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
- Always check garment care labels for temperature 5
- Default to the coolest safe temperature for mixed loads 4
- Use hot water for whites, towels, and heavily soiled items 4
- Use warm water for everyday colored and moderately soiled loads 4
- Use cold water for delicates, brights, and lightly soiled items 4
- Match your detergent to your wash temperature 4
- Know when to use chlorine bleach and when to avoid it 5
- Prevent yellowing with proper washing and storage 5
- Sun-bleach fabrics on grass or a flat surface 4
- Use OxiClean or a commercial oxygen bleach product 4
- Soak in sodium percarbonate (oxygen bleach) 5
- Use a detergent with optical brighteners for routine maintenance 3
- Add hydrogen peroxide to the wash cycle 4
- Add borax to the wash cycle 4
- Hire a textile conservator for heirloom or antique pieces 4
- Apply lemon juice and dry in direct sunlight 3
- Brighten with a baking soda soak 3
- Use laundry bluing to counteract yellowing 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
- Remove food stains with cold water and dish soap 4
- Cut grease stains with liquid dish soap 4
- Wash in cold water and check before drying 4
- Pre-treat grass stains with vinegar or rubbing alcohol 3
- Wash sweaty and damp clothes promptly 5
- Sanitize durable fabrics with hot water 4
- Add white vinegar to the rinse cycle 4
- Dry clothes completely before storing 5
- Deodorize with baking soda in the wash cycle 4
- Switch to an enzyme-based odor-eliminating detergent 4
- Soak persistently smelly items in oxygen bleach 4
- Hand wash delicates in cool water with mild detergent 5
- Air dry delicates flat or on padded hangers 5
- Use a mesh laundry bag for machine-washable delicates 4
- Handle delicates gently — no scrubbing or wringing 4
- Rinse delicates thoroughly in cool water 4
- Use professional dry cleaning for high-value or fragile items 3