Think you don’t do them? No matter how it is. We all sin sometimes.
Those who had a hard time were our grandmothers. And for a long time – to mothers. Wash with laundry soap using a washboard, rinse linen in ice water, hang it on the street … In winter, you will not wish on the enemy. From this point of view, we just live a heavenly life: I threw the laundry into the car, and then – her concern. If only to pull out, do not forget. But even we manage to make mistakes when washing, which affect clothes and shorten the service life of the machine.
1. We do not use an antibacterial detergent
Now is the season of SARS – every third flu, sniffles, sneezes and coughs. And from the street we bring a lot of bacteria with us on our clothes. And not to worry about the extermination of harmful microbes is, in general, a crime. After all, when washing with ordinary powder or gel, they do not die. On the contrary, they feel quite comfortable. So make yourself a present: stock up on an antibacterial laundry detergent. Moreover, their choice is now very wide.
2. Do not clean the washing machine
The inside of the drum shines like a pure diamond, which means that everything is in order with the machine. But no. Dirt accumulates inside too, so it is worth cleaning the car every month. There are special cleaning products, but you can get by with helpers. In addition, rust and mildew form on the rubber seals on the door. It would also be nice to wash them at least once a month. And the filter – ideally, it should be cleaned after every wash. It is very fast and takes about 10 minutes.
3. Put things in the car that are turned out the wrong way
Jeans should be washed inside out. As well as things made of delicate fabrics – sweaters, cotton shirts and blouses. This will prevent damage to the fabric during washing and spinning. And it will also save things from the formation of pellets.
4. Putting too much laundry in the machine
Even if the instructions say that the machine can easily cope with 5 kilograms of dry linen, it is still worth pitying. There should be an empty space in the drum about the size of a palm (or preferably two fists) for the wash to be effective. Otherwise, you run the risk of getting clothes as dirty as they were, only wet and in undissolved detergent powder.
5. We do not sort the socks
Do you know that the machine takes tribute from us in the form of socks? Of course you do. Otherwise, why so many unpaired socks in the drawer? Most often they get stuck in the rubber seal. To get rid of the need to fish them out, wash your socks in a special mesh laundry bag. An old pillowcase for this, however, will also work.
6. Ignore the label
If the tag says “dry cleaning only,” then only dry cleaning. Washing in a typewriter, even on the most delicate mode, spoils the thing with a probability of 80 percent. Another 20 is a discount on your luck, if you have one. And the fact that the manufacturer was reinsured and in fact means a very gentle wash. In any case, there is no place for such a thing in a typewriter. Maximum is hand wash.
7. We use bleach
No, there is nothing wrong with bleach by itself. Unless you abuse it. Pour a little – and the fabric begins to deteriorate, it becomes thinner and weaker. Also, make sure the bleach mixes well with the water. Otherwise, stains may appear on things.
8. Do not adjust the spin speed
You have no idea how capricious jeans really are. And in general, cotton fabric. Cotton clothing can withstand a maximum of 600 rpm. Sheets and towels – up to 1400. Jeans tolerate spin speeds up to 900 rpm, and delicate fabrics – only 400. If you spin more intensively, the fabric will wear out and fray faster.
9. We do not wash new clothes
It’s a bad idea to wear shirts and pants without washing. First, you don’t know who measured them before you. Perhaps the person was sick. And even if not, he probably left particles of his skin on his clothes. In addition, harsh dyes and products that are used to treat clothes before they are sent to stores can cause allergies or dermatitis. Therefore, even if things seem clean, it’s best to play it safe. At least for reasons of disgust.
10. Ignore the prewash
We usually use this option when things are really dirty or tricky. But experts say that when washing bedding, especially pillowcases, it is best not to skip this step. Traces of cosmetics, night cream, sebum from the hair remain on the pillowcase. If all this accumulates, bacteria will begin to multiply in the tissue, which can reward you with allergies and pimples.
11. Putting too much powder or gel
Any detergent – powder, gel, tablets, capsules, plates – is good enough if used in moderation. And the measure is indicated on the packaging of the product. If you pour (pour, put) more with a generous hand, then the linen will not become cleaner. Foam can crawl out, and the laundry will remain sticky even after rinsing – excess detergent will clog the fabric.
12. Do not close the zippers
It’s important not only to check the pockets and turn things right side out. If your clothes or bedding have zippers, you need to zip them up. Otherwise, there is a high risk that the teeth will catch on another thing and spoil it during spinning.
13. We are trying to remove stains of gasoline and oil
Vegetable oil, gasoline, alcohol, solvent – what do they have in common? That they light up easily. That is why things soiled with these substances cannot be put into the machine. First you need to try to wash off the stain by hand as much as possible and treat it with a stain remover. Otherwise, it will only creep away.
14. We do not clean clothes from wool
A pet is not only joy and love, but also increased fluffiness of your things, pillow covers and sofas. Before washing, they must be cleaned of wool, otherwise it will clog the filter of the washing machine.
15. We wash children’s toys
No, it is possible and even necessary to do this, because manually washing all these countless Lego pieces, bobbleheads and other nonsense is simply deadly. However, for your favorite dolls and soft toys, it is better to make an exception. After all, a teddy bear can emerge from a car without an eye, for example. The child will not forgive you for this.