Dear Annie,
I’d rather not wash all of our sweaters and comforters, but they have a stale smell. What do you suggest?–Sally, WI

Dear Sally,
There is nothing like a good shake, sun, and lots of fresh air for comforters and sweaters. I like to hang mine on the line on really sunny fall days, and to give the comforters a bit of a pounding with a broom before and after, to flounce them up. Sun has antibacterial properties, too, and does wonders for fabrics, as long as they aren’t left in the sun for too long (days).

For those of you who live in the city, my fellow True Food author Melissa Breyer puts her comforters in the dryer with a tennis ball. She sprays them first with a little lavender linen water. Enjoy that last one, and it is easy to make with 1 teaspoon pure essential oil of lavender to 1 cup of water in a spray bottle. Lavender oil has antiseptic qualities to it, so it will kill mold and mildew.

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