Tackle your toughest loads of laundry with ease

Shoe Sponge Have you turned more than a fair share of your white socks pink? Do you struggle to keep your couch cushions clean? If either of these statements describes you, then you’re in luck. Katie Brown of PBS's “Keep it Simple” has a rule of thumb for every room of the house and possible laundry mishap.Kitchen tipsWash oven mitts and ironing board covers in cold water in your washer and dry on low, as these items can shrink easily. For sponges, wash them in your dishwasher, then while still wet, pop into the microwave on high for 1 minute to kill any lurking germs.The cloth part of your mop can be washed in the machine if there is no hard metal or plastic attached, but remember to air dry. Plastic dish gloves can be washed in the dishwasher or in the washer on gentle for a short cycle in warm water and then air dried.Bedroom tipsWhen it comes to pillows, invest in a pillow protector to go under your regular pillowcase. Down pillows can be machine washed. Fill the washer halfway with water, and then submerge the pillow to get out all the air. Let the water fill the machine and wash for 8-10 minutes, taking care to set the machine on delicate cycle. Open the lid occasionally to press out air and balance the load if necessary.