Taking care of your clothing properly is essential if you want it to last and look good for a long time, but it can be confusing to know what’s best for certain items of your wardrobe or what products are the most effective for cleaning them. It’s even more complex since there’s no one correct formula when it comes to caring for clothing. Different types of fabrics and different styles of garments can come with vastly different instructions, and many more delicate items can’t be washed by machine at all. It’s a lot to take in, so it’s understandable that you might have some questions. Read on to learn more about whether or not you’re using the right products to wash your clothes.
What are the best ways to clean different types of garments?
Most clothing you purchase will have specific washing and drying instructions on the tag in back, but this isn’t always the case, and it’s often best to double check before you do something that could damage the piece of clothing. Keep in mind that different fabrics require different handling; silk tunic tops will not have the same instructions as a casual cotton t-shirt. How frequently something needs to be washed can also depend on several factors, primarily how often it’s used and what fabric its constructed out of. Learning and understanding how different fabrics react to different methods of laundering is the best way to make sure you don’t destroy any of your clothes by mistake.
Now, what do the labels on your garments mean for how to clean them? The machine-wash symbol is for clothing that can be washed in a typical machine, and it indicates the temperature to use with one (cold), two (warm), or three dots (hot) on the image. The bleach symbol indicates if a product is safe to use bleach on. An empty white triangle should be okay, but if there’s a red “X”, avoid using any bleach product. The tumble-dry symbol is about which drying method is safe. A white circle indicates that you can dry it on any heat setting, two dots is normal, and three is hot. Finally, if an item isn’t able to be washed by machine or hand, it should be clearly marked with the dry clean symbol. Following the specific instructions that come with your garment is the best way to stay on the safe side.
What products can help me get the most out of laundering my clothes?
There are more products on the market than ever to help with washing clothes and keeping them smelling fresh and looking clean. While we all have basics like detergent and bleach, you’d be surprised by how many other options there are for getting the most out of the time you spend washing your clothes. Reusable dryer balls are a great addition to your laundry routine, as they’ll help prevent your clothes from clumping together in the dryer. Fabric softener can also make a big difference with certain types of items, like keeping towels fluffy. It also reduces static cling. If you’re looking for some DIY help, you can lighten stains by making your own mixture of water and lemon slices on the stove. Finally, don’t neglect the maintenance of your washer and dryer, and make sure you know when to repair and when to replace.
While it can be complicated to know which fabrics require what type of care and which pieces of clothing have to be washed in what specific way, it’s worth it to educate yourself. Ruining your clothing because you didn’t follow proper instructions for cleaning isn’t just a nuisance‚Äîit can end up costing you a lot of money to replace the ruined items. Not only that, but washing improperly can also cause shrinkage or end with a red sock turning all your white clothes pink. It might require a little time and a little care, but there’s no reason you can’t keep your entire wardrobe in good-as-new condition. You won’t regret putting in the extra effort to ensure your clothes are clean and beautiful for years to come.