How to Wash Cotton Clothes
Keeping cotton clean is easy, especially if you follow these basic instructions. Remember: when in doubt, check the label for further instructions.
To keep your cotton clothes looking and feeling their best
Sort your dirty laundry Because of varying times and temperatures, the laundry room isn’t the place to mix and match fabric. Always sort by: TYPE (knit vs woven); WEIGHT (heavy denim vs light blouses); COLOR (lights vs darks)
Turn your clothes inside out before putting in the washing machine: When fabrics rub together in the wash, it creates fuzz that can make your clothes appear faded. Keep color in its place by turning clothes inside out before you toss them in the wash.
Don’t overload your washing machine: When a washing machine is stuffed to the brim, clothes don’t get cleaned or rinsed properly. Stains will stay put, and you could wind up with a worn, ripped, or pilled wardrobe and a broken washing machine. Make sure the load size is less than 3/4 full.
Use less detergent: Using too much detergent is actually worse than not using enough because it speeds up the wear and tear of our clothes and sends your money down the drain. Take the time to read the directions and measure the proper amount of detergent required for your load.
When washer is finished, select a method for drying your clothes. For Air-drying: You can speed up the air-drying process by borrowing some heat from the dryer. Place delicates and other air-dryables on top of the dryer when it’s in use. For using the dryer: Use your dryer to dry freshly washed clothes. However, over-drying
Pretreat stains while they’re fresh for best results. Use enzymatic or oxygen bleach pre-treatment depending on the stain to boost detergent effectiveness. Air dry clothes after washing to check if the stain is gone; some may need extra treatment. Avoid the dryer, as heat can set stains.
Save your clothes a few trips to the hamper, and you’ll save money, water, time and the environment. Hang them somewhere to let them air out after wearing and only wash them when they really need it.
Wipe your machine down with a solution of half a cup of white vinegar, half a cup of baking soda and 1 quart of hot water once a week. Kill bacteria by running a hot wash cycle with one cup of bleach and no clothes once a month. Always leave the door open after emptying out your laundry to prevent mold.
