Write an article based on this "Consider machine washing them. Fill your sink with warm, soapy water. Drop the slippers in and agitate them. Let them sit. Rinse the slippers. Remove the excess water. Let them dry."
article: Cotton is one of the most common slipper materials. Just like cotton clothing, all cotton slippers will be washing machine safe.  Use warm (not hot) to make sure you don’t shrink the slippers. Use a gentle cycle that won’t bang them out of shape. If you want to toss them in with the regular wash, use a washing machine bag like you’d use for a sweater.  Use a low heat setting to dry. You can also allow them to air dry. If you don’t want to risk machine washing those slippers, then you can hand wash cotton slippers. Use a stopper and fill your sink with warm, soapy water. A small dose of a mild laundry detergent will do. Hand-washing detergents will instruct you how much to use. You want to make sure that the soapy water saturates the material. Use your fingers or a gentle cloth to scrub the inside lining to penetrate the grime. The soap solution won’t hurt the cotton. Give the slippers a good ten minutes to soak after you give them the mild scrub. You’ll see the soapy water changing colors as it leaches out all the funk. After the slippers have soaked, go ahead and let the water out of the sink. Turn the faucet on at about the same warm setting as before and give the slippers a thorough rinse. Squish the slippers as you rinse like you would to get excess soap out of a sponge or luffa. You can refill the sink with clean water to rinse them. Let them soak for ten minutes. You can also rinse them under the running faucet for two or three minutes to get all the soap out. Don’t actually wring the slippers. This can misshape them. Instead, press down on them at several points to remove the excess water. You can also squeeze them in a towel to absorb the excess water. Set the slippers aside to air dry. You can also use a warm setting on a blowdryer to dry them out. A blowdryer will also fluff the soft, cottony insides of the slippers.

Write an article based on this "Consider adopting a Lab. Look into a breed-specific Labrador retriever rescue group. Ask about a trial period."
article: Adopting a Lab from a shelter or rescue group is a great thing to do, as these dogs are often loving, loyal animals who through no fault of their own have ended up in a rescue. Just keep in mind that adopting a Lab can mean compromising on little things such as the dog’s color, age, or gender. Most dog breeds have fans who work to ensure that special dog breeds, such as Labradors, have good homes. Check to see if there are any Labrador rescue groups in your area with dogs available for adoption.  You may be able to get contact information for local rescue organizations from your local humane society, veterinarian's office, or pet shop. Keep in mind that dogs who end up in rescue programs are not there because they are bad. Owners may give up their dogs because of life circumstances such as a divorce, job loss, or physical condition. Other times a dog may end up in a rescue program because the owner did not fully consider the financial and/or time commitment that a dog requires. If you are nervous about adopting a dog, keep in mind that many adoption agencies offer or even require a trial period for qualified adopters. During the trial period, you will be able to take the dog home for a week to see if you are a good match for each other. Even if you do not have to or want to do a trial period, it is important to meet your potential new pet. Spend some time with him or her before you decide if this is the dog for you. Shelters often have special areas for prospective pet owners and their family members (people and pets) to get to know a potential new member.

Write an article based on this "Offer her a hug. Find a creative project to work on together. Do a physical activity to work through the stress. Go out for a treat together. Look for ways to make her laugh. Encourage her to go outside."
article:
Sometimes physical touch can make a world of difference to someone who is upset. If you and your sister are physically affectionate, reach out and give her a good hug. If you know she sometimes doesn’t like to be touched, try to respect that. Ask her before going in for the hug. Just say, “You look like you could use a hug. Can I give you one?” Offering a distraction is a great way to help someone find some relief. Look for something creative to do that will take her mind off of things but doesn’t require that much brainpower. Suggest some options that you think she might enjoy.  For example, you could say, “Hey, do you want to focus on something else for a bit? I could use some help designing my holiday card.” If she likes fashion, you could ask her to do some online shopping with you. Exercise is a great way to deal with negative emotions. Suggest getting up and moving around. Just make sure to pick something that’s in her comfort zone so that you don’t cause her more stress. For example, if your sister has asthma, don’t ask her to go for a challenging run. Instead say, “I found a great new yoga studio. Do you want to go stretch it out and forget your worries for an hour?” Grabbing a bite to eat can be a simple way to help your sister feel better. Maybe as kids you two enjoyed ice cream. Offer to take her out for a scoop!  If you enjoy cooking, offer to cook her favorite dish. Better yet, cook a meal together! The treat doesn’t have to be food. You could head out to get a manicure together. If you two have any inside jokes, now is the time to try one out. As her sister, you can probably make her laugh as well as anyone, so give it a go. Make a joke or make a silly face. Maybe it’s time to pull out that impersonation of your mother that always cracks her up.  You could also turn on a funny show or ask if she wants to watch a silly movie. If she doesn’t feel like laughing, that’s okay. Just try other ways to comfort her. Fresh air can do a lot of good when someone is feeling down. Try to get your sister to step outside with you, even if it’s just for a little bit. Of course, if the weather is awful, you can save this option for another time. Ask if she wants to go on a walk. You could even just sit together on the porch with a cup of tea.