whether you’re working from home, home-schooling your children, or just taking it one day at a time, you don’t want to be wearing unnecessarily stiff clothing. Tracksuits, leggings, shorts and loose-fitting T-shirts are the height of quarantine fashion. Comfortable, stretchy clothing that is easy to move in and easy to lounge in. 

Photo by Jack Sparrow from Pexels

A book 

Being in quarantine can become incredibly overwhelming but reading can be a useful release. When isolation starts to get a bit too much, grab a book and transport yourself to another world. Try and choose upbeat happy books that will take you away from the stresses of the modern world, however, any book that you can immerse yourself in will do. 

Coffee Break Reading Travel Book Lifestyle Concept

Video chat

Distancing from friends, family, and loved ones is incredibly difficult, which is why online video chats, such as Zoom, Skype, and FaceTime have become so important. It’s vital that we stay in touch with those we love so that we can catch up with them and make sure that they are safe. We need to virtually socialise as much as possible to maintain relationships and boost our mental health. Apps, such as Zoom, are great for virtually socialising because you can physically see the person you are talking to, plus it makes it easy to take part in things such as virtual pub quizzes, movie nights, and games. 

A bath bomb

During lock down, it is important to take some time for yourself to relax. One way to do that is by having a soothing bath with a bath bomb. Try and get a bath bomb that includes natural relaxants such as lavender and rose as this will make it easier for you to sink into a calm state of mind. To set the tone for relaxation, light some candles and make sure that you have a nice big fluffy towel waiting for you when you’re ready to get out.

Board games/puzzles  

If you are isolating with friends or family, board games and puzzles can be a great way to pass the time and bond. Relationships can become strained whilst in quarantine, so doing something positive together, such as playing a board game or completing a puzzle, can relieve some of that tension. Plus, board games and puzzles are great entertainment and can be played time after time. 

Wherever you’re isolating we hope that you are safe. Our services are fully operational, now including in Kuwait, with hot washes available and all orders being delivered contactless. Book your delivery slot by visiting the Laundryheap website or by downloading the Laundryheap app for free. 


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What is fast fashion doing to the environment?

Photo by Sharon McCutcheon from Pexels

We are becoming increasingly more aware of the damage that we are doing to the environment. We know that the sea levels are rising and we know that we need to work on our carbon footprint. But, do we know the damage that our clothes are causing the environment?

  • What is fast fashion?
  • What happens to our clothes in landfill sites?
  • How do our clothes pollute water?
  • What effect are our clothes having on the carbon footprint?
  • What are our clothes doing to natural habitats?
  • How can we help our planet?

What is fast fashion?

Fast fashion is the process of designing, making, and selling clothing as quickly and cheaply as possible. When there was once a new fashion range to reflect the four seasons of the year, there are now 52 ranges to reflect every week of the year. Fast fashion is cheap to buy, but comes at the price of being made from cheap materials that only last a few wears, and, more importantly, the deterioration of our environment. 

What happens to our clothes in landfill sites? 

A western family, on average, throws away 30 kg of clothing every year. 15% of that clothing is recycled or donated and the other 85% is taken to a landfill. 72% of fast fashion clothing is made from synthetic fibres, which are non-biodegradable. It can take up to 200 years for these fibres to decompose. As our clothing decomposes methane, a greenhouse gas, is emitted into the atmosphere. The rapid pace that we are throwing away clothing, coupled with the slow rate that clothes decompose, has resulted in landfills being inundated with clothing, emitting a greenhouse gas more potent than carbon. 

How do our clothes pollute the water?

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has calculated that the fashion industry uses 1.5 trillion litres of water every year. A 2017 report stated that the average water footprint for a kilo of cotton, equivalent to one pair of jeans and a t-shirt, was 10,000-20,000 litres. This water becomes wastewater, which contains toxic substances, such as lead, mercury and arsenic. It is extremely dangerous to aquatic life and has the potential to travel to the ocean, therefore polluting the water across the globe. 

Even washing our clothes is polluting the water. One washload of polyester can release 700,000 micro-plastic fibres into the environment, and an estimated 500,000 of those fibres end up in the ocean. Although small, micro-plastic fibres are a major contributor to the micro-plastic pollution in our seas and pose a threat to the livelihoods of aquatic animals. 

What effect do our clothes have on the carbon footprint?

The UN has stated that the fashion industry consumes more energy than the aviation and shipping industries combined. In addition, The Pulse report has predicted that fashion emissions will grow by 63% by 2030. 

Fast fashion monopolises on designing, producing and selling clothing at a rapid pace. As a result of this, the industry produces 10% of the worlds carbon dioxide emissions a year amongst other greenhouse gases. Synthetic fibres, made from fossil fuels, are constantly being used in fast fashion because they are cheaper than natural fibres. This makes the production of fast fashion clothing a lot more energy-intensive. In addition, a lot of our clothing is made in countries such as China, Bangladesh and India. These countries are mostly powered by coal, the dirtiest energy in terms of carbon emissions. Buying our clothing at the rate that we currently are is heightening the use of fossil fuels and increasing global warming through intense greenhouse gas emission.

