Follow the dosage recommendation of the detergent according to the water hardness at your home, and degree of soiling of your laundry. Always dose according to the dirtiest textile in your particular wash load, especially if you include heavily soiled items.In the case of coloured textiles, do not use a universal detergent which contains oxygen for bleaching purposes, unless the bleaching symbol allows its use. Otherwise, you may experience colour loss in your garments. The use of special detergents is recommended.
The right dose
Do you ever measure how much detergent you put in the dispenser? Let’s face it: it’s often a bit random. But here’s why it’s worth getting it right: if you use too little detergent, the extra dirt in the water will deposit on the cleaner items – causing your bright whites to go grey or yellowish, and your colours to get duller. Using too much detergent can result in residue-laden and uncomfortable clothes and an unfriendly impact on the environment.
So, follow your detergent’s dosage recommendations according to your home’s water hardness and how dirty your laundry is (with the dirtiest piece of clothing as your reference). Surprisingly, 1 to 2 tablespoons are usually more than enough. No matter which products you stock in your laundry room, using the “less is more approach will help you reduce the amount of detergent you’re buying—a benefit that’s great for your clothes and the environment.
The right detergent
If you’re washing a load of coloured textiles, don’t use an all-purpose universal detergent: it contains oxygen for bleaching, and you don’t want this happening on your brightly coloured clothes. If you want to keep those colours vibrant, use special laundry soap for coloured fabrics.
Also make sure you don’t mix bright and dark colours together. And if your item is new, wash it separately the first time round to make sure it doesn’t lose its colour.
If you have wet laundry, wash it immediately or hang it to dry before you wash it. Otherwise, you risk nasty bacteria build-up.Mix small and large items together. Your clothes will move more freely in the drum and will wash better.
Surely, you’ve experienced the “oh no!” moment when you pull the clothes out of the drum to discover that paper tissue has spread itself all over them. Don’t panic! You can get rid of the fluff by rubbing them with a pair of nylon stockings. It is all about static electricity. And at least you’ll check the pockets next time…