Should You Wash New Towels Before Using Them? Experts Weigh In

If you have a large load of laundry you've been procrastinating on, I get it and let's be honest: we've all been there. But before you jump in, you may not realize some items that you should actually wash with cold water instead of hot water.

Anthony Masterson

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Happy Monday GPODers!

Ready to tackle that big pile of laundry? Depending on what you're washing, you may want to think about running a hot water load. Many garments can be washed in hot water, laundry pros say, and below, Hyacinth Tucker, owner of The Laundry Basket LLC, highlights five types of items in particular that will benefit from this type of care.

You probably don’t think about your shoelaces until they’re falling apart, but you might want to start thinking about your shoes’ most unassuming feature. Giving your shoelaces a quick refresh once in a while keeps your shoes looking sparkly clean (and your whole outfit on point).

Extreme heat waves are stressful for almost every type of plant in your garden, from flowers and vegetables to shrubs and trees—but especially for container-grown plants.

“Ornamental grasses only look good in fall.” If I had a dollar for every time I’ve heard this from my clients—or even fellow garden designers—I’d be able to retire. Even if someone is willing to concede that grasses can look good at other times of the year, they tend to think a grass-forward garden will only have impact if it inhabits acres of space, creating a meadow-like appearance. I don’t think any of this is true. Grasses can be the star of the show, creating the backbone in an all-season border of any size. And by adding plants with complementary colors and contrasting shapes, you can have a design that is beautiful most months of the year.

What Month Should You Sow Kale?

A backyard shed is often used by homeowners to store any lawn or garden items or it's used as extra storage for items that no longer fit inside the house. Although it may be easy to throw any spare items into the shed, it also isn’t the right place for everything.

Embarking on a home renovation can stir up a flurry of emotions. The process is exciting, daunting, fulfilling, and exhausting. Even one renovation hiccup can turn into a significant misstep down the road, inevitably costing you time and money.

The Summer Olympics are here, and for the ninth time, Ralph Lauren has dressed the U.S. competitors in his All-American designs, including jeans, a navy blazer with white and blue piping that’s emblazoned with the iconic Polo logo, a blue and white striped shirt, and a navy knit tie for a timeless—and truly American—look.