Useful tips

With the development of technology, modern washing machines have greatly simplified the washing process..

These convenient automatic machines will not only wash things , but also squeezed and dried.

But even such a simple, at first glance, process has its own nuances and tricks..

How to wash at home

1. Throw a piece of aluminum foil into the dryer

Food-grade aluminum foil can be useful when drying clothes in the washing machine. Make a small ball out of it (the size of a tennis ball or slightly smaller), and put this “ball” in the drum in the “drying” mode. This will reduce drying time and make it more efficient.

2. Use Vinegar to Soften Tough Fabrics

For machine washing, you can use vinegar in combination with washing powder. Add 9% vinegar to the conditioner compartment. This will allow things to wash better and become softer; at the same time, the washing machine will be cleaned and disinfected.

3. Use chalk

A fresh grease stain will disappear quickly if you rub it with chalk and leave for 10 minutes. Then you can wash the item as usual. You can also whiten collars with chalk. Before washing, rub the collar with chalk.

How to wash things

4. Throw ice cubes in the dryer

Don't overload the dryer with too much laundry. Throw in a couple of ice cubes with your laundry and your clothes won't be wrinkled.

5. Add salt

This is the secret for dark things. Add 1/2 cup (125 ml) table salt to laundry with black clothes. The salt should be placed directly into the washing machine drum and not into a separate compartment in the tray.

6. Add baking soda

Half a cup or 3/4 cup of baking soda will give your laundry not only softness, but also a pleasant smell of freshness. Baking soda removes the smell of sweat and even neutralizes the chemical smell of detergents if you add it to the drum of your washing machine.

Removing stains from clothes

7. Removing ink stains with hairspray

One of the most effective and unusual ways to remove ink stains is to treat the contaminated area with hairspray. This method allows you to clean even old dried ink. The varnish must be carefully applied to the ink, and then immediately blotted with a clean napkin.

8. Use hair conditioner to return things to their original size.

Regular hair conditioner will help return clothes to their original size. Fill a bowl with the required amount of cool water, add ¼ cup of hair conditioner and soak for 20 minutes.

9. Using Lemon Juice for Whitening

This is a very mild bleach that is suitable for lace and silk fabrics, it removes stains and improves the color of the product. Boil two liters of water and add the juice of two fresh lemons.
Cool the solution to the required temperature (according to the clothing instructions) and soak the item for 2 hours.

Read also: ways

10. Use glycerin

Knitted items will remain soft and tender if after washing you rinse them in water with glycerin - 1 tsp. for 2 liters of warm water.

11. Add a tennis ball when drying blankets and pillows

Adding two or three tennis balls when drying blankets, pillows and other bedding will help them stay nice and fluffy and dry faster.

12. Coffee or tea to preserve color

Coffee and black tea are used as natural dyes. On dark fabrics, they strengthen the black dye and darken the overall shade of the garment. Brew 2 cups (500 ml) coffee or black tea. Add this liquid directly to the rinse cycle after the items have already been washed.

13. Use baking soda and vinegar to clean your washing machine

Pour 9% vinegar into the powder dispenser. Select a long cycle program at maximum temperature and start the wash. When the water is hot enough, you need to stop the program by pressing pause and leave for an hour.

Soda should be used as follows. Mix soda with plain water 1:1. Apply the resulting mixture to the drum, rubber seal and detergent tray. Leave the solution for 40-50 minutes. Then wipe the contaminated areas with a sponge. Run a short wash cycle to rinse all treated parts. Cleaning with soda should be regular, at least once a week.

Wash your machine more often, do not forget about the compartments for powder and conditioner. Since detergents accumulate underneath them, they need to be washed especially often. Do not close the lid after finishing washing - let it dry and ventilate.

Don't forget our tips, and your clothes and your washing machine will last you a very long time.

A modern washing machine can handle any kind of dirt without any problems. But I, like every housewife, periodically have the need to do my own laundry. So today I want to tell you how to properly wash things by hand.

General rules for washing clothes by hand

If you often have to wash by hand, I recommend remembering simple washing rules that will help you avoid many unpleasant surprises.

Rule 1. Water temperature

Water temperature for hand washing depends entirely on the product you are going to wash. The most reliable way to find out the right temperature is to look at the label. If it was cut, you will have to focus on the type of fabric.

• Natural fabrics, which include cotton and linen, can be washed at any temperature comfortable to you. Products made from these fabrics tolerate washing well and do not deform. It is better to soak bed linen made from natural fabrics in hot water.
• Natural wool and silk should be washed at 30-40°C. In this case, things cannot be squeezed out - you need to let them drain.

• Viscose products It is better to wash in cool water - no higher than 30 °C.
• Synthetics It can easily tolerate water temperatures of 40-50 °C.
• Combined materials(natural fabric with the addition of synthetics) is best washed at 40-50 °C.

Rule 2. Detergents

Depending on the type of fabric and level of contamination, the following products can be used for hand washing:

Image	Detergent
	Washing powder– universal detergent for different types fabrics. When purchasing, pay attