Getting good results when you do your laundry consists of doing more than simply tossing your clothes into the machine. In order for you to get good results, you need to ensure that your machine is in tip-top shape, use the right amount of detergent, and pretreat heavily soiled fabrics. You also need to pay attention to how you organize your clothes when it comes to washing them. In order for you to avoid common mistakes many people make, we listed some tips to consider when it comes to tackling your laundry.
1) Avoid Using Too Much Detergent
Most machines have a guideline to go by, as to how much detergent you should place in the machine. Many people surpass this limit and add more detergent because they believe that it will give them better results. This is especially the case when to comes to the softest bed sheets.
Surprisingly, using more detergent than needed is actually counterproductive. By using an excessive amount of detergent, it will create additional suds which will not be able to completely rinse out of clothes. The end result of this is that your clothes will have a sticky residue that attracts more bacteria, dust, and dirt. Therefore, ensure that you follow the guidelines that are established by each laundry detergent brand as well as your machine’s guidelines.
2) Sort Laundry By Material
Most of us are well aware of the fact that we should not mix dark colors with light. However, the weight of the fabric needs to be taken into consideration too. Ensure that you separate lightweight fabrics such as blouses, from heavier fabric like sweaters and jeans. A heavier fabric can damage more delicate fabrics, so it’s always best to separate the two. Additionally, items such as bedding, towels, and other bulky materials should be washed separately from clothing. By grouping your laundry correctly, it will help them to dry evenly.
3) Clean Your Dryer Lint Filter
Even though the lint filter on your dryer may seem like a harmless aspect of your machine, lint buildup is a fire hazard. Therefore, don’t wait for several weeks before checking the filter. Instead, you should be cleaning it every time you dry a load. Additionally, you should clean the cavity which holds your lint filter as well. The reason why this is important is that lint build-up can block airflow, which in turn reduces your dryer’s level of efficiency.
4) Clean Your Washing Machine
One would assume that the machine cleans itself every time you do a load, but this isn’t the case. The washing machine has to be cleaned every now and then. This is because mold, mildew, hard-water deposits, and detergent residue can build up on the inside of the unit over time. Fortunately, most machines have a distinctive self-clean cycle that you can use to clean it. Most homeowners proclaimed that running an empty hot water cycle with a cleaning solution like vinegar, was able to give them good results. Be sure to scrub the lid of the machine and the rubber gasket, as these two areas are prone to bacteria build-up which can cause your clothes to smell musty.
5) Fading
Contrary to popular belief, color fading has more to do with how you wash your laundry than the brand of detergent that you use. The trick to minimize fading is to turn your clothes inside out before washing. This also helps to avoid abrasion.
6) Stretching and Shrinking
The reason why clothes shrink and stretch during the washing process is partially based on the fiber content of the material and how you clean and wash them. However, the primary reason why clothes shrink is because of excess agitation. Therefore, when it comes to washing new clothing items, ensure that you use a cold water setting and avoid using hot water.
7) Pretreat Tough Stains
Unfortunately, washing machines aren’t equipped to get rid of tough stains like blood and crayon stains. But by pretreating clothes with heavy stains, you can get spectacular results. Some of the ways you can pretreat heavily soiled bedding and clothing include:
- Saturate stains in a solution of vinegar and baking soda
- Use a solution of oxygen bleach and cold water for heavily soiled white fabrics
- Use a cotton swab and rubbing alcohol to remove stains from gentle fabrics
- Use heavy-duty detergent for bedding materials
It seems like laundry is never done and always keeps piling up. If you try some of these tips, you are going to notice a difference in the look of your clothes. It may not make the laundry pile smaller, but you will like the results.
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