How to Do Laundry

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Categories: How Tos | Home & Garden | Cleaning & Laundry

  • Doing your laundry doesn't have to be a time-consuming or complicated task. Once you know how to sort your clothes, read labels and choose the right water temperature, you're pretty much set.

    How to Do Laundry will show you the ropes on keeping your clothes clean without shrinking or discoloring them in the process. Following the tips below can help lengthen the life of your wardrobe.

  • Introduction

    • (Photo by Sanja Gjenero)
    • Doing laundry is one of the most important and common household chores. The need for fresh and clean clothes never ends. Yet most people tend to procrastinate until they either run out of things to wear or become overwhelmed by piles of clothes in every corner.
    • Until you win the lottery and can afford to pay someone to wash your clothes, you have to develop a system that works for you. If you're a rookie the good news is that laundry doesn't have to be an unpleasant task as long as you stay organized and learn some basic facts.

  • What You'll Need

    • Besides all your dirty laundry, you'll need the following items to get started:
    1. Detergent
    2. Dryer sheets
    3. Stain remover
    4. Laundry baskets or bins
    5. Chlorine bleach (optional)
    6. Fabric softener (optional)
    7. If using a laundromat or community facility, you'll need plenty of coins

  • Step 1: Separate Your Clothes

    You're never too young to do your own laundry. (Creative Commons photo by Beth Rankin)
    • Most people have experienced that awful feeling of opening the dryer and finding all their clothes are a new shade of pink. Mixing something as small as a single red sock with a load of white undershirts is enough to cause this problem. Some dyes in clothes "bleed" when they're washed so you have to be careful to separate colors. It's very important to read each label carefully to clean your clothes the right way.

  • Understanding Labels

    1. Learn the different washing and drying symbols used on garment instructions.
    2. Print out a sheet explaining what each icon means.
      • You can download a guide to common laundry care symbols from Textile Affairs. The following link opens as a PDF File:
      • Textile Affairs: Guide to Common Care Symbols
    3. Post the sheet in the same place you'll be sorting laundry for easy reference.

  • Create a System for Sorting

    • Whether you live alone or have a family, the most efficient way to organize your clothes is to sort them as you go. Instead of throwing all your clothes together in one hamper, create a sorting area near your washing machine. If you use an outside laundry facility, find a place in your home with enough space for sorting.
    1. Purchase several hampers or laundry baskets.
    2. Place the hampers in a common area in your home.
    3. Create clearly marked name tags with the following titles: whites, darks, bright colors, sheets, bath towels, kitchen towels, blankets, handwash/dry clean and line dry only (no dryer allowed).
    4. Place one tag on each hamper.
    5. Post label care instructions near the hampers.
    6. Remember that pop up bags are a good choice for people using outside laundry facilities because they have handles and drawstrings which make transporting your dirty laundry very simple. This is especially useful for students doing laundry in a dorm.

  • Help for Families

    • If you share laundry duties or have a family, hold a quick meeting with all household members explaining the new laundry sorting system above.
    1. Make sure each family member understands the label care symbols.
    2. Teach children how to do laundry at a young age. You can purchase kid-friendly laundry hampers with colorful characters that make laundry seem fun for the little ones.
    3. Split up responsibilities so that the same person isn't always the one doing all the family laundry.
    4. Create a laundry schedule with clearly marked days and responsibilities.
    5. Post the laundry schedule near the sorting hampers.
    6. If each person in your household is responsible for their own laundry, you should set up a similar sorting system for each person's room.
    • With everything separated, the task of actually doing the laundry seems less time-consuming. This method helps to avoid the dreaded task of gathering up all the dirty clothes on laundry day. If you don't have a sorting system in place, then you'll need to go to each room in your home collecting dirty clothes and sorting them into the same types of piles listed above.

  • Step 2: Getting Started

    (CC photo by Sir Mildred Pierce)
    • Once you have all your dirty clothes sorted and know what to wash, you can begin the process of preparing your clothes for loading.

