Doing your laundry is already a chore. Make it as easy as possible. Follow the three simple steps below for the best laundry-care results.
1. SORT AND PRE-TREAT
First, sort clothes by color, wash temperature and fabric type. Always consult the fabric label for specific washing instructions.
It is recommended that you separate your laundry as follows:
- Dark fabrics from white and light-colored fabrics
- Lightly soiled clothes from heavily soiled garments such as work clothes
- Fabrics by water temperature (hot-warm-cold)
- Fabrics that will shed lint on other fabrics (terry cloth, corduroy, etc.)
- Lingerie, hose and delicate fabrics that should be washed in a mesh bag
- Clothes that may have fugitive color and bleed onto others
While you are sorting, check for stains. If you find a stain, pre-treat with a stain remover.
More Handy Tips
Before you wash garments, take these precautions first:
- Button buttons, hook bras, zip zippers
- Tie sashes, cords, straps etc., to prevent tangling
- Check pockets for coins, tissues, pens, etc.
- Remove anything on the garment that cannot be washed
- Repair tears so they don't become larger while agitating
2. WASH
Set the load size, wash and rinse temperature dials on your washer. Allow the washer to fill with water before adding a detergent and any laundry additives.
Add your clothes last. Be sure not to overload your washing machine. Leaving space for your clothing and detergent to move freely in the machine ensures that stains and soil will be released and removed from your garments.
Also, don’t forget to add fabric softener to every wash load’s rinse cycle. Clothes will feel soft and smell wonderfully fresh.
Special-Care Garments
Delicates can be hand-washed separately with a combination of a laundry booster and detergent, or washed in a separate garment bag specially designed for delicates in your regular wash.
3. DRY
For best results, remove clothes from the washing machine and dry garments as soon as the wash cycle has completed. Read the label on each garment carefully and follow recommended drying procedures.
