Tag Archives: clothing cleaning

Hand wash

How To Hand Wash Clothes

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Hand wash

Hand washing clothes is quickly becoming a lost art in today’s world. As wash and wear garments and more casual looks and fabrics have become more popular, more people than ever have wardrobes that are made up entirely of items that can be thrown in the washer and dryer. The big drawback with these types of clothing is that it limits you in the styles you wear and especially when it comes to delicate garments, fine fabrics and adorned outfits. Many such items need dry cleaning or hand washing in order to preserve their quality. With the high cost and inconvenience of dry cleaning proving to be stumbling blocks for many people, hand washing is the only remaining option. Knowing how to properly hand wash clothes will save you money and open up a whole new world of rich fabrics and clothing options that you’ve only dreamed of.

The true way to hand wash clothes is to start by spot treating any stains on the clothes, like you would if you were washing by machine. Fill up the sink, or a container big enough to hold your item and allow for agitation, with cold water. The cold water will prevent shrinking and color fading. Add laundry soap that is specifically formulated for hand washing in cold water. Be precise with the measurement as it will take a long time to rinse out excess suds if you add too much. When the soap is completely dissolved, add the item of clothing you wish to wash. If you have more than one item that needs hand washing, do only one at a time.

Move the clothing around in your soapy water gently in order to create mild agitation. This will allow the water to work through the garment loosening dirt. Pay particular attention to the underarm area, the neckline and any spots on it. Gently rub such areas with your fingers to remove stubborn stains and odors. When you are content that your clothing item is as clean as possible, you will need to rinse it. Using cold water only, rinse the item multiple times until no bubbles are produced when you add water.

With all the suds out of your hand washed item, it is time to dry it. Gently squeeze as much water out of the item as possible. Compress the fabric gently and do not twist it. Then using a heavy absorbent dry towel, lay the clothing flat and roll it up in the towel. Repeat gently compressing the rolled towel to get out excess moisture. Check the item’s label for further drying instructions. You may be able to put it in a cool dryer, hang it to dry or lay it flat to dry. Whatever the drying technique used, you will have sped it up considerably by getting the item as dry as possible before hand.

The alternative to true hand washing is to use your washer’s extra gentle cycle. It may even have a setting on it called hand wash. Be sure to use cold water and special detergent. This is a much more time efficient way to “hand wash” your items that need such treatment. However, one thing to keep in mind is that while the setting is very slow and gentle it is still a machine and the possibility for damage to your clothes still exists.

Learn to properly hand wash clothes now and enjoy the world of delicate clothes while saving money too.

Washing machine

Tips for Using a Washing Machine

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Washing machine

A washing machine is one of those appliances that is essential to keeping a household running smoothly. If yours breaks down, you quickly gain an understanding of just how much work this underappreciated piece of machinery does. That’s why it’s important to take care of your washer by using it correctly, and by performing some occasional maintenance to keep it in top operating condition. Taking care of your washer now will certainly save you a lot of hassles, not to mention expensive repair or replacement costs down the road.

One of the most important considerations when using your washing machine is capacity. Capacity refers to the amount of laundry (in pounds) that a washing machine can properly wash. An average capacity washing machine can wash 12 to 16 pounds of laundry per load, while a larger capacity family-size model can wash as many as 20 pounds per load. If an excess amount of laundry is added, the washer will become overloaded, leading to a number of problems. Here are some indicators that you may be overloading your washing machine.

1.    Your clothes do not come out clean. If you still find noticeable stains, grime or soap residue after running a load, then there is a problem with the washing method. If this is an isolated event, double-check to be sure that you added detergent prior to starting the load. If detergent was added but items in the load are still dirty or soapy, overstuffing may be the culprit.

2.    Your washing machine overflows. Overstuffing your washing machine can cause the water to overflow, ruining items on the floor of your laundry room. If not caught in time, flooring and other major components of your home’s structure could sustain water damage.

3.    Your washing machine makes a loud, clunky noise. When you load your washing machine beyond its capacity, there is a greater chance of throwing the spinning drum out of alignment. This happens when one side of the load is heavier than the other, causing the drum to spin unevenly and make a very noticeable clunking noise. If this problem persists over a long period of time, it can lead to eventual breakdown of the machine.

To avoid overloading your washing machine, first determine the capacity of your washer. If your washer will hold 20 pounds of laundry, find the correct weight by measuring laundry into a trash bag and weighing it on a bathroom scale. This will help you to know the approximate weight of future loads as well. Next, add the recommended amount of laundry detergent. Select the desired cycle and water temperature for the load. Add the laundry, loosely stacking each item and distributing evenly to be sure the load is correctly balanced. If yours is a top-loading machine, avoid winding large items around the agitator.

Laundry that has been properly washed will be evenly damp, smell fresh and be free of suds and grime.  While it may be tempting to stuff the washer to the brim, in reality you’ll be wasting time and money because the clothes won’t get clean and you’ll have to start from scratch. Respect your washer’s capacity, and both you and it will live a much happier life.

Cat hair

Tips on How to Remove Cat Hair From Clothing

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Cat hair

Every cat lover can list dozens of reasons why they can’t live without their favorite feline. The cuddling, the purring, the simple beauty … there are so many things to cherish about this amazing animal. Chances are, however, you probably won’t find anyone with the following item on their list: cat hair. If every rose has its thorns, cat hair is definitely the thorn associated with owning a cat. These clingy hairs can find their way onto every surface in a house, especially clothing.

So what can you do to remove cat hair from your t-shirts, sweaters and every other article of clothing you own? The first line of defense starts with your environment. Good housekeeping (the habit, not the magazine) can do wonders in the battle to keep cat hair from becoming a staple of your wardrobe. Frequent cleaning, including sweeping hard floor surfaces and vacuuming carpets, is very important to keeping pet hair out of the house. Be sure to thoroughly vacuum furniture as well. If your cat is fond of sleeping on a certain piece of furniture in your home, use a removable slipcover which can be frequently washed to remove hair.

Another method for keeping cat hair off clothing involves removing the hair from the cat itself. Try using a pet brush or a pet hair roller from your local pet supply store to remove loose hairs from your pet before they have a chance to cling to other items. As a bonus, your cat will likely enjoy the extra attention given during the process.

Once you have reduced the amount of cat hair in your environment, you can then focus on ways to remove those remaining hairs that find their way onto your clothing. Lint brushes and hair rollers are excellent tools to accomplish this task, and they can be found at nearly every retailer that sells clothing. For a cheaper solution, try wrapping a length of masking tape (or any type of thick tape) around your hand and patting it over the material’s surface to trap the hairs. While this method is probably not a good long-term solution, it will get the job done in a pinch.
If you have time, toss your fur-covered items into the dryer with a fabric softener sheet. The fabric softener will take away the static cling and the hair will be sucked into the dryer vent.

Washing your garments regularly will also remove cat hair. Be careful what you do with your clothing once it comes out of the dryer, however. Cats love to snuggle up in piles of warm, freshly washed clothing, so take the time to hang your items or tuck them away in a closet or dresser to avoid a repeat of cat hair cling.

If you enjoy cuddling and playing with your cat, it’s probably a good idea to find some “play clothes” that you don’t mind getting hair on. Keep this set of clothing away from other items in your wardrobe, ensuring a fuzz-free appearance.