How to Wash Clothes

[twister947]

Various women in my life have prevailed on me to change my ways. To wit: stop washing all of my clothes in one load. This has worked pretty well for 50 years or so, but I'm nothing, if not open-minded.

I just bought a new washer, so in a departure from the norm, and as a signal of my good intentions, I read the manual.

This is impossible. First, sort by color. Sort again by wash temp. Once more by wash cycle. I'm left with many small piles of clothes/loads of wash. After all of that, the sorting begins anew, by desired drying temp and method.

I was right, all along.

 

[southern_gal]

Ok mister, you ever find yourself at MY house and feel compelled to do my laundry, please don't. We'll fight ya here?

 

[nfrrdscnnr1]

one of those

Clothes washing is one of those tasks MOST difficult for we humans to grasp with any degree of reality. It is somehow wired into our brains that we have to make simple procedures complicated and arcane. As one who repaired washing machines large and small for years, my take is to wash any item whose color is likely to bleed separately the first two or three times. After that, wash everything together, except perhaps VERY greasy and grimey items, in cold water and use about half the recommended amount of soap. Experiment and find what works for you. Or not.

 

[MeekMe]

I separate by color. Remember, some whites actually can't be bleached so pay attention to that.

After that by water temp.

I don't usually care to separate cycles like gentle and regular. I prefer a full load and just wash the regular with the gentle cycle that way it's all one load but isn't going to mess up the gentle cycle clothes. Also, be careful not to overload your washer or things won't get the agitation needed and you run the risk of messing up your machine.

Take note that some of your clothes may need to avoid fabric softener. Think sports materials.

Don't get me started on the hand wash only stuff. >.< Caring for different fabrics is tough work. Those labels are there so you can get the most out of your clothing.

 

[twister947]

Ok mister, you ever find yourself at MY house and feel compelled to do my laundry, please don't. We'll fight ya here?

Okay, just for you, I'll sort the laundry. Top half, first. 'K?

 

[southern_gal]

Okay, just for you, I'll sort the laundry. Top half, first. 'K?

What makes you think I'm wearing a blouse hmmmm? Maybe I gave up clothes for Lent??

 

[bailadora]

Although I was taught to first sort by color, and then by water temp, I pretty much gave that up once I found Shout Color Catchers. With the exception of delicate items that must be separated, whites that must be bleached, or kitchen dishrags/dish towels that I prefer to wash on their own, everything else gets tossed in all together, and the washer is set on normal cycle, with a cold water wash and rinse.

It's a process that saves me quite a bit of time, with the added bonus of being it easy to teach to older elementary/middle school kids, meaning they can take over that chore for themselves!

 

[midwestyankee]

What makes you think I'm wearing a blouse hmmmm? Maybe I gave up clothes for Lent??

Pics or it didn't happen.

 

[southern_gal]

Pics or it didn't happen.

Yeah, me naked on a public forum.......there is only so much humiliation a person can take yanno?

 

[unregistered]

 

[talikat]

Clothes washing is one of those tasks MOST difficult for we humans to grasp with any degree of reality. It is somehow wired into our brains that we have to make simple procedures complicated and arcane. As one who repaired washing machines large and small for years, my take is to wash any item whose color is likely to bleed separately the first two or three times. After that, wash everything together, except perhaps VERY greasy and grimey items, in cold water and use about half the recommended amount of soap. Experiment and find what works for you. Or not.

^^^ This is me. I've never separated clothing by color. I wash in cold water. Mostly everything is 'pre-washed' these days so I've never had anything bleed. I've never felt the need to use bleach either. Baking soda is easier on garments.

Hubbys shitty plumbing clothes do get washed separately though, blech.

 

[southern_gal]

Some things I never really expect to talk about on Lit. Laundry is right up there on that list.

 

[twister947]

Some things I never really expect to talk about on Lit. Laundry is right up there on that list.

The thread on Rainshine's dirty feet should have prepped you for this, and worse. And who could forget her thread on snot?

 

[MaryanneB]

Just want to let you know that I have spent the day being bored and cold (10F outside) and then I found this. Best chuckle I've had in days. Thank you one and all.
And I agree, it is not on the list of subjects I expect on Lit....

 

[Hypoxia]

Easy solution: All fabrics the same color. Bath and bed linens, clothes, whatever -- simplicity makes life much easier. (That's why Johnny Cash was The Man In Black, so he wouldn't waste time on wardrobe decisions.) If your color is white, wash in hot water. Otherwise, wash in warm water.

