HGTV Obsessed Episode 16: Patric Richardson

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In our most educational episode ever, Marianne is joined by Patric Richardson, host of HGTV’s new show The Laundry Guy. Patric is an expert on fabric care and removing stains — including red wine and rust — from almost any garment or textile. In this episode, he explains how to better take care of your clothes so you don’t have to replace them so often, which is more sustainable and saves energy and money. He also tells us why we should use the express cycle on our washers more often, air-dry our sheets, how to keep whites white and why you should use an alcohol spray to freshen odors (that’s where the vodka comes in).

On his show The Laundry Guy, Patric helps his clients save treasured clothing items and family heirlooms that were once thought to be permanently stained. When asked how he became known as the ‘Laundry Evangelist,' Patric says it was simply his love of clothes and wanting to take care of his favorite items. He goes on to explain why he thinks laundry shouldn’t be thought of as a necessary evil but should be thought of as a hobby; just like cooking used to be considered a chore, now it’s a hobby for many people. His philosophy: “You do laundry for people that you love because you want them to feel good." He goes on to say, “growing up we had an appreciation for the things that we owned, and we took care of them. I certainly didn’t grow up with the idea that things were disposable … I grew up with that mindset and it just sort of continued.”

Defend the Trend: Is Laundry Stripping Necessary?

In our Defend the Trend segment of the podcast, Marianne asks Patric if laundry stripping is a good thing or a waste of time. He says it depends. If you’re removing built-up detergents on your clothes then it’s a good idea. But if you’re using natural cleaners — which he totally recommends that you do — then it isn’t necessary because the buildup of chemicals isn’t there to strip away.

More Cleaning Experts

Marianne then chats with Lisa Bass, mom of six and host of The Simple Farmhouse Life podcast. Lisa talks about how she keeps her home clean, her favorite non-toxic cleaning products and how to clean and season cast-iron cookware.

Then, Kayla Kitts, HGTV.com Managing Editor of the Commerce division shares what the most popular cleaning products are among HGTV.com fans.