Washing Machine Tips and Tricks

Your washing machine can not only be used to wash your laundry, but you can also clean shoes, plush toys, and some bedding. The right water temperature and washing cycle, in addition to the most appropriate laundry detergent, will ensure that whatever you clean in your washer will come out smelling and looking fresh and stain-free.

High-efficiency washers function a little differently than standard washing machines. Detergents for HE washers can be expensive, but it is just as easy to make your own and get the same result without spending the extra money. Common household ingredients that are often used to make your own homemade HE laundry detergent include white vinegar, washing soda, baking soda, Castile soap, oxygen-based brightener, essential oils, Borax, and lemon.

While you may have thought that you had to take your down comforter to the laundromat or to a dry cleaner to get rid of stains and everyday dirt, this is not always the case. You can learn how to wash a down comforter at home if you have a front-loading washing machine. With mild soap on a delicate cycle, your front-loader will get your bedding looking like new again. Dry in the dryer on a low setting.

How to wash dark clothes is sometimes more of a challenge than cleaning lighter-colored items. To keep them from fading or shrinking, wash dark clothes in cold water with a liquid detergent. Using a dryer is fine.

Although it might seem strange, many people have never been taught how to do laundry. It’s a simple process if you follow some basic guidelines. Discover how to wash clothes by sorting them into piles first, according to color and type. Read the labels of specialty fabrics and wash them properly. Determine the wash cycle and how much detergent is needed for each load and start washing! Dry on a setting that corresponds to the clothing you are cleaning.