how to do it
TM
House & Home
Laundry & Ironing Basics
published by Barnes & Noble
Load up on laundry know-how. Static Sta tic cling, bleach spots, shrunken sweaters—the sweaters—the laundry room can seem like a frightening place. place. With just a little basic knowlege, though, though , you can keep your wardrobe and linens fresh and flawless. Teach Teach yourself how h ow to:
Laundry Basics Typical household laundry consists mainly o clothing, towels, and bed linens. Depending on the number o people in your household, you may need to wash dirty laundry anywhere rom once to several times a week. Regardless o the amount o laundry that accumulates in your home, it’s important to stick to a regular schedule. I neglected, dirty laundry can easily pile up, leaving you with a shortage o clean clothes and linens—not to mention a job that’s more time-consuming than it needs to be.
How to Sort Laundry Sorting laundry is the process o separating dirty clothing and linens into separate loads according to their similar washing and drying needs. Sorting is an important routine that saves water and energy, protects abrics, and eases the process o everyday laundering. Though it may seem like an arduous task, sorting can save your belongings rom irreversible damage, such as ading, shrinking, and tearing. Laundry is usually sorted according to color and/or abric content. content. •
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Whites: Items that are primarily white should be washed together in hot water, preerably with bleach to maintain their brightness. Whites include undershirts, underwear,, towels, socks, and most bedsheets. underwear Light colors: Pale-colored clothing and linens can be washed together in either warm or cold water, depending on their abric content. You may opt to use colorsae bleach to maintain the brightness o light colors. Dark colors: Items that are very bold or bright in color can bleed dye onto other abrics. To avoid this, group dark-colored abrics together and wash them in cold or warm water, depending on their abric content. Delicates: Items made o ne, ragile materials, such as lace or silk, should be washed together, either by hand or on your washer’s delicate cycle ( see ( see Washing Machines) in a mesh bag that’s washing machine–sae. Unprotected delicates can pull and tear i subjected to a regular machine washing. Other categories: In addition to the above loads, be sure to keep lint-producing abrics, such as terrycloth, separate rom lint-attracting abrics, such as knits. Wash heavily soiled items separately rom lightly soiled items. And though it’s a good idea to combine dierent-sized dierent-sized items within each load (the mix acilitates cleaning action in a washer), it’s best to avoid pairing very bulky items, such as duvets, with much smaller items, such as s ocks.
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Care for different different fabrics and choose ch oose the right laundry supplies
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Get great results from any washer or dr yer yer,, at home or at a laundromat
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Iron out wrinkles and keep all your clothes in top shape
Household Laundry Schedule Your laundry schedule will depend on many actors, including the number and age o people in your household and the amount o time you have to devote to the task. The ollowing general guidelines can help you devise a consistent laundry schedule that suits your liestyle.
It e m
How O ten to Launder
Sheets
Once a week
Blankets/quilts
Once a month
Bath towels
Once a week (twice in humid weather or larger households)
Kitchen towels
Daily or every other day i you cook a lot; once a week i you cook less oten
General clothing (pants, shirts, etc.)
Ater each wearing
Undergarments, socks, and gym clothes
Ater each wearing (bras can be worn more than once between washings)
How to Read Fabric Care Labels To help consumers care or their abrics, the Federal Trade Commission requires that manuacturers ax permanent care labels, labels, or tags tags,, to garments, linens, and towels. These abric tags must be legible and resistant to ading. On clothing, they’re typically ound inside collars, waistbands, or let-hand seams. On linens and towels, they’re usually sewn into the hem. In addition to size and abric content, care labels include important inormation about how to wash, dry, and iron the item. The inormation is presented in written instructions, instructions, abric care symbols, symbols, or both.
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Do not bleach: Not sae to wash with bleach. Tumble dry: Sae to dry in a dr yer. The label will oten indicate whether to use high, medium, or low heat. I it doesn’t, you can assume that any temperature is sae. Iron: Sae to iron. The label will oten indicate “hot iron,” “warm iron,” or “cool iron.” I it doesn’t, use your discretion based on the item’s abric content ( see How to Iron for more information on iron settings ).
Garment tags may also eature variations on the typical c are instructions, but the directions are always stated clearly and concisely. For example, a sweater made o wool, which can easily shrink in a tumble dryer or become misshapen i handled while wet, may include the instructions “Lay fat to dry” or “Do not t wist or wring.”
How to Read Fabric Care Symbols In 1997, the American Society or Testing and Materials (ASTM) published a series o standardized symbols to take the place o written instructions on abric care labels (though many labels include both written instructions and symbols). Fabric care symbols are illustrated washing, drying, and ironing directions that consumers can read and understand, regardless o language. The ollowing chart illustrates all o the ASTM’s abric care symbols and their meanings.
