Most High Efficiency (HE) machines require HE detergent.   Using non-HE detergent will cause too many suds to form. These suds will leave behind a residue that can start to smell. Don't use too much detergent either. This will also cause residue to form inside your washing machine. Powdered detergent often is a better alternative to liquid as it tends to produce fewer suds. Use dryer sheets instead.  Much like liquid detergent, liquid fabric softener can also cause residue to build up inside your machine. This residue will develop a bad odor over time. Buy dryer sheets instead. These are inexpensive and can be found in the laundry aisle of any supermarket. This will decrease the mold build-up as it allows the tub to dry completely.  Leave the door slightly ajar when the machine is not in use. This will allow fresh air to circulate through the drum of the front loading washing machine and will help dry any remaining moisture after a load. If you have small children or pets, you should avoid doing this as they can climb into the drum and become accidentally trapped inside. Right after a cycle ends, take the wet clothes out.  Set your washer to beep when a cycle is complete, so you don't forget to take the clothes out. If you can't dry your clothes right away, take them out and put them in a hamper or lay them flat until the dryer is available. This will prevent excess moisture from building up inside the washing machine drum after each load. Do this is a dry towel.   Ideally, the gasket, the area underneath it and the inside of the drum should be wiped dry after each cycle. This can be time consuming and a nuisance, so be sure to do this periodically at the very least. You can also wipe down the gaskets with hot soapy water regularly and allow them to completely dry. This will keep them clean and free of mildew. Use a hot water or cleaning cycle.   Pour two cups of white vinegar into the detergent dispenser and run a hot water or cleaning cycle. You can also use a commercial washing machine cleaner such as Smelly Washer, but vinegar is more cost effective and just as efficient. When finished, clean the inside of the tub, gasket, detergent dispenser and inside of the door with a mixture of hot water and vinegar and a towel. Repeat wiping down the inside parts of the washer with hot water only. Run your washer again with hot water only. Leave your washer door open to let the inside of the unit dry.

Summary: Use the right detergent. Avoid liquid fabric softener. Air out the washing machine between loads. Remove wet clothes immediately. Wipe down the gasket regularly. Clean your washing machine once a month.


. It may help you get started with the writing of the story by sketching out a plot outline so you know what is going to occur in the story. Most writers avoid doing this as they do not want to feel limited by a plot outline. But if you are struggling to start your story, it may help to identify your protagonist, the setting of the story, and the events of the story.  A plot outline should first address the story goal. This is something your protagonist would like to achieve and/or a problem she wants to resolve. This is also called the big "want" in the story, where your protagonist wants something from herself, another character, an institution, etc. A plot outline should also note the consequences for your protagonist if she does not achieve her goal. These are also called "the stakes of the story", where the protagonist will suffer in someway if she fails to reach her goal. Having high stakes in a story usually encourages a reader to stay engaged and care about the fate of your protagonist. If you are struggling with an idea for your story, you can try using a writing prompt. Writing prompts can help to get your creative juices flowing and allow you to narrow your focus. They can also force you to write about something you may not have considered before or thought of on your own.  Most writing prompts have a time limit (i.e., write about the prompt for five minutes). You can extend the time limit for the writing prompt if you feel it is helping you generate useful material for your story. You can also deviate from the writing prompt if your writing takes you in a different direction. The prompt should act as a way to get you started, but it should not feel restrictive or limiting in any way. A writing prompt can be anything from a phrase, such as "I remember..." to an image, such as "Imagine you are trapped in your childhood bedroom". You can also use a phrase from a favorite poem or a book, as well as a phrase from a favorite song. You can find a list of writing prompts at http://www.writersdigest.com/prompts Writer's Digest and http://www.dailyteachingtools.com/journal-writing-prompts.html Daily Teaching Tools. You can also try an online random http://writingexercises.co.uk/firstlinegenerator.php first line generator. Once you have written some raw material for the story, you should take a moment to read it over and see if a protagonist emerges. The protagonist is the character whose fate matters the most in the story. This does not necessarily mean your protagonist has to be a hero or pure evil. Your protagonist should be the character readers will care about or sympathize with the most, flaws and all. The protagonist also does not necessarily have to be the narrator of the story, but they should be the one making decisions that move the story forward. Your protagonist should drive the events that occur in the story and their fate should give the story meaning. One method is to sit down and start with your basic story, writing down the details of the story in one sitting. This could be the crazy, amusing story you might tell a friend but are not sure how to translate into short story material. Getting down the raw data, or details of your story, can then allow you to shape it into a crafted piece later.  Focus on simply telling the story and getting it down on the page. This could take you one hour or several hours. Pretend you are talking to a good friend and sharing the story with them over coffee. Avoid doing any outside research or reaching for information outside of the story you are telling. Try not to slow down to really think about certain sections or areas of the story. You will address any issues in the story once you reread it later.

Summary: Create a plot outline Use a writing prompt. Identify your protagonist. Try to write the basic story in one sitting.


Get into a comfortable position on the ground. Extend the leg you want to stretch out in front of you. Bend the knee slightly upward. Keep your other leg out in front, or pulled up closer to you—whatever’s most comfortable. Reach forward with both of your hands and lightly grasp your foot just below your toes. Gently pull back on your foot so that you have to flex it as much as you can toward your body.  Your toes should point back toward your body, but don't pull so much that it hurts. You can also use an exercise band or towel wrapped around the ball of your foot instead of your hands. You should feel your calf stretching, but it should not be painful. Hold the position for twenty seconds, making sure to breathe while you do the stretch.  Return to the original position when you’re done, and repeat with the other leg. Repeat two or three times for each leg. Isometric exercises are based on resisting forces. To do an isometric calf stretch, start in the same position as a normal seated calf stretch. When you pull back on the ball of your foot, use your calf muscles to try and straighten your leg, but don’t actually move it.  The force of your hands should be enough to keep your leg from straightening. Don’t push or pull so hard that it hurts.
Summary: Sit on the ground with your legs outstretched. Pull on the ball of your foot. Hold the position. Try an isometric variation.