What are our clothes doing to natural habitats? 

The fast fashion industry is a massive contributor to deforestation. In fact, 70 million trees are cut down a year to make clothes. Every year, thousands of hectares of endangered forestry is cut down and replaced by plantations of trees that are grown to make wood-based fabrics such as rayon. This loss of forest is threatening ecosystems, as well as the lives of indigenous people.

As well as deforestation, the fashion industry plays a major role in the degradation of soil. Cashmere goats and sheep are specifically mass-produced for their wool, leading to over pasteurisation. In addition, cotton is sprayed with chemicals to help it to grow, which leads to soil pollution and loss of land.

Image by crustmania

How can we help our planet?

Despite the damage that has already been done to our planet, we can prevent further damage from happening. Begin by using conscious fashion brands. These are brands that use environmentally friendly processes to design, produce and manufacturer their clothing. These brands tend to be more expensive to buy from, however, use higher quality materials to create long lasting clothing. Other than this, try to buy second-hand and recycle any of your unwanted clothing.

To prevent endorsing in fast fashion, make sure that you are looking after your clothing. Book your dry cleaning slot by visiting the Laundryheap website or by downloading our free app.


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Laundryheap: Support services added

Photo by Polina Tankilevitch from Pexels

Updates to how we handle the coronavirus situation are constantly changing. At Laundryheap, the safety of our customers is our highest priority, which is why we are remaining fully operational. In addition to our usual services, we have devised new operations to ensure the safety of our customers. 

  • Essentials pack
  • Discount for healthcare workers
  • NHS support initiative
  • Pay it Forward
  • High temperature wash services 
  • Contactless collections and deliveries

Essentials Pack 

Around the world, people have been notified by the government to limit the amount of time they spend outside. We should only be leaving our homes for the necessities- to pick up shopping or a prescription, or to exercise. To help, we have devised an Essentials Pack to help those who are unable to get the toiletries they need. Our pack includes, soap, toilet paper, washing up liquid, shampoo, shower gel, toothpaste, cleaning liquid and liquid soap.

The essentials pack can be purchased for personal use, for a relative, friend or family member, or to send to someone in need. We are collaborating with AGE UK to send essentials to someone in need. If you would like to contribute to the initiative, you can book an Essentials Pack and put AGE UK into the address section.

Please note: the Essentials Pack is only available whilst stocks last and is only available in London. 

Discount for healthcare workers

Medical staff around the world are doing an outstanding job at combating coronavirus. We would like to thank healthcare workers by giving them 30% off of their laundry. If you are a healthcare worker, place your order and then contact our customer care team and give them your email address. Our team will verify your email address and add your 30% discount to your order before you pay. It’s our small way to thank you for everything that you are doing.

This offer is available in all cities we operate in.

Photo by Lydia

NHS support initiative

With our partners Under the doormat, we are providing London NHS workers with temporary homes close to hospitals. Under the doormat provides luxury accommodation for people looking for home-stays in London, and we provide them with their linens. During Covid19, we are offering the empty homes we have near London hospitals to those NHS workers who need them. 


If you are an NHS worker and would like to use the accommodation on offer, please contact: NHShomes@underthedoormat.com.

In addition, if you own an unoccupied property that you would like to offer to a key worker, contact: myhome@underthedoormat.com.

Pay it forward

We understand that covid19 isn’t easy for anyone, however, some people are more vulnerable than others. If you know someone who is considered a high risk of catching coronavirus, buy them a Laundryheap gift card and let us eliminate the potential virus from their clothing. When you buy one of our gift cards we will add an extra amount to the card as an added gift.

Giftcards are available in all cities we operate in.

Photo by Marco Verch Professional Photographer and Speaker

High temperature wash services 

To limit the risk of spreading coronavirus we are now offering a hot wash service across all cities we operate in. High temperatures have better success of killing bacteria and viruses, so we recommend taking advantage of this service to ensure that your clothing is effectively sterilised.

WARNING: Please always check the care label of your clothing before requesting a hot wash service. Delicate materials, such as silk, may be damaged if they are washed at too high a temperature. 

Photo by Paul Hudson

Contactless collections and deliveries 

We are now offering contactless collections and deliveries to limit your contact with our drivers. We want to limit the spread of coronavirus, and ensure the safety of both our customers and drivers. When you book your service, specify in the delivery instructions a safe location where we can collect and deliver your clothing. Our drivers will inform you when your clothing has been picked up and when they have been re-delivered to you.

We are keeping a close eye on the governments advice on how to handle covid19. For now, our services are fully available to ensure your safety. Download the Laundryheap app now to book your delivery slot.