It’s understandable if you’ve got a pile of laundry that you’ve been dreading to start doing. However, your clothes aren’t going to wash themselves, nor will the pesky stains, oil spots, and odors go away on their own. It’s time to master the art of doing laundry so you can take it easy every wash day — here’s how.
6 tips for doing laundry
1. Read your clothing labels
You must know how your clothes are supposed to be handled in the washing to avoid damage and so that they’ll last you longer.
Icons and symbols are the more popular choice of label prints, usually indicating wash, water temperature, bleaching, and miscellaneous instructions. Check your clothing labels and research the symbols for the best laundry care.
2. Sort your clothes
If you’re already separating your whites, lights, and darks, that’s a great practice. But here are a few more laundry sorting habits you can start doing:
- Wash lightweight items and activewear together. They dry quickly!
- Avoid combining fabric types to avoid pilling.
- Striped clothing? Sort them according to the lighter shade.
- It’s ideal for denim items to get their own load.
- Check and remove items from pockets.
3. Treat stains before washing
Throwing stained clothing into the wash is not enough to make the stains go away. Here’s how you can work a little magic on these problem spots:
- Grease and oil: Use your finger to rub a bit of dish or hand soap on the area and let it sit, then wash. If it’s still there, repeat the process. Another solution is corn starch — pile it on the stain till it absorbs the oil.
- Underarm stains and yellowing whites: Spray with hydrogen peroxide and air dry, or soak in oxygen bleach with hot water.
- Make-up: A trusted brand of stain remover usually does a great job on make-up stains.
- Blood: Hydrogen peroxide is a standard solution, but make sure it doesn’t cause color loss.
- Ink: Spray isopropyl rubbing alcohol and rub it in with a cotton swab or soft brush; rinse with cold water.
4. Master the machinery
Learn the functions and settings of your washer and dryer so you can operate them to their full potential. Here’s a general guide to get to know your machine settings:
- Permanent press: Sometimes referred to as the “casual” cycle. This wash-and-dry setting is excellent for avoiding wrinkles on your clothes.
- Delicate: This is a slow-wash and dry setting that’s perfect for soft, lightweight garments or those with embellishments.
- Eco: This setting uses cold water. While it reduces energy use, it takes longer than most cycles to finish.
- Tumble dry: Also known as “no heat” setting dry setting and used to dry garments prone to shrinking or embellishments that may warp due to heat. Also great for fluffing up comforters, down jackets, or pillow inserts.
- Steam: Utilizes a bit of water and heat — choose this drying setting when freshening up lightly used or wrinkled clothes.
- Regular: Dryer setting that usually uses the most heat, perfect for heavier items like jeans, sweatshirts, etc.
5. Set the right temperature
Using hot water for laundry is the best option for thoroughly cleaning and killing germs on your clothes. However, with the advancement of technology and detergent formulations, using cold water for laundry can do the job as effectively; plus, it also prevents color fading, is less harsh on textiles, and conserves more energy.
There are times when hot water can be more effective, like using oxygen bleach, but most of the time, you can go for cold water and still have clean clothes without worrying about germs.
6. Know your supplies
You can’t have clean laundry without the detergent! But with all the choices, which and when do you use them? Check the guide below:
- Liquid detergent: Whether you follow dosage instructions on the bottle or opt for the usual two tablespoons, remember not to use too much to avoid buildup.
- Powder detergent: A bit harder to dissolve, so you may need to use warm water.
- Laundry pods: An all-in-one solution great for large loads. Toss them in before your clothes.
- Dissolving sheets: An eco-friendly option. Cut in half when washing fewer clothes.
- Oxygen bleach: Uses powdered hydrogen peroxide as an active ingredient to brighten, remove odors, and fight stains.
- Extra items: Items such as mesh bags protect your delicates in the wash, while wool dryer balls prevent clothes from clumping together in the dryer.
