Doing the laundry is not just a household chore; it’s an art. An art that many of us are doing wrong.
When we do our laundry, we think it’s all about detergent and fabric conditioner. Another mistake we made.
But don’t worry, it’s not too late. Doing laundry in the proper way is what we aim to do here. We impart the correct way. You do it perfectly in your next laundry session.
It’s high time that we correct the way we do laundry. This can help us save money, time, effort, and our clothes’ fabrics.
You can make your laundry fresh-looking, well-odorized, and good as new. However, we need to pinpoint the mistakes we made during our laundry sessions.
Compared proper laundry to well-cleaned appliances. You aim not to keep its condition good, but also durable.
Always remember these steps to master the art of laundry in your hands. And you can share these helpful techniques with everyone.
Moreover, these steps can protect your skin from the effects of the detergent chemicals.
Let’s begin improving the way we do our laundry, for you, for us, and the entire world of fabrics.
Sorting the Fabrics
Sorting the fabrics before washing is not a waste of your time. This is an essential step for careful laundry.
The clothes are to be sorted when you do the laundry for different, critical reasons. It helps your clothes stay clean and untainted.
Sorting the fabrics must be in accordance with different standards. Namely, by color, lint potential, soil level, and fabric type.
Sorting the fabrics separates the delicate clothes from other fabrics. You cannot pack all your laundry into one washing.
When you sort the clothes by color, separate the whites, darks, brights, and lights from each other. Light-colored clothes can easily be affected by dark-colored clothes. Especially if you are planning to bleach your clothes first.
Did you know that light-colored clothes not only absorb the colors from dark-colored clothes? Once a white t-shirt has been tainted with dark colors, it never goes back to its original color.
You can also separate the clothes by their lint potential. Do not mix the clothes that are vulnerable to lint with the clothes that produce it. Lint is fibers that may stick to clothes that don’t produce it.
Also, the soil level can be used to sort your clothes. Separate dingy clothes from the less-dingy ones. This will allow you to focus more on those with heavy stain problems than on those with minor ones.
When it comes to fabric type, remember to separate them as well. Delicate and heavy fabrics should not come along. If you’re using the washing machine, it can cause problems with your laundry.
Aside from these sorting types, you can also separate clothes in terms of their colorfastness. These clothes deserve to be washed independently.
Check the Pockets and Labels
Before washing your clothes, it is better to check their condition. This can help you prevent further mistakes in the next laundry steps.
Clothes have different fabric strengths, styles, and require different care. When you wash them, they can either be delicate or tough.
Before sending them for proper washing, read their labels. It can also indicate how they must be taken care of in the laundry process.
For example, some fabrics are not suitable for either hand washing or a washing machine. These instructions are intentionally placed to preserve the quality of your fabrics.
If you make a mistake in the laundry process, it can ruin the entire quality of your fabrics. A worst-case scenario is that it can tear the textile apart.
So always remember to check the clothes. Including their labels and pockets. Remove the unnecessary things left in your clothes’ pockets.
You may also zip the zipper and unroll the clothes (especially in your pants and sleeves). If your fabric has a Velcro adhesive, remember to close it.
Doing this will make your laundry process easier, safer, and better.
Use Less Detergent
The golden rule of detergent: less is more. The goal is to make your clothes clean, not fresh.
The use of too much detergent is more harmful than you think. Yes, it can make a better scent for your clothes. But that’s the only benefit from it.
Too much detergent can cause skin irritation, trap dirt, and clog the lint of your clothes. Also, an excess amount of detergent builds up in the clothes’ fabric. So, it will only create loads of problems for your laundry.
To do this correctly, use at least 1 or 2 tablespoons of detergent per load. Whether liquid or powder detergent.
This makes your washing easier and better for your clothes.
The Ugly Truth about Fabric Conditioner or Softener
Before we tell you the ugly truth about the fabric conditioner and fabric softener. These products are just the same. They are marketed as a product that “cares” about your clothes.
The only difference is that fabric softener focuses on the scent. On the other hand, the fabric conditioner is more focused on the color-locking.
This product is sold for the purpose of making the clothes manageable to iron and scented better when stored in the closets for a long time.
However, fabric conditioners or softeners are not helpful in cleaning your clothes’ bacteria. It acts as a layer that traps the bacteria in the clothes.
Using these products can ruin the quality of your clothes and waste your money.
The best replacement for keeping your fabrics in softened, cleaned, and maintained quality is white vinegar.
Don’t worry about vinegar, it won’t leave its odor. Use a tablespoon or two of vinegar per load during your wash cycle.
Also, don’t add bleach to it. That’s dangerous. Remember that you are to clean your clothes, and not to perform a science experiment.
Know the Right Vinegar
We think that you are surprised by the use of vinegar in your laundry. But don’t worry about that. White vinegar acts as a natural fabric softener.
White vinegar helps soften your clothes because it stiffens fabrics by dissolving the acetic acid and residues left by the detergents.
Due to its antibacterial properties, vinegar tends to remove odor-causing bacteria. It also removes waxy residues caused by detergents and softens your clothes for better absorption.
