Washing for Dummies
And for Liesbeth
“Maytje, I’ve heard that you shouldn’t wash silk blouses together with jeans in the washing machine. Is that true?” Liesbeth asked the question and I almost choked on my ginger tea. Silk blouses and jeans? Even a wool sweater and a towel are already incompatible in the washing drum. Time for some laundry lessons because I have a pretty good understanding of it, with an average of 20 loads per week, and as the granddaughter of grandparents with a laundry empire.
What should it go in? It should go in this.
Yes, we start at the origin. Because that was my dear colleague whose name I will not mention further not entirely clear either. The large compartment is traditionally meant for your laundry detergent. The smaller compartment next to it (usually with a lid) is used for your fabric softener. Nowadays, you often have liquid detergent in a pod. You just place it in the drum on your laundry.
Fabric softener. Is that necessary?
If you have a dryer, fabric softener is not necessarily needed. I think it can make the laundry a bit heavy. Just like too much conditioner does with your hair. It smells nice but really, if you use Robijn (which I am addicted to), you don’t need fabric softener. If you don’t have a dryer, then a drop of softener is nice. Especially for your towels.
What is allowed, what is not
Read the label carefully before you toss something in the machine. Nowadays, clothing brands are often extremely cautious and there are brands (yes Donna Karan, I’m talking about you) that really say everything needs to go to the dry cleaner. You shouldn’t worry about that because then you’ll go crazy. But you can read from the label what material something is made of and which program suits it best.
For every wash a different bottle
I have a laundry cabinet with a bottle collection that can compete with our liquor cabinet. Black laundry, colored laundry, white laundry, delicate laundry, pre-wash, everything has its own ‘drink’. So I really don’t believe in detergent for whites and colors together because they need two different things.
Do some foreplay
If you have stains on your clothes, treat them beforehand with Shout and you can also soak something in Biotex. For tougher jobs, you could pour a scoop of Vanish in your left compartment but I don’t recommend that for delicate clothing.
Do special sweaters need to go to the dry cleaner?
That’s always safe but it’s a hassle and it costs money, of course. I just wash nice sweaters inside out and let them dry flat. Then they stay at their best.
If possible, not too long
Most of the time your clothes aren’t really dirty. A short program is really enough for a refresh. It’s also better for the environment.
Thoroughly every two months
To keep your washing machine clean, it’s important to run a ‘boil wash’ every two months. Nice with your sheets at the highest temperature. It can’t get cleaner and it’s also good for your machine.
A few last tips.
– When in doubt, take things to the dry cleaner.
– Don’t use too much detergent.
– Iron your clothes and towels. It makes them nice and soft, folds neatly, and also kills bacteria. Great for your dish towels.
Now Martha Stewart stops. Are you going to practice nicely today?
