Buying new clothes is fun. Seeing your new clothes fray in just a few weeks isn't fun. This happens when clothes are made poorly or laundered improperly. I'm a grandmother and have been doing laundry for decades. These laundry tips keep my clothes looking new and should do the same for you.
1. Sort clothes into whites, darks, and natural/synthetic fibers. Sorting laundry is an old idea, but it's a good idea. If you don't sort your clothes they start to look gray.
2. Pretreat spots with dish soap. Don't spend money on expensive spot removers because dish soap works just as well. Squeeze a few drops on the spot and rub vigorously under cold, running water.
3. Brush stubborn stains with dish soap and an old tooth brush or nail brush. Don't brush too hard, though, or you may damage the fabric.
4. Turn slacks and jeans inside out to prevent fraying. You will want to do this if you bought designer jeans and paid a designer price. I wash my jeans in cold water.
5. Close and lock all zippers. Open zippers damage other clothes and may even damage the inside of your washing machine.
6. Make sure all pockets are empty. Colored paper and receipts can permanently dye other clothes in the washer.
7. Don't overload your machine. When you overload the washer the items rub against each other more and cause fraying. It's better to do two medium loads than one huge load.
8. Use less soap. According to my repair man, "The directions are there to sell soap. You need only a third of that amount. Too much soap will damage your washing machine."
9. Dissolve dry bleach in warm water before using. Add the bleach to your washing machine as it is filling.
10. Use the gentle cycle. Modern washing machines agitate more than the old ones and the regular cycle can "sandpaper" your clothes.
11. Air dry laundry to lower power bills and prolong the life of your clothes. Hang blouses, shirts, and t-shirts on plastic hangers. Tug on the sleeves and hems to smooth out wrinkles.
12. Forgo dryer sheets. The long-term use of dryer sheets (which kite the cost of doing laundry) has caused dermatitis in some people.
13. Toss a dry hand towel in with wet clothes to cut drying time.
14. Remove perma-press items from the dryer immediately. If you fail to do this, toss a damp wash cloth in the dryer and set the dryer for another five minutes.
15. Fold your clothes immediately and put them away.
Do you have college-age kids? Print out this list and give it to them. Knowing how to do laundry is a practical skill that pays off.
Copyright 2008 by Harriet Hodgson
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