  • On Laundry Day

    1. Decide which load you want to wash first.
    2. Double check each item to make sure it belongs in that particular load.
    3. Look for stains that may need to be treated with a stain remover.
    4. Follow the instructions on the bottle of stain remover.
    5. Apply the recommended amount of remover to the garment.
    6. Let all stains stand for 10 minutes or so before you load it into the washer.
    7. For tougher stains, you can let it set for up to 24 hours.

  • Operating the Washing Machine

    • Although most washers have the same basic functions, each machine may be slightly different so it's very important to read instructions.
    1. If you're washing in laundromat or community laundry facility such as an apartment complex, the instructions for operating the washing machine and dryer will be clearly posted on the wall.
    2. If you're washing at home, refer to your owner's manual for details on using the machine.

  • Step 3: Load It Up

    (CC photo by Logan Ingalls)
    • Now that you've pre-treated stains and learned how to operate your machine, you can start loading clothes into the washer.
    1. Open the washer lid. Washing machines are either front loading or top loading machines. For front loading washers, the door is located on the side in front, while top loading machines have the lid on the very top of the washer.
    2. Load your clothes slowly by dropping in only one or two pieces at a time. Throwing your clothes in one big ball will prevent them from being thoroughly washed.
    3. Slightly shake each garment as you load to get rid of dust and make sure sleeves aren't inside out.
    4. Check pockets for lose change or valuables.
    5. Place the clothes on alternating sides of the machine as you load. This will ensure a balanced load and proper cleaning of all items.
    6. Don't overload the machine or your clothes won't get washed correctly. Leave some room on top so water can get through each garment.
    7. Once everything is loaded, locate the detergent dispenser.

  • Step 4: Using Detergent

    (CC photo by Britta Frahm)
    • With your dirty clothes loaded in the washing machine, it's time to put in the detergent. Selecting a detergent is largely base on personal preference that can only be decided once you know what you need to wash. You may come to prefer some brands over others. Some people even decide to make their own detergent by mixing various inexpensive cleansers with water. All store-bought detergents have instructions for proper usage listed on the product.

  • Types of Detergent

    1. Liquid: Used for foods stains, grease and oil soils and to pre-treat spots.
    2. Powders: Ideal for everyday washing, ground-in dirt and children's play clothes.
    3. Ultra: Concentrated liquid and powder detergents offer the same level of cleaning in smaller amounts of product.
    4. High Efficiency (HE): These detergents come in either liquid or powder form and are designed for use in low-water volume HE washers.
    5. Combination Detergents: Products that combine two actions, such as detergents with built-in fabric softeners or bleach.
    6. Fragrance-free/Dye-free/Allergen-free: Used when people have allergies, sensitive skin or have concerns about the affects of detergent on the environment.
    7. Baby/Gentle: Detergents specifically created for delicate baby clothes.

  • Putting Detergent into Washer

    1. Locate the detergent dispenser on the washer. Most newer-model washers have an area on the side of the machine for detergent.
      • Some older models don't have a detergent dispenser, so in that case you should start the cycle and wait for the water to fill before adding your detergent. Remember to always avoid pouring detergent directly onto fabric because it may leave a soap stain.
    2. Read the instructions on the bottle of detergent.
    3. Using the lid as a measuring tool, pour the required amount of detergent into the lid.
    4. Slowly pour the detergent into the dispenser on the machine.
    5. Wash the measuring lid at the sink before you put it back on the bottle to keep in clean and avoid a sticky mess.

  • Using Bleach

    • Some people like to add bleach to their white load to make the garments seem brighter or kill germs. You can add a small amount of chlorine bleach to your laundry without it wearing out the clothes. But remember that using bleach for an extended period of time can damage fabrics according to some experts.
    1. After you've added your detergent, wait a few minutes before you add bleach.
    2. Read instructions on your washing machine. Some machines have a separate dispenser for adding bleach, while others just have one area for adding detergent and bleach.
    3. Don't use bleach if there are bright colors in your load.
    4. Read instructions on the bleach bottle you're using for measurement information.
    5. Slowly pour the suggested amount of bleach into the dispenser.
    6. Remember to never pour bleach directly on clothes or you'll get a white stain.
    7. If you prefer avoiding chlorine bleach, you can use alternatives for bleach such as hydrogen peroxide, vinegar or baking soda.

