You may once have learned how to do your laundry, but since that time, dryers and washing machines have changed, and a global health crisis led people to question the tried-and-true cleaning methods they were using, such as how often they should wash their clothes, and even if the viral laundry stripping videos were worth the hype.
Here’s the truth: laundry is among the most dreaded chores in the house, but the towels, bedding, and clothes will only keep piling up until you do something about it. Luckily, there’s another way to go about this task, and in this blog, we will offer 5 tips to help you clean and dry your garments effectively, regardless of the fibers, machinery, and the amount of time available. Read on!
Don’t Wash Your Clothes Too Often
Who says you need to wash your clothes too often? In fact, doing so could damage the fibre and cause the colours of the clothes to fade away, so it’s best to limit the number of times you wash them, not only because this will extend their life expectancy but will also help you save the planet. Now, obviously, this depends on different factors as well as the clothing items. For example, jeans and sweaters don’t need to be washed after every wear, but that’s not the case when it comes to workout clothing, which is in closer contact with your skin. Too many people throw their clothes in the washing basket only after one or two wears, but this habit won’t benefit your laundry at all. Think of it like washing your car: if your Fiat 500 looks clean, it wouldn’t cross your mind to take it to the car wash, no matter how much time has passed since you last washed it, right? Well, it’s the same for your shirts, dresses, and blouses – so if you don’t want to damage them way too soon, think twice before putting them in the washing machine.
Air Dry the Clothing Items
A tumble dryer requires a lot of energy to run, causing damage to the clothing fibers, so a good rule of thumb is to hang the clothing inside or outside on a retractable washing line designed for UV-and weather-resistant materials that will ensure the clothing will remain in tip-top condition. Also, keep in mind to shake out the clothes immediately after taking them out of the washing machine, as this will help remove some of the wrinkles in the drying process. While it may be tempting to use a dryer for its convenience (after all, you can count on it to complete the job really fast), it can also be a drain when it comes to your money and energy, and they’ve also been known to fade and damage the wardrobe. Air drying, on the other hand, is better for your clothes as well as for the environment, so it's evidently the go-to option.
Don’t Ignore Care and Fibre Labels
First and foremost, it’s important to check the care and fibre labels, which are generally located on the back neck, the side seams, or the back waist of garments. These labels will give you the necessary information about your garments, including the fibers that they consist of and the recommended way to wash and dry them. Many times, instructions are spelled out, but in certain cases, they can also be a list of symbols (you can find this list online with a simple search on Google). You may not always have labels to turn to ( for example, in the case when the writing has been worn away due to repeated wear or because you cut it off prematurely), and in such an instance, it’s recommended to use the most delicate washing and drying method, as this will help you ensure that your garments won’t be ruined.
Sort Laundry Properly
Sorting your laundry isn’t an easy task, which is why you should break the process down into multiple steps. Begin by sorting out the lights (all-white garments and pastel shades, light gray and beige), darks (such as black, brown, navy, red, and dark gray), and colors(including pink, orange, lavender, yellow, light green, light blue). For garments with different colours, such as a shirt with white and black stripes, consider performing a quick test, as this will ensure that the colours won’t bleed ( you can do that by placing a drop of water on the garment and blot it with a paper towel – if the color remains intact, you can wash it with lights and whites, making sure that you adhere to the guidelines on the garment’s labels. Next, sort each of the piles based on the fiber type: pull out the delicate garments that could be damaged easily because of coarser fibres and the items that require handwashing. It will take longer until coarser fibres get dried, so consider removing them, as this will ensure that you won’t over-dry more delicate fibres.
Choose The Adequate Detergent and Fabric Softener
While all laundry detergents are meant to remove stains and refresh garments, there are hundreds of options to choose from, and some are better than others, so you need to make a decision thoroughly. The best detergents out there are formulated to penetrate fibers efficiently and dissolve and remove body oils that may not even be seen, as well as brighten clothes without bleach, making them safer for the brightest colors as well. While some people may not use fabric softener (also known as fabric conditioner), you may reconsider this decision, as it can help you keep fabrics soft, keep wrinkles at bay, and decrease friction – besides, with consistent use, you can extend the life of the garments you love the most. Just beware that sometimes a fabric softener isn’t recommended, such as when washing sportswear, microfiber, water-repellent fabric, or flame-resistant clothes.
The Bottom Line
There you have it: a list of the best five tips for treating your clothes with care! Everyone wants to wear their favorite clothing pieces for as long as possible, so we hope these tips will help you ensure that will happen by preventing damage due to frequent washing or other inefficient laundry habits.