10 Laundry Mistakes to Avoid!
Are you responsible for doing laundry for your clients? Read on to learn about the 10 most common mistakes people make when doing laundry...and how to avoid them!
The 10 Most Common Mistakes are...
Ignoring the label on clothing and bedding. The care labels may tell you what temperature water to use, whether the item can be dried in a dryer, or if the item should only be dry cleaned.
Lumping the laundry altogether. Don't forget to sort lights and darks first, but for the best clean, also separate out heavily soiled items and different weighted fabrics. For example, you shouldn’t be laundering heavy denim with lightweight t-shirts.
Leaving zippers open. Zippers can scratch against and snag other clothing in the wash. Closing zippers before throwing garments in the laundry helps prevent wear and tear of the entire load. (The same goes for the hooks on a bra. Close them before washing.)
Leaving buttons buttoned. Washing clothing that’s still buttoned can loosen the threads on the buttonholes. Always unbutton shirts — and don’t forget the sleeves — before you wash them.
Forgetting to turn clothes inside out. Just in case there is a little too much friction in the wash though, turning garments inside out ensures that any agitation affects the inside rather than the outside.
Using too much detergent. More detergent does not necessarily mean cleaner clothes. In fact, using too much detergent can actually cause a layer of dirty foam that sits above the water level and can't be rinsed away. In addition, too much soap can leave irritants on clothing and bedding, which could lead to rashes on sensitive skin. To ensure that laundry is properly cleaned, don't use more than the recommended amount of detergent--or keep things simple by using detergent pods.
Pouring detergent directly onto the laundry. The best way to distribute laundry detergent is by adding clothes, then water, then soap. Never pour the detergent without putting the water in first to ensure the soap gets evenly distributed.
Never clean the washing machine. If the washing machine is working properly, do you really need to clean it? It turns out the answer is yes. Front-loading washers are especially prone to getting moldy. Try running the washer on the “cleaning” cycle at least once every few months to prevent this common problem.
Drying laundry for too long. Again, make sure you've checked the label to know what can be put in the dryer, at what setting, and for how long. But to be safe, don't leave laundry in the dryer too long. More time in the dryer means clothes are more likely to become wrinkled or full of static. This behavior also causes clothing fibers to break down faster, which can cause holes. Don’t overstuff your dryer, and don’t over-dry your clothing. Instead, take the items out while they're still slightly damp, reshape them, and lay them flat to finish drying. This way, you won't have to worry about shrinking, fading, or wrinkles.
Letting Lint Build Up. To keep the dryer running well, empty the lint trap after every load. Once a month, wash the lint filter with warm, soapy water and let it fully air dry to get rid of greasy residue that can clog it, then wipe the drum and exterior with all-purpose spray to keep them clean.