Washing and Ironing Tips

Washing Machine Maintenance

Periodically clean your washing machine by pouring one cup of vinegar into the machine and letting it run a regular cycle without adding any clothes.

Cleaning your washing machine on a regular basis will remove any soap residue and lime scale that has built up and also helps remove any musty odour smells that are lingering around in your machine. 

Cleaning out your washing machine is like putting it through routine maintenance since it not only removes the build up of soap scum but also keeps the washing machine rust free which is a good idea to get the most use out of your machine. 

This treatment is also advisable if you are not going to be using your washing machine for a long period of time.

Don't Over Dry

It's easy to let our clothing over dry. While this is bad for all of our laundry, it is particularly bad for our bright and dark colours.

Over drying will cause your colours to fade. Set a timer and don't forget about your clothes. Clothes should be slightly damp when they are removed from the dryer.

Clothes left in the dryer to dry will become very creased and extreemly difficult to iron.


Don't stuff the Washer

Overloading the washing machine is tempting but it makes the machine work harder and it is tougher on our clothes.

Clothing can't be cleaned or have soap evenly distributed when it is packed into a washing machine. Similarly clothing takes a lot longer to dry when a dryer is overloaded with wet cloths. Clothes need to move freely.


Vinegar is a Natural Laundry Softener

Adding 1/2 cup of vinegar to the rinse cycle of your washing machine saves you from buying a separate laundry softener.

Vinegar works naturally to soften your laundry and has the added benefit of breaking down laundry detergent very effectively. This added benefit means less detergent sensitive allergies for families that struggle with sensitive skin.

Don't be put off by the fragrance of vinegar. The odour disappears when vinegar dries. So go ahead and try vinegar in place of your laundry softener.


Shrunken Sweaters

It may seem hopeless, but there is a tiny glimmer of a chance that you can still wear that sweater. It’s worth a try to attempt to reshape a wet sweater to its original size.

Add 2-3 tablespoonfuls of hair conditioner to a bucket of luke warm water. Place the sweater in the bucket to soak for about 5 minutes, then gently squeeze out excess water (don’t wring out). Lay the sweater on a clean dry towel and slowly and gently try to stretch the fibers and reshape the garment before allowing it to dry on the towel.



Turn Clothes Inside Out


Over time, machine washing and drying causes wear and tear on your clothing.  This can be prevented by turning your clothing inside out before washing and drying.

By turning garments inside out this will reduce pilling which dulls the look of the fabric. Don't forget to also turn clothing inside out when you hang clothes outside to dry. While the sun is an excellent and efficient drying tool, it will, over time, zap the colour right out of your clothing.


To Prevent Fading of Colours

If you want to prevent fading of your coloured clothing, wash them in cold water. Detergents have come a long way over the last several years, and most do as well in cold water as they do in hot or warm water.

 

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