How often do you change your bed linen?
The ‘Loose Women’ television programme recently came up with some alarming and amusing answers ranging from “When I remember” to “I can’t think when I last changed them”. Most people would settle for a regular weekly stripping of the bed and crisp, new bed linen for the week ahead. Sadly with the current pace of life, it is usually a matter of how much time you have, especially when you have work commitments, or the family’s social events to sort out. It’s not just the sheets and pillowcases that need to be cleaned; there are duvets and pillows, quilt covers and bedspreads too.
A visit from the mother-in-law might motivate you into frantic cleaning mode and who wants that kind of scrutiny? That’s where Iron Maids can help. Iron Maids will collect and deliver your bed linen, doing our best to fit around your schedule. Duvets can be washed, or Iron Maids will dry clean any items that need special attention. What about the bedroom curtains: these are often neglected, but you’d be surprised what a difference a clean pair of curtains makes to a guest bedroom, or any bedroom!
Don’t forget the hand towels and bath towels, especially if you’re having visitors. Iron Maids can do all of these items, whether you’re having a one off sort out, or it’s just part of your weekly routine. Having expanded our collection and delivery area this year we are certainly more accessible, so give us a ring on either 01622 870111 or 01233 779009.
Don’t forget, Iron Maids will also see to your repairs too!
For full details of our prices for washing, ironing and dry cleaning, check out our website www.iron-maids.co.uk where you can now make an online booking for collection.
Wednesday, 29 February 2012
Wednesday, 22 February 2012
Shrove Tuesday
Shrove Tuesday is an ancient religious festival day which dates back to the early Christian times. It is the day before Ash Wednesday, which itself is the start of Lent.
Lent is a time of self discipline and denial. Throughout the 40 days of Lent it is traditional for people to fast and pray, however the week preceding Lent has become a time of celebration focusing on Shrove Tuesday or Fat Tuesday as it was once known.
The name "Shrove Tuesday" comes from the custom of ringing the “shriving bell” to summon the people to church to be “shriven"; that is, to confess their sins at the beginning of Lent.
At this time, certain foods are given up for the duration of Lent, such as eggs, milk, meat, and rich buttery dishes. On Shrove Tuesday, families would eat all the rich foods left in their pantries. One way they use up the eggs, milk and fats in the house is to add flour to make special pancakes. In England, the popularity of cooking pancakes on this day caused Shrove Tuesday to be called Pancake Day.
The making and eating of pancakes has always been much the same. And so it’s not too surprising that two events, pancakes and festivals, are often linked together.Maybe the best known one is Shrove Tuesday or Pancake Day which heralds the beginning of fasting in Lent. On this day, so historians say, there were feasts of pancakes to use up the stocks of flour, butter and eggs - foods which were forbidden during Lent.
In England there are several celebrations on this day but perhaps the best known one is the Pancake Day Race at Olney in Buckinghamshire which has been held since 1445. The race came about when a woman cooking pancakes heard the bell summoning her to confession. She ran to church wearing her apron and still holding her frying pan, and thus without knowing it, started a tradition that has lasted for over five hundred years. According to the old rules, only women wearing a dress (no slacks or jeans), an apron and a hat or scarf, may take part in the race.The traditional race has each contestant with a frying pan containing a pancake. She must toss it three times during the race which starts at the market square at 11.55 am. The first woman to complete the winding 375 metre course and arrive at the church is the winner. In 1950 the race became an international event when a challenge was received from Liberal, Kansas, USA.
Large or small, fat or wafer thin and made with a wide range of flours, pancakes are given different names by different people. There are Hungarian palesinta, Chinese egg rolls, Jewish blintzes, Russian blini, Italian cannelloni, Swedish plattar, Mexican tortillas, American hotcakes, German pfannkucken, Norwegian lefser, Austrian nockerlin, Welsh crempog and Australian pikelets; but undoubtedly the most famous of them all is the great French crepe.
If you can’t find the time for cooking that you wish you had, let Iron Maids help free some up. Just contact us on 01622 870111, 01233 779009 or via our website iron-maids.co.uk where you can now make ONLINE BOOKINGS
Lent is a time of self discipline and denial. Throughout the 40 days of Lent it is traditional for people to fast and pray, however the week preceding Lent has become a time of celebration focusing on Shrove Tuesday or Fat Tuesday as it was once known.
The name "Shrove Tuesday" comes from the custom of ringing the “shriving bell” to summon the people to church to be “shriven"; that is, to confess their sins at the beginning of Lent.
At this time, certain foods are given up for the duration of Lent, such as eggs, milk, meat, and rich buttery dishes. On Shrove Tuesday, families would eat all the rich foods left in their pantries. One way they use up the eggs, milk and fats in the house is to add flour to make special pancakes. In England, the popularity of cooking pancakes on this day caused Shrove Tuesday to be called Pancake Day.
