Freeze onions for later use

DEAR SARA:

Can onions be frozen? I’ve never frozen them, but was afraid they’d turn brown or mushy. — Kelly H., e-mail

DEAR KELLY:

Yes, they can be frozen. Once frozen, they aren’t very good to use raw in salads. But they’re perfectly fine for cooking. You can peel and chop your onions, place them on a cookie sheet and freeze (to prevent them from sticking and clumping together). Once frozen, you can transfer them to a zip-top plastic freezer storage baggie. Thaw them in the refrigerator or use frozen and straight from the bag.

DEAR SARA:

I am beside myself trying to figure this out. For years, I have been fighting “grease” spots on my clothes and sheets, etc. Brand new sheets washed for the first time and, yep, I have what looks like grease spots all over them. Rewashed them after spraying with Spray and Wash and still have them, some in different places. I have a new washer. (The old washer also did this.) My dryer is only 5 years old. (The old dryer has the same problem.) That is, if my washer and dryer are doing this. I have used several different detergents, do not use fabric softener and use dryer sheets from the Purex single sheet for washing and drying. Before that, I used dryer sheets sparingly. I am at my wits’ end and am tired of rewashing everything. Sometimes it works, but as often, it doesn’t. — Linda, e-mail

DEAR LINDA:

There are a few issues that can cause this. You can narrow it down by washing at another location, such as a family member’s home, friend’s home or a Laundromat. I would use Dawn dish liquid on the grease stains. I’ll list some problems and solutions that I know. I’m sure a professional could help more. Hopefully your washer is still under warranty.
Things you can check and do:
— Detergent build up from using primarily cold water. Use hot water with vinegar for a couple of washes and then try using warm-water washes to dissolve detergent.
— Dirty door seal, hoses, drum or dispensers. Clean them all.
— Dryer sheet stains. Switch to vinegar in your washing machine, and when the dryer is used, dry synthetic fabrics separately to create less static in the dryer. Some people use tennis balls, aluminum foil balls or homemade yarn balls in the dryer to help prevent static cling.
— Concentrated laundry detergent. Use less laundry detergent.
— Hard water. Try Charlie’s Soap Laundry powder and Booster for hard water. Visit www.charliesoap.com and look under the order section for details.
— Pouring detergent directly onto clothing in washer. Use your dispenser or start your machine, add detergent and then add your clothes. Or wait for water to fill before adding your detergent.
Things you might consider hiring a professional repairperson to check and do (unless you feel confident doing so):
— Washing machine placed on its side at any time. Grease from the machine can leak. Have it cleaned and checked.
— Bad seal around the agitator. Check the seal and have it repaired and cleaned if necessary.
— Loose bearings might need repairing.

photo by ewige

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