How To Do Laundry
While this might seem too simple a chore to offer how to tips, lots of mistakes are made when doing laundry. I have even tinted an entire load of white a gorgeous shade of pink in my time and chances are, you will too. Over the years of having to do my own laundry, I picked up a few tips to make it as fool proof as possible.Difficulty: Easy
Time Required: n/a
Here's How:
1. Don't leave your laundry to pile up. That allows stains to set and the sheer volume will make you put it off until you don't have a thing left in your closet that is clean. Aim for small loads every other day.
2. Pre-treat stains. There are products on the market that allow you to treat the stain and then leave it to work until it's laundry time. Allowing the stain to sit untreated, gives it time to set.
3. Divide your laundry into piles. I'm not really picky, but I do sort the lights from the darks and I never put towels in with clothing. Too much lint to deal with. This is also a good time to check labels. You might accidently toss in a dry clean only item by accident.
4. Learn the different settings on the washer. There is a gentle setting for items that you don't wants tossed around. Anything delicate... is reserved for this setting.
5. If there are zippers, zip them up. If there are clasps, make sure they are fastened. There is nothing worse than tangled clothes all hooked together.
6. Choose your water temperature. In most cases, cold will do the job.
7. I never use the amount of soap stated on the box and have never regretted it. I do however, put the soap in with the water as the tub is filling. It takes longer for the soap to dissolve in cold water, so I make sure that takes place before adding the laundry.
8. Use a fabric softener if you like the fragrance. But you should also know when not to use it. Dish towels for one, I skip this step.
9. Unless it is an emergency, I seldom use the dryer. Clothes last longer if they are hung on a line outside or on a rack indoors. Just think of the dryer lint that collects. That's your clothing that are slowly disintegrating.