Laundry and Dry Cleaning Chapter 15

Garment care label is your guide Today washing clothes a lot different than a few years ago

Laundry Products and Equipment Washing machine eats socks Whites turn pink or blue after washing Shirts shrink for some reason

Select Laundry Products Follow label directions Bleach if harmful to skin and eyes Keep away from children

Laundry Detergents Detergents – cleansing agents that remove soil from fabric and prevent it from returning to the fabric Powders, liquids, premeasured tablets Detergents have replaced soaps Soap react with minerals in hard water Form white, powdery curd that stiffens fabric

Detergents All purpose detergents – all washable fabrics Powdered good for all types of laundry, lightly soiled to heavily soiled Liquid work well on greasy or oily stains

Ultra detergents – both liquid and powder Comes in concentrate Packages are smaller Use less product

Combination detergents – combine color safe bleach or fabric softener with detergent Add bleach improves cleaning with stain removal Add softener makes fabrics feel softer Reduces static electricity Powder and liquid

Fragrance and dye free detergents— For people with certain allergies

Light duty detergents – Work well for hand or machine washing delicates Lightly soiled fabrics (hosiery/lingerie)

Many detergents are low foaming to work in newer front loading, high effeciendy washer Use correct amount of detergent Less detergent for small loads and lightly soiled fabric

Soil and Stain Removers Prewash soil and stain removers Applied to fabric before washing Spray, liquid, stick, gel aerosol

Enzyme soaks – powder form Prior to washing or added to wash cycle

Laundry Bleaches Bleach removes stains, whitens, brighten fabrics, destroy bacteria If used too often or too much bleach weakens fibers

Chlorine Bleach Labeled “chlorine” or “hupochlorite” Most effective for whitening, disinfecting, deodorizing Can’t be used on wool, silk, leather, spandex, and nonfast colors

Nonchlorine Bleach Oxygen bleach “color safe” or “safe for all fabrics” Mild, nonchlorine blean Brightens whites and colors Add bleach to water while machine fills, add clothes Some machines have a dispenser

Other Laundry Products Fabric softeners Feel softer, less static electricity, fragrant Liquid softeners added to water during final rinse Pouring directly on clothes, can cause stains Some machines have dispensers Can make towels less absorbent Nonwoven sheets for the dryer

Starches Gives body to fabrics Makes ironing easier Dry and liquid starches mixed with water before using

Water Softeners Mineral deposits that prevent thorough cleaning can be removed from hard water with water softeners Powder form goes in wash or rinse cycle

Disinfectants Germicides in these products destroy bacteria on fabric Available in liquid form, especially when family member is ill

Using Laundry Equipment Washing machine Dryer Iron Ironing board

Washing Machine Common top load Agitator – jiggles clothes during wash cycle to loosen dirt and get soil out Front loading No agitator Tumble action instead Dispenser for both detergent, softeners, bleaches, etc

Clothes Dryer Buttons/dials for controlling air temperature and drying time Cycles: regular, wrinkle free, permanent press, or air dry Air dry for freshening up fabrics

Irons and Ironing Board Irons have a dial or control buttons Cotton, linen, wool, rayon Irons can be used dry or with steam Sturdy, level board prevents iron from falling Need a cover that is smooth, clean etc

Laundering Clothes Laundering – means washing fabric by hand or machine with a soil removing product Keep clothes in good condition longer

Sorting Clothes Read labels Sort by color, amount of soil and fabric type Color – prevent bleeding, like fabrics together Amount of soil –heavily soiled VS light Fabric types – cottons can be washed in hot temperatures and longer periods of time Wools need cold water and short cycles Delicate need gentle cycle Fuzzy shirts not to be washed with fabrics that attract lint

Pretreating Pretreat heavy soil Soak fabrics in water for up to 30 minutes Add enzyme if necessary use warm water for oil stains Cold water for protein stains, blood, eggs, grass

Machine Washing Loading the machine Empty all pockets Close zippers, fasten hooks Add detergent according to machines’ manual Avoid overloading

Water Temperature & Level Hot water cleans fabric best, sanitizes Can shrink fabrics Warm water cleans manufactured fibers Cold water doesn’t clean as well, saves energy and used for delicate fabrics, lightly soiled

Wash Cycle Cycle type Different lengths of time, agitation speeds, rinse temperatures Normal cycle for sturdy fabrics Gentle for short cycles

Time 2 to 10 minutes Rinse Temperature Cold rinse prevents wrinkles

Hand Washing Recommended for many woolens, silks, other delicate fabrics Wash one or two items together Pretreat Add laundry product and swish Soak 15 minutes or longer for stains Heavily soiled may need rubbing Rinse garment in cold or cool water Roll in absorbent towel to remove water

Drying Clothes Machine Drying Have temperature and cycle settings Manufactured fibers are more heat sensitive Heavier fabrics take longer to dry Don’t overload Don’t over dry to avoid wrinkles too

Line Drying Might shrink or stretch Shake out item, smooth out wrinkles Clothespins leave marks, put them where they won’t show Hang clothes where air can circulate

Flat Drying Remove as much moisture as possible Place garment on clean, dry towel and smooth it out Roll garment and towel together Press roll Spread on a clean, dry towel and let it dry thoroughly

Ironing Clothes Heat, moisture, slight pressure removes wrinkles Ironing – moving back and forth, gliding motion Select correct temperature Start at a low temperature and gradually increase temperature Press on wrong side Can iron with steam see page 277 on how to iron a shirt

Dry Cleaning Clothes Uses special liquids containing organic solvents to clean fabrics without water Solvent –substance that dissolves another substance

Professional Dry Cleaning Always point out stains Don’t try to remove it yourself Discuss any trim that might be affected Items are separated by light or dark colors Solvent releases and removes soil Solvent spun away Steam pressing take out wrinkles, smoothes seams, restores creases/pleats Will do minor repairs/alterations

Coin Operated Dry Cleaning Faster and costs less Machines remove most soil Clothes are weighed, pay by pound Attendant puts clothes in machine and hangs them up when done

Summary Choosing the right laundry products helps make washing clothes easier and more effective The fabrics, the type of stains, and washing machine you use determine which laundry product you need

Adjustable settings on washers, dryers, and other laundry equipment allow you to tailor their use to your needs Clothes should be sorted for washing by color, amount of soil, and fabric

Clothes can also be washed by hand and dried on a line or rack Dry cleaning may be the best option for some garments

Read labels on laundry detergent and identify the ingredients.