Consumer Choices Getting better laundry results

With automatic washers, dryers, modern deter- sweats, cotton/ramie knits) from lint-takers If you read the gents, and the durable fabrics of today, wash- (synthetic blends, smooth, dark or wrinkle-free ing clothes should be easy. But, despite these fabrics). garment care advantages, laundry problems occur. Sometimes, • Separate the lightly soiled from the heavily soiled. label and know doing the wrong thing in laundry and stain • Always keep pesticide-soiled clothing separate basic laundering removal can ruin clothes. This fact sheet will from family laundry before and during washing. steps, you can explain the basic laundering steps that will help • Do not put too many clothes in one wash you get better laundry results after you have load. Free movement of the clothes during agi- get better laun- read the garment care label for its directions. tation in washing is needed for best cleaning. dry results. Pretreat stains of washable clothes; Choose washer settings take drycleanable items to the cleaner • Cycle—Adjust according to type of load— • Soak protein stains in cold water (milk, egg, white cotton, synthetic, permanent-press or soybean formula, ice cream, blood and meat wrinkle-free items, knits, delicates. juice, or any food stain that contains these • Water level—Adjust according to amount of ingredients). clothing, except use highest level for all loads • Pretreat oily collar soil, grease, or oil stains of pesticide-soiled clothes. with liquid detergent or pretreatment spray. • Time—With newer washers, wash time is • Do not pretreat tannin stains (cola drinks, set by the cycle chosen. A 10-12 minute wash coffee, tea, and fruit juice) with soap. Soap will cycle is needed for regular loads; 8-9 minutes cause these stains to set and become permanent. for synthetics and knits; 3-4 minutes for deli- • Dye stains, such as felt tip marker, require use cate items and washable wools. of bleach, if item is washable, white, or colorfast. • Agitation—Again, this is set by the cycle. • For combination food stains or diffi cult stains Rigorous agitation helps remove heavy soils. such as chewing gum, pencil, etc., consult a Slower speeds are used for delicate, lightly stain removal guide. soiled items. Excess agitation causes wool •Do not treat rust-colored stains with bleach; shrinkage. use rust remover. Choose water temperature Prepare clothes for washing HOT—120 - 140oF • Empty pockets to remove crayons, ticket stubs, Use for white cottons, underclothes, pesticide- tissues, paper, ballpoint pens, coins, nails, etc. soiled items. Hot water is required to kill • Close zippers and Velcro® to prevent snag- bacteria. o ging of fabrics. WARM—85 - 105 F • Turn jeans and dark colored clothes inside Use for synthetics, knits, wrinkle-free or per- out to prevent color streaking. manent press items. o • Put panty hose and items with long ties in a mesh COLD— 65 - 75 F bag to prevent tangling and subsequent tearing. Use with liquid detergent for dark or bright colored clothes and for rinse. Water tempera- Sort the clothes before loading tures below 60oF are too cold for detergents to • Separate whites from colors. be helpful. • Separate lint-givers (terry towels, cotton Note: The effective water temperature in your washer depends on the water heater settings, the distance from the hot water heater to the washing machine, pipe insulation, and how warm the washer tub is. If “WARM” is selected,

Pm-1664 Reviewed April 2009 the washer mixes at least 50 percent (or 60 percent) on dark clothes, if not dryer dried. Tumble cold with the hot water automatically. Hot drying helps remove lint. water heaters are usually set at 120oF to • The amount of foam on the wash load does prevent scalding of children or elderly family not show the cleaning ability of the detergent. members based on Consumer Product Safety Extra foam from too much detergent may Commission guidelines, but can be adjusted interfere with rinsing and can cause yellowing higher by homeowners. If the clothes washer and a harsh feel in clothes. is fi lled before the hot water supply is replen- ished after family showers, dishwashing, etc., Bleaches and additives the water may be cooler than expected. Liquid-chlorine bleach • Liquid chlorine bleach is the most effective Consider water hardness and quality whitener and sanitizer. But, it can damage • Hard water minerals, such as calcium and cellulosics, silk, and wool, as well as fade or magnesium, react with soaps to form a sticky change colors of fabrics of any fi ber content. curd that is diffi cult to rinse out of clothes. It • Follow the colorfastness test directions on also reduces the cleaning abililty of detergents. the bleach package to check if safe for fabric. • If your water is extremely hard, a softening • Measure and dilute bleach before adding it to the treatment system can be installed. If only the wash load, if the washer lacks a bleach dispenser. hot water supply is treated, hardness will vary • Never pour full strength liquid chlorine with the wash cycle chosen. bleach onto a wash load; it can cause color fad- • Water containing excessive iron must be ing and may weaken fabrics leading to prema- treated to prevent rust stains on clothes. ture holes or tearing. • In hard water, detergents that contain silicate • Do not soak cottons in bleach solutions for or carbonate builders can deposit insoluble more than 15 minutes for purposes of stain particles on clothes making them feel harsh removal. If the stain has not changed in that and look dull. time, it will not be removed by the bleach. • Do not use liquid chlorine bleach on garments Detergents help remove soil of silk, wool, spandex, polyurethane foam, • Most detergents are more concentrated now rubber, or with those having rubber- or than in the past, so less is needed per wash spandex-containing elastic. load. Use the amount of detergent the package • Concentrated bleach solutions or excess or bottle recommends for the size and type of soaking time can weaken cellulosic fi bers. load to be washed. All-fabric bleaches • Heavy-duty liquid laundry detergents dis- • Powdered sodium perborate or sodium per- solve regardless of water temperature. manganate bleaches are slower acting. • Powdered detergents dissolve much better • These may be safe for colors. in hot water than cold. In cold water they may • Measure and follow all package directions. leave a powdery residue on clothes because they do not dissolve. Fabric softeners • Many detergents are phosphate free; most • Fabric softeners help reduce clinging, static, have the phosphate percent listed on the label. and may help reduce soiling. Phosphates may be banned in some areas for • Fabric softeners are highly concentrated environmental reasons. now; use recommended label amount. • Most detergents contain enzymes to help remove • Fabric softeners can reduce absorbency of food stains: amylase for starch; protease for towels and diapers, if over-used. protein; and lipase for fats. Optional ingredients • Fabric softener sheets can leave oily appearing include perfume, fabric softener, and bleach. splotches on medium colored items, if over-used. • Detergents may contain cellulase enzymes to help remove fuzzy surface fi bers and pills ______(fuzz balls) that appear on cellulosic fi ber Reviewed by Evelyn Beavers. Prepared by Janis (cotton, linen, lyocell, ramie, and rayon) fabric Stone, former extension specialist in textiles and blends with wear. This removal of fuzz may clothing, Iowa State University. add to the lint in the wash load and may show File: Textiles and Clothing 1

. . . and justice for all The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination 14th and Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national or call 202-720-5964. origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orien- tation, and marital or family status. (Not all prohibited bases apply Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension work, Acts of May 8 to all programs.) Many materials can be made available in alterna- and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Ag- tive formats for ADA clients. To fi le a complaint of discrimination, riculture. Jack M. Payne, director, Cooperative Extension Service, write USDA, Offi ce of Civil Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Building, Iowa State University of Science and Technology, Ames, Iowa.