Other easy solution: Go naturist. Throw away all those needless clothes. Free yourself.

 

[Que]

Cotton whites, towels, dishcloths, socks and if applicable underwear all get bleach and hot water. This wears them out faster but they look much better for the time I do get out of them. Plus hygiene.

The rest you sort not by the washing but by the putting away.

Jeans if I have enough are their own batch but can fill in with towels, t-shirts, colored socks (round them ALL up) and colored "draws." When that batch is done, the dry cycle will be short because the jeans are going on the line so that they last longer and shrink less so as to leave ample room for my endowment. The T-shirts and socks and draws all finish in the drier quickly because it is now a 1/2 a load. I lay the shirts flat in a stack while hot so they are less wrinkled. Fold them once they are cool.

Dress pants and button-downs get washed next and will be in the dryer for 1/2 a cycle or so. I catch them as they dry. If the wrinkles are out regardless of whether they are dry they go on a hanger, if not they get tossed back in... so the lightest fabrics get hung first and are least worn by the dryer and heavier come out last. all are hung and spaced in the closet to finish drying. No ironing ever. I was in charge of ironing for nine people growing up. I used to employ that method, then crease the sleeves and the pants.

Done.

*Anything with a stain going in the washer does not go in the dryer. It is hung to dry and inspected before it ever goes in a dryer. I pretreat with some laundry detergent from the portion about to be thrown into the load.

Those laundry detergent caps are designed to make you use twice the recommended amount. Look for the line. I have hard water, I use too much, probably.

 

[subwannabe]

I never understood this either. With few exceptions you can get buy with just a few loads. I actually do my own laundry because I can't stand the way the women in my life do it. I do a load of all pants, one of all shirts, and one of everything else. This makes it much easier to hang and put away also. My first wife was ridiculous. She would wait until absolutely everything was dirty and then she would separate out about 20 loads, one white, one red, one brown, one black, one blue, one green, one yellow, one purple, well you get the picture. Then should would complain about how much she hated doing laundry. No dah.

 

[GiggLeGasm]

I'll admit that laundry can be a deal breaker.
Wash like fabrics together.
Anything where the color may run gets washed first in vinegar.
As a general rule, I use wool balls in the dryer instead of fabric softener.
I'll sometimes use liquid fabric softener for khakis or jeans.
No fabric softener in towels ever (or they won't absorb well)

If this makes it so I am not bed worthy, so be it. These are my terms.

 

[stickygirl]

I just bought a new washer, so in a departure from the norm, and as a signal of my good intentions, I read the manual.

^^^ What kind of man are you??

I'd recommend buying by wash type. Nearly everything I own is cotton or polycotton = 40c ( 100F in old money ). If whites look like they need it they'll get a hotter wash. Non-bio detergent, no softener but occasionally white vinegar in final rinse.

 

[desertslave]

Underwear, bras and socks...warm/cold load, 2nd rinse

Light load, stuff that won't bleed, cold/cold load

Dark load, stuff that might bleed, cold/cold load

Anything that might shrink in the dryer (Imported cotton, rayon) in a lingerie bag, no dryer. Everything else in the dryer on permanent press. Easy peasy!

 

[Elixxxher]

Put clothes in washer.

Pour in detergent.

Turn on.

Easy.

 

[irishblade]

It kills my wife that I've never separated clothes by anything, I just drop them in and nothing ever stains or fades like they are allegedly supposed to. Here's the question though..... Do you put soap in and start the water, put the soap in and add the clothes before starting the water or put the soap in after you load the washer?

 

[GiggLeGasm]

I have a front load washer. You can't add anything after you start the water.

 

[talikat]

It kills my wife that I've never separated clothes by anything, I just drop them in and nothing ever stains or fades like they are allegedly supposed to. Here's the question though..... Do you put soap in and start the water, put the soap in and add the clothes before starting the water or put the soap in after you load the washer?

I start the water, put half the soap in and add the clothes,

then add the other half of the soap on top.

 

[Primalex]

It kills my wife that I've never separated clothes by anything, I just drop them in and nothing ever stains or fades like they are allegedly supposed to.

Of course they do, you can't beat science with wishful thinking. Either colored items bleach slowly or white items turn grey slowly.