7 fixes for common laundry "disasters": a practical guide for doing the laundry perfectly
Over time, you will have noticed that white clothes become grayish and dull after constant use and washing. Additionally, they may have "picked up" colors from being washed with other, more colorful clothes.
Fortunately, there is something that can be done about this situation. Read on to find out how to restore your favorite clothes:
What are the most common mistakes made when washing clothes in the washing machine?
A classic mistake is to accidentally mix colored garments with white ones, which can result in an unwanted transfer of colored dye to the whites. To fix this, it is essential to act quickly by removing the stained item, cleaning out the washing machine's drum and, if the fabric allows for it, washing the stained items again at a high temperature and/or using a commercial whitener.
When you whites start to look dull, soak them in bleach or a solution of water and bicarbonate, followed by a norml wash and leave them in the sun to dry.
For stubborn stains, lemon juice or Marseille soap are effective solutions, especially when used before a regular machine wash.
Excessive use of fabric softener can leave oily stains on clothes, which can often be removed with a simple rinse treatment before washing.
For felted/pile sweaters, a soak in cold water with baking soda or milk can help restore their original condition.
Towels that become rough due to excessive use of detergent or fabric softener can be reinvigorated by soaking them in warm water and vinegar and then washing them again, but without any fabric softener.
Marco Verch Professional Photographer/Flickr
Finally, to avoid the disasters which are caused by tissues forgotten in the pockets of trousers and shirts, it is essential to carefully check all the pockets before putting clothes into the drum.
Should this happen anyway, we advise you to remove the shredded tissue fragments from dried clothes and with the help of a lint remover/sticky roller. Clean out the drum properly to remove any tissue residue before you do another wash.
Following these tips, your favorite clothes will be at little risk when placed in the wash and you will be able to enjoy wearing them for a long time to come, hopefully.
