When pre-treating, always use a white cloth to dab away the stain, as a colored cloth may leave behind some dye.
While it may be tempting to throw really light colors in with your whites, or even light grays, stick to white alone. If you need to, adjust your washer’s settings to account for a smaller load—if you use too much water, it could interfere with the cleaning power of your detergent.
If you used a lot of soap, you may need to repeat this step twice, gently squeezing the garment in between soaks. If your laundry is sensitive to hot water, a warm or cold soak will achieve the same effect, though to a lesser degree.
For instance, cotton can withstand high temperatures, but wool and linen should be washed in cold or warm water. Synthetic fibers vary from manufacturer to manufacturer.
Although it may seem easier to just throw all of your delicates together, different fabrics require different care and washing settings. If you don’t pay attention to the label, you could damage the fabric.
Once a month, run an empty load with hot water and vinegar to remove buildup and residue that could transfer to your clothes and stain your whites.
You can skip the extra rinse cycle if you’re concerned about adding the extra cost to your water or electric bills.
Give your clothes a check for bugs on your clothing before bringing them in! If you cannot dry clothes outdoors in the sun, drying next to a sunlit window is the next best thing.
Do not overdo vinegar use; because vinegar is acidic, too much can cause damage to your clothes over time.
If you are using lemon juice, mix the juice of two lemons with 1 US gal (3,800 ml) of warm water and soak your clothes for 30-60 minutes. If you are using lemon essential oil, simply place 2-3 drops directly into the wash bin.
Repeat this treatment as many times as you need to until the stain is gone. Just be sure to thoroughly rinse the garment each time or the fabric could become brittle.
Peroxide is a bleaching agent, so it may stain dark or colored fabrics.
Always keep bleach out of the reach of children and pets. Also, bleach is flammable, so keep it away from fire hazards such as the stove or dryer.
If you’re wearing white to stay cool during the summer, stick to wearing white tops. White shoes and bottoms will get dirty quickly, especially if you’ll be outside or you get caught in bad weather.
If you’re wearing white and you find yourself eating something messy, tuck your napkin into your collar or spread it over your nap to catch drips.
If you must use whites with your children, treat any stains immediately upon removal. White onesies and T-shirts are often stained yellow from drool. To prevent this difficult-to-remove staining, use drool bibs or handkerchiefs.
For jeans and skirts, wash every 1-2 wears. Bottoms are typically made of a hardier fabric and can take more of a beating, so to speak.
