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*Overview of the best according to the editors of Healthy Food Near Me. About selection criteria. This material is subjective, is not an advertisement and does not serve as a guide to the purchase. Before buying, you need to consult with a specialist.
Washing white clothes – what could be easier? But this is only at first glance. In order for the products to retain crystal clear whiteness for a long time, you will have to work hard. How to extend the life of such things? We will tell you all the secrets of washing white things in an automatic machine.
Preparatory stage
Before starting the process, it is important to sort the laundry. The first step is to divide all things into 2 piles: in one – white, in the other – colored. The latter will not be useful in this case (you need to choose a different time for them or wash them in the next cycle), otherwise the white products will shed. Step two is to sort the items again (only whites), separating them by type of fabric: delicate materials also need to be washed separately. Step three is to sort the white things according to their degree of soiling.
The next step is soaking and removing stains. The simplest option is to place things in a basin filled with warm water with the addition of a special bleaching compound and powder. The duration of soaking depends entirely on the degree of contamination of the fabric. If the stains are strongly ingrained into the fibers, things will have to be held in bleach for several hours (2-4 is enough). Then you need to drain the water, wring out the clothes, rinse them thoroughly and send them to the washing machine.
If the usual soaking was not enough, and the stains turned out to be particularly persistent, you will have to resort to additional measures. As effective soaking agents, it can be noted: a mixture of hydrogen peroxide with soda, a concentrated soap solution (based on laundry soap), liquid dishwashing detergent, ready-made stain removers. The procedure is similar to that described above (with the exception of the stain remover – in this case, you must strictly follow the instructions).
The subtleties of the washing process
Choosing the Right Mode
The choice of one or another washing mode in an automatic machine depends solely on the characteristics of the material. For cotton fabrics, the “cotton” mode will be optimal, for synthetics – the program for washing synthetic products. If it was not possible to set the type of material, it is better to play it safe and also select the mode for synthetics (some models of washing machines have a mode for mixed fabrics in this case).
Advice. In most washing machines, a large number of various programs are nothing more than a marketing ploy, and their functional number can be reduced to only a few. Therefore, products made of synthetic and mixed fabrics can be safely washed in synthetic mode.
A few words about spin speed. It is not recommended to set the maximum mode, since not every fabric is able to withstand such an intense impact. In addition, a high spin speed will crumple some items, making ironing difficult.
Selecting the optimum temperature
When choosing the right washing temperature for white items, it is important to consider a simple rule: the maximum water temperature should not exceed the minimum figure indicated on the product tag. For example, if in a sorted stack of things there are those that allow a water temperature of 60 0C and there are those that allow a temperature of no more than 40 0C, you need to set the temperature regime no higher than 40 0C.
If you plan to wash only cotton products, you can safely set the maximum allowable water temperature: such things will even withstand boiling (in washing machines, as a rule, the upper bar is 90-95 0WITH). But linen white things are more sensitive to high temperatures.
Choice of Powder and Bleach
For white items, manufacturers offer many different options for washing powders. The main thing is to make sure that the household product is designed specifically for white clothes. Such compositions, as a rule, contain components whose task is to whiten the fabric. As for budget bleaching powders, it is difficult to judge their quality.
If you plan to wash white things that are already slightly yellowed from time to time, powder alone will not be enough. In this case, other compositions are provided – special bleaches. When choosing the right one, it is recommended to refrain from buying products containing chlorine – they can damage the fabric.
Drying clothes
As a rule, when drying clothes, exposure to active sunlight is not recommended. With white things, everything is exactly the opposite: they need to be dried in the bright sun (preferably also in the fresh air). True, this rule does not apply to delicate items, terry towels, etc. If there is any doubt about which drying option is suitable for a particular product, choose a neutral option – a well-ventilated room, protected from direct sunlight.
Valuable tips
White things, at first glance, are very easy to wash. But when it comes to practice, things get a little more complicated. Remember a few important nuances, and washing white things in an automatic machine will not cause you any difficulties.
Standard fabrics
How to wash classic materials correctly:
Can be washed in warm water on an intensive setting.
If there is no stubborn dirt on the fabric, the soaking step can be skipped.
It is not recommended to load the washing machine by more than half – this will improve the quality of the process.
For white things, only special powders are allowed.
If there is no drying instruction on the cotton clothing label, either natural or tumble dry is acceptable.
Delicate fabrics
How to wash delicate items correctly:
Always wash them separately from other clothes.
Use only gentle temperature conditions (not higher than 30 0FROM).
For particularly “sensitive” items such as silk blouses, the use of a special laundry bag is recommended.
If the manufacturer allows only hand washing, the item must be soaked and washed using hand washing powder.
Towels and bed linen
How to wash bedding correctly:
To achieve perfect cleanliness and whiteness of bed linen, you need to wash it in hot water (at a temperature of 60 0C and above).
It is undesirable to wash several sets at once – heavy items can damage the machine, and the quality of the wash will decrease.
Do not leave washed laundry and towels in the drum for a long time after the end of the wash cycle.
Attention! This material is subjective, is not an advertisement and does not serve as a guide to the purchase. Before buying, you need to consult with a specialist.