Soak stained or heavily soiled items before agitating

For garments with visible stains or heavier soiling, let them soak in the soapy water for 15-30 minutes before agitating. This is especially useful for children's play clothes and items with food stains. Check care labels for maximum recommended soak times.

Why It Works

Soaking gives detergent time to break down stubborn dirt, body oils, and stain compounds through chemical action alone — no mechanical stress required. This is particularly valuable for delicate fabrics that cannot tolerate vigorous scrubbing.

Tips

• Do not soak wool or silk for more than 10 minutes — prolonged soaking weakens these fibers
• If the water becomes very dirty after 15 minutes, drain, refill with fresh soapy water, and soak again
• Sturdy cottons can soak for several hours, but delicates should not exceed 30 minutes