The making and eating of pancakes has always been much the same. And so it’s not too surprising that two events, pancakes and festivals, are often linked together.Maybe the best known one is Shrove Tuesday or Pancake Day which heralds the beginning of fasting in Lent. On this day, so historians say, there were feasts of pancakes to use up the stocks of flour, butter and eggs - foods which were forbidden during Lent.
In England there are several celebrations on this day but perhaps the best known one is the Pancake Day Race at Olney in Buckinghamshire which has been held since 1445. The race came about when a woman cooking pancakes heard the bell summoning her to confession. She ran to church wearing her apron and still holding her frying pan, and thus without knowing it, started a tradition that has lasted for over five hundred years. According to the old rules, only women wearing a dress (no slacks or jeans), an apron and a hat or scarf, may take part in the race.The traditional race has each contestant with a frying pan containing a pancake. She must toss it three times during the race which starts at the market square at 11.55 am. The first woman to complete the winding 375 metre course and arrive at the church is the winner. In 1950 the race became an international event when a challenge was received from Liberal, Kansas, USA.
Large or small, fat or wafer thin and made with a wide range of flours, pancakes are given different names by different people. There are Hungarian palesinta, Chinese egg rolls, Jewish blintzes, Russian blini, Italian cannelloni, Swedish plattar, Mexican tortillas, American hotcakes, German pfannkucken, Norwegian lefser, Austrian nockerlin, Welsh crempog and Australian pikelets; but undoubtedly the most famous of them all is the great French crepe.
If you can’t find the time for cooking that you wish you had, let Iron Maids help free some up. Just contact us on 01622 870111, 01233 779009 or via our website iron-maids.co.uk where you can now make ONLINE BOOKINGS
Wednesday, 15 February 2012
Valentine's Day
The history of Valentine's Day is shrouded in mystery. It is known that February has long been celebrated as a month of romance, and that St. Valentine's Day, as we know it today has connections with both Christian and ancient Roman tradition. But who was St Valentine? The Catholic Church recognizes at least three different saints named Valentine or Valentinus, all of who were martyred. One legend states that Valentine was a priest who served during the 3rd century in Rome. When Emperor Claudius decided that single men made better soldiers than those with wives and families, he outlawed marriage for young men. Valentine, saw the injustice of the decree and defied Claudius and continued to perform marriages for young lovers in secret. When Valentine's actions were discovered, Claudius ordered that he be put to death. While some believe that Valentine's Day is celebrated in the middle of February to commemorate the anniversary of Valentine's death or burial which probably occurred around 270AD others claim that the Christian church may have decided to place St. Valentine's feast day in the middle of February in an effort to Christianize the pagan celebration of Lupercalia. Celebrated at the ides of February, or February 15, Lupercalia was a fertility festival dedicated to Faunus, the Roman god of agriculture, as well as to the Roman founders Romulus and Remus. To begin the festival, members of the Luperci, an order of Roman priests, would gather at a sacred cave where the infants Romulus and Remus, the founders of Rome, were believed to have been cared for by a she-wolf or lupa. The priests would sacrifice a goat, for fertility, and a dog, for purification. They would then strip the goat's hide into strips, dip them into the sacrificial blood and take to the streets, gently slapping both women and crop fields with the goat hide. Far from being fearful, Roman women welcomed the touch of the hides because it was believed to make them more fertile in the coming year. Later in the day, according to legend, all the young women in the city would place their names in a big urn. The city's bachelors would each choose a name and become paired for the year with his chosen woman. These matches often ended in marriage.
Lupercalia survived the initial rise of Christianity but was outlawed as it was deemed un-Christian at the end of the 5th century, when Pope Gelasius declared February 14 St. Valentine's Day. It was not until much later, however, that the day became definitively associated with love. During the Middle Ages, it was commonly believed in France and England that February 14th was the beginning of birds mating season, which added to the idea that the middle of Valentine's Day should be a day for romance. Valentine greetings were popular as far back as the Middle Ages, though written Valentine's didn't begin to appear until after 1400. The oldest known valentine still in existence today was a poem written in 1415 by Charles, Duke of Orleans, to his wife while he was imprisoned in the Tower of London following his capture at the Battle of Agincourt. (The greeting is now part of the manuscript collection of the British Library in London, England.) Several years later, it is believed that King Henry V hired a writer named John Lydgate to compose a valentine note to Catherine of Valois.
