DivyaLaundry is a skill that everyone should master in their lives. We rely on our clothes to project a good first impression of us for a stranger walking down the street to our new boss on the first day of work.
Whether you’re a student who has just moved out or a cleaning business, these tips will make your laundry sparkle.
5 Tips To Make Your Laundry Sparkle:
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Sanitizing your washing machine
The washing machine saves each of us so much time that we would otherwise be spending washing our clothes by hand. However, like any other appliance, the washing machine still needs to be cleaned and maintained.
Yes, the machine is in soap and water most of its lifetime however cleaning it manually is necessary. Developing the fun and exciting cleaning habit of maintaining your washing machine will lead to your clothes smelling amazing and looking brand new.
If cleaning has not been done regularly, over time chemicals and laundry detergents trap bacteria in the inner mechanisms of the machine, this prevents water from functioning properly.
Neglecting your washing machine will eventually render your cleaning useless. It will leave bacteria and peculiar smells in your clothes which, in some cases, may lead to allergic reactions. In order to prevent this, you should invest time in weekly sanitizing of your washing machine.
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Optimal temperature
Selecting the right temperature for each load of washing is a crucial step if you want your clothes sparkling and soft. You don’t need a washing machine with a wide array of wash options, knowing the basic temperature for each type of clothing works just as well to wash your clothes.
Coldwater works well for delicate items with thin fabrics or items that might shrink and rich dark colors that tend to bleed out of the clothing during the washing process.
If the label on your clothes is missing or unclear, always opt for washing with cold water first, especially if they are colored. Plus, cold water reduces the cost of utilities, therefore, saving money.
Warm water works well for more solid pieces of clothing, synthetic fabrics, knits, and jeans. Make sure that the set temperature is warm and not hot.
Hot water can shrink, fade and damage certain fabrics. Since hot water removes germs and heavy soil it can be used to wash bed sheets, towels, cotton whites, and oil or grease-stained work clothes.
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Use less detergent
Many people are quick to assume that more detergent leads to better-smelling, soft, sparkly clothes. There is a large amount of high-efficiency washing machines on the market. These machines allow for less detergent having to be used than before.
However, companies don’t update their recommended usage amount because you would be saving money. These companies’ goals are for you to be spending your money on their products as frequently as possible.
Overusing detergent in your laundry can cause soil to be trapped and re-deposed in your clothes. The excessive amount of suds that come with the overuse of detergent will cause your clothes to stay dirty.
It is recommended to use one-half less of the recommended amount. Another reason to use less detergent is if your front load washer is smelling bad, less detergent in your next load may solve the issue.
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Keep your whites bright
Do you ever notice that your white clothes start to go grey or brown after a month or two of wearing them? This may be because you are using water temperatures that are too low or overloading your washer.
As mentioned in the second point, whites can be washed with hot water. This will effectively remove the dirt on the clothes and reduce the stains over time. If you are overloading your washer, chances are the dirt is resettling on the other clothes, making them dull.
Lastly, a reminder not to mix your whites with colored clothes. You should separate your washing loads, one load of highly pigmented, colored clothes and the other load with whites and light greys.
If your wardrobe has pastel-colored clothes it would be wise to separate that into another pile or add it to the pile of whites. This separation will make sure that your white clothes don’t change color over time.
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Act quickly against stains
As soon as possible after a stain occurs, apply a stain remover, soak it for a bit, and put it into the washer. You don’t want your stained shirt to be sitting in the washing pile for days on end, this will make it harder to get the stain out.
According to the care instructions for the fabric, use the warmest setting of water safe for the fabric. After washing, if a stain is still on the piece of clothing do not put it into the dryer. You must wash it again, putting it into the dryer will make you lose all chance of removing the stain.
There are different stain removal techniques including using white wine vinegar, baking soda, etc. Make sure you use the right technique to remove the stain, depending on the stain type.
[Read Best Organic Baby Laundry Detergents]
Happy Washing!
