Laundry & Stain Tips
Granted it may not be an exciting job, but somebody has to do it. Often, however, our lives are so busy that laundry gets put on the back burner and is carelessly washed when we find a free moment. Being mindful of these handy hints can help keep your clothes looking like new.
1. Washing
- Wash with cold water. You do not need to wash with hot water unless you are trying to sterilize your laundry. Using cold water can save a family over $120 a year!
- Even when washing in cold water, it is best to separate your wash into lights and darks. Light or white clothing that is washed with dark clothes (even in brutally cold water) will start to develop a “grey” look over time.
- When washing dark clothes for the first time, use cold water and add salt. The salt helps set the color. Repeat this procedure to brighten dark clothes after they have been washed several times.
- If colors bleed in the wash (hey, how did that red shirt get in there?), don’t dry them. Wash again with regular detergent and color-safe bleach.
- Even your washer needs to be washed once in a while. Run the machine on hot water, normal cycle, and add a bottle of vinegar to clean out the soap film and scum that is built up inside.
2. Drying
- Dry towels and heavier cottons separate from lighter-weight clothes.
- Overloading your dryer can cause excess wrinkling and takes longer for the clothes to dry.
- Drying a small load reduces the tumbling effect and consequently lengthens the drying time. Add several clean, dry, white towels to speed up the drying of small loads.
- Turn your jeans inside out, so they won't fade as quickly.
- For use as a dryer sheet, add a few cups of fabric softener to an old dishtowel. Repeat after 15 loads.
3. Stain Removal*
- Deodorant marks: Soak deodorant-stained washable shirts in white vinegar for 30 minutes before laundering.
- Gum: When gum gets on clothing, brush it with egg whites, using a toothbrush, and let it sit for 15 minutes. Then launder normally.
- Burn marks on fabric can become unnoticeable by first brushing the fabric gently with a dry sponge or soft brush to remove any loose carbon particles, and then washing with regular detergent and color safe bleach.
- Blood stains can be removed from clothing by pouring peroxide over the stain and rinsing with cold water.
- Lipstick stains can be removed by using petroleum jelly and then laundering normally.
- Spaghetti stains are best tackled by gently scrubbing the area with powdered dish detergent on a toothbrush. Then, rinse and launder.
*Note: Please do not use the above techniques on sensitive fabrics such as silks and linens.