ASTM Guide to Care Symbols Warning symbols for laundering
Machine wash Cycles
normal permanent delicate / press gentle
&
Wash
Water temperatures symbol(s) dots & ˚C
hand wash
(60F(200F)(160F) (140F) (120F) (105F) 85F) 95 70 60 50 40 30
any bleach
only non-chlorine/ oxygen bleach
Bleach
do not iron Additional instruction (in symbols or words)
Tumble dry
Most written instructions ound on abric care labels are general and straightorward. The most common written directions you’ll nd on garments and linens include: •
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Machine wash: Sae to wash using a standard washing machine. The label may indicate whether to use cold, warm, or hot water. I it doesn’t, you can assume that any temperature is sae. Hand wash: Not sae to wash in a machine; wash only by hand. The label will sometimes recommend a general water temperature.
line dry / hang to dry
normal norm al permane permanent nt delicate / press gentle
Cycles
Dry
do not bleach
do not dry (used with do not wash)
Bleach when needed
Instructions on Fabric Care Labels
do not wash
do not wring
&
drip dry
Heat settings
anyy hi an high gh me medi dium um low no heat heat / air
do not tumble dry dry flat in the shade (added to line dry, drip dry, or dry flat)
Iron when needed dry or steam
Iron
Heat settings
hig h
m ed edi um um
Professional Textile Care
P
mild cycle
F
tetrachloroethylene petroleum or petroleum solvent solvent only
no steam (added to iron)
Do not dryclean
Dryclean medium
low
P
F
Do not wetclean
Wetclean n or or ma ma l
W
m ilil d v er er y m ilil d
W
W
Laundry & Ironing Basics
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Laundry Supplies For everyday laundering, stock up on the ollowing supplies and replenish them as needed: •
Detergent: Laundry detergent comes in two orms: powder (or granular) and liquid. The main dierence between the two is texture. An advantage o powder detergent (which predates liquid) is its t ypically lower price. An advantage o liquid detergent is the act that it’s predissolved—powder sometimes does not dissolve ully, especially in hard water.
powder detergent •
chlorine bleach •
liquid detergent
Bleach: Household bleach comes in liquid or powder orm and is used to whiten or brighten laundry and remove stubborn stains (rom whites only). There are two main types o bleach. Chlorine bleach is a strong, pungent chemical that’s highly eective at removing stains, primarily on cotton and synthetic bers. However, it can damage silk, wool, acetate, spandex, and any abrics labeled “fame-resistant” or “dry clean only.” Oxygen bleach, sometimes called all-abric bleach, is milder than chlorine bleach but less eective at removing stains and whitening abrics. Oxygen bleach is sae to use on just about any type o material, as long as it’s not labeled “no bleach.” Oxygen bleach doesn’t give o the s ame harmul umes that chlorine bleach emits. To brighten colored items, you can use color-sae bleach (see below), which is sold either alone or as a detergent component.
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oxygen bleach
Fabric sotener: Fabric sotener is used to soten laundry and reduce static cling—some soteners even make ironing easier. Fabric sotener is available in two orms. Liquid abric sotener is added to the washing machine (either to its automatic dispenser or directly into the wash) during the nal rinse cycle. Fabric sotener sheets, or dryer sheets, are added to the dryer at the beginning o its cycle.
Get to Know Detergent Jargon Not all detergents are created equal—oten, you’ll come across words on detergent labels that indicate special eatures. Some o the most popular terms include: •
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liquid fabric softener
dryer sheets
Pre-laundry stain remover: This concentrated gel, liquid, or solid detergent, sometimes called a stain stick or pen, brushes, rolls, or rubs on to pretreat stains on abric beore it’s washed. Stain removers work by “reezing” and breaking down stains beore they have a chance to set. Laundry additives: A laundry additive is a powder or liquid used in addition to detergent and sometimes instead o bleach. It helps to clean, reshen, and brighten laundry, and is especially useul when trying to remove tough stains, odors, and allergens. Hamper: A hamper is a basket or bin, usually kept in a laundry room, bedroom, or closet, that holds dirty laundry until it can be washed. Laundry basket: This handheld container, usually made o plastic, is used to transport laundry rom the hamper to the washer, the washer to the dryer, and the dryer to the bureau, armoire, or closet. Laundry bag: A laundry bag is oten necessary or transporting large loads o laundry, especially to and rom the laundromat. Mesh bags: These bags are used to hold delicates— such as lingerie and baby clothes—that might snag or tear in the washer or dryer. They’re also handy or keeping socks contained as they’re washed. Look or mesh bags that are labeled specically or laundry; they’re designed to withstand repeated machinewashing and drying. Drying rack: Items that will shrink in a tumble dryer are labeled “hang to dry” or “lay fat to dry,” meaning that they should be hung or placed on a clothesline or drying rack, a foor-standing or wall-mounted wooden or plastic rack with tiers or hanging items and level suraces or laying items fat. drying rack
Ultra: Indicates that the detergent is concentrated, so you should use a smaller amount than usual. All-purpose (heavy-duty): Implies that the detergent can be used with almost any type o laundry abric (except or the type that requires “mild” or “gentle” detergent), as well as or other household cleaning jobs, such as washing windows or mopping foors.
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Free: Indicates that the detergent lacks dyes, perumes, and ragrances that tend to cause allergic reactions. Color-sae bleach: Indicates that the detergent is sae to use on colored items. Color-sae bleach keeps both colors and whites looking bright.