  • Using Fabric Softener

    • Some people like adding fabric softener to their laundry because it can decrease wrinkling and static cling, while also making clothes feel softer.
    1. After pouring in detergent, locate the fabric softener dispenser on your machine.
    2. Pour in the recommended amount.
    3. If your machine doesn't have a specific dispenser, you'll have to manually add in the fabric softener during the last rinse cycle. Don't add fabric softener to the main detergent dispenser because it needs to be used at the end of the wash cycle or it won't work.
    4. Never pour fabric softener directly onto clothes.
    5. Alternatives to using fabric softener include using dryer sheets or a combination detergent with fabric softener included.

  • Step 5: Pick the Right Setting

    Use the right temperature. (CC photo by Sharon Mollerus)
    • Now that your clothes are properly loaded and you've applied the correct amount of detergent, it's time to start the washer. Most washing machines have several settings that will determine the correct temperature of the water and the length of each spin cycle. A lot of the guesswork for choosing the right setting has been removed since most manufacturers have already programmed their machines with the proper washing and spin cycles.

  • Basic Guidelines

    • Some people prefer to wash all their clothes in hot water because they feel it gets them cleaner. Other people prefer using cold water because they feel it prolongs the life of the fabric and doesn't shrink clothes. People have their personal preferences that they develop over time. The following guidelines are recommended by the clothing industry, but you should always refer to the specific instructions listed on each garment:
    1. Close the lid of the machine.
    2. Choose the right temperature.
      1. Hot Water: Use this setting for whites, linens, heavily soiled items, kitchen towels, etc.
      2. Warm Water: Use this setting for most of your laundry, such as permanent press items, ready-to-wear garments, jeans, sweats, bath towels, blankets, etc.
      3. Cold Water: Use this setting for delicate, embellished or embroidered items.
    3. Pull out the temperature knob to start the washing cycle.

  • Step 6: Drying Your Clothes

    You will sometimes find a dog in your dryer. (CC photo by John Carl Johnson)
    • Once the spin cycle is complete, remove garments from the washing machine and put them into a dryer.
    1. Remove the dryer tray to make sure there isn't any lint.
    2. Load damp clothes into dryer.
    3. Use dryer sheets to avoid static cling.
    4. Select the correct dryer setting by choosing a similar setting to the one used during washing. Most dryers have four settings:
      1. Regular (High Heat): Use for whites.
      2. Permanent Press (Medium Heat): Use for colors.
      3. Delicates (Low Heat): Use for fragile fabrics.
      4. Air Fluff (No Heat): Use to to fluff up fabrics.
    5. Turn the machine on.
    6. Set the timer for 30-45 minutes depending on the size of the load.
    7. Now that your 1st load is in the dryer, you can put your 2nd load in the washer.
    8. To avoid wrinkles, fold your clothes right after you take them out of the dryer.

  • Air Drying Clothes

    • Remember you've already separated the garments that can't go into the dryer when you did your initial sorting. When you're ready to do that load, keep in mind the following tips for line drying:
    1. Use strong clothespins so they can hold the weight of your clothes.
    2. Don't hang clothes in direct sunlight since that could fade colors.
    3. Take special care to hang clothes upside down along the hem to avoid pinch marks.
    4. Don't line-dry knits because they will stretch.

  • Conclusion

    • Doing laundry is a never-ending task that can be simplified by organizing your clothes prior to laundry day. Creating a system for separating your clothes will save precious time every week. Families should remember to teach their children how to do laundry at a young age. If parents make it fun, washing clothes can actually be a good learning tool for kids and grown-ups alike. Doing your laundry correctly will not only give you a closet full of clean clothes, but it can also prolong the life of your wardrobe.

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