It happens to all of us -- the day we realize we should have listened to our mothers. Some of us experience it at the dentist when we’re told we should have been flossing daily to prevent cavities, others with failed tests, or cooking mishaps. But, for many of us we have our first “I should have listened to my mother” moment in the laundry room. Mom told us to sort our laundry and pick good detergents, but just how closely did we listen?
Three possible signs you weren’t listening to Mom’s guide to clothing care include:
* At one point in your laundry career your whitest of whites have inadvertently become gray and dingy.
* You never can remember when, where or how to add detergent, fabric softener or bleach.
* Your solution to treating stains is seltzer, elbow grease and a little prayer.
In an age where activities like paying bills online and e-mailing photos are as simple as 1-2-3, why is it that laundry is still so frighteningly confusing? Even seasoned pros can be baffled by new technology and conflicting guidance. Regardless if you’re the first-timer headed off to college, the bachelor left to his own devices or the new mom with a family to keep looking good, we can all use some answers to our laundry questions.
Help is here! Harold Baker, aka Dr. Laundry, a senior scientist for The Clorox Company, answers everything from basic laundry tips, to comments on new technology and emerging trends on his new blog.
Here are a few tried-and-true tips to help get you started on a path leading to ultimate laundry success.
Step 1: Separate the good from the bad or expect the ugly. Group clothes in three ways: by like colors, like fabrics and finally by keeping lint producers (the towel) from lint attracters (the corduroy blazer).
Step 2: Organize your product arsenal. All too often people use whichever product is on sale at the time and assume it’s appropriate for all clothes. This can often be a costly assumption. It breaks down like this:
Detergent – Responsible for basic cleaning and is available in a liquid and powder:
* Liquids are easier to use, cost slightly more, but can also be used to pre-treat stains.
* Powders clean soils and dirt better, but make sure the powder dissolves. If not, you will find the leftovers stuck to the dried clothes…a serious fashion faux pas.
Bleach – Great for keeping bleachable items looking pristine.
* A new bleach for the laundry is Clorox UltimateCare Premium Bleach, which is gentler and allows you to pour directly onto clothes, but has the same whitening power as traditional bleach. No more waiting for the water to fill up in the washing machine!
* For colors, use a color-safe bleach to help remove stains and soils and brighten colors.
Fabric Softener – Helps keep clothes feeling soft, reduces static cling and leaves a noticeable scent; fabric softener is available in a liquid form in addition to sheets.
* Add liquid softener to your fabric softener dispenser; it will be mixed in during the final rinse.
* Dryer sheets are primarily for static control and provide less softening than their liquid counterparts, but are easy to just throw into the dryer and go.
Step 3: Deal and Don’t Ignore. Use a good liquid detergent or pre-treatment stain remover in problem areas before laundering. This will start to loosen the stain from the effected area before you wash. If unsure whether a product, like bleach, is safe to use do a quick pre-test by applying a drop in a hidden spot (like an inside seam), wait one to two minutes, then blot with damp cloth or towel. Let the garment air dry and check for discoloration. If there is none, then the product should be safe to use.
Step 4: Some like it hot. Others like it cold. Always use the warmest wash setting the fabric will allow. Whites should always be washed in hot water. For lights/darks use warm or the permanent press setting on the washer. Save on energy cost by using a cold rinse setting.
Step 5: Spot check your work. Before putting your clothes in the dryer, check for any leftover spots or stains. Heat from the dryer can set a stain for life. If you find any lingering spots, repeat steps one through four until you’re able to shake them.
Log on to Dr. Laundry’s blog at www.drlaundryblog.com for more tips and answers to many of your burning laundry questions. - ARA |
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