Washing Machines Washing machines wash dirty laundry through mechanical energy (supplied by the motion o the washer), thermal energy (supplied by water temperature), and chemical action (supplied by soaps and detergents). Washers typically have a capacity o 1.7–3.1 cubic eet or more and are 24–33" wide. They work by either agitating or tumbling laundry. •
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Agitating: This is the process o spinning laundry around a central, vertical post, creating a centriugal orce that presses out stains, suds, and water. Agitating results in laundry that’s damp-dried, meaning that it’s already wrung out and doesn’t drip. Tumbling: This is the process o tossing laundry around an empty drum (the barrel-like chamber inside the washer), sloshing and spraying sudsy water throughout the items. Tumbling is a more gentle method o washing than agitating is. Like agitators, tumblers also move laundry at a speed that presses out water, leaving laundry damp-dried.
Types of Washing Machines Washers all into dierent categories based on the location o their door and whether they agitate or tumble laundry. •
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Top-loading: The most common type o washer in the United States, a toploading machine has a top-mounted door through which to load laundry. It uses a central, vertical post and centriugal orce to agitate laundry. Its top-loading design makes top-loading washer laundry easy to access. Front-loading: Frontloading washers, already popular throughout Europe and on the rise in the United States, have a door in ront through which laundry is loaded. This type o washer, oten reerred to as a high-efciency front-loading washer (HE) washer, tumbles laundry in its drum, using less energy and water, requiring less detergent, and drying laundry more quickly than top-loaders. But ront-loading machines tend to have longer wash cycles than top-loading machines, and their ront-loading design orces you to bend down to reach your laundry.
The inormation contained in this and every Quamut guide is intended only or the general interest o its readers and should not be used as a basis or making medical, investment, legal or other important decisions. Though Quamut makes eorts to create accurate guides, editorial and research mistakes can occur. Quamut cannot, thereore, guarantee the accuracy o its guides. We disclaim all warranties, including warranties o merchantability or tness or a particular purpose, and must advise you to use our guides at your own risk. Quamut and its employees are not liable or loss o any nature resulting rom the use o or reliance upon our charts and the inormation ound therein.
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Photo Credits: Page 1: Digital Vision/Punchstock (photo 1), This gure has been reproduced by SparkNotes Publishing under license rom ASTM International. This gure is reprinted rom ASTM Standard D 5489-01a, Standard Guide or Care Symbols or Care Instructions on Textile Products, copyright ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, West Conshohocken, PA 19428, USA (phone: 610-832-9585, ax: 610-832-9555, e-mail: ser
[email protected], website: www.astm.org. Copies o the ocial standard should be obtained directly rom ASTM., (image 2); Page 2: Scott B. Rosen/Bill Smith Studio (photos 1, 3-4, and 8-9), Courtesy o Proctor & Gamble ( photos 2, and 5-6), Vincent & Jennier Keane/Lucence Photographic (photo 7), Courtesy o Whirlpool Corporation (photos 10-11); Page 3: www.energystar.gov (image 1), Courtesy o LG Electronics (photo 2), Courtesy o Sa msung (photo 3); Page 4: Courtesy o Haier America (photos 1-2), Courtesy o LG Electronics (photo 3); Page 5: Scott B. Rosen/Bill Smith Studio; Page 6: Arvind Balaraman/Shutterstock (photo 1), Comstock/Jupiter Images (photo 2).
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Printed in the United States Writer: Kristine Solomon
Laundry & Ironing Basics
www.quamut.com Look for the ENERGY STAR Label
More advanced washing machines may have extra cycles, including:
In 1992, the U.S. government’s Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) started the ENERGY STAR program to promote energy savings in consumer appliances and electronics. When shopping or washers and dryers, look or m odels that bear the ENERGY STAR logo—it means that they meet the EPA’s strict energy-eciency guidelines. An ENERGY STAR washing machine uses 40% less energy and water than standard models.
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ENERGY STAR logo
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Steam and Silver as Laundry Agents
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In recent years, some manuacturers have introduced hybrid washing machines that use new technologies, such as steam or silver, not only to clean but also to puriy dirty laundry.
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Steam: Some washers come with a steam setting that releases steam and humidity into the washer’s chamber, cleaning lightly soiled laundry while conserving energy and water. The most notable example o a steam washer is LG’s TROMM SteamWasher™. Washing machines that use steam are more expensive than traditional models. Silver: Silver has odor-, stain-, and bacteria-ghting properties that make it a powerul puriying agent. Up-and-coming washing machines deposit silver ions into the load during the wash cycle. The most popular model, Samsung’s SilverCare™, claims to kill 99.99% o bacteria and odors in laundry. Because this technology is new, the SilverCare washer is more expensive than traditional washers.
LG’s TROMM SteamWasher™
Cotton, silk, or wool: These cycles are suited specically to these abrics. Extra long: This lengthy wash is useul or heavily soiled items. Extra rinse: The extra rinse in this cycle helps remove any letover stains or detergent. Extra spin: The extra spin time in this cycle helps press more water out o absorbent articles, such as towels and blankets. Hand wash: This setting mimics the delicate action o actual handwashing. Quick: This short cycle washes lightly soiled items in less time, using less water and energy than longer cycles. Sanitize: This cycle releases a dose o extra-hot water into the wash mid-cycle to kill germs and bacteria. Soak: Also called prewash, this quick cycle soaks items or a ew minutes beore the main cycle, helping to remove stains.
