weheartitSince clothes cost a lot of money, we want them to last as long as possible. Follow these tips by Mary Marlowe Leverette from laundry.about.com to prevent laundry mistakes.
1. Do Carry a Stain Removal Pen
The first rule in treating stains is to do so as quickly as possible. Stain removal pens are one of the latest innovations in convenience. Follow the instructions carefully and be sure to follow-up when you get home. The pens are great but they are not magic - you will still need to laundry the garment to prevent damage.
We stock the Hollywood Fashion Stain Removal Pen in our online store.
2. Do Read Labels
Unless you are a laundry expert, you must read the labels on clothing. If it says wash in cold water, believe it. If the label says dry clean only, believe it - especially if the item is new.
As you gain experience, you will learn that some items labeled hand-wash only can be placed in the water on a gentle cycle. Or, some unstructured garments like sweaters or knit garments can be hand-washed rather than dry cleaned.
If in doubt, follow the care label or ask one of our experts.
3. Do Sort Laundry
Aside from the obvious pink sock in white load conundrum, there are many more reasons to sort your laundry.
When you throw your clothes into a washer, they essentially dance with each other as they move around in the water. Would you want your sheer, nylon blouse dancing close with a jagged metal zipper on a hooded jacket? Probably not.
Another benefit of sorting laundry correctly is that when it is time to use the dryer, one type of fabric will not be "cooked" while others are still quite damp.
To make your life easier, elaundry has pioneered the Dirty Dozen Cards - making sorting laundry easy!
4. Do Button & Zip Up
By buttoning, zipping or closing your garments, they will be less likely to snag another fabric or even snap themselves. You don't want to find clothes hooked to each other.
Your clothing will also last longer if after you've buttoned them up, you turn them inside out. This will prevent wear and tear to the outer finish, help prevent pilling on knitted garments and limit colour fading.
5. Do Use a Mesh Bag
A mesh laundry bag can be your best friend for protecting delicate garments like lingerie. It is also wonderful for baby items that are so small they seem to disappear. Put all the little socks and undershirts in one bag and you'll always find them and their matching pairs.
6. Do Inspect, Treat & Reinspect Stains
Stains happen and every garment should be checked before it is laundered for stains that may need additional treatment before washing. If you don't have time to treat the stain promptly, mark the spot with a clothespin or huge safety pin so you'll remember to handle it before washing.
Checked the stained area gain when you remove the garment from the washer. If it is not gone, repeat the treatment. The stain will be much harder to remove if it is dried at high heat.
7. Do Go Easy on the Detergent & Fabric Softener
Almost everyone is guilty of using too much laundry detergent or fabric softener for each load. More detergent does not always equal more cleaning. In fact, the extra detergent or fabric softener settles back on the clothing and leaves the finish dull and stiff.
Begin by using half of the usual amount of detergent and 1/2 cup of baking soda. The baking soda acts as a detergent booster. YOu will be amazed that your laundry comes out just as clean as with a full dose. If you are not pleased, add a bit more detergent the next time.
Try distilled white vinegar as your fabric softener. You won't smell like a pick and your clothes will have no leftover residue.
8. Don't Overload the Washer
Cramming the washer full of clothes may seem like the easy way to get more laundry done quickly, but it is actually harmful to your clothing. First, they don't get as clean and secondly, they rub together so much, there is actual harm done to the finish of your clothes.
9. Don't Use Hot Water or High Heat
For certain types of fabric, hot water can cause shrinkage and permanently set stains.
Extremely high heat in the dryer can also set stains and cause damage to fabrics. Follow label instructions carefully.
10. Don't Use Bleach Recklessly
Chlorine Bleach will damage any fabric - including white cotton - if used in too high a concentration. Always dilute chlorine bleach and learn to use it safely.
1. Do Carry a Stain Removal Pen
The first rule in treating stains is to do so as quickly as possible. Stain removal pens are one of the latest innovations in convenience. Follow the instructions carefully and be sure to follow-up when you get home. The pens are great but they are not magic - you will still need to laundry the garment to prevent damage.
We stock the Hollywood Fashion Stain Removal Pen in our online store.
2. Do Read Labels
Unless you are a laundry expert, you must read the labels on clothing. If it says wash in cold water, believe it. If the label says dry clean only, believe it - especially if the item is new.
As you gain experience, you will learn that some items labeled hand-wash only can be placed in the water on a gentle cycle. Or, some unstructured garments like sweaters or knit garments can be hand-washed rather than dry cleaned.
If in doubt, follow the care label or ask one of our experts.
3. Do Sort Laundry
Aside from the obvious pink sock in white load conundrum, there are many more reasons to sort your laundry.
When you throw your clothes into a washer, they essentially dance with each other as they move around in the water. Would you want your sheer, nylon blouse dancing close with a jagged metal zipper on a hooded jacket? Probably not.
Another benefit of sorting laundry correctly is that when it is time to use the dryer, one type of fabric will not be "cooked" while others are still quite damp.
To make your life easier, elaundry has pioneered the Dirty Dozen Cards - making sorting laundry easy!
4. Do Button & Zip Up
By buttoning, zipping or closing your garments, they will be less likely to snag another fabric or even snap themselves. You don't want to find clothes hooked to each other.
Your clothing will also last longer if after you've buttoned them up, you turn them inside out. This will prevent wear and tear to the outer finish, help prevent pilling on knitted garments and limit colour fading.
5. Do Use a Mesh Bag
A mesh laundry bag can be your best friend for protecting delicate garments like lingerie. It is also wonderful for baby items that are so small they seem to disappear. Put all the little socks and undershirts in one bag and you'll always find them and their matching pairs.
6. Do Inspect, Treat & Reinspect Stains
Stains happen and every garment should be checked before it is laundered for stains that may need additional treatment before washing. If you don't have time to treat the stain promptly, mark the spot with a clothespin or huge safety pin so you'll remember to handle it before washing.
Checked the stained area gain when you remove the garment from the washer. If it is not gone, repeat the treatment. The stain will be much harder to remove if it is dried at high heat.
7. Do Go Easy on the Detergent & Fabric Softener
Almost everyone is guilty of using too much laundry detergent or fabric softener for each load. More detergent does not always equal more cleaning. In fact, the extra detergent or fabric softener settles back on the clothing and leaves the finish dull and stiff.
Begin by using half of the usual amount of detergent and 1/2 cup of baking soda. The baking soda acts as a detergent booster. YOu will be amazed that your laundry comes out just as clean as with a full dose. If you are not pleased, add a bit more detergent the next time.
Try distilled white vinegar as your fabric softener. You won't smell like a pick and your clothes will have no leftover residue.
8. Don't Overload the Washer
Cramming the washer full of clothes may seem like the easy way to get more laundry done quickly, but it is actually harmful to your clothing. First, they don't get as clean and secondly, they rub together so much, there is actual harm done to the finish of your clothes.
9. Don't Use Hot Water or High Heat
For certain types of fabric, hot water can cause shrinkage and permanently set stains.
Extremely high heat in the dryer can also set stains and cause damage to fabrics. Follow label instructions carefully.
10. Don't Use Bleach Recklessly
Chlorine Bleach will damage any fabric - including white cotton - if used in too high a concentration. Always dilute chlorine bleach and learn to use it safely.
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