• 0 Posts
  • 347 Comments
Joined 3 years ago
Cake day: June 10th, 2023
  • hydrashok@sh.itjust.workstoAsklemmy@lemmy.ml•Does washing powder clean better than washing liquid?
    4·
    2 months ago

    I switched years ago to using Nellie’s Laundry Soda and it’s been great for us. Significantly cheaper per load, cleans well, doesn’t overpower you with fragrance, doesn’t gunk up the soap tray in the washer with the slimy residue, and is easily vacuumed up if it spills.

    It’s like $90 for an 800-load bucket that weighs 26.5 lbs (12 kg) from Costco. You use 1 Tbsp (15 mL) of powder per normal load, and 2 if it’s a large or really dirty load. I almost always just use 1 and never had an issue.

    Our last bucket lasted almost 2.5 years, and we are a larger family with a lot of laundry. Bought our current bucket last November, so should be good until like February 2028. I have a small plastic container on the washer and then refill it from the big bucket once every couple months.

    Pair the soda with OxyClean and it works wonders.

    Also stopped using fabric softener entirely and found out it’s really not needed. Dryer sheets work well if you need something; no need for liquids.

    Finally, I have rediscovered how awesome bleach can be for laundry, and it is also very inexpensive, so definitely recommend looking into that, too.

    EDIT: One more thing— always do your wash cycle on at least warm for virtually everything you wash. Regardless of what soap you use, liquid or powder, it’s not as effective in sudsing and such in cold water as it is warmer. I’ve noticed better results using warm for all my colors and then hot for whites, towels, and the like. Cold is only for specific scenarios or garments. In my experience, ink bleeding really isn’t a thing anymore unless you’re making your own tie-dye shirts or something, which was the justification for using cold for colors back in the day.

  • hydrashok@sh.itjust.workstoAsklemmy@lemmy.ml•What is the best way to learn a second language in 2026?
    43·
    2 months ago

    I’ve been using Duolingo to learn a language for a few years now, enjoy it, and feel that I continue to progress. I know there are other apps out there as well but I don’t have any experience with them. Duo does have a gamification component to it — some of which you can disable, but not all — and there is a cost if you choose to subscribe.

    For me, though, I’m likely going to need to immerse myself and/or take a few formal classes to get better at conversational speaking as I keep learning. Not many folks around me learning German. The app does help practice conversations and give tips, which is nice, but using a language in real life with another person is more effective for me.

  • hydrashok@sh.itjust.workstoAsklemmy@lemmy.ml•Lemmings who can fall asleep within minutes of their head hitting the pillow, what's your secret?
    5·
    3 months ago

    Maybe finds a few you like and make a playlist, then just watch those specific ones? Something that you can mentally focus on when in bed with your eyes closed, but also something that’s not competing to hold your visual attention as well as no giant volume swings for your audio attention. Don’t want to fall asleep to quiet dialog only to be woken by the shootout in the next scene, or fall asleep to a mellow ballad and awoken by a rock track, for example.

    Edited to add: around getting bored with it— I have changed what I listen or watch every few years, but it’s a very slow ramp up of new and ramp down of old. Something your brain recognizes and likes, but isn’t trying to stay awake to read the next page or see the next episode or upcoming challenge or whatever.