Before Starting
How many different colored piles should you sort your clothes prior to washing?
Three.
Light (whites, light grays), darks (dark gray, black, jeans) and colors.
What is the cheapest and eco friendly way to dry your clothes?
Clothes line/dryer rack.
This takes more time but costs nothing and is best for the environment.
How often should you wash your clothes?
Shirts and blouses: after 1-2 wearings.
Dress pants or slacks: after 2-3 wearings.
Jeans: after 4-5 wearings.
Sweaters: up to 6 wearings, if worn with an undershirt; 1-2 wearings if worn without an undershirt.
When do you put the detergent in when doing a load of laundry?
You should add your detergent at the beginning of the cycle before your clothes go in if you have a high-efficiency, front-loading washing machine.
If you have a traditional, top-loading machine, then you can add your detergent after you've filled it with water and the clothes have gone in.
How many different piles should you sort your laundry prior to washing?
It depends on what your washing.
Separate by weight of materials (heavy, light, towels, delicates)
Besides your items you just washed, what do you need when drying clothes and why?
Dryer sheets/dryer ball.
Without them the clothing in your washed loads will feel a bit stiffer, may contain static and collect more lint.
**There is no harm to your clothes if you opt out of dryer sheets/dryer balls**
**Dryer sheets are bad for the environment. Try a dryer ball!**
How often should you wash your sheets?
Once a week.
If you have pets (and you let them sleep in your bed) a wash every 3-4 days is recommended.
If you experience allergies or asthma, it may be worth it to try cleaning your bedding more frequently to see if your symptoms improve.
When should you use hot water when washing your laundry?
When you need optimal sanitation against bacteria (clothes worn directly on the body (underwear, bras), cotton garments (t-shirts) bed sheets (especially after you’ve been sick!), kitchen or bath towels.
What should you do to your clothes prior to putting them in the washing machine?
Turn them inside out.
Also - clasp overalls, secure velcro, etc.
Where do you find how to dry your clothes?
The label.
The label will include information such as the material it's made of, how to wash, and how to dry.
How often should you wash your blankets?
Once per season (minimum).
Why and when should you use cold water when washing your laundry?
When washing dark and bright colored clothes and delicates.
Cold water is least likely to cause shrinking and fading.
**best for the environment!**
**always use for clothing without a care label.
If something is stained (ink, blood, oil) what should you do?
Your garments need to be pretreated or soaked before washing and drying. If you dry a stain, you will most likely have a stain for life.
There are many stain remover products but dawn dish soap does wonders as well!
What does it mean and when would you use the "tumble" dry function on your dryer?
“Tumble dry" is interchangeable for "no heat” or "air only" on your dryer. It means to dry in the dryer with zero heat.
It's meant for very delicate items that cannot withstand any heat, but is most often used to freshen, fluff or remove hair and other debris from dry items between washes.
How often should you wash your washing machine?
What?! Clean your washing machine?!
It is recommended to clean your washing machine once every 1-2 months.
You do this by wiping down the interior and the seals around the door of the machine with an all-purpose cleaner.
For top-loading machines, remove debris from any filters or drains around the seal.
If you have a front-loading washer, identify the drain filter (which should be located behind a small front-facing door near the bottom) and shake it over the trash; rinse it well before replacing it.
How full should you load your machine when doing laundry?
It depends on the size of the "drum" in your dryer.
You can find this information in the user manual or sometimes there is a sticker on the hood of the lid.
What day is best to do laundry?
That's completely up to you :)
But choose one day every week that you dedicate to doing laundry. Gather up ALL items you wish to wash and complete the process THAT DAY.
When should you NOT dry your clothes?
If the label says not to!
Things to avoid putting in the dryer:
Bathing suits
Pantyhose or tights
Rubber-backed rugs
Bras
Garments with embellishments (sequins)
Running shoes
How often should you wash your dryer?
You should remove the built up lint on the lint catcher every time you use the dryer.
However, lint seems through the catcher and ends up in the exhaust pipe leading to the exterior of your home. Make sure to clean out the pipe at least once a year to avoid a fire.
When would you use the "permanent press" function for washing?
This setting is used use dark clothes, colored fabrics, most synthetic fabrics, blended fabrics, and permanent press clothes. This function is also used to reduce wrinkling.
Interchangeable names for this function is Permanent Press, Wrinkle Control, Casual Clothes, or Dark Colors