Since there are several steps involved in doing your laundry, people often become confused about how to do it properly. Although laundry cleaning is an essential part of every household, not everyone is aware of the right procedures to use. In order to ensure that your clothes will come out as clean as possible and without any problems, you need to learn the right method of doing your laundry. There are specific steps which you can follow to help you maintain brand new looking clothes. We will take a look into how you will be able to ensure that all your laundry will come out just the way you want it. The procedures are very simple and easy to follow yet they all have a significance in the overall result of your clothes. We will discuss about important laundry tips which will serve as your guide in achieving your goals.
• CHECK THE LABELS
It’s important to know the meaning of the symbols you can find on clothing labels. Each symbol refers to a certain type of wash which is required for that specific fabric. You will encounter several symbols which will refer to various methods of washing. When you find a machine wash symbol, it will indicate the recommended temperature which should be used for that specific item. One dot indicates washing in cold water while two dots indicates washing in warm water. If you see three dots on the symbol, it indicates washing in hot water. On the other hand, the bleach symbol refers to the use of chlorine bleach. A plain white triangle means proceed with caution while an X symbol means that chlorine bleach shouldn’t be used at all.
• SEPARATE YOUR LAUNDRY INTO PILES
One of the most common mistakes done when doing laundry is not separating the items into piles. Before you start the laundry process, make sure to separate the items into four piles which includes lights, darks, whites, and delicate items. This step plays an important role in the laundry process because it will ensure that there will be no unnecessary transfer of colors.
• CHECK THE POCKETS & ZIPPERS
Before putting your clothes or other garments in the wash, make sure to empty out all pockets. To prevent snagging, always ensure that the zippers are closed. Denim items should also be turned to prevent the color from washing out. If you have any embellished items, they should be turned inside out. If any of your garments have stains on them, it’s important to do a pre treatment. Your delicate items should also be put inside a mesh bag.
• USE THE RIGHT TEMPERATURE
There are three temperatures you can use to do your laundry. These are cold, warm and hot water. Cold water is generally used for fine fabrics and delicate materials. Denim, sweaters and clothing items which are more prone to shrink in the wash should be put in cold water. It is also advisable to use cold water for brand new clothing pieces which are bright or dark colored. Warm water is the best temperature to use for lights and white colored garments. If you combine it with a detergent, it will effectively lift the soil up as well as remove any other stains on your clothing. Hot water is recommended for items which have been heavily stained. It’s also best used for disinfecting wash cloths and bath towels.
• USE A DETERGENT
There are three main types of detergents which includes chlorine bleach, color safe bleach and fabric softener. Chlorine bleach is recommended to be used for white garments. It is highly effective in making the white look brighter. However, it’s important to remember that it is not advisable for colored fabrics. If you have a washing machine which doesn’t have a bleach dispenser, dilute the bleach with water first before applying it on the clothes. Color safe bleach is recommended for all types of fabrics and colors. It is very effective in removing stains. Fabric softeners are used to condition the garments which makes them more fluffy and soft. It also prevents static clinging.
• FILL THE WASHING MACHINE
Once you have successfully prepped everything, it’s time to fill the washing machine with water. Make sure that it only has a third full of water because you will still have to add a bleach or detergent. Once the bleach or detergent has been dissolved completely, you can now add your clothes. There are several cycle options to choose from which will be indicated on your washing machine. A regular cycle involves a fast agitation using a fast spin cycle. It is recommended for denim, cotton, linen, bedding, towels and heavy stained items. A permanent press cycle uses a fast agitation with a slow spin. It is recommended for polyester and knit fabrics. It helps these fabrics become less wrinkled after the wash. The delicate cycle is generally used for lingerie, embellished garments, sheer fabrics, wool and silk.
• USE THE RIGHT DRYING CYCLE
Similar to the various washing cycles you can choose from, you should also know which drying cycle is best to use. A high heat setting is recommended for sheets, jeans, linens, whites and towels. It also advisable for any pre-shrunk items. Make sure that you do not use this setting for items which have been washed in hot water. The permanent press setting makes use of medium heat. It is effective in ensuring that colored items will not fade after washing. The delicate setting makes use of low heat which is advisable to be used for fragile garments such as knits.
These are the best laundry tips you can refer to when doing your next laundry cleaning. By following these tips, you will be able to have the best results in your items of clothing. It will ensure that your whites will become brighter and your colored items will not fade. It’s important to prep your items before putting them in the wash so that you wouldn’t have to worry about ruining your clothes. These tips are simple yet very effective so they will surely make your laundry cleaning process go more smoothly.