Washing Machine Maintenance Washing machines and their various parts need regular maintenance and cleaning to stay in good working order. Consult the user manual that came with your machine, and also ollow these guidelines:
Washer Part
Problem
Solution
Main tub or drum
Repeated washings leave behind dirt, detergent residue, and limescale deposits, especially i you have hard water, which is high in minerals, such as calcium and magnesium. (I your laundry tends to be dull, dingy, and sti ater you wash it, you probably have hard water.)
To sanitize the machine, ll it with hot water ( no laundry or detergent), add 1 quart chlorine bleach directly into the tub ( not the bleach dispenser), and run a hot-water wash on the longest cycle. To remove mineral deposits, ollow this cycle immediately by adding 1 quart white vinegar to the machine and running it again on the same long, hotwater cycle.
Every 3 months i you have very hard water; every 6 months i you have moderately hard water; once a year i you have sot water
Lint trap
When too much lint clogs the lint trap, it can interere with the machine’s perormance.
Consult the user manual to locate your washer’s lint trap (it’s usually near the top), then remove built-up lint.
Once a month
Fabric sotener dispenser
Residue rom liquid abric sotener can leave bluish stains on laundry.
Warm a cup o white vinegar in the microwave or on the stove, pour it into the dispenser, and run the empty machine through a short, hot-water cycle. I the dispenser is removable, soak it in a hot-water-and-vinegar solution.
Once a month or bimonthly
Bleach dispenser
Residue rom bleach can leave aded spots on laundry.
I the dispenser is removable, rinse it in the sink with dishwashing detergent. I it’s stationary, use a pipe cleaner or rag to clean o residue.
Once a month or bimonthly
Samsung’s SilverCare™
Washing Machine Water Temperatures Dierent types o abrics require dierent water temperatures, so you’ll need to set your washing machine accordingly. Washers can be set to the ollowing water temperatures: •
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Hot: A hot-water wash has a temperature o 112°F or above. Hot water is very eective at removing stains, odors, and germs, and detergents tend to dissolve best at high temperatures. But hot water can also damage certain articles o laundry over time. Whites and colorast items, or instance, are sturdy enough to benet rom hotwater washing, whereas brightly colored abric can ade, and delicate abric (such as wool and silk) can shrink or warp in hot water. Another major downside o hot-water washing is that it uses up a lot o energy, so it’s best to reserve this setting only or heavily soiled items. Warm: A warm-water wash has a temperature o about 105°F. Blends, synthetics, and light- to medium-colored items (particularly noncolorast abrics) benet most rom this type o wash. But warm water isn’t as eective as hot water at removing stains, so it’s best to pretreat stains beore tossing articles into a warm-water wash. Cold: A cold-water wash has a temperature o 86°F or below. Brightly colored, noncolorast, and delicate abrics are best suited to cold-water washing, as lower temperatures are gentler on laundry than higher ones are. But cold water is also least eective at removing stains, so it’s necessary to pretreat stains beore tossing items into a cold-water wash. Cold-water washing is also kind to the environment, as it uses relatively little energy. For this reason, companies now manuacture detergents designed specically to dissolve in cold water.
Washing Machine Cycles A cycle is a washing machine setting that determines wash time, spin or tumble speed, and water temperature. Virtually all washing machines have three s tandard cycles: •
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Regular: Also called normal, this cycle uses hot or warm water to wash sturdy abrics, such as cotton, vigorously. Permanent press: Also called the wrinkle-ree or easy-care cycle, this type o wash is meant or wrinkle-treated abrics, synthetics, and manmade bers. It uses a coldwater rinse (most synthetics can’t tolerate heat) and a slower spin cycle. Delicate: Also called gentle, this setting is meant or delicate abrics, such as acrylic, silk, wool, acetate, and any articles composed o a delicate weave, which may tear, stretch, or pull in a more aggressive wash cycle. The delicate cycle uses cool to warm water and a slow washing action.
Frequency
Dryers A dryer is a ront-loading appliance that dries laundry automatically. Like washers, dryers have cycle settings that determine the drying temperatures that they use. But unlike washers, dryers have programmable timers that allow you to speciy the exact duration o the cycle—some dryers even eature a moisture sensor that automatically shuts o the machine when the laundry is dry, to avoid overdrying. Full-size dryers typically have a capacity o 4–7 cubic eet or more and are about 27–33" wide.
Types of Dryers Though some dryers dry laundry through alternate means, such as heat pumps and centriugal orce, the most common type o automatic dryer in the United States is a tumble dryer, which tumbles damp laundry in a barrel, dispersing hot air and blowing out moisture through an exhaust pipe that leads outdoors. There are two types o tumble dryers: electric and gas.
Laundry & Ironing Basics
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Electric dryer: This is the oldest and most common t ype o tumble dryer. It runs on a 240-volt electric current and thereore requires a 240-volt outlet that can accommodate either a three- or our-pronged plug. (Like washers, dryers are available in ENERGY STAR models.) Electric dryers are cheaper than gas dryers but are more expensive to operate, costing you more in the long run. Gas dryer: This type o dryer runs on natural gas, so the area where you plan to place your gas dryer should have a gas line. Though gas dryers are a bit more expensive to buy, they’re less expensive to operate because they don’t run on electricity, so they end up saving you money in the long run.
