Apparently, we have been doing some things wrong!
You would think that doing laundry is one of the easier chores; you put the laundry in the washing machine and you just have to make sure that you don’t use the wrong detergent. And that you use the right water temperature of course. But other than that, it seems like a job that is hard to mess up. Well, apparently, there are some things we have been doing wrong when it comes to laundry.
1. The amount of detergent
If you believe that more cleaning supplies equals cleaner stuff, you might be surprised to hear that using a lot of laundry detergent is counterproductive. Kate Hanks from Hampr and Jenna Arkin from ECOS, told Well + Good: “Using excess detergent or excess scent beads causes build-up within the fibers of your clothing which hold onto dirt and bacteria.” That is why they recommend you use only one or two tablespoons of detergent.
2. Preparing your laundry
This means that you have to close the zippers and buttons. If your clothing has a rim, then it would be good to wash it inside out. Arkin explains: “This will prevent snags when zippers or trims get caught on other articles of clothing.” And this includes socks too. Don’t leave them rolled up or inside out. Hanks elaborates: “When these items are washed while rolled up, the debris doesn’t have a chance to be washed out.”
3. The load
Smaller loads are better according to the experts. “If the drum is overloaded, it makes it harder for the detergent to penetrate each article of clothing and completely remove stains,” Arkin explains to Well + Good. “Doing smaller loads will reduce the need to rewash when stains don’t come out and even decreases drying time.” But it is also important to sort your clothes. And that doesn’t just apply to color. You should keep heavier items separated from the lighter ones. And Hanks explains why: “Heavy items like jeans can harshly rub on delicate fabrics like lace, causing excess wear or even damage over some time.” And take your laundry out of the machine right away. That way, you’ll prevent mold from forming on your washed clothes.
4. Settings
It is always easier to do something the exact same way as you’ve always done it. But all the settings on the washing machine serve a purpose. And it might be worth it to figure out what each of them do exactly. That way, you can wash your laundry with all the right settings. “Permanent press works well for the standard load of household laundry,” says Hanks. “A speed wash is great for a small load of lightly soiled items that you want to wash in half regular time.” The heavy cycle should be used for fabrics like jeans.
Another thing to keep in mind is that different water temperatures serve a purpose too. Hanks explains: “… cold water works best for items that may shrink, and prevents dark colors from bleeding.” Warm water is best for “moderately-soiled clothing and manmade fabrics like polyester.” And you should only use hot water for “towels, heavy cotton, bedding, or items that are excessively soiled.”
Now you will never make these common laundry mistakes again!
Read more: Do you really need different kinds of laundry detergent?
Source: Well + Good | Image: Unsplash