Laundry Basics and Necessities

Supplies

• Having the appropriate laundry supplies helps ensure that your clothing turns out clean, soft and wrinkle-free. The most basic requirement for washing your clothes is laundry detergent. You can opt for a formula that contains color-safe bleach or fabric softener to save a step. A separate bleach product can be used to keep clothing whiter and brighter, but opt for a color-safe formula to ensure it won't damage colored items. You may also want a laundry basket or bag for carting your clothing to the washer and dryer and a laundry rack for drying items that should not be placed in the dryer. A stain-removing pretreatment can come in handy for heavily soiled items as well.

Sorting

• Before loading any clothing into the washer, sort the items according to color and fabric. Separate into piles of white and pastel clothing; dark-colored items; and bright-colored clothes. When it comes to fabric, create a pile for delicate, lightweight items such as lingerie, and another for heavier items such as jeans. Avoid placing clothing prone to creating lint, such as a terrycloth bathrobe, with items that attract it, such as corduroy pants. Always read your clothing's labels to determine the recommended washing instructions.

Preparation

• If items have serious stains, you should pretreat the spots before placing them in the washer. You may want to presoak items in a bleach solution or use a stain-remover product to treat it. Check the pockets of all items before loading as items such as lipstick or crayon can stain your clothing, while paper items such as tissues can come apart and leave shreds all over your clothes. If an item of clothing has a rip or tear, mend it prior to loading so that it doesn't become worse during the washing cycle.

Water Temperature

• Consulting your clothing's tag is the best way to determine what water temperature should be used to wash it. However, a good rule of thumb is to use hot water for white clothing and heavily soiled colored items. Cold water, which is typically defined as 65 to 85 degrees F, is best for brightly colored clothing or lightly soiled items. It is also a good general temperature if you are unsure which temperature is appropriate.

Drying

• After your clothing is washed, shake it out before placing it in the dryer to help prevent wrinkles and shorten drying time. Check any stains as well because if they haven't been removed, the heat from the dryer can set them. You may add a dryer sheet, which is designed to prevent static cling and impart a fresh scent to your clothing, to the load. Follow your clothing's label instructions to determine what temperature to dry them at and take them out of the dryer as soon as the cycle ends to prevent wrinkling. Clean the lint filter at the end of each cycle to make drying times more efficient.