When it’s time to do laundry, many individuals may just toss clothes into the washing machine and add laundry detergent for a normal cycle without much thought. Laundry is something that many of us do regularly, but if you’re getting less than perfect results, you may have missed a few needed tips.
While dirty laundry piles up quickly, considering a few of our laundry best practices will help you get the best possible results. This article provides helpful information that will make doing laundry less of a burden and keep your fabrics looking better for longer.
Keep a Laundry Routine:
Many people do laundry sporadically or when it adds up to overwhelming levels. While it may be easier for some to do a ton of laundry once a week, it’s often a better idea to do a single load per day. Making time to cycle laundry every day will prevent endless piles of laundry from sitting too long.
If your laundry goes untouched for prolonged periods, it may become stale or, worse, sour. Unwanted odors and stains may become challenging to remove after sitting in a laundry hamper for several days or longer.
Using the Right Water Temperature:
Knowing the correct water temperature for each item is the key to laundry success. Many may be confused about selecting hot or cold water when running a laundry cycle.
In general, cold water is good for delicates, dark colors that may bleed, and for items that are prone to shrinking.
Warm water is a good choice for synthetics and soiled clothing, while hot water is preferred for durable fabrics used for towels, bedding, white fabrics, or heavy stains.
Use the Right Detergent:
It may be easy to buy the cheapest detergent off the shelf at the grocery store and move forward. However, several varieties of detergents may work better for your laundry needs. It’s important to understand the differences between them.
Powdered detergents are reliable choices for large loads of laundry. They’re usually inexpensive options compared to liquids. However, powder detergents may leave residue on fabrics when used in cold water, in which they dissolve more slowly.
Liquid detergents are ideal for treating stains because they usually contain effective enzymes. When determining what liquid detergent is best for you, make sure to consider its ingredients. As a general rule, enzymes equal an increase in cleaning strength.
Liquid Fabric Softener and Dryer Sheets:
Many liquid fabric softeners work like detergents when removing odors with an added softening agent. While liquid softeners may be expensive, they go a long way to keep fabrics soft. Softeners will boost your laundry results when washing larger loads.
Dryer sheets are another convenient option for reducing laundry odor and softening fabrics. They are easy to use and may take up less storage space than a liquid softener. Simply drop a single dryer sheet into the dryer with your laundry for good results.
Use Caution with Bleeding Colors:
If you’ve ever ruined clothes by washing them incorrectly, ending up with gray, pink, or multi-colored stains on your clothes, consider sorting your laundry correctly before washing. To prevent colors from bleeding in the wash, make sure to separate darker colors to be washed in cold water and lighter colors for warmer temperatures.
Many fabrics will list appropriate handling instructions on their tag, so make sure to review beforehand. Further, when in doubt, hand-wash fabrics that may bleed separately to avoid dye stains.
Handle Delicate Fabrics with Care:
If you want bras, underwear, lace, and other delicate undergarments to last longer and hold their form, consider washing them in a lingerie bag in a gentle wash cycle or hand-wash them in a sink filled with detergent and cold water.
Reduce Wrinkles
Wrinkled clothing can be a hassle to iron. Using fabric softeners and dryer sheets will help prevent and reduce wrinkles in your laundry. Removing clothes from the dryer quickly after the cycle is complete and selecting the appropriate dryer temperature will also reduce wrinkles.
If you immediately fold and hang laundry right out of the dryer, you’ll find your clothes look better and need less ironing.
Get the Best Laundry Results
If you consider the above tips before running your next load of laundry, you’ll find clothes stay fresh, free of stains and wrinkles, and brighter for longer. These tips can help extend the life of your clothes while providing extra softness and fragrance after each cycle.
Using our helpful tips will help you learn what products and methods will work best for your laundry.
The Dutchman’s Laundry knows how to professionally handle even the most delicate or durable of fabrics and the worst stains. We’re always available to assist with your laundry service needs. Wash and fold services are also available. Simply drop off your laundry, and we’ll do the rest!
Call us today at (931) 896-2600 to learn more about what The Dutchman’s Laundry can do for you!
