5 EXPERT TIPS FOR TACKLING STINKY WORKOUT CLOTHES

(BPT) - You've probably smelled it: Clothes from yesterday's workout, your kids' ball games, the contents of your spouse's gym bag. Few things are tougher to tackle than the stink from these kinds of clothes.

Why is that? According to the Cleveland Clinic, when bacteria that naturally occurs on your skin comes in contact with sweat, that mix can cause unpleasant odors. And that odor-causing bacteria grows in damp, warm conditions - so the longer the clothes sit at the bottom of a hamper or inside a duffel bag, the worse the smell gets.

Here are some expert tips to get even your family's stinkiest loads smelling fresh.

1. Wash the stinkiest clothes as soon as you can. The longer that odor-causing bacteria sits in the clothing, the more time it will have to grow - and smell even worse.

2. Give them some air. Especially if you can't wash workout clothes or athletic gear right away, air the items out in your laundry room instead of leaving stinky items in a damp, warm heap in a gym bag, basket or hamper.

3. Consider a pre-soak. If you can't wash smelly clothes right away, soak them in either a solution of white vinegar and cold water (one part vinegar to four parts water), or in a sink with one-half cup of baking soda mixed with cold water.

4. Use Lysol Laundry Sanitizer. A quick, easy and effective way to get clothes smelling fresh is to add Lysol Laundry Sanitizer to your laundry load. This liquid laundry additive is specially formulated to kill 99.9% of odor-causing bacteria when added to your laundry routine (when used as directed).

5. Give smelly clothes the cold shoulder. Hot temps in your washer - and dryer - can help the bad smells set into your clothes, so be sure to wash the stinkiest items in cold water, and use the lowest dryer setting rather than drying with high heat.

Passing the smell test

Did you know feet have over 250,000 sweat glands? This creates an environment where bacteria can thrive, which explains why socks can be among the worst smell offenders.

To test the effectiveness of Lysol Laundry Sanitizer, the company's scientists created the "World's Stinkiest Sock," using a synthetic formula that represents the worst foot stink, inspired by live, odor-causing bacteria. If Lysol Laundry Sanitizer can handle the World's Stinkiest Sock, it can handle your stinky loads, too!

Outside Boston's famed Fenway Park in September, actress, comedian, author and mom Rachel Dratch helped launch the #LysolLaundryChallenge, challenging consumers to try Lysol Laundry Sanitizer on their stinkiest laundry loads, or get their money back if they don't love the results. Fans had the opportunity to smell the World's Stinkiest Sock alongside a sock sanitized using Lysol Laundry Sanitizer

To learn more about the World's Stinkiest Sock and the #LysolLaundryChallenge, visit LysolLaundryChallenge.com.

5 FALL HOME MAINTENANCE TIPS: WHAT YOU DON'T KNOW CAN COST YOU

(BPT) - While home maintenance may seem pricey, being proactive about home upkeep can save more money by preventing expensive repair or replacement costs in the future - not to mention safeguarding against damage to your home. The hard part is knowing how often and what type of maintenance to do, and where to start.

According to State Farm, fall is the perfect time to take care of many jobs, whether by yourself or by hiring professionals. Here are some top maintenance tasks to help protect the largest investment you have - your home.

1. Check your smoke detectors 

According to the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), 96% of homes are now installed with smoke detectors. However, nearly 20% of them have non-working smoke alarms. The NIST estimates that if every home had working smoke alarms, deaths from U.S. residential fires could drop 36%. Why aren't these smoke detectors working? Primarily missing or dead batteries. Smoke detector batteries need to be replaced at least annually, not just when they chirp. The average claim from a home fire according to State Farm is $57,000. So buy some batteries, and replace those old ones.

2. Trim your trees 

Little known fact, you're responsible for the damage if a tree on your property falls on a neighbor's house. Or if a dead branch damages your home, it can result in a homeowner's insurance claim, meaning you have to pay the deductible. For peace of mind, trim the trees on your property every fall. Find tips on tree trimming at StateFarm.com/simple-insights/residence. If you prefer hiring a professional, contact your local State Farm agent and they can help you find an arborist with community roots.

3. Check washing machine hoses 

Did you know a washing machine hose holds 70 pounds of pressure? If it fails, it can spray 650 gallons of water per hour into your home. So if you're away for the weekend and a hose bursts, you may open the door to the equivalent of a 20-foot by 40-foot in-ground pool's worth of water, which can damage floors, drywall and personal items. Between June 2021 and June 2022, State Farm paid nearly $36.7 million to help customers recover from damage due to washing machine hose bursts, with an average claim of over $12,000. Hose maintenance is easy: Inspect the hot and cold washing machine supply lines monthly, looking for blisters, worn tubing, cracks or loose connections. It's best to replace supply hoses every 3-5 years.

4. Conduct a generator safety check 

A portable generator is handy equipment for when the power goes out, and regular maintenance will ensure that it works when you need it. First, always unplug and turn off all power to the generator. Examine the AC wiring and alternator to clear dirt and debris. Inspect the air intake system and replace the air filter. Oil in your generator needs to be changed every 25 hours of running, or one year unused. When you're ready to use the generator, take it outside to a well-ventilated area before starting up. Generators produce carbon monoxide from the exhaust and can cause serious injury or death if used indoors, in a garage (including with open doors) or even on a porch.

5. Maintain your HVAC 

One of the most critical items to maintain is your heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system. Regular maintenance helps keep the system in working order, extending the life of the system and saving on energy costs. According to HomeAdvisor, replacing an HVAC system costs from $5,000 to $10,000. To save money and extend the life of your system:

• Change air filters regularly. Set a reminder every few months to replace filters. Dirty filters can impede airflow and make the HVAC system work harder, decreasing efficiency and increasing energy costs.

• Schedule regular maintenance checks (spring/fall) from your local HVAC professional. Some HVAC companies and local utilities have service programs where you pay a monthly or annual fee and they will conduct semi-annual maintenance checks. Pros will check the thermostat, clean or replace filters, lubricate moving parts, check refrigerant levels, inspect the condenser and coils and investigate unusual noises. Reach out to your local State Farm agent for a list of reliable HVAC pros.

Take care of your home, so your home can shelter you and your family. These regular maintenance tasks will help reduce the likelihood of unpleasant surprises - and costs - to help give you peace of mind.