7 Tricks That Can Help Wash Clothes More Effectively And Look After The Washing Machine

December 27, 2017

It may appear to be one of the simplest of our weekly chores: collecting the dirty clothes from each room, putting it all in the washing machine, adding detergent and waiting. In reality, this care-free approach could be harmful to your clothes, hygiene and your budget.

By following these practical tips, you can be sure that your clothes will always be clean and you'll protect the different fibers, giving your garments a longer life. You'll also be helping the environment by reducing the waste of electricity, water, and detergent.

1. Tend to stains immediately

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When we spill something on our favorite items, we rely on a trip to the washing machine being enough to solve the problem. However, the reality is that if a stain isn't dealt with immediately, the probabilities of eliminating it are reduced.

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When you stain one of your garments, put it to soak immediately and leave it in the water until you can put it in the washing machine.

2. Carefully separate your garments

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It's not enough to have one pile for colored clothing and another for whites. Experts confirm that even among colored clothes there should be more than two piles: Completely white, light colors, bright colors and black. But that's not all, it's also important to separate your garments according to the material and fabric, or at least according to the temperature of the wash. That way, you'll preserve the fabrics and avoid transferring bacteria between garments.

3. Put the detergent in first

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The next time you wash your garments, place the detergent into the machine before you put the clothes in.

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By doing this, you ensure that the detergent will completely dissolve, avoiding excess residue. This also ensures that the detergent reaches all of your garments and doesn't reach only those garments more exposed at the surface.

4. Help your detergent

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One way of saving detergent and avoiding more environmental contamination is to mix your detergent of choice with products such as vinegar, baking soda or borax. These products fortify the effect of the detergent as disinfectants and whiteners. Plus, they also help eliminate odors.

5. Use cold water

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Firstly, using cold water wastes less energy for each wash. Secondly, it protects the color brightness of different fabrics.

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Finally, cold water goes better with the greatest variety of materials and fibers used in clothing manufacture.

6. Trust the power of the sun

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Instead of using the dryer, which tends to expand fabric fibers, burn some items and expend a large amount of energy, trust in the power of the sun to help keep your whites bright. It's also a natural stain remover.

7. Treat your washing machine well

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If you're one of those people who exaggerate when it comes to using detergent, your washing machine will probably have detergent residue inside it. Turn your washing machine on without any clothes, including a cup of vinegar. This will help to disinfect it and remove the built-up clumps of detergent in all the little nooks and crannies.

Source: prevention