While washing and drying clothes may seem easy, often (mostly unconsciously) we make a lot of mistakes that cause clothes to wear out quickly. This is influenced by the use of different detergents, the use of different fabrics in the washing machine, or the selection of the wrong washing program. Drying is necessary, especially in winter, when clothes that have accumulated on the dryer cause humidity in the room and contribute to the formation of unpleasant odors. Luckily, there are some tips to help protect your fabric and device from damage. What mistakes do we make most often when doing laundry? How to dry clothes in winter?
Sorting clothes
This is an obvious activity, but some of us don’t get into the habit of sorting clothes before putting them in the washing machine. Obviously, white fabrics need to be washed separately and colored fabrics separately. In addition to this important rule, it is worth developing the habit of carefully separating the tissues. They should be divided by purpose (underwear, bedding, clothing), type of fabric (denim, cotton, wool, spandex) and maximum wash temperature. Throwing all objects together may stretch the fibers, tarnish, or discolor objects.
Detergents
There are a lot of laundry detergents in stores today. Their constantly improved formula protects fabrics as well as removes stubborn stains. The choice does not really matter, it all depends on individual preferences. Powders, gels, capsules or soap flakes will only work effectively if we follow the manufacturer’s recommendations. Excessive chemicals can be harmful as they often do not rinse off thoroughly, settling on the fibers. They can cause allergic skin allergies, as well as negatively affect the color and shorten the life of the fabric.
Fabric conditioners
Fabric softeners have many uses. They not only give clothes a fresh scent, but they also reduce static electricity and make ironing easier. When using fragrances, follow the same principle as when using detergents. Their excess can not only destroy tissues, but also cause rashes and allergic reactions. It should not be mentioned that fabric softeners should not be used when washing jeans and sportswear, as this negatively affects their properties: they do not allow much air to pass through, lose their water resistance, and also contribute to the destruction of fibers.
Drying
Like washing, drying your clothes is critical. To prevent individual fabrics from wrinkling or losing their shape, after taking them out of the washing machine, it is worth hanging them on laces or a dryer. Before that, it is worth shaking off individual items of clothing, as well as aligning their seams (just slide over them with two fingers). This will make ironing easier and dry faster. Remember to adjust the amount of laundry according to the capacity of the dryer and do not overload the drum of the washing machine
Where to dry?
Not everyone can afford to buy an electric tumble dryer or set aside a room in their home for a tumble dryer. This is why most of us hang laundry in our rooms or bathrooms. In a warm place, clothes dry faster and prevent mold from forming. If this is not possible in winter, and we are doomed to the toilet, we should try to wash more often, but in less quantity. Excessive moisture can promote mold growth in the bathroom.
Freeze dry
Many of us think that hanging fresh laundry outside is a bad idea because it will never dry out. Meanwhile, this custom was practiced by our grandmothers, and nothing prevents them from abandoning it. What for? At negative temperatures, water turns into ice, which over time undergoes sublimation, that is, it turns into gas. In addition, drying clothes in the cold is more beneficial. It will kill all bacteria, give a fresh smell and save a lot of space in the house. You just need to make sure that the laundry does not dry out during a snowfall, and also does not come into contact with dirt from neighboring chimneys.
