Problem: Article: If you want to use baking soda as a deodorizer, it's a good idea to soak it in a baking soda solution overnight. This gives the baking soda time to really go to work getting tough smells out of your laundry. It works well for clothes, towels and other items that that are smokey, musty or sweaty.  Mix a cup of baking soda with a gallon of water. Pour it into a bucket. Add your clothes to the bucket. Give them a swirl to make sure they get completely soaked. Top them off with more water if necessary. Let them soak overnight. They'll be ready to launder the next day. Place your dirty laundry (and pre-soaked items) into the washing machine. Add detergent as usual. Begin the wash cycle so that the machine begins to fill with water. Allow it to fill completely before continuing.  If you're washing clothes that smell musty, hot water will be most effective at removing smells. Musty smells are normally caused by mold spores. Hot water will kill the spores. Cold water should be used for delicates and colorful items. Pour it straight into the filled washing machine so that it dissolves into the water. Finish running the wash cycle as usual.  For an extra-large load of laundry, you can add up to a cup of baking soda. Adding a cup of white vinegar will enhance the baking soda's deodorizing effects. This is the best way to dry clothes that previously smelled musty, smoky, or sweaty. Drying in the sun and wind will help to freshen them. Even on a cold day in winter, you can dry your clothes outside. Just choose a place that gets plenty of sun.  If you'd prefer not to dry your clothes outside, use the dryer instead. When the dry cycle is finished, smell your clothes to see whether they need to be treated again. If they come out of the dryer still smelling musty, choose a sunny day to wash them again and hang out them out to dry.
Summary: Do a pre-soak if necessary. Start a load of laundry. Add 1/2 cup baking soda when the machine has filled. Dry the clothes outside.

Problem: Article: Though nearly all irises are fairly hardy and easy to maintain, some are more suitable for certain conditions than others. Depending on the climate and conditions where you plan on planting your irises, one variety may be a better choice. Below is information on just a few of the most common iris varieties:  Siberian Iris: Despite its name, native to Central and Eastern Europe and Turkey. One of the most adaptable irises — very easy to grow and maintain. Do especially well in temperate climates.  Louisiana Iris: Native to the hot, humid southeastern United States. In spite of this, grows well in a wide variety of conditions. However, they will not bloom well if they receive less than an inch of water or so during hot growing season months.  Beardless Iris: Native to Central and Southern Europe. Do well with at least half a day of full sun. Can even survive constant sun though this is not necessarily preferable. Most Irises are best planted in late summer (early fall at the latest). This gives the iris a chance to establish its roots while there is still enough sunlight to fuel its growth so that it can survive the winter. For most Iris varieties, July and August are the best months for planting. Note, however, that in areas with long summers and mild winters, you can get away with planting irises as late as September or even October — in these cases, there's usually still enough sunlight to help the plant grow its roots before winter. Most irises thrive if given generous amounts of sunlight. You won't necessarily want your iris to be in constant sun (though they can still do well in these situations), but they can usually stand more sun than similarly-sized flowers. Try planting your irises in a flowerbed that receives the shade of a tree late in the day or on the side of your house that the sun hits in the afternoon for a good amount of light. Irises prefer soils that are neutral to slightly acidic — a pH of about 6.8-7.0 is best. In addition, irises require soil with a good amount of aeration and drainage. This is important for preventing root rot, which irises can be susceptible to if over-watered.  For heavy, clay-rich soils with bad drainage, try adding humus or organic matter to improve the permeability of the soil. Planting on a slope or in a raised flower bed can help with drainage — in these cases, water will naturally run away from the iris. One common mistake first-timers make when planting irises is to plant them too deep. Unlike most plants, irises do best when their rhizome — the brown, root-like structure at their base resembling a potato — is slightly exposed to the air. The plant's roots should be arranged so that they spread downward beneath the rhizome. Note that in very hot climates, covering the rhizomes with a thin layer of dirt (no more than an inch or so) can help protect them from drying out. More so than other flowers, irises have a tendency to grow together when they're planted near one another. When this happens, the plants can compete for the same soil, water and nutrients, hampering each others' growth. To prevent this, try to plant your irises' rhizomes at least one to two feet apart. Even with this preventative measure, after a few years, your irises may grow together anyway. If this happens, don't worry — you can fix this by simply digging up some of the rhizomes and replanting them farther away to "thin out" your flowers. Depending on where you live and what time of the year it is, conditions outdoors may not be suitable for growing new plants. Rather than plant your irises in the soil outside when they're not likely to do well, instead, get them started in a pot. This allows you to carefully control the amount of time that the plants are exposed to the weather outside until it improves and you can transfer them to the garden. If conditions are very bad, like, for instance, if there's heavy frost, you can even keep the plants indoors 24/7.  For most irises, a 12-inch pot will work well. Exceptionally small irises can do well in 6-to-8-inch pots. Regardless of the size of pot you use, make sure it has good drainage — at least one big hole on the bottom (or several smaller ones) for the water to drain out of.
Summary:
Choose a suitable species of iris. Plant in late summer. Pick a spot with about six to eight hours of full sun per day. Plant in slightly acidic soil with good drainage. Plant the rhizome so that its top is exposed. Plant the rhizomes so that they are spaced apart. If the growing conditions are unfavorable, pot the iris.