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May 5, 2024
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Practical guide for washing clothes

Washing clothes is a process that requires organization and some knowledge, but nothing too complicated. It's not just about throwing a few pieces to the washer's maximum capacity, pushing a button and waiting until everything comes out clean and smelling.

You need to know how to separate parts and take care when washing them in the machine or tank. This saves you energy, laundry detergent, uses less energy and even keeps your clothes longer.

To help and show you there are no secrets, we have put together a handy laundry guide. Follow these tips and see how to make this task even easier.

Before washing the clothes

Avoid letting your clothes remain dirty for a long time, especially if they are damp to prevent musty smells. In addition to the stench, mold can cause stains that are difficult to remove.

Separate light from dark clothes and put on old pillowcases or clothes separators for use in washing machines. Clothes with stubborn stains should be treated with stain remover before going to the washer.

Never put bent parts in the washer. The folding locations suffer greater friction, which increases the wear and fading of the fabric in these areas.

Close all buttons and zippers on parts. If there are loose buttons, reinforce or remove them. Be sure to also check that there is no money, any other paper or objects in your pockets (pins, clips, screws, coins, etc.).

Avoid washing quilts and quilts in the machine as they are bulky and friction causes wear on the fabric and damage the blanket that fills these parts.

At the time of washing

Carefully follow the directions on the clothing labels. In the care description, clothing labels should contain explanations of five basic processes: washing, chlorine bleaching, drying, ironing, and dry cleaning.

Some pieces need to be washed by hand as they are very delicate. Lingerie, silk, cashmer, socks and other fine fabrics are examples of this. Washing the tank takes a little longer, so those who don't have much time to do this can keep sorting out these parts during the week and set aside some time for this weekend.

Use special soap to wash thin clothes and rinse until water comes out clean. Do not twist parts, just squeeze to remove excess water. In the last rinse, pour one tablespoon of fabric softener or two spoons of white vinegar and have fluffy pieces.

In the washing machine, select the program according to the type of fabric and the degree of dirtiness of the pieces. Remember that white and colored clothing should be separated to prevent staining.

Never use bleach or bleach on colored clothing, regardless of the type of fabric. Silk, leather, lycra-elastane or polyurethane fabrics should never be washed with bleach, even white ones.

See also: How to Decipher Clothing Labels

To wash black clothes without losing color, a rule is never to soak the pieces. The less they are exposed to soap and sun, the longer they will last. Also be careful with those whitish stains that appear because of excess soap and softener, use these products sparingly.

If parts become stained, before washing them again, try a clothes brush. Often it is just washings that come off easily with a good brush.

Woolen clothes should be washed separately and without the spin function. Wash dishcloths separate from personal clothing, as they often contain grease and can be ironed to other parts. The same goes for cleaning cloths.

At the time of washing swimsuits, put only fabrics of the same material together without mixing with other types of clothes. Separate the towels by color, always washing the lightest shades and then the darker contrasting colors to avoid stains. The most suitable products for washing swimsuits are mild soap and fabric softener.

When washing any type of parts, nothing exaggerates in the washing powder. Using excess product in an attempt to have cleaner clothes will only impair washing. Always observe the measurement indicated on the machine.

To dry

Put clothes on to dry immediately after washing. Leaving damp parts inside the machine or bucket can cause stains and creases and creases that are difficult to eliminate when ironing.

Extend the pieces wide open. One trick to avoid crumpling shirts, dresses, and other structured items is to immediately put them on hangers as soon as you finish the wash. Prefer to dry clothes, especially colored ones, in the shade. The sun causes the colors to fade.

8 tips to save on your laundry

1 ? Do not leave taps open when you do not need to use water and while scrubbing. Just open the tap again to rinse it;

2 ? Parts with heavy dirt should be soaked before washing;

3? Add as much clothing as possible to take advantage of the machine's capacity, always respecting the indicated limit;

4? On the machine, select the water level according to the laundry volume. This function limits water waste;

5? Water from the tank and washing machine can be reused to wash the yard. You spend less water and still save washing powder;

6? When it's time to dry, use the clothesline instead of the dryer. Or, if you prefer, place the parts in the tumble dryer for a few minutes and then on the clothesline while they are still wet.

7? Iron consumes a lot of energy, so it is better to use at once;

8? Pay attention to the Procel seal, the National Electricity Conservation Program, which indicates the energy expenditure of each laundry appliance. The seal bears letters A through G, and the closer to A, the more economical the device.