How to Pretreat Laundry Pretreating is the process o presoaking items and pretreating stains beore laundering the items. Pretreating can help to remove odors but is particularly important when dealing with stains—washing and drying a abric without rst pretreating it can cause some stains to set, making them virtually impossible to remove.
How to Presoak Laundry Heavily soiled items, such as gy m clothes, should be presoaked to remove tough stains and odors beore the items go through the main wash. Presoaking also helps oxygen bleach to work better. You can presoak laundry whether you’re washing it in a machine or by hand.
Space-Saving Units Standard washers and dryers are large units that take up a lot o space, so many manuacturers now oer space-saving alternatives: •
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Compact dryers: These svelte dryers are about 24" wide and have a capacity o 2 –4 cubic eet. Compact dryers are ideal or homes where space is at a premium. Stackable dryers: These dryers are designed to sit on top o matching ront-load washers, saving foor space. Combination washer/dryers: Also called laundry centers, these hybrids provide a washer and dryer in one unit.
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Machine presoaking: Most washing machines have optional presoak settings that soak clothes in a water-and-detergent mixture or 15–60 minutes beore launching into the wash cycle. Newer washers presoak laundry automatically when certain heavyduty cycles are selected. Hand-wash presoaking: Pretreat hand-washable items by mixing mild detergent into a sinkul o water and letting the items sit in this solution or 15–60 minutes.
How to Pretreat Stains I any o your items have visible stains or perspiration marks, set them aside or pretreating. Dampen the stained area and rub a stain stick ( see Laundry Supplies) or a dab o liquid detergent directly onto the spot. Then toss the item into the wash.
How to Machine-Wash Laundry Once laundry has been s orted and pretreated, it’s ready to be washed. Follow these steps:
compact dryer
stackable dryer
combination washer/dryer
Dryer Cycles Dryers come with three standard settings: regular, permanent press, and low/delicate. •
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Regular: This is the highest setting on a dryer. It uses hot air to dry sturdy items, such as jeans, underwear, and towels, that are not prone to shrinkage. Permanent press: This medium setting uses warm air to dry synthetics, blends, and anything labeled “tumble dry medium.” It usually includes a cooldown period. To prevent wrinkles, remove items rom the dryer immediately ater this cycle ends. Low/delicate: This is the lowest cycle on a dryer. It uses relatively cool air to dry delicate items, such as lingerie, woolens, hand-washables, and anything prone to shrinkage or labeled “tumble dry low.”
1. Select the appropriate cycle and press start. I you’re washing everyday clothing and linens that are only lightly soiled and have no stains, it’s okay to select a gentler, coldwater cycle. A cold-water cycle is sae or any material, and using it saves energy. 2. Add detergent as the machine is lling with water—i you add detergent only ater the laundry is already loaded, it can get concentrated in the abric and not rinse out ully, causing aded or greasy spots. I the load is small, it’s okay to use less than the recommended amount o detergent and select the short cycle to save time, money, energy, and water. In modern machines, you may also add liquid abric sotener at this stage (see step 4). 3. Load the laundry and let it wash. A st andard wash cycle is about 20–40 minutes long— i you’re using a ront-loading washer, expect the cycle to last a little longer. 4. During the nal rinse (depending on your machine), add liquid abric sotener either into the sotener dispenser or into the wash itsel. The package will suggest an appropriate amount. I in doubt, use less —abric sotener tends to be greasy and can build up on clothing. 5. Take laundry out o the machine as soon as possible ater the cycle ends and transer it to the dryer, drying rack, or clothesline. Damp clothes that sit in the washer too long can develop a musty, mildew-like smell.
Dryer Maintenance A dryer needs regular maintenance to unction properly. Follow these guidelines: •
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Ater each load, clean out the lint flter and the space in which it sits. It’s a good idea to vacuum this area now and then as well. A clogged lint lter slows down the perormance o the dryer and presents a re hazard. Once every couple o months, clean the inner walls o the dryer with a damp cloth. Once a year, remove the vent pipe or exhaust hose and clean the lint out o it, then reattach it, resealing the joints with duct tape i needed. Make sure the vent pipe is ree o kinks, which can block the fow o air.
How to Wash Laundry Most abrics can be laundered in a washing machine—labels will indicate clearly when items should be hand washed or dry cleaned instead. Cleaning laundry in the washing machine saves time and yields the best results.
Should You Wash New Items Before Wearing? I you or someone in your household has sensitive skin, it’s a good idea to wash new items beore wearing or using them. Manuacturers oten treat abrics with special nishes that resist wrinkles, dirt, and oils so that the items will look their best in stores. These nishes tend to be hard on sensitive skin. One wash in the appropriate cycle should do the trick.
Laundry Troubleshooting for the Washer Occasionally, laundry will come out o the machine in worse condition than when it went in. Below are the most common laundry pitalls and how to remedy them.
