How to Do Laundry in 10 Easy Steps

It is not difficult to learn to do laundry. Today’s materials, detergents, and machines make the most of the uncertainty and error in the process. First, determine whether each item of clothing needs to be cleaned. While it’s good to keep your clothes fresh, many items can be used multiple times before being washed. Also, read the label for cleaning instructions and make sure the product is not dry-cleaned.

Follow these 10 basic steps and laundry hacks for washable clothes and you’ll always have clean laundry.

Reading more: dry cleaners and alterations

Read the Labels

Check the maintenance sheet of your clothes and documents. They will tell you if an item is machine washable or not. In addition, each type of fabric has characteristics that determine how it reacts to heat, water, and cleaning solvents:

• Care of Cotton Fabrics
• Care of Synthetic Fabrics
• Care of Wool Fabrics

Put all clothes labeled “Hand wash” or “Wash separately” into separate piles. If the label says “dry clean only,” believe it and put it in a bag to take to the laundry.

There’s no need to save time or money and risk damaging the fabric by trying to throw it in the washing machine. In the future, try not to buy merchandise unless you specifically want to take care of the clothes.

Sort

• Whites, pastels, light grays, and white background prints will go in one pile.
• Deep colored clothes—black, red, navy, brown, dark gray—go in another pile.
• Heavily soiled clothes should be washed separately.

Sort Again

Divide each category again by material type. For example, in the white group, separate towels and sheets from clothes. In dark colors, separate tops and jeans from lighter items like tops and skirts.

Washing by type allows you to use different water temperatures and makes the drying cycle easier. To reduce lint, never wash lint-producing clothes and lint-attracting clothes!

If you don’t have enough pieces for a full load of each type of fabric and you’re in a hurry, you can wash pieces of each color together. Make sure you choose a wash cycle suitable for the most delicate items in your load.

Pick a Detergent

Choose a general purpose laundry detergent. Read the instructions to determine how much to use depending on the size of your download.

If there are stains on the clothes, treat them before washing to prevent them from sticking. Just apply stain remover or soak in some soap.

Before loading, add detergent to the drum or dispenser of the washing machine. This will prevent marks on clothes.

Pick a Water Temperature and Cycle

Unless your laundry is covered in heavy dirt and stains, washing in cold water will do all you need and prevent most laundry.

Exceptions to this are underwear and cotton fabrics, which require hot water to remove body fat. Clothes and towels should be washed at a temperature higher than recommended after at least two washes.

No matter the temperature, always rinse in cold water.

You also need to choose the best wash cycle for the fabric in the load. The “normal” cycle will be fine for most loads, but for some fabrics you may need to use the “press” or “pull” method. “Heavy Duty” is great for things like jeans and towels.

Final Check

Before loading the washing machine, take a moment to check everything. This avoids last minute mistakes.

Look for any stains and treat them beforehand. Some stains require special techniques to remove, while others can be treated with spot treatment. There’s also a proper approach to dealing with mystery spots if you’re not sure what’s causing them.

Also, make sure all bags are empty – no silk or paper – to avoid damage. Remove all accessories such as belts and jewelry. Close all zippers, velcro and buttons to prevent them from catching on the fabric.

Load the Washer

Load the items into the washing machine one at a time, making sure they are not in a bundle. Do not overfill the washing machine. Clothes need room to move in water.

To protect the surface of fabrics and reduce the “faded” look, turn out knits, velvets, textured materials and dark colors.

Unload the Washer

Remove wet clothes from the washing machine immediately to reduce wrinkles and prevent mold. Hang items to air dry, lay them out to dry, or put them in the dryer.

Load the Dryer

If you didn’t separate your clothes by fabric type when washing, do so now before putting the clothes in the dryer. It is important to dry all light items together and dry all heavy items together and choose a drying cycle for each. This will prevent shrinkage and protect your clothing.

There are many good reasons why you should line dry your clothes. The point is to save energy (and money) and damage clothes less. However, not everyone can do this due to lack of space and weather conditions. Be sure to get tips on how to hang your clothes if you can.

Hang or Fold and Store

When your clothes are dry, you’ll want to take care of them right away. Hang or fold each item as it comes out of the dryer to prevent wrinkles. And, of course, if necessary. Return clothes and linens to closets or drawers as soon as possible.

Final Tips

An error has come up. Everyone has it, but here’s a little help to save the sun or your favorite shirt.

• Save a Shrunken Sweater
• Remove Dye Bleeding
• Save a Iron-Scorched Garment

Washing is much less tiring if you do it often. Accumulating a mountain of laundry can be daunting. Going to the dry cleaners can seem like a hassle, so find ways to make the trip better, like taking time to read, relax, and enjoy the smell of your clothes.

Since 1982, Citi Clean has been cleaning a variety of personal, household and corporate items and materials, from silk shirts, cashmere sweaters to leather coats and suede jackets. We use state-of-the-art machines and trained professionals who are often referred to as the “Kings of Stain Removal”. We pride ourselves on quick response and convenient service for our customers.

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