If you would like some time for a little romance, let Iron Maids help with all your laundry, ironing and dry cleaning. Just call on 01622 870111, 01233 779009 or contact us via our website iron-maids.co.uk
Lupercalia survived the initial rise of Christianity but was outlawed as it was deemed un-Christian at the end of the 5th century, when Pope Gelasius declared February 14 St. Valentine's Day. It was not until much later, however, that the day became definitively associated with love. During the Middle Ages, it was commonly believed in France and England that February 14th was the beginning of birds mating season, which added to the idea that the middle of Valentine's Day should be a day for romance. Valentine greetings were popular as far back as the Middle Ages, though written Valentine's didn't begin to appear until after 1400. The oldest known valentine still in existence today was a poem written in 1415 by Charles, Duke of Orleans, to his wife while he was imprisoned in the Tower of London following his capture at the Battle of Agincourt. (The greeting is now part of the manuscript collection of the British Library in London, England.) Several years later, it is believed that King Henry V hired a writer named John Lydgate to compose a valentine note to Catherine of Valois.
If you would like some time for a little romance, let Iron Maids help with all your laundry, ironing and dry cleaning. Just call on 01622 870111, 01233 779009 or contact us via our website iron-maids.co.uk
Thursday, 9 February 2012
Allergy Aware
Your home should be a safe retreat to get away from the stress of the outside world but if you are constantly feeling under the weather it could be that your home is actually making you ill. Hiding in most houses are hidden substances or organisms which can cause allergies. 40% of people in the UK
Undetectable to the naked eye, there are also chemicals floating around that can escape from all sorts of products including carpets, toys, clothes, cosmetics, computers, TVs and food packaging. Sometimes an allergy is triggered by the lowering of the immune system, caused by physical illness or a stressful event, such as a career change or divorce.
Hairsprays don't actually cause allergies, but some people are intolerant to them and will suffer shortness of breath or wheezing. You can use more natural based products but be careful when using hairspray if you are pregnant or spending time with children. Some perfumes in hairsprays can contain hormone disruptors or allergens.
Some plastics contain substances known as phthalates. These add flexibility to goods such as food packaging and some children's toys, but can escape into foods and have been found in human tissue.
Artificial musk and xylene used in perfumes, cosmetics and household products such as fabric conditioner and air freshener, have been found in the environment and breast milk.
Artificial musk and xylene used in perfumes, cosmetics and household products such as fabric conditioner and air freshener, have been found in the environment and breast milk.
We are actually allergic to the proteins and enzymes contained in the saliva of a pet, rather than the pet itself. When a cat or dog licks or scratches itself, skin cells drop off the animal and become airborne. Allergens, transported by the skin cells, settle in bedding, carpets and furnishings. Dust mites are microscopic creatures that thrive in humidity and warmth. Usually found in mattresses, bedding and upholstery, they survive on human skin cells for food. They digest our skin cells and excrete them as faecal particles which settle in our mattresses, pillows and carpets. Female dust mites excrete 20 particles a day, lay up to two eggs and live for five months.
Mould spores are fungal organisms that appear as black or green spots and grow in moist conditions. They survive in damp washing, ripe fruit and cheese and settle on the soil of house plants, in the fridge and hide behind wallpaper.
Mould spores can cause chronic sinus problems, respiratory symptoms and coughing.
Apart from stripping the wallpaper and repainting the walls to seal them, ventilate the house. When cooking, always open the windows to prevent moisture from settling in the kitchen. Don't leave piles of damp washing hanging around and always dry out the bathroom after use.
Mould spores are fungal organisms that appear as black or green spots and grow in moist conditions. They survive in damp washing, ripe fruit and cheese and settle on the soil of house plants, in the fridge and hide behind wallpaper.
Mould spores can cause chronic sinus problems, respiratory symptoms and coughing.
Apart from stripping the wallpaper and repainting the walls to seal them, ventilate the house. When cooking, always open the windows to prevent moisture from settling in the kitchen. Don't leave piles of damp washing hanging around and always dry out the bathroom after use.
Let us take the stress out of washing and ironing for you - make the most of Iron Maids FREE collection and delivery service by contacting us on 01622 870111, 01233 779009 or via iron-maids.co.uk
Wednesday, 1 February 2012
Being Eco-friendly
There are constantly new innovations in the area of non polluting household cleaners and specialists who sell a range of additional laundry products, such “Eco Balls” which can be used as a replacement for detergent along with “Borax Dryer Balls” which are an eco friendly way to reduce the drying time of your clothes.
There are several ways to be greener when you do the laundry. If lots of us make these small changes it can make a big difference. Of course, we still want our washing to be clean, fresh and not cost us any more.
