Doing your laundry is such a drag, right? It is so time-consuming and very tiring. Certain chores may seem therapeutic to others but more often than not, washing your beloved garments will always be not one of them. Maybe, it is the lack of enthusiasm for that particular chore that leads to common laundry mistakes.
But say adios to your worries because in this article I will guide you to avoid common laundry mistakes. I genuinely hope that you will be more knowledgeable in your laundry after you read this article. Listed below are some essential tips you needed to keep in mind when doing your laundry.
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Commercial Laundry
If you’re too busy and have no time for your laundry shenanigans, you don’t have to do it haphazardly. If you’re too lazy to do laundry on your own, you don’t have to force yourself to do it either. It will just result in a disaster in your garments.
Good thing, some shops do laundry service. But careful, do not trust immediately. Make sure you survey your own on which is the most reliable laundry shop in your area. As an additional basis, find reviews online and confirm if they have laundry pickup and delivery for convenience.
Don’t also forget to compare laundry prices and their related services.
Laundry service must be:
- Reasonable in pricing
- Excellent services (Promo, 24/7 open, pick up and delivery options, etc.)
- Premium detergent
- Always on schedule
Ignoring the Garment Label
It is the most essential yet often bypassed. The garment label is a piece of the given information you need to consider when doing your laundry. It is more like a rule required that you have to obey to better the garment quality.
Checking your clothes’ wash label is the first step, yet people ignore it like it doesn’t matter, which is probably the most common mistake in doing your laundry. If the label says “dry clean only,” “do not iron,” or “hand wash only,” then you have to abide.
Letting the Washing Machine Handle the Stain
A stain in your shirt must be pre-treated. Why? When you let the stain stay in your shirt for an extended period, you’re giving it time to set in the fabric. When you stained your shirt, immediately soak the stained area in cold water. It will prevent the stain from setting. If it gives no improvement, choose your most trusted stain remover and wash it in a gentle yet thorough manner.
Washing and Drying Time
When washing, always make sure to see the label of the garment. If not given, know the type of the garment and its optimal washing time. The washing machine causes rotational friction in your garment. If you put it for too long, it may damage the point that you can’t wear it anymore.
Letting the Zipper Hang
When you’re using your washing machine for your garments, it may cause some damage to your other clothes if zippers aren’t close. It can scratch other garments in the duration of the wash. Never forget to close your zippers in the laundry to prevent tearing and wearing of all your beloved clothes.
Direct Contact on the External Part of the Clothes
During laundry, make sure to turn your clothes inside-out. Laundry is all about friction, and other garments may damage your delicate clothes at some point. It ensures that the garment’s outer part will not have visible damage if the friction is high.
For drying, again, make sure to read the garment label and follow the optimal time. To avoid garment fading, shrinking, or wrinkles, take your clothes out in the dryer while still damp. After that, you need to reshape and lay them flat, then put them back in the dryer. That way, you can also lessen the need for ironing.
Using Too Little or Too Much Detergent
If you use too little amount of detergent, it will always be not enough. It may not be clean at all. The fragrance will not be pleasant, and it will not remove some stains.
But using too much detergent is also a bad habit in the laundry. Using too much detergent, a layer of foam will form above water, which is hard to rinse away. It may also cause garments to discolor due to the detergent not being able to mix well in water because of its excessive amount.
Make sure you read the instruction for the detergent. Always follow the ratio of the detergent to the amount of water and the weight of garments. You can also do it by feel. If you have enough experience, you don’t need accurate measurements.
Skipping Fabric Conditioner
Many people believe that it is terrible to use fabric conditioners. But they’re mistaken, and here’s why. Fabric Conditioners aren’t just clothing perfume, and there is more to that. Fabric conditioners prolong your delicate garments’ lifespan by keeping the natural color and preventing it from fuzzing. Again, make sure to put the right amount of fabric conditioner by following the product label.
Re-wearing your Used Clothes
Perhaps you used your shirt in the evening, and in the morning, you went to the grocery store wearing the same outfit because it still smells and looks fine. Or perhaps you’re way too comfortable re-wearing your sweater when you’re at home– this is a terrible habit. Our bodies produce oil, sweat, and skin flakes, and they’re invisible to the naked eye. All of that stuff can end up in your clothes. So do yourself a favor by changing your ways and just wash it.
Not Testing Wash your New Clothes
You need to test-wash your new clothes, especially the colored ones, because they may bleed dye and result in stains of that particular batch of laundry. You don’t want that to happen, right? Make sure to soak your new garment in water and soap solution for 30 minutes. If the solution is tinted, it means the dye bleeds from your new garment. Well, if that is the case, wash the item alone by hand or washing machine to prevent staining.
If you can do the laundry at home, be mindful and avoid these common mistakes. However, if you are too busy to do so, have your trusted laundromat have your laundry pickup and delivered right to your doorstep. They are experts who know what they’re doing. You do not need to worry about laundry mistakes.
I am Scott Miller and my love is writing about home improvement. I write mostly about home ideas, but also share some tips and tricks that can make your life easier when it comes to getting things done in the house.