Are your white towels looking their best? Have they become dingy and discolored with regular use? Don't fret - it's easy to restore their whiteness and brightness.
In my home, I've long used the same products to wash my clothes and towels. I've had my Miele washer and dryer for decades and they both still perform excellently. Miele appliances are known for their durability, efficiency, and fabric care. And, they also consume minimal electricity and water. I've also been a longtime user of Tide Free & Gentle detergent - it's free from dyes, perfumes, and effectively cleans everyday laundry.
Enjoy these photos.
This white bathmat is clean, but I noticed a little staining on it and decided to wash it again.
Some white towels which haven’t been used in a while also did not look as bright. This stain is along the fold line and runs down the length of the towel.
Many of you often ask what products I use to clean my laundry. I always have these two, Shout and Tide Free & Gentle, on hand to clean my towels and clothes. I’ve been using these same products for years.
Shout is an effective stain remover. It works by breaking down the stain molecules and restoring a fabric’s original color.
It’s also easy to use – just spray directly onto the stain, rub together gently, and let it sit a few minutes before washing. Be sure to check an item’s care labels before treating or washing and follow its instructions.
Elvira then places all the towels to be laundered into my trusted Miele washer – keeping this load all white. It’s always a good idea to separate colored items from whites to prevent any chance of dye transfer.
I like to set the washer to a full cycle, which is 58 minutes. I also don’t fill the machine to capacity. Overloading can prevent proper cleaning.
And I do not use hot water – I prefer warm. This works just fine for everyday laundry or slightly stained pieces.
Elvira pours the necessary amount of Tide Free & Gentle detergent.
Elvira then pours it into the appropriate Miele compartment – I do not use fabric softeners or bleach. For me, a high quality detergent alone works best.
And then the cycle is left to run. Miele washing machines are also designed with special soundproofing materials to make them less noisy than others.
It looks like the stains are gone – no pre-soaking or tedious scrubbing needed.
Next, the items are put into the dryer. Once again, I avoid overloading.
The dryer is set to dry completely and smoothly.
Check your dryer’s options. For a regular load, “normal” drying is usually sufficient to get them completely dry.
Once done, the towels come out clean, dry, and free of any marks.
Several loads of laundry are done in my home every day. I am so pleased these machines are so durable and efficient.
The right appliances and the right cleaning products work together to brighten and whiten.
Whenever my busy schedule allows, I always try to attend benefit gatherings that support good causes and important organizations.
Earlier this week, I attended one such event called "Stories to Savor" - a benefit for 826NYC, a nonprofit organization that provides writing workshops for more than 3600 young students in underserved New York City public schools throughout the year. It also provides curricular and classroom support to their mentors and educators. More than 115 attended the affair including chefs, writers, artists, teachers, and other influencers. I, along with a select group, was also invited to read excerpts from a collection of food-themed essays, short stories, and poems written by young 826NYC students. The evening was a lot of fun and a huge success.
Here are some photos.
The evening dinner party and fundraiser was well attended. Here I am with a group of 826NYC supporters, coordinators and readers – Kristen Naiman, Missy Robbins, Christine Muhlke, Annie Shi, Andrew Tarlow, Kate Huling, Naomi Fry, Liza Demby, Asmeret Berhe-Lumax, Rebecca Darugar, Alison Roman, Laura Ferrara, and Alex Tieghi-Walker. (Photo by Kate Glicksberg)
Rebecca Darugar is the executive director of 826NYC. She addressed the audience and welcomed everyone to the event. (Photo by Kate Glicksberg).