Problem Dingy/gray discoloration
Likely Cause(s) •
Prepare Clothing for Laundering Beore tossing your sorted laundry into the wash: • •
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Turn items inside out: This slows the ading o abric on its visible side. Empty pockets: Tissues, lip balm, chewing gum, and other oreign objects let in pockets can stain or damage your laundry. Check or tears and runs: Rigorous washing action can worsen existing damage. Zip up zippers: An open zipper can snag abrics. Do a colorastness test: Some boldly colored abric dyes may bleed in water or ade dramatically in colorsae bleach. Most items that are not colorast are labeled “wash separately.” But i you’re wary o a brightly colored item that’s never been washed beore, test it rst. Put a drop o water onto a hidden spot—such as the inside o a hem or seam—then blot it with a cotton ball. I the cotton stays clean, it’s sae to wash the garment with other abrics. I it picks up some o the dye, wash the item separately. You can perorm the same test to determine whether it’s okay to use colorsae bleach.
Color bleeding
Tears
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Load not properly washed (due to low water temperature, poor sorting, too little detergent, or too much abric sotener) One or more articles in wash are not colorast
Excessive use or misuse o bleach Open zipper or hook in wash Overloaded or improperly loaded washer
Solution(s) •
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Rewash load, using presoak, strong detergent, hot water, bleach (i applicable), and laundry additive.
Remove noncolorast item(s) and rewash load with strong detergent, hot water, and bleach (i sae or items). Use amount o bleach appropriate to size o load, or dilute bleach with water. Close all zippers and hooks prior to washing. Don’t overll washer. Isolate delicates in mesh bag.
Laundry & Ironing Basics
www.quamut.com Brown or rust-colored stains
Excessive lint
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Iron or manganese in water supply
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Low water pressure Improper draining Improper sorting Overloading
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Have local water utility company test water or rust. To remove rust stains, ll washer with water, select appropriate cycle, add 1/3 cup rust remover to water, and let dissolve. Then add laundry. Follow with rinse cycle or regular cycle with detergent. (To test or colorastness, add one teaspoon rust remover to one cup water, then place one drop o that solution on inconspicuous spot on item. Let spot dry and see whether color changes.) I water pressure seems low when water is lling, look or kinks in hoses and check screens in hoses or buildup o sediment. Once water has lled to maximum level, advance dial manually to nal spin cycle. Start timer at beginning o spin cycle, wait 90 seconds, then open lid. I all water has not drained, check drain hose or kinks or call a proessional.
1. 2. 3. 4.
How to Dry Laundry Though most o your clean laundry should be dryer-sae, always remember to check care labels beore tossing items into an automatic dryer. Dryer-related damage is oten irreversible. When in doubt, hang or lay items fat to dry.
How to Machine-Dry Laundry Using the tumble dryer is the quickest and easiest way to dry your laundry. To machine dry successully, remember the ollowing guidelines: •
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How to Hand-Wash Laundry Any item that’s lacy, embroidered, noncolorast, vintage (made beore washing machines were used), or otherwise delicate or valuable should be hand washed in a sink or basin. In particular, very delicate lingerie and items labeled “hand wash only” must be hand washed. Though time-consuming, handwashing will protect your delicates rom damage, ading, and shrinkage, prolonging the lie o the abric. To hand-wash laundry:
1. Make sure that your ngernails have no ragged edges. Wearing waterproo gloves is a good idea, but it’s not necessary. 2. Fill the sink or basin with cool water, then add a capul o mild detergent. 3. Wash items one or two at a time (wash noncolorast items separately). Swish the item(s) through the sudsy water, then let them soak or a ew minutes. Squeeze the sudsy water gently out o the abric. Don’t twist or wring the item. 4. Drain the basin or sink and rinse the item with cool water until the water runs clear. 5. Roll the item in a dry towel to absorb excess water. I the item is noncolorast, use an old towel that you don’t mind ruining. 6. Depending on the item’s care label, hang it or lay it fat to dry—never tumble dry a hand-washable item. I you don’t have a drying rack, hang the item on a plastic or wooden hanger or lay it fat on a clean, dry towel. Remember to reshape knits or other stretchy garments to preserve their shape when you lay them out to dry.
Treat stains with the provided stain-removal liquid. Put a pretreated cloth and the laundry items in the dryer-sae bag. Toss the bag in the dryer and select the cycle indicated in the kit’s instructions. When the cycle is over, remove the bag immediately so that no wrinkles can set.
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Don’t overll the dryer. Fabric expands as it dries, and an oversize load can reduce the machine’s eciency, hampering its ability to tumble the items. Plus, the laundry will take much longer to dry. Don’t underll the dryer. Clothes in an undersize load will clump together, and you’ll waste energy to boot. I you have a small load that needs to be tumble dried, toss in a ew dry, non–lint-producing items to acilitate the tumbling action. Take advantage o letover heat by drying multiple loads back-to-back. Remove items immediately ater the drying cycle ends. When laundry is let sitting in the machine or too long, it can shrink or develop wrinkles. To prevent overdrying—which can cause yellowing, wrinkles, shrinking, loss o elasticity, and textural damage—set the timer conservatively. You can always check the laundry at the end o the cycle to see whether it needs more drying time. Remove items with thick seams, such as jeans, when the fat parts are dry but the seams are still slightly damp. Doing so will help prevent overdrying.
Laundry Troubleshooting for the Dryer Problem
Likely Cause(s)
Shrinking
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Static cling
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Laundry takes too long to dry Wrinkles
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Dryer temperature was set too high, or item wasn’t meant to be tumble dried Laundry was overdried Item is simply susceptible to static Lint trap is clogged Load was too big Laundry was let sitting in dryer or too long
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Check care labels when items come out o wash—especially i you’re washing items or the rst time. Put dryer sheet in dryer and redry load. Clean lint trap and ll dryer only one-third ull—remember that abric expands as it dries. Put damp towel in dryer and redry load.
