How to Clean and Wash Clothes in the Laundry

It is important to wash clothes according to their labels.

If you are washing clothes for the first time, there are a few helpful guidelines to know. If you attempt to wash your clothing before knowing these helpful tips, your clothes could end up stained, discolored or shrunken.

Things You'll Need

• Spot remover
• Regular laundry detergent
• Delicate laundry detergent
• Bleach

Instructions

1. Separate the dirty laundry into different piles according to color. Make separate piles for dark colors, bright colors, light colors and whites.

2. Inspect the label on each piece of laundry. Remove any laundry that specifies it should be hand washed or should be dry cleaned. Items which need to be washed in a delicate cycle should be separated from the other piles into their own piles of darks, colors and lights.

3. Apply spot remover onto any stains or areas that are especially dirty. Allow the stain remover to remain on the fabric for at least 15 minutes. Don't use a stain remover that contains bleach, which can break down fibers.

4. Wash the dark and bright colors in separate cycles using cold water. Put the clothing into the washing machine and fill the machine with cold water. Pour in laundry soap and run the machine. Dry the clothing on low heat to prevent the fibers from shrinking.

5. Wash the light colors and whites in separate cycles using warm to hot water. Put the clothing into the washing machine and fill the machine with warm to hot water. Pour in the laundry soap and run the machine. For whites, add a small amount of bleach to the machine after it is filled with water. Dry the clothing on low heat to prevent the fibers from shrinking.

6. Wash the delicates in a separate cycle set to delicate wash using cold water. Put the clothing into the washing machine and fill the machine with cold water. Pour in laundry detergent designed for delicate clothing and run the machine. Hang up the delicate clothing to air-dry.

Tips & Warnings

• Always read the labels on your laundry items before washing them.

References

• Lisa Shea: Clothes Washing Basics