1.    Use Only Specified Amount of Detergent

You may think using extra laundry detergent means your clothes will get extra clean, this is not the case. Too much laundry detergent can get trapped in the folds of clothing/linens (under collars, in pockets, etc.) and can lead to bacteria build-up. Use the recommended measurement on the detergent label based on your load size and/or washer.

2.    Skip the Bleach or Use it Sparingly

Bleach is a fantastic disinfectant, if you bleach it, you KNOW it is clean. Bleach also is a great way to get out certain stains. However, bleach is not very good at removing “protein” stains, such as blood or sweat.  White socks, underwear, and those t-shirts with the nasty yellow underarms may seem like excellent candidates to get bleached, but bleach is not the best option. Instead, toss the garments into some hot water with lemon slices. Lemon will help keep whites their whitest.

3.    Skip Fabric Softener on Certain Items

Fabric softener is not recommended for certain types of clothing, it can cause a build-up or even inhibit the garments intent. Towels, undergarments/lingerie, workout clothing, children’s pajamas are a few items that use fabrics that should not be exposed to fabric softener (see our blog When to Skip the Fabric Softener for more details.) Use a bit of vinegar to soften clothes/towels. A wad of aluminum foil tossed into the drying cycle will stop static cling. Delicates or workout wear should be line dried.

4.    Zip Up Zippers and Button Up Buttons

Not zipping up zippers on jeans/pants/shorts/etc. will not prohibit the clothing from getting cleaned, it is just a smart way to avoid harming your other clothing and linens in the same cycle. Zipper teeth can snag other items in the load, ruining them. Best to close those zipper teeth. It may seem odd to button up shirts before you

toss them into the wash, technically buttoned or unbuttoned the shirt will get clean either way. However, a washing cycle can put undue stress on buttons and buttonholes, which can lead to buttons falling off or buttonholes becoming stretched and ineffective.

Save Money and Give Clothes a Longer Life

We all have our favorite pieces of clothing we want to last forever and clothing, linens, towels, blankets aren’t cheap. When you care for these items properly, they will last for a long, long time to come. If you don’t have the time to do laundry, are unsure about how to correctly clean your items or just hate doing laundry, check out our Wash/Dry/Fold laundry service. We do it for you. We can even pick up and drop off the laundry right at your front door, all you have to do is put it away.  See our website for more information.