Doing Laundry (2)
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Step Two: Preparing the Wash
After you’ve separated the laundry into loads, you need to properly prepare the wash for
laundering. At this point you pre-treat any specific stains, select water temperatures and add detergent and other wash additives to
the washer and fill the tub. Here’s a general rule of thumb on water temperatures and tips for best results according to fabrics
General: Add your detergent and additives to the washer as the tub is filling with water. This
allows the laundering agents being used to dissolve into the water and means that the detergents and additives will spread evenly
throughout the load. This prevents the potential problems of detergent residue that can occur if the detergents are added last.
Second, allow the tub to fill completely with water before adding the laundry items. This allows
you to avoid over-loading the washer by making sure that the items in the washer tub can move freely during the agitation.
Heavy, durable fabrics: These loads should use either cold water (for the dark and bold color-fast
colors) or warm water washes (for the lighter colored loads).
Mid-weight fabrics: These loads should use either cold water (for the dark and bold color-fast
colors) or warm water washes (for the lighter colored loads).
Light-weight fabrics: These loads should use either cold water (for the dark and bold color-fast
colors) or warm water washes (for the lighter colored loads).
Linens: If the fabrics of these items are not color-fast, be sure to further separate by color
and wash with cold water. With color-fast fabrics or pastels, use warm water. For whites use a hot water wash to ensure the cleanest
and brightest results.
Step Three: Additives
Selecting additives to boost cleaning in the laundry can make a world of difference. Choosing the
right additive is simply a matter of the fabrics being cleaned. For whites try adding oxygen-based bleach, in addition to a
chlorine-bleaching agent. For light colors and pastels, oxygen-based bleach will boost the cleaning and leave the colors vibrant.
With darker colored fabrics, use a non-chlorine bleach alternative when you need extra soil removal and to prevent dulling of the
colors.
Once you know the basics of laundry care, keeping your clothes clean and fresh looking becomes a
simple matter. Do try to avoid mixing loads, however, because even if the effects aren’t immediately apparent, you will notice the
results of doing so over time as your clothes will begin to look more worn when they aren’t laundered properly.
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