Laundry Tips

If it’s not your Mom, there is probably someone in your life who just seems to know all the tricks and hints to make laundry and clothing care easier. Well, if not easier, at least it comes out clean.

Throughout About.com Laundry, I’ve tried to share techniques to solve specific stain removal, appliance problems and detergent selection. But there are just some laundry and clothing care tips that don’t fit into any particular category. So, I’m put together a list of laundry tips that will might just help you. Read them over and one day a little nugget of wisdom will surface that will amaze your friends and impress your Mom.

• Before you wear a new garment, put a little clear nail polish on the front and back of each button. Buttons will stay on longer when their threads are sealed.
• Zippers won’t stick if you rub them with the edge of a bar of soap.
• To remove a hem crease, sponge the material with distilled white vinegar and press with a warm iron.
• When laundering clothes, add detergent to the washer first. Pouring detergent on clothing can cause fabrics to fade.
• Avoid getting perfume, aftershave or hair spray on leather because the alcohol may ruin the finish and color.
• Wash nylon clothing after every wearing. Nylon is very hard to clean once it becomes heavily soiled. Rinse off any oily stains immediately after they happen.
• Protect silk clothes from direct light which will fade and weaken the fibers. Silk should also be cleaned after every wearing because perfume, strong deodorant and perspiration can damage the fibers permanently.
• Never use an acetone-based nail polish remover on triacetate garments. The acetone will dissolve the fabric!
• Knit garments should be stored folded on a shelf or in a drawer. Hanging knits can cause them to stretch completely out of shape.
• Unless directed by a physician, you do not need to purchase special detergents for baby’s laundry. Purchase a laundry detergent product that is free of dyes and perfume and you can use it for the whole family’s laundry.
• Don’t add chlorine bleach at the start of the wash cycle. Wait five minutes to give detergent time to remove soil and bind it with the surfactant ingredients. The, bleach can do its whitening thing.
• Turn all clothes inside out before to keep the right side looking its best.
• A yard of nylon net or some shower net scrubbing balls will act as a lint catcher in the dryer. Just add with the wet clothes.
• If you don’t have a mesh laundry bag for washing your delicates, place them in a pillowcase and fasten the loose end with a plastic bag tie or shoelace.
• Forgot to add fabric softener and out of dryer sheets? Make your own by pouring a bit of fabric softener into a bowl of water. Swish a washcloth in the solution. Wring it out and toss in the dryer to soften your clothes.
• To speed up ironing chores, place a strip of heavy duty aluminum foil over the length of the ironing board. Cover with the pad. The heat will reflect through to the underside of your garment and help you finish more quickly.
• To reduce wrinkles without a fancy steam-infuser dryer, thoroughly wet a hand towel with water. Wring out excess water and toss in the dryer with wrinkled items. Dry on high for about 5 minutes. Remove the clothes while still damp and hang to dry.
• Use a slice of white bread to absorb spills at lunch. The white bread acts as a sponge to draw out oily stains and staining liquids.

Used by permission.