As long as I can remember, I have always enjoyed doing certain chores like washing dishes, cleaning the kitchen, ironing, vacuuming (the sound is relaxing to me, when someone else is vacuuming-lol)! and doing laundry, which is my favorite! You could think it strange, unless I have a laundry service and work for hire. Why do I enjoy this task, you might ask? Well, for one, I have mastered doing laundry well and work hard to make sure that I wash everything with care.
Perhaps, you are reading this article because you
needed some pointers before you did the laundry by yourself or you thought this
would be an interesting read; in either case, I trust I will keep your attention.
I consider doing laundry an art and like any other art or craft, it’s important
to have the best supplies before
starting your project. You should already have a washer and dryer or access to both. You can’t do laundry quickly and
efficiently without a washer and dryer, unless you want to go old school and use a washing
board and tub and have a clothesline in your backyard (lol)! Let’s look at the supplies you will need for doing your
laundry:
ü Laundry
detergent (powder or liquid) – I recommend liquid; also the new pods are very
convenient, since there’s no measuring, which means no mess and they leave the
clothes smelling nice (I have preferred scents I like to use for my clothes.) One important note about pods (e.g. Tide): they can stick to each other and will get soft and leak, because of the heat in your laundry area. If they burst, be careful not to allow any liquid to get on your skin or it will cause a chemical burn. Try using detergents that are safer for both your clothing and the environment [e.g. Ecos, Seventh Generation, Honest)
Free tip: I have found that adding ½ to 1 cup of vinegar (apple
cider or distilled) to your wash will both soften clothes and aid in
eliminating odors in bath towels. The amount of vinegar will depend on size of
load; try ½ cup for smaller loads and 1 cup for larger ones.
ü Bleach (Clorox, Purex, non-Chlorine)
ü Stain remover
(e.g. Spray n Wash, etc.) Create a natural stain remover by searching online.
ü Fabric softener
(liquid or sheets);
ü Laundry bar soap
(gentle treatment to lift stubborn stains)
Once,
you’ve got the supplies listed above, it’s time for the part most
people don’t like: SORTING clothes. This is really not that difficult; because
you can always follow the manufacturer’s directions on the detergent container
or you can use the suggestions provided below:
ü Sort soiled
clothes by color and water temperature
ü Treat any stains or spots before washing according to the directions
ü Check pockets on
all garments for paper, tissue, or other items that should be removed
ü Turn shirts with
applique inside out
Remembering to check all pockets and secret pouches
in the garments to be washed is very important and will prevent a lint disaster.
My pet peeve is forgetting to check the pockets, when
sorting the dark clothes. Don’t be
surprised if you forget a couple of times; and be encouraged, because practice
does make perfect!
Once the
clothes are sorted, you can get started with washing:
ü Starting with dark clothes is best especially
if you will be using a bleach product on the lighter or white loads of clothes, so it’s best
to wash them last. Use COLD water for dark clothes to prevent colors from
bleeding (seeping) on the others. Actually, using cold water for all your wash
will work. Just experiment and see what works best for you.
ü Select water
level based on size of load
ü Add detergent or
Pod(s) to the tub first and then clothes
ü Add liquid softener to
dispenser or use dryer sheet
ü Leave lid open
to make sure the water level is sufficient for the size load (or change the
level) and then put the lid down to start the cycle.
If
you use liquid softener, you might not
want to use the dryer sheets. Some people use both for extra softening and lasting fragrance. If you want to use a dryer sheet,
have it ready to add to the dryer as well as the next batch of clothes for the
washer. You should wash your clothes in the following order: 1. dark clothes,
2. light colors and 3.whites. Non-chlorine beach or laundry color booster is
good for light colors and warm or cold water will work just fine for washing. You will
discover your own preferences the more you do laundry by what works best and
does a better job.
Always
check the label on each garment to see if the
manufacturer recommends washing in the machine or by hand and/or air drying for less heat to prevent shrinkage. Please feel free to make any adjustments
that are suitable for you. If you end up forgetting to check the pockets of the
dark clothes or any other load and end up with lint, because of some tissue, you can
remedy that with the dryer. As those items dry, the pieces of tissue will end
up on the lint filter and your clothes should be lint-free.
You
can determine the temperature you need to use by the clothing type and the cycle
button on your washer. Please refer to reminder below:
ü COTTON cycle (high) is used for drying:
whites, towels, t-shirts, and A-shirts; PERMANENT PRESS cycle (medium) - for
permanent press clothing; DELICATE cycle (low) – for more delicate items
needing less heat. Today, most dryers should have an AIR cycle, which can used
to dry items without heat; this cycle is shorter than other cycles.
ü Always
evenly fill the dryer with a full load of clothes to prevent overheating or under
drying of clothes. Also, the liquid softener and/or dryer sheet should help
minimize wrinkles.
ü Remove
permanent press and delicate items as soon as they are dry. It’s best to check
the clothes before the cycle ends to take out clothes that are dry to prevent over drying,
shrinkage or permanent wrinkles. You can allow clothes that are slightly damp to
continue to air dry on a tubular hanger.
After your clothes are
dry, it’s time for folding, which is not a favorite chore
for some people. To prevent your clothes from getting extra wrinkles, fold them
right after they are dry instead of letting them sit in the dryer. The
important thing to remember about folding is to keep it simple. While, it's not hard and
doesn’t have to be fancy, do try to go for neatness and you will be glad later on. Also, if you have young siblings or
nieces or nephews, you can let them help with rolling socks and folding smaller
items such as wash clothes. While you’re perfecting your art, you can also
teach them and you’ll all have fun!
Determine which items
should be hung up right away to prevent wrinkles.
Check the washer and
dryer to make sure nothing is left, or any items that are forgotten may get sour and you will have to
rewash them. One last thing before you go, please don’t forget to CLEAN THE LINT
FILTER after drying cottons as they produce more lint. It’s a good practice
to check and clean the filter after you complete your laundry session, so that it will
be clean for future use. Remember, lint has been the cause of many house fires.
Thank you for your time
and attention and may your laundry days be happy ones!
COPYRIGHT 2017 •
Creative words • Victoria Sellers
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