How to Dry-Clean Laundry
How to Line-Dry Laundry
Dry cleaning is the process o laundering items—mainly clothing and certain types o bedding—with chemicals instead o water or standard detergent. Though there are at-home kits that simulate the action o dry cleaning ( see below ), real dry cleaning can only be done by proessionals, as it requires bulky machinery and special training. Dry cleaning is more expensive than machine washing, and it takes longer—usually a ew days to a week—or your laundry to be ready. You should take your garments and bedding to be dry cleaned i:
Beore automatic dryers were invented, people had no choice but to hang their laundry or lay it fat to dry. Even when you have a dryer, you may sometimes choose to take advantage o your clothesline in mild weather to save energy or just let laundry absorb the smell o resh air. I you do, remember the ollowing guidelines:
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Their care labels indicate to do so They’re lled with down or eathers (or example, coats, duvets, and pillows) They have tough stains that you can’t remove on your own They have an odor that won’t come out in the washer
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Because proessional dry cleaners are trained to remove dierent types o stains, you should point out and identiy specic stains whenever possible so that the dry cleaner knows which types o chemicals to use. Never take an item o laundry to the dry cleaner unless its label recommends this type o laundering specically. Some abrics can’t withstand the chemicals used in proessional dry cleaning.
At-Home Dry-Cleaning Kits At-home dry-cleaning kits include cloths treated with drycleaning chemicals, stain removal liquid, and reusable, dryersae bags to contain laundry. These kits are great occasional substitutes or dry cleaning, especially or removing odors (some, but not all, kits can get rid o stains too) . To save time, you may also opt to launder lightly soiled delicates with an at-home dry-cleaning kit instead o by hand. Dryel® is a popular at-home dry-cleaning kit. To use an at-home dry-cleaning kit:
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Always make sure the clothespins and clothesline are clean beore hanging laundry. I your clothesline is made o rope, you can wash it with a simple household cleaner or a solution o water and detergent whenever it looks dirty. Keep a liberal supply o clothespins on hand so that you won’t run out halway through. Wooden clothespins are common, but plastic ones are less likely to leave marks on abric. Extend standard abrics about 4" over the line, then pin. To secure heavier abrics, extend them halway or a third o the way over the line, then pin. Don’t let items drag on the ground. When hanging fat articles, such as sheets and towels, hang them widthwise with their hems parallel to the line. This takes up less space and puts less s tress on the line. Hang pillowcases with their open end acing up and pinned at either corner. This way, they’ll catch wind and billow in the breeze. To make sure towels are fuy when dry, shake them vigorously (make them snap) beore hanging them—doing so loosens the pile (fuy texture) o the abric. Do the same when you take them down. To prevent ading on very sunny days, hang colored laundry inside out on a shady spot on the line—or don’t hang it outside at all. Similarly, whites can yellow rom prolonged exposure to sunlight, so limit their exposure time whenever possible. I you want to line dry your laundry year round, buy an indoor clothesline (try www.stacksandstacks.com) and hang it in your basement or laundry room.
Laundry & Ironing Basics
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How to Use a Laundromat
Ironing Basics
I you don’t have the space or means to own a washer and dryer, your alternative is to do your laundry at a nearby laundromat. Laundromats may oer do-it-yoursel acilities, drop-o/pick-up service, delivery service, or a combination o the above. Having the employees at the laundromat wash, dry, and old your laundry or you is always more expensive than doing the laundry yoursel. ( For more on folding items, see the Quamut guide to How to Fold Everything.)
When you take your soleplate steam clothes out o the dryer, button some o them will be wrinkled. An electric water iron is the easiest reservoir way to press these wrinkles out o abrics. Most irons use both heat and steam and are called steam irons. A steam iron has several parts:
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Cost o doing laundry yoursel: Each washer in a laundromat generally takes $1–5 in quarters, depending on its size, and each dryer typically takes one quarter per 6–8 minutes. Some laundromats now have washers and dryers that accept prepaid laundry cards instead o quarters. I you wash one load o laundry and dry it or one hour, it can cost anywhere rom $3.50 to $7.50. Cost o drop-o laundry service: Usually, laundromats charge by the pound—$0.75 to $1.00 per pound is pretty standard. A typical load o laundry weighs 10–25 pounds, costing anywhere rom $7.50 to $25.00.
Laundromat Supplies
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Take the ollowing items with you to the laundromat: • • • •
Your laundry in a basket or laundry bag Detergent Fabric sotener A roll o quarters
How to Use Laundromat Washers and Dr yers The washers and dryers at laundromats are similar to machines designed or homes in some ways, including: • • •
Settings Water temperatures Cycle durations
But laundromat acilities are also dierent in several ways. In a laundromat: •
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Washers and dryers require quarters (or prepaid cards) to operate. Many washers and dryers have larger capacities than at-home machines. Machines may not be as well-maintained or cleaned as you’d like. Compartments or detergents and abric soteners are located atop the washer. Washers typically tumble rather than agitate.
