Doing laundry for the first time can seem like a daunting task. You definitely don’t want to end up with pink shirts or shrunk sweaters. So we’ve asked our experts to put together this simple guide that will turn you into a laundry pro in no time!
Sort your clothes
You might have heard about this one: before washing you should sort the clothes according to their color and material (lights and darks, delicates). This will allow you to wash clothes at the most suitable temperatures and use different washing cycles without damaging anything.
Read the care label
Some clothes can only be dry cleaned, some only hand washed, while others aren’t delicate at all. Sort and wash them according to care instructions. Your washing machine has the perfect program for every item. However, if you have some pieces of clothes that can only be dry cleaned, a visit to the nearest dry cleaner is inevitable.
Pretreat stains
Before putting clothes into the washing machine, look for stains. They are much easier to remove if you pretreat them with a stain remover.
Don’t overload the machine
Clothes need room to move around to get the best washing results. If you overload your machine, it can happen that your clothes won’t come out as clean as they should be.
Choose the right water temperature
You can use hot water (60-95°) for towels, bed linens, kitchen cloths and all other clothing that isn’t delicate. Warm water (40-60°) is best for white and light-colored clothes and colder water (30°or less) for colored and dark ones. If you aren’t sure, you can always check the care label.
Use detergent and softener
Don’t go overboard with the amount of detergent. More detergent doesn’t mean cleaner clothes. Read the instructions on the detergent container or better yet, invest in a washing machine that will help you find the correct dosage. If you like your clothes extra soft and fluffy, you can also add a fabric softener or some vinegar.
Don’t leave wet laundry in the washer for too long
Take the wet clothes out of your washing machine and dry them as soon as possible after the washing cycle is complete. Otherwise, it might start to smell less than pleasant.
Air dry or tumble dry your clothes
If you aren’t sure which clothes to load and which not to put into your tumble dryer
Sources:
- All photos used in this blogpost are sourced from the internet, and the rights belong to their respective owners
- Admin. (2023, February 17). Let’s make laundry simple. A beginner’s guide to clean laundry. Life Simplified. https://lifesimplified.gorenje.com/intl/lets-make-laundry-simple-a-beginners-guide-to-clean-laundry/