Laundry Essentials the First Step Is Sorting It Out
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
FOR APPAREL / TEXTILE Sponsored by CARELABELTALK ALERT!ALERT! INDUSTRY PROFESSIONALS Textile Industry Affairs Laundry Essentials The first step is sorting it out. In the “good old days” Proper laundry sorting is important to prevent laundry problems like dye transfer laundry was done with from one garment to another, shrinking soaps, scrub boards, clothes and unsightly lint accumulations wash tubs and lots of over the rest of the wash. Follow care labels, if there is any doubt about proper elbow grease. care. Sort laundry loads according to: Today’s advanced washing machines, Color N Whites and pastels together hi-tech detergents and N Same color brights laundry additives make N Dark colors wash days easier and Note: Multicolored items with lots of more successful, white background are best washed sepa- rately first. If colors don’t bleed or run, especially with the then they can be washed with other items array of fabrics used in in the future. contemporary clothing. Zip, check, shake and mend... The laundry basics, Fabric and Construction N Separate delicate or lightweight to take a load off your mind however, haven’t fabrics from heavier items Taking an extra minute to check changed and are more N Separate lint givers (terrycloth) from clothing prior to washing can save serious problems later. Pockets with crayons, important than ever. lint catchers (corduroy) tissues, lipstick or other surprises can Loosely knit sweaters, lingerie or Here is a quick leave laundry streaked with shredded items with delicate trim require gentle tissues or a rainbow of stains. refresher to help get care and need to be separated from heav- Before washing: sparkling- clean results, ier items like jeans. Different fabrics need different laundry care- be sure to read and N Empty pockets washload after follow the care label directions. N Shake out loose dirt from cuffs washload. N Close zippers and other fasteners to Degree of Soil prevent snagging and fabric tearing N Heavily soiled work or play clothes N Mend rips or tears before laundering, should be washed separately from to prevent further damage lightly soiled laundry N Tie strings and sashes loosely to avoid N Wash diapers and soiled bed linens tangling separately to avoid contaminating N Remove belts, pins, trim or ornaments other clothes. that are not washable ©2005 Textile Industry Affairs CARELABELTALK It pays to do the bleach-safe test when Laundry Products you think a garment should be bleachable. Successful laundry results start with Clorox laundry studies confirm that about the right laundry products. Here’s a 52 percent of all washables are actually checklist of laundry essentials: safe with household liquid bleach. Other laundry studies show how liquid Detergents: bleach is safe for fabrics, when used as If you think a Detergents work to effectively remove directed. This bleach does not wear down care label is soil and prevent lint and soil from fabrics any more than detergent alone, redepositing on clothes. washload after washload. inaccurate and Follow directions for the N Color-Safe Bleach is, quite simply, a an item should be proper amount and bleach that is safe to use on washable, measure, don’t colored clothes. These bleaches, bleachable, guess. Extra available in powder and liquids, here’s how to test detergent is needed remove stains and help keep colors for large loads, the fabric: bright. The powdered bleaches also extremely dirty clothes, or have enzymes to break up tough hard water. Likewise less protein stains, which is why detergent is required they make an excellent presoak. for small loads, lightly A color-safe bleach is not a diluted soiled clothes, or soft water. bleach. The gentle bleaching action in More laundry problems are usually liquids is from hydrogen peroxide. Powders caused from using too little detergent commonly use sodium perborate. rather than using too much. These color-safe bleaches also have N Granular detergents are recommended optical brighteners. This ingredient is like BLEACH-SAFE TEST for hard water conditions and when an invisible layer on fabrics. It reflects loads contain mud or clay soil. light, making colors appear brighter and N Mix 1 tablespoon N Liquid detergents are especially good whites whiter. household liquid for cold water washing and for cleaning bleach with greasy, oily stains. 