How to do laundry

Doing laundry can be a daunting task if it is the first time you have ever had to wash your own clothes. Don't be intimidated. Follow these steps to learn how to do laundry with ease.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Laundry detergent
• Dryer sheets or dryer balls
• Laundry baskets

1. First separate your clothes into piles. Put all white clothes together, all dark and red fabric together and jeans and strong fabrics together.

2. Turn your washing machine to the right temperature for the fabric you are washing (You can find a list of which temperature of water to use for each color of fabric). For example, if you are washing white clothes turn the dial or push the button for hot water. Some washing machines have a place where you can select how large your load of laundry is, in which case you can save water when washing a smaller load of laundry.

3. Add the detergent to the water according to the chart on the back of the bottle or box and let it dissolve before adding the clothing. If the detergent doesn't dissolve it can leave stains on your clothes. If you are washing a smaller load you will want to use less detergent.

4. Add the clothing by placing it evenly inside the washing machine. If the clothing isn't placed evenly inside the machine it can cause it to become off center and it will bang around on the spin cycle.

5. After the washing machine has finished the cycle place the clothes in the dryer and add a dryer sheet or dryer balls to the clothes. Find the correct setting for your clothes on the dryer dial and turn it on. If your dryer doesn't have a timer, check your clothes after about 50 minutes to see if they are dry.

Tips & Warnings

• If you are washing baby clothes, keep them separate and use a baby detergent. Separate colors as you would with other clothes
• Check labels on clothes to make sure they can be washed in a machine and to check which temperature setting you should use.
• Fold clothes as soon as they are dry. This will keep them from getting wrinkled.
• Don't wash dark colored clothing with light colored clothing or the color could bleed and ruin the light colored clothing.
• Never leave a dryer unattended. Only use it while you are at home and shut it off after your clothes are dry if it doesn't have a timer.

[jtphantom]

on 10/20/2008 Wait, I am supposed to separate colors & whites? Bachelor's do it all together...LOL.

Great article I just wish there was this kind of information when I got started doing laundry.

[Vanillatte]

on 9/20/2008 I need to print this and give it to my kids! Thanks for posting a straightforward, easy article on how to do laundry!