Laundry 101

What is the proper way to wash and care for fabrics?

First, look at the care label — the tag that’s permanently attached to clothes. “This will tell you specifically how to clean any item — whether it should be laundered, dry-cleaned, bleached, or washed in warm or cold water”. In general, don’t put powder soap directly on your clothes; dissolve the detergent in water first before pouring it into your wash.

How do you easily remove stains on the collar of a uniform without soaking it for a long time?

Go and use the purest unscented hand soap you can find. If that doesn’t work, then use lemon. Perspiration is acid — the only way to remove it is by counteracting it with another acid. Rub it directly on the stain. You may also try vinegar or lime.

How do you get rid of underarm stains on T-shirts?

There are two types of underarm stains: those caused by perspiration and those by deodorants. Perspiration stains, which are yellow, brown, or green in color, are acidic; treat as #2. Deodorant stains, which look white, chalky, or greasy, are alkaline. Alkaline stains require alkaline products to erase them.

The solution for deodorant stains: Make a paste of your detergent by adding some water to powder detergent and rub it on the underarm area. Make sure the blue bleach sparkles are fully dissolved. If not, white spots will appear on your clothes.

How do you wash linen blouses the right way?

Linen is a natural fabric; it’s fine and sensitive. When it interacts with water, it may lead to distortion. That’s why it’s more advisable to take your linen to the dry-cleaners, as dry-cleaning chemicals are lighter — and thus friendlier to your clothes — than water molecules. The number one rule for this fabric is to never buy it without the care label.  If the care label says “washable”, then wash it with liquid detergent. Do not just soak so it doesn’t lose its form. And it must be dried flat: Get a dry towel, put it on a table, and then place the linen on top of the towel to let it dry. If you hang it dry, it will destroy the blouse’s shape.

What causes colored blouses to look faded and old?

Keep colors from fading by:

• Using the right amount of detergent. Most people think that, more bubbles, means cleaner clothes. But this isn’t exactly true. Using too much detergent is not only inefficient, it’s also wasteful. The right amount of suds is about two inches above the water. If you go above that, you’re using too much detergent.
• Washing clothes inside out to prevent the right side from fading.
• Not putting the clothes out to sun-dry. Then umber one enemy of colored clothes is the sun, as this practice is only really intended for whites. 

Is bleach safe to use?

Bleach is not really recommended if we want to be environment-friendly, and besides, bleach is non-biodegradable.  If you must use bleach, do not wash clothes without detergent or the fabric will be ruined. Always soak your fabric in detergent at least five minutes before you use bleach.

Are there other ways to remove stains, aside from putting it out in the sun before washing again?

Check your care label again. The important thing is to not let the stain set. The sooner you wash it, the easier the stains will be removed. Soak for 20 minutes; the detergent loosens the stain, thus making it easier to remove when washed. You may also use cold water and vinegar. Vinegar breaks up bloodstains. Again, the principle of using acid to remove acid.

Can we wash comforters by hand?

Comforters should always be machine-washed or dry-cleaned. Hand-washing might destroy the comforter’s fiber fill and cause it to sag after a while.

But if you really must wash it by hand, continuous dipping will do. Do not rub, as this action destroys the bond between the fabric and fiber field.

How can we get rid of green and white mold spots on our clothes?

You get them mostly from how you store your laundry. Some factors that cause them include: hot, humid, dark, and enclosed storage conditions; food stains; perspiration; and dirt.

To remove mold and mildew from your clothes: Check your care label. Create a soak solution of powdered soap and water. Soak clothes for 30 minutes. Wash in warm water with powdered bleach. Lastly, air-dry.

Other ways to prevent mold and mildew:

• Do not overfill your drawers or closets to allow air circulation.
• Let clothes thoroughly dry before putting in the laundry basket or closet.
• Once in a while, check your stored clothes. Unexpected weather changes might cause mildew to get in.
• Never let damp items sit in an unattended heap.
• Using plastic bags for storage is a no-no. These encourage moisture and mildew.

How can we remove crayon stains?

Rub the crayon stain with detergent and launder; use grease solvent if necessary. If the grease stain is removed but the color still remains, use bleach but check first if it is safe for the fabric.

What are the top things that we should keep in mind when doing the laundry?

• Wash your clothes as soon as possible. Do not let clothes go unwashed for more than 48 hours. If the clothes are still unwashed after 48 hours, do not expose them to heat or light. Keep them in a dark place so that stains don’t set.
• Avoid sun-drying. It’s better to have a roof over your drying area so that you still get the heat but not the UV (ultraviolet) rays.
• Tell the members of your household to turn clothes inside out after wearing to avoid stains. If the item is wet, do not allow it to dry without washing as stains might set.