Laundry is one of the many household tasks that never goes away. You can wash clothes seven days a week, but the next load is never more than just a day or two away. And things can get even harder when laundry duties don’t go as planned.
There are certain laundry-related dilemmas that we all have to work through from time to time. Here are seven of the most common — with a little advice on how to overcome them.
1. Excessive creases
Certain fabrics come out of a washing machine covered in creases and wrinkles. This can cause serious issues when it comes to ironing them. To stop this from happening, never overload your machine. Also, make sure you’re using the correct cycle for the items in question. Drying clothes outside on a line is the best way to get rid of most creases. However, if you’re using a tumble dryer, take your clothes out while they’re still very slightly damp. Dry-ironing them should get rid of any remaining creases.
2. Irritating towels
Towels can become hard and brittle unless care is taken during the washing process. Always use a fabric conditioner when washing your towels, or add a little white vinegar to each load.
3. Mouldy washing machines
The latest energy-efficient washing machines are designed to clean clothes using lower water temperatures than ever before. While this is great for saving energy, it means mould and bacteria are more likely to form in and around the drum. Once a month, run an empty cycle on the hottest possible temperature. If you’re concerned about odours, add some powdered detergent and a little white vinegar to the dispenser drawer beforehand.
4. Fading colours
Some colours will simply fade over time, but most fading occurs because people continually wash their garments at excessively high temperatures. To protect your clothes, use a detergent designed to protect colours. Alternatively, simply turn down the temperature.
5. Grey whites
If you don’t add enough detergent to each load, or you’re over-filling the drum, dirt won’t be properly held in the water — it will simply be re-deposited on garments. This is why whites can turn a murky grey colour over time. Use the maximum dose of detergent, and always wash whites separately from other colours. Because each load contains only white garments, you can afford to turn the temperature up too.
6. Washing pillows effectively
Never dry clean your pillows, as the chemicals used during the process can stick to the fibres and potentially cause health issues. Clean no more than two pillows at a time in your washing machine, and make sure they’re completely dried before using them again. The best way to dry pillows is outside in the fresh air, as this minimises the chance of any nasty odours from developing.
7. Washing quilts effectively
Never wash a quilt in a domestic washing machine — there just isn’t enough room in the drum. The best method involves filling a bathtub with cold water and adding a cup of white vinegar and some liquid detergent. Allow the quilt to soak for 30 minutes, then gently agitate it in the water. Drain the water, then fill with fresh. Give the quilt another 30 minutes of rinsing time, then lift it out and hang it on a shower rail in order to let excess water drain off. Lay it flat outside and allow it to completely air dry.
Laundry day doesn’t have to be a nightmare. If you’re prepared for whatever your laundry basket throws at you, this recurring household task will become easier than ever.