While washing machines have been around for a long time, washer repair professionals report that many homeowners don’t wash their fabrics properly. This not only leads to damage to the various fabrics, it also leads to damage to the machines. Would you like to know how to properly wash your fabrics? Here is how to go about it:
Cotton is a super-durable fabric; therefore, you can wash the various garments in the washing machine with any detergent and bleach. For you to achieve ideal results, experts recommend that you machine wash the cotton items in warm water on a normal cycle then tumble dry on low setting.
Do you have white cotton? Wash it with bleach on a hot water setting. It’s wise that you keep the cotton towels, washcloths, and robes fluffy. For you to do it you should use half the amount of detergent then run them through an extra rinse cycle.
Avoid using a lot of detergents as the detergent residues can diminish the softness. While cotton is tough, it tends to wrinkle easily; therefore, you should iron it regularly. For ideal results, iron it on the highest heat level.
Polyester
You can easily wash most of the polyester fabrics in warm water with added fabric softener. This is because polyester is prone to static cling. While this is the case, you should note that certain polyester fabrics are designed to be dry cleaned; therefore, you should always check the tag before you start the cleaning.
After cleaning, dry the garment on low temperature and then iron them using a moderately warm iron.
While polyester is easy to take care of, it tends to lock stains. Before you machine-wash it, take time to remove the stains first. To do it, rub a stain remover on the affected area and allow it to sit for 10-20 minutes then wash it.
Is the stained fabric white? Soak the fabric in a gallon of water and dishwashing soap for at least 24 hours before you put it in the washing machine.
Silk
Silk garments are often brittle thus you should avoid washing most of the garments in the washing machine. You can dry-clean most of the basic silk pieces but for even better results, hand-wash them.
When handwashing the pieces, do it in cool or lukewarm water using mild detergents such as soap or shampoo.
You should note that silk doesn’t tolerate temperature changes; therefore, wash the fabrics with warm or cool water the whole way through.
After cleaning the fabrics, never wring out the silk to dry. Instead, roll the items up in a towel and gently press the water out.
Do you have any items labeled “washable silk?” You can wash these in a washing machine on a gentle cycle in a mesh bag. Once you are done, hang dry on a padded hanger.
For you to prevent the fabric from losing color and keep the fabric in top condition, you should add a few tablespoons of white vinegar to the water when washing.
For you to get the most from the silk, you should press it while still damp. When it comes to ironing, iron on low setting and don’t use steam as it can leave watermarks.
After washing, store the silk in a dry dark place. You should never keep the fabric in plastic as the fabric needs to breathe.
Linen
Many people have the notion that linen fabrics are better off when dry cleaned than hand or machine washed, but this isn’t the case. You should go ahead and machine-wash your fabrics without worrying much about it.
For ideal results, wash the linen in tepid or cold water. You will even be better off cleaning the fabric in soft water. Clean the fabrics with gentle wash cycles and super-mild soaps.
When it comes to drying, put the fabrics in the dryer on low settings. Avoid over drying them as doing so makes the fabrics stiff. This calls for you to remove the fabrics from the dryer while they are still slightly damp.
You should note that the quality of the washes is determined by the quality of the washing machine. For you to keep your machine in top shape, appliance repair Alexandria professionals recommend that you properly maintain your machine.