However, not all of the vinegar types are for your laundry. The suitable vinegar for your laundry must only have 5-6% acetic acid.
Going higher than that percentage, such as the acetic acid found in industrial vinegar, can harm your clothes. Lower acetic acid cannot help get rid of the bacteria in your clothes.
For the right type of vinegar, you may buy a regular or a cleaning vinegar. You may opt to choose a vinegar with a slight scent, but effective in breaking down the bacteria.
Don’t also use non-white vinegar, such as apple cider. This is not helpful for your clothes.
Is White Vinegar Harmful To Washing Machines?
Stain Hacks
Believe it or not, removing the stains in your clothes is a challenging task. It’s a different problem with a different solution.
However, you must act fast to address these stains. Otherwise, it stays permanent in the fabrics.
Here are the effective solutions to remove these stains permanently:
- Gum and Wax: Freeze, scrape, and erase it with white vinegar.
- Sauce: Apply the vinegar and dish soap combination.
- Ink: Remove it with rubbing alcohol.
- Coffee: Apply the combination of vinegar and cornstarch paste.
- Wine: Apply salt or baking soda and add water. You can also add dish soap for a persistent wine stain.
- Paint: Apply the mixed solution of vegetable oil and dish soap.
- Blood: Apply the combination of cold water and hydrogen peroxide.
- Oil/Grease: Apply dish soap.
- Stains in silk or wool: Dry cleaning solution.
The Suitable Water Temperature
Water temperature matters also when you do your laundry. These temperatures have a certain purpose that you must bear in mind.
Doing the laundry in cold water makes the colors bright. It prevents the clothes from shrinking and saves energy.
The hot water temperature is suitable for doing laundry with towels and bedding. Also, it is the best water temperature for clothes with heavy soil stains.
While the warm water temperature is the better temperature for your common loads.
Knowing the right temperature to wash your clothes makes their fabric durable.
Laundry Tips for Scheduling
As we all know, doing the laundry is also about your skin. Take some time to schedule washing up different fabrics in your home.
What’s the purpose of your clean clothes, if other fabrics in your home are not well-cleaned too?
That’s why doing the laundry should be strategic as well. Providing you with an optimal living condition, better air circulation, and healthier skin.
Consider also these helpful laundry tips that can help you achieve better and hypoallergenic fabrics:
- Choose fabrics that are suitable for your washing machine.
- Separate the laundry schedule of your delicate and heavy fabrics. Packing your clothes cannot guarantee a better laundry cleanup.
- Change your pillowcases and curtains often. You may wash them several times a month for better results.
- When washing your sheets and pillowcases, pour hot water into them. It helps remove and kill the dust mites.
Clean Your Washing Machine
Don’t just do your laundry. Make time also to clean your washing machine.
Perform a drum clean mode on the washing machine at least once a month using hot water.
You can also accompany the hot water with a mix of vinegar and baking soda. You can also try using the washing machine cleaner tabs to auto-clean the machine.
After laundry, always let the detergent drawer and the washing door air open. This prevents any mildew from growing.
Use the Dryer Efficiently and Safely
Clean some parts of your washing machine after doing your laundry. Especially your dryer.
A dryer helps expedite the laundry process. It makes drying the clothes easier by exhausting the excess water from the fabric.
Always remember to keep your dryer, including its lint compartment, dry and unclogged. It will remain efficient if you clean it before and after its use.
Dryer sheets are not helpful as well. Plus, they are bad for the environment as well. Some people don’t use it due to its ability to irritate your skin.
Even the use of dryer balls might be unsafe for you. As some may suggest in adding essential oils to it. The scent will transfer to your clothes, but it can be allergic to some people, too.
They only make your dryer clog and leave a strand.
Enhanced Laundry Skills
If ever you need to know the purpose of laundry. Think that this is not just a skill to develop at home. Laundry is an act of care for your fabrics and your skin.
Laundry doesn’t have to be so tough. You just need to do it the smartest way.
Enhancing your laundry routine can significantly improve your experience. Especially if you have sensitive skin to take care of.
If you compare the way you do your laundry before and after reading this article, we believe you are now much more confident.
You can now wash your clothes smartly, efficiently, and healthily. Imagine what else can be saved through these tips?
Consequently, it saves your fabrics, time, and money in the long run.
Enhanced laundry skills are the best self-care for your favorite and common clothes.
Bring Back the Art of Laundry
Now you believe that laundry is not just a challenging weekend task. Your newfound smart hacks for keeping your clothes better are included in your daily routine.
Don’t treat laundry as just a chore. Consider it the art of saving your clothes, time, and money more efficiently.
How about you? Do you have laundry hacks and myths to share with us? Please don’t hesitate to share your thoughts.
If you believe we helped you in this article, bookmark this guide and share it with someone who should know more about the art of laundry. Help them master the art of doing laundry.
And if you want to go beyond laundry, our guide on How to Keep Your Home Clean will show you simple ways to maintain a fresh, organized home every day.