The idea is mainly to reduce the amount of energy we use. Because electricity produces co2 and heating water in your machine uses electricity which produces co2. And co2 is harmful to the ozone layer. The suns rays get in and then the heat can't get out so the planet keeps getting warmer. Then the glaciers and ice caps melt so the sea levels go up.
If we use eco friendly washing detergents, which impact on the waste water and biodegradability, we are taking a balanced approach to minimising the effects of our washing.
Simply switching from 40 degrees to 30 degrees uses around 40% less electricity, so switching from 60 degrees to 40 degrees is good and to 30 degrees is even better. You should get the same results as you would from a hotter wash, as modern detergents are powerful enough to wash as well at a lower temperature. Although under 60 won't kill dust mites so perhaps keep your bedding on a 60 degree wash.
Although it's tempting to throw things in the washer on a fairly ad hoc basis, you should wait until you have a full load before doing a wash, or if it really can't be avoided doing smaller washes on a half load or economy programme.
Always switch your washer off standby, this goes for all the electrical appliances in your home. While it might not be possible for you to invest in a new machine right now, if you are looking to upgrade you might like to consider an Energy Saving Recommended washing machine
So, what's the difference between these and conventional washing machines? Well, you could cut your energy consumption by up to a third and saving the world from 42 kg of Co2.
Many conventional laundry detergents contain ingredients that can have a polluting effect on the environment. These include chlorine bleaches, petroleum-derived additives and phosphates, and domestic use of products containing these ingredients has as significant impact on the environment as industrial pollution.
Most supermarkets now stock a wide range of environmentally-friendly washing detergent so do look out for them next time you're shopping.
Tumble dryers use lots of electricity which equals lots of co2 which equals heating up the planet as well. The Environment Agency estimates that around £88 million is spent on powering tumble dryers in theUK
Obviously it's often unavoidable to dry clothes in the dryer but wherever possible airing washing outdoors should be the preferred choice. If it's raining or just too cold outside, be sure to always spin clothes before putting them into the tumble dryer. Avoid drying clothes on radiators but for indoor drying a drying rack makes an eco-friendly alternative - open a window slightly to allow the damp air to escape and keep the door to the room closed.
For all your laundry, ironing and dry cleaning requirements, contact Iron Maids on 01622 870111, 01233 779009 or via iron-maids.co.uk
There are several ways to be greener when you do the laundry. If lots of us make these small changes it can make a big difference. Of course, we still want our washing to be clean, fresh and not cost us any more.
The idea is mainly to reduce the amount of energy we use. Because electricity produces co2 and heating water in your machine uses electricity which produces co2. And co2 is harmful to the ozone layer. The suns rays get in and then the heat can't get out so the planet keeps getting warmer. Then the glaciers and ice caps melt so the sea levels go up.
If we use eco friendly washing detergents, which impact on the waste water and biodegradability, we are taking a balanced approach to minimising the effects of our washing.
Simply switching from 40 degrees to 30 degrees uses around 40% less electricity, so switching from 60 degrees to 40 degrees is good and to 30 degrees is even better. You should get the same results as you would from a hotter wash, as modern detergents are powerful enough to wash as well at a lower temperature. Although under 60 won't kill dust mites so perhaps keep your bedding on a 60 degree wash.
Although it's tempting to throw things in the washer on a fairly ad hoc basis, you should wait until you have a full load before doing a wash, or if it really can't be avoided doing smaller washes on a half load or economy programme.
Always switch your washer off standby, this goes for all the electrical appliances in your home. While it might not be possible for you to invest in a new machine right now, if you are looking to upgrade you might like to consider an Energy Saving Recommended washing machine
So, what's the difference between these and conventional washing machines? Well, you could cut your energy consumption by up to a third and saving the world from 42 kg of Co2.
Many conventional laundry detergents contain ingredients that can have a polluting effect on the environment. These include chlorine bleaches, petroleum-derived additives and phosphates, and domestic use of products containing these ingredients has as significant impact on the environment as industrial pollution.
Most supermarkets now stock a wide range of environmentally-friendly washing detergent so do look out for them next time you're shopping.
Tumble dryers use lots of electricity which equals lots of co2 which equals heating up the planet as well. The Environment Agency estimates that around £88 million is spent on powering tumble dryers in the
Obviously it's often unavoidable to dry clothes in the dryer but wherever possible airing washing outdoors should be the preferred choice. If it's raining or just too cold outside, be sure to always spin clothes before putting them into the tumble dryer. Avoid drying clothes on radiators but for indoor drying a drying rack makes an eco-friendly alternative - open a window slightly to allow the damp air to escape and keep the door to the room closed.
For all your laundry, ironing and dry cleaning requirements, contact Iron Maids on 01622 870111, 01233 779009 or via iron-maids.co.uk
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