Laundry
Sorting, washing, and drying clothes for a household, including choosing the right water temperature, detergent, and method for different fabric types. Covers both machine and hand washing, stain treatment, and techniques for keeping whites bright and colors from fading.
Created: 4/24/2025, 7:20:44 PM
- Soak in sodium percarbonate (oxygen bleach) 5
- Know when to use chlorine bleach and when to avoid it 5
- Prevent yellowing with proper washing and storage 5
- Use OxiClean or a commercial oxygen bleach product 4
- Add borax to the wash cycle 4
- Add hydrogen peroxide to the wash cycle 4
- Use a detergent with optical brighteners for routine maintenance 3
- Sun-bleach fabrics on grass or a flat surface 4
- Hire a textile conservator for heirloom or antique pieces 4
- Brighten with a baking soda soak 3
- Use laundry bluing to counteract yellowing 3
- Apply lemon juice and dry in direct sunlight 3
- Always check garment care labels for temperature 5
- Use hot water for whites, towels, and heavily soiled items 4
- Use cold water for delicates, brights, and lightly soiled items 4
- Match your detergent to your wash temperature 4
- Use warm water for everyday colored and moderately soiled loads 4
- Default to the coolest safe temperature for mixed loads 4
- Hand wash delicates in cool water with mild detergent 5
- Air dry delicates flat or on padded hangers 5
- Rinse delicates thoroughly in cool water 4
- Handle delicates gently — no scrubbing or wringing 4
- Use a mesh laundry bag for machine-washable delicates 4
- Use professional dry cleaning for high-value or fragile items 3
- Add a small amount of mild detergent 4
- Rinse thoroughly until water runs clear 5
- Press out water gently — never wring or twist 5
- Air dry flat or on a padded hanger 4
- Fill a clean basin with the right water temperature 4
- Submerge and gently agitate by hand 4
- Soak stained or heavily soiled items before agitating 3
- Treat stains immediately before they set 5
- Remove blood stains with cold water and hydrogen peroxide 4
- Apply a commercial pre-treatment stain remover 4
- Wash in cold water and check before drying 4
- Remove food stains with cold water and dish soap 4
- Cut grease stains with liquid dish soap 4
- Pre-treat grass stains with vinegar or rubbing alcohol 3
- Wash sweaty and damp clothes promptly 5
- Dry clothes completely before storing 5
- Soak persistently smelly items in oxygen bleach 4
- Sanitize durable fabrics with hot water 4
- Add white vinegar to the rinse cycle 4
- Deodorize with baking soda in the wash cycle 4
- Switch to an enzyme-based odor-eliminating detergent 4