7 Clothes Washing Tips & Techniques For Young Homeowners Who Are New To Doing Laundry
Life is easy when you’re still living with your parents; Other than not having to worry about expenses like rent and groceries, there’s a high chance that many of the household chores are taken care of too. But once you move out, you’re suddenly up in your elbows with housework, which can be more difficult than it appears - especially when you’ve got a full-time job that exhausts you daily.
Among these tasks is laundry, which has to be done every couple of days if you don’t want your clothes hamper piled high with sweaty garments and causing a stink in your room. Don’t worry, young homeowners - we’ve gotcha with our list of clothes washing tips and techniques for those who are new to doing their own laundry. There’s a first time for everything!
Read on to check out these clothes washing tips!
#1: Separate whites from coloured items
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This might seem like a tedious task, but it is one that is necessary. Even if it’s not the first time you’re washing them, pigments from your coloured clothes can run and stain your white or pale-coloured items, and these often cannot be cleaned off.
To make the job easier and prevent yourself from having to dig through a less-than-pleasant smelling heap of dirty clothes each time, you might want to consider separate laundry hampers for both types of clothing if space allows.
#2: Put delicate pieces like lingerie in laundry nets
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The spinning motion of the washing machine can be harsh on more delicate pieces like lacy lingerie or mesh clothing, causing them to stretch or tear over time. You don’t necessarily have to go through the trouble of handwashing them - simply putting them in a laundry net will help protect them while letting them get a thorough cleanse.
#3: Measure detergent carefully, as too much can damage clothes
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Some of us are so comfortable with cooking and baking that we simply guesstimate the amount of ingredients needed each time. But you’ll want to stick to the exact required measurements of detergent when doing laundry, as an excess will not only cause irritation to sensitive skin, it’ll also leave residue in your washing machine - which traps odours, water, and eventually results in quicker wear and tear.
On the flip side, using too little detergent will result in unclean clothes with unpleasant odours as well.
#4: Pre-treat stains for best results
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Whether it’s food, blood, or paint, you’ll have a better chance of removing stains from your clothing if you pre-treat them before they set, instead of just popping them straight into the washing machine with the rest of the load. This can be done using either laundry detergent or stain remover. With a gentle blotting motion, work your way from outside-in so that the stain does not feather out to other parts of the cloth.
#5: Turn items inside-out before throwing them in, especially those with prints
Our sweat and skin cells collect on the inside of our garments, so turning them inside-out will rid them of those nasties more effectively. Doing so will also help preserve the prints on your clothes, especially graphic t-shirts that might be prone to flaking as a result of the friction in the washing machine.
#6: Hang wet clothes to dry immediately after a cycle instead of leaving them sitting
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You might be tempted to leave your freshly washed clothes sitting in the washing machine for “just 5 more minutes” as you finish binge-watching the rest of your TV drama episodes, but hold that thought, ‘cause wet clothes wait for no one. Always hang wet clothes to dry immediately after the washing cycle, because procrastination will result in the formation of mildew and funky odours - which means your clothes will likely have to be washed all over again.
Not only that, your washing machine will be subject to the formation of mould and spoil much earlier.
#7: Avoid cramming too many items into one wash load
We busy folk value efficiency, and stuffing your washing machine to the brim to get the best of one wash cycle might seem like a good idea. However, this actually reduces efficacy, as without sufficient space to move around, the dirt on your clothes won’t get properly dislodged. If you have a big family, it’s best to invest in a washing machine with a larger capacity.
Bosch washing machines and dryers: For easier laundry days
Photo from Bosch
Right techniques aside, having a good washing machine will also make the chore of doing laundry a lot easier, and Bosch has just what you need in their extensive catalogue. Their washers are all front-load models, which makes them extra versatile - have them free-standing, or built into your kitchen furnishing depending on your home layout!
The machine tops serve as a storage platform for items like laundry detergent, or can even be used to stack on a dryer, which helps save space in small HDBs.
Photo from Bosch
With their special SpeedPerfect technology, Bosch’s quiet, energy-efficient washing machines can clean clothes up to 65% faster, all while saving water using an ActiveWater™ Plus sensor that’ll help you save on your utility bill. Spills and messes are no issue with the AntiStain function, which works well to banish 4 of the most common clothing stains: blood, butter or oil, grass, and red wine.
Photo from Bosch
Other special features of these Bosch washers include the i-DOS automatic dosing system, which dispenses a precise optimum quantity of detergent liquid depending on clothing type and degree of soiledness, as well as the wave-droplet design of the VarioDrum, which cleans delicate fabrics thoroughly without being too harsh. Not to worry if someone in your household has sensitive skin, for the AllergyPlus function, which prolongs the higher temperature wash cycle, helps eliminate germs and allergens that can cause irritation.
If your home doesn’t get much natural sunlight, you can consider getting a Bosch tumble dryer, which saves you the hassle of having to hang your laundry up to dry. For best convenience, opt for Bosch’s space-saving 2-in-1 washer dryers, which combine the best of both worlds.
This post is brought to you by Bosch.
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Text by: GirlStyle SG