1/4 cup water. N Detergent with bleach combines N Dab 1 drop of this color-safe bleach with either granular solution on a or liquid detergent. hidden part of a fabric such as an N Detergent with fabric softener both inside seam, cleans and softens laundry. hemline or cuff. Be sure to test all Bleach: colors and any You can keep washables whiter and decorative trim or brighter longer when bleach is used in RECOMMENDED LIQUID BLEACH ribbing. every washload. Choosing the right AMOUNTS PER WASHLOAD N Wait 1 minute, bleach is easy: Extra large 1 1/2 cups N then blot dry with Household liquid bleach, identified by Standard large 1 cup the words “sodium hypochlorite” in the paper towel. If Medium 3/4 cup there is no change, ingredient listing is the only bleach Small 1/2 cup the fabric can be that disinfects. It is also the most effec- safely washed with tive bleach for stain removal and Handwashing (2 gallon sudsy water) 1/8 cup household liquid whitening. This is the bleach of choice Note: When machine washing heavily soiled clothes, bleach. for whites and colorfast garments. add 1/4 cup more bleach to above amounts. 2 Adding bleach to your washer Many washing machines today are Water-levels, equipped with convenient automatic bleach temperature & softness dispensers for household liquid bleach. If a Water washer is not equipped with a liquid bleach make the difference temperatures dispenser follow either of these two methods: Water plays a major role in how clean the laundry is... hardness or softness, level below 65F won’t 1. For maximum cleaning results... and temperature all affect the laundry activate some N Add detergent as washer fills, then add process. Soft water aids in the cleaning clothes. process, while hard water can create some laundry additives N After machine has agitated for 5 minutes, problems. If water is hard, add a water and may cause softener or more detergent than the product add household liquid bleach that has lint, residue, and been diluted in 1 quart of label recommends. Both help to soften the water. Avoid pouring water and increase the cleaning poor cleaning. power of detergent. mixture directly onto Detergent clothes. Choosing the proper water Note: Always use this level and temperature is vital for manufacturers method when best cleaning. Laundry must using detergent and care labels have ample room to circulate, with bleach define cold water products. clean and rinse properly or the dirt will end up back on the as 65- 85F. 2. Convenient and clothes. Use a hot water wash effective... for most white fabrics and heavily N While the machine fills with water, pour soiled colored fabrics. Warm water is in liquid bleach and detergent. recommended for very lightly soiled or brightly colored garments, and most other HERE ARE SOME N Once agitation begins, add clothes. laundering needs. SUGGESTIONS TO With increased concern for energy MAXIMIZE CLEANING Prewash Soil and conversation, many consumers are lowering EFFICIENCY Stain Removers: hot water heater thermostats as well as washing in cooler water. While this saves N Presoak and These products are formulated to help pretreat stains get clothes stain free. Their special energy, laundry results are not always detergents and enzymes penetrate stains satisfactory. For effective cleaning, hot water N Use appropriate and break them up, helping detergents work heaters should be set no lower than 120F, bleach. more effectively to wash stains away. but hotter water up to 140F gives better cleaning results. N Increase the amount of detergent Fabric Softeners: Drying Time and extend wash time, if possible. Fabric Softeners help reduce static Before putting garments into the dryer, cling, minimize wrinkling and soften clothes. shake them out so they are loose, not N Don’t overload the Rinse-added softeners are added to the bunched up. This will allow quicker drying. washer. final rinse cycle. These can be added auto- Always check that stains are removed before matically in washers equipped with a fabric drying. Heat can permanently set some stains softener dispenser. Otherwise, diluted making them impossible to remove. Avoid softener must be added manually to the final overdrying, which can cause shrinking and rinse. Dryer sheets are convenient to use wrinkling. Remove clothes from the dryer as with one sheet added to the dryer along with soon as it shuts off. For maximum drying effi- the clothes. ciency, clean the lint filter after each load. 3 LAUNDRY CHALLENGES EVERYWHERE! Household liquid bleach can make a difference in tackling both common and special laundry problems, as well as eliminating bacteria and germs for a safer, cleaner and healthier wash. COMMON KIDS’ STAINS Blood Rinse in cool water and pretreat with soil and stain remover. Rinse and repeat until stain is gone. Launder in cold water, using appropriate bleach. Grass Pretreat stains with soil and stain remover, allow to sit for 5 minutes. Launder in hottest water safe for fabric, using appropriate bleach. Mud Allow to dry, then brush off excess mud, Pretreat stain, allow to sit for 5 minutes. launder in hottest water safe for fabric, using appropriate bleach. Crayon To remove crayola stains, the Crayola Company recommends: Place the stained surface down on a pad of paper towels, spray CLEANING M with WD-40, and let stand for a few minutes. Turn the fabric over ELTED and spray the other side.