Laundry Tips

Cosmetics
Spray with a stain remover or apply a small amount of detergent directly to the stain. Wash in the hottest water that is safe for the fabric.

Grass
Spray with a stain remover or apply a small amount of detergent directly to the stain and wash as directed. If stain remains, re-apply stain remover, soak in warm water, rinse thoroughly and re-wash.

Food
Gently blot excess food, tomato sauce, soda, etc. with cold water. Sprinkle the stain with salt to absorb the liquid and then dab clean with club soda. Pretreat with laundry detergent and wash.

Gum
Rub area with ice. Remove excess gum carefully. Spray with a stain remover or apply a small amount of detergent directly to the stain. Wash in the hottest water that is safe for the fabric.

Coffee / Fruit Juice
Use a sponge to dab the stain or soak in cold water. Spray with a stain remover or apply a small amount of detergent directly to the stain. Wash as directed.

Blood
Spray with a stain remover or apply a small amount of detergent directly to the stain. Wash in the hottest water that is safe for the fabric.

Grease
Place garment, grease stain down, on a paper towel. Squeeze dishwashing liquid on the backside of the stain, give it a minute, and then pretreat with laundry detergent. Wash in the hottest water that is safe for the fabric.

Deodorant and Sweat Stains
Spray with a stain remover or apply a small amount of detergent directly to the stain. Wash in the hottest water that is safe for the fabric. If fabric is discolored, treat new stains with ammonia and old stains with vinegar then rinse thoroughly and re-wash.

Wax
Rub with ice and carefully scrape off excess wax. Place between several layers of paper towels and press with a warm iron. Spray with a stain remover or apply a small amount of detergent directly to the stain. Rinse and wash in the hottest water that is safe for the fabric.

Vomit
Scrape to remove excess. Soak in warm water. Spray with a stain remover or apply a small amount of detergent directly to the stain. Wash as directed, use bleach if necessary.

Ink
Use a sponge to dab the stain with rubbing alcohol or spray with a stain remover and keep spraying until wet-looking. Rinse thoroughly and wash as directed.

Mud
Allow mud to dry. Washing wet mud will make the stain worse! Brush off any dried mud. Cleanthe stain with liquid detergent and a wet brush until stain is lifted. Wash on normal cycle. Do not tumble dry until all traces of mud are gone.

Don’t use all of the machines at once.
If there are plenty of open washers or dryers, you may use two or three at once, otherwise do the polite thing, and stick to the one person, one machine rule.

Check your clothes at the door.
Remove any objects that could harm your clothes or the machines—tubes of lipstick, sharp objects, globs of grease, live animals, etc. You’re responsible for what goes into machines and for any damage that results.

Unscented makes more sense.
And err on the side of the unscented. Scented liquid fabric softener leaves its odor and residue behind. If you must perfume your clothes, go with a dryer sheet.

No laundry left behind.
If you don’t want your laundry manhandled, be ready to transfer your load when the cycle is finished.

Leave your basket.
If you have to leave, place your basket on your washer or dryer in case others need to use the machine.

Clean the lint screen.
Leave the world better than you found it and take your lint out of the screen and toss it in the laundry room trash can.

Don’t dump to conclusions.
If someone else is tardy to the party, give them time to catch up with their laundry. Allow the tardy party person 15 minutes and then carefully place their items in their laundry basket or on top of a machine or folding surface. Don’t leave their laundry on the floor or assume that it needs to go into the dryer.

Open Door policy.
To prevent mildewing, leave the washer door open when not in use. This is particularly true on front load washers.

Avoid the near irresistible temptation to dump your hamper directly into the washing machine. It may save time, but it won’t do any favors for the machine— or your style.

Sort by COLOR
Separate whites, light colors, and dark colors to keep color in its place.

Sort by FABRIC TYPE

• Separate heavy fabrics, like jeans, from delicates that require a gentle cycle.
• Wash lint-generous fabrics, like towels and that fancy chenille sweater, separate from lint-loving fabrics, like corduroy and dark leggings. 

Sort by SOIL (how dirty it is)
Because dirt can travel in the wash, launder those heavily soiled garments separately.