Here are a ew tips or using laundromat acilities the right— and polite—way:
Soleplate: This nonstick iron plate heats up quickly and evenly. The soleplates o steam irons eature a series o holes through which steam is released. Water reservoir: This is a space in the iron that holds water. When an iron is plugged in, the water in the reservoir heats up and is released through the soleplate as steam, which works in tandem with heat and pressure to help remove wrinkles. Some steam irons can operate with tap water; others call or distilled water. I your locality has hard water, it’s best to use distilled water in your iron. Steam button: This button lets you control when steam is released rom the iron. Some steam irons also have a button that lets you spray water onto the abric.
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Ironing Techniques Beore ironing, close any zippers and asten any buttons, hooks, and clasps on your items. Set up the ironing board in a well-lit spot, at waist height and with its wide end acing to your right (i you’re right-handed). Fill the iron’s reservoir with water, then plug it in and choose the appropriate setting. When ironing, use one hand to guide the iron and the other to smooth the abric and pull it taut as you work. Iron as large an area as possible, then stand the iron on its heel while you rearrange the garment. Spray sizing or starch— particularly on stubborn spots, such as collars and cus— while holding the can about 6–10" rom the abric. Then run the iron over the area.
Ironing vs. Pressing There are two general techniques that are used to get abric smooth with a steam iron: •
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Iron Settings Not all abrics require or can tolerate the same level o heat, so steam irons eature various settings or dierent types o material. Choose these settings c areully to prevent permanent damage to your clothing and linens. There are universal symbols in the orm o dots that represent the three most common settings on steam irons. They are: •
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One dot: The iron’s cool setting—248°F. Use this setting or synthetic materials. Two dots: The iron’s warm setting—320°F. Use this setting or silk and wool. Three dots: The iron’s hot setting—370°F. Use this setting or cotton and linen.
Though the above system is still in use, many modern irons have more than three settings. On these irons, each set ting should indicate the type o abric or which it’s intended.
Get the best ironing results by using the ollowing tips: •
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How to Iron
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I compartments or detergent are not located on top o the machine, put the detergent right into the machine as it starts lling with water, before loading laundry. Laundromat washers usually have just the basic cycles—regular, delicate, and permanent press. Washing times don’t vary as widely—25–40 minutes is typical. Remember that you’re sharing washers and dryers— leaving your laundry in the machine too long is not only harmul to your clothes but also inconsiderate to others. Never leave laundry unattended. Because most laundromat washers are ront-load models, remember that they don’t require as much detergent as a top loader. A hal cupul is ne.
In addition to a steam iron, you’ll need the ollowing supplies to iron your laundry: •
Ironing board: Whether it’s a foorstanding or table model, the ironing board should be padded and have a smooth, heat-resistant cover.
To stay sae and make sure your iron stays in good working order, do the ollowing: •
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Sizing: This spray-on solution helps remove wrinkles, restores body to the abric, and orms a protective layer that repels dirt. Cotton and linen benet most rom sizing.
To prevent shine—a common result when ironing certain abrics—iron the garment inside out or use a pressing cloth. Iron sleeves and pockets more easily by rst stung them with tissue paper, a washcloth, or a sleeve board. To iron pleats, pin them in place, then pull them taut and iron rom the waist to the hem. I a abric is stretchy or cut on the bias (cut diagonally), iron it in the direction o the weave. I a abric is piled (such as velvet), hold the iron’s soleplate above the garment—don’t let it touch—and shoot it with steam only. Iron around buttons, not on them. Buttons may crack or melt under heat or scratch the iron’s soleplate.
Iron Safety, Maintenance, and Troubleshooting
Ironing Supplies •
Ironing: This is the process o sliding the steam iron back and orth over the abric while applying light pressure. Ironing is the more common technique. Pressing: This entails placing the iron in one spot, then liting it. You may choose to place a protective cloth, called a pressing cloth, over the item that you’re pressing. Pressing is recommended on more heatsensitive items, such as men’s suits, wool, net, pile abrics, and some silks and rayons.
Ironing Tips
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Ironing isn’t essential, but it helps your clothes look their best—some abrics, such as cotton and linen, wrinkle very easily. Depending on your time and devotion to the task, you may even want to iron other household abrics, such as bed sheets and hand towels.
Starch: This spray-on solution is similar to sizing but more concentrated, leaving abrics a bit stier.
Test the soleplate frst: To avoid burning a abric, always test the soleplate’s heat beore using the iron. Iron either an inconspicuous portion o the garment or a rag made o the same or similar material. Unplug it: Keep the iron plugged in only when you’re actually using it. Clean the iron ater each use: When the iron is cool, wipe the soleplate with a damp cloth. Never use an abrasive cleaner or steel wool on the soleplate. I starch or other residue builds up: Buy a specially designed iron cleaner, available at most home centers, or use an old toothbrush to scrub on a paste made o baking soda and water (the soleplate can withstand a low level o abrasion). I the iron becomes clogged: First, make sure that you’re using the right type o water (tap vs. distilled)— doing so will help prevent clogs. I your iron does clog, pour white vinegar into the water reservoir and turn on the iron, letting the heated vinegar sit in the reservoir until it’s all released as steam. Iron a clean rag to make sure all o the vinegar is released. Then unplug the iron, let it cool, and rinse out the reservoir with cool water.