New Yorker writer and cultural critic Naomi Fry co-hosted the event and lead the presentations. (Photo by Kate Glicksberg)
Here is event co-host Kristen Naiman of The RealReal. (Photo by Kate Glicksberg)
And here is event co-host Liza Demby, creative strategy entrepreneur and writer. It was so nice to see such an enthusiastic group of individuals so passionate about encouraging young students to write. (Photo by Kate Glicksberg)
For part of the evening, various attendees read some of the food-themed essays written by young students in the program. This is food writer and chef, Alison Roman. (Photo by Kate Glicksberg)
Asmeret Berhe-Lumax, the founder of One Love Community Fridge, read a passage from a 5th grader’s essay on shrimp. (Photo by Kate Glicksberg)
Artist Laila Gohar shared excerpts from a piece entitled “An Ode to Eggs.” (Photo by Kate Glicksberg)
And I read a passage written by a 5th grader on the flavors of her grandmother’s oxtail stew, which she says is “the greatest dish on the world. I love oxtail stew also. (Photo by Kate Glicksberg)
The event’s menu was inspired by the student pieces. Chef Woldy Reyes prepared a table of Filipino-influenced dishes including lugaw, a warm rice porridge topped with fried garlic and cilantro. (Photo by Kate Glicksberg)
The table of light dinner bites was full. Guests helped themselves to both savory and sweet choices. The event was held at TIWA Select, an art gallery in the Tribeca section of Manhattan.(Photo by Kate Glicksberg)
These are Shanghai Puff Pastries served with homemade banana ketchup. (Photo by Kate Glicksberg)
Creamy whipped tofu topped with crisp coins of purple daikon and pink radicchio was also on the menu. (Photo by Kate Glicksberg)
For dessert there were platters of sweet cookies provided by The Rounds along with bibingka, a coconut rice cake made by Chef Woldy. (Photo by Kate Glicksberg)
And for fruit fanciers – white pineberries, a unique variety of white strawberries that have red seeds and a pineapple-like flavor. (Photo by Kate Glicksberg)
Other guests included Karly Quadros and Shayna Friedman. (Photo by Kate Glicksberg)
Here are stylist and event co-organizer, Laura Ferrara, entrepreneur Kate Huling, and Anne Mullen. (Photo by Kate Glicksberg)
Lucy Wallace Eustice and John Eustice (Photo by Kate Glicksberg)
And this is culinary consultant, Christine Muhlke. (Photo by Kate Glicksberg)
On cold winter days when it’s more productive to work indoors, my head gardener Ryan McCallister keeps busy seed starting and tending to the many plant maintenance tasks inside the greenhouse.
Recently, I purchased four new orchid plants from White Plains Orchids, a family-operated nursery not far from my farm. Once home, they went straight to the head house for repotting. Caring for orchids can be daunting for many, but if one takes the time to understand their basic needs and get all the proper orchid care supplies, there’s no reason why they won’t continue to thrive and bloom.
Here are some photos, enjoy.
This is one of my new specimens from White Plains Orchids. Optimum temperatures for orchids in winter are 45 to 55-degrees Fahrenheit at night and 65 to 75-degrees Fahrenheit during the day. When plants are in bud, temperatures must be as constant as possible. I am fortunate to have greenhouses, where temperatures and humidity levels can be closely monitored.
When potting orchids, choose a pot that can accommodate two years of growth, or about two inches larger than the one before. Specialized orchid containers have holes all around the surface to increase the air circulation in the roots – these are the best.
Ryan is able to use some of the orchid medium from the plant’s original pot. Orchids don’t grow like other houseplants. Instead, they exist in a container of loose materials such as bark, charcoal, and moss.
I also like to create my own mix, but there are pre-made orchid mixes available at garden supply stores. Ryan combines materials and mixes them all together in a gardening trug bucket.
Then he adds more mix to the pot. He uses a coarse orchid bark, which allows air to circulate naturally around the roots of the plant.
Next, Ryan places the orchid inside the pot to see if it is sitting properly – it should be at the same height as it was in the original container. If it is too high, he takes some of the medium out from underneath the plant.
Ryan moves the bark mix around the roots and firms the bark down, making sure the orchid rhizome or crown of the plant is flush with the top of the bark.
Then Ryan fills the rest of the pot with orchid bark and charcoal until it is well secured.
In this pot, Ryan fills about a third of the pot with orchid mix. Whenever potting any plant don’t forget to place a shard or stone over the hole at the bottom for good drainage.
It is not unusual to see orchid roots growing in so many directions. In the wild, epiphytes are able to extend their roots looking for moisture. Managing the roots and the repotting process will ensure your orchid is healthy and strong.
Ryan places this Cymbidium Patricia Kerwood ‘Paso Robles’ orchid into its new pot. Orchids can be pot-bound, which encourages the plant to produce more roots and blooms and become more self-sufficient.
Ryan gently presses the medium into the pot to ensure it is well packed, adding more potting mix if needed.
The potting mix should be about a half-inch below the top of the pot, so none of it overflows when watering.
Orchids are such gorgeous plants. These new ones will be added to my giant greenhouse collection of interesting plant specimens.
Here, Ryan carries the potted Brassolaeliocattleya Mahina Yahiro Ullii AM/AOS into the greenhouse. These cattleyas are loved for their large, showy blooms.
When placing potted plants near each other, make the best use of vertical space where possible. Turn an extra and empty pot upside down and raise the potted plants. This consolidates space while also giving the plants room.
When this Angraecum orchid started to bloom, Ryan brought it in to display in my servery. These orchids have unique large, star-shaped flowers.
Cut orchids are also displayed in my sitting room – one of the first rooms I walk through in the morning.
These long-lasting sprays are so beautiful. Depending on the variety, some cymbidium orchids can bloom for several weeks. Some are also quite fragrant.
I love to bring in as many of these gorgeous flowers indoors whenever possible, so they can be enjoyed by me and my guests. I hope this inspires you to bring some pretty flowers and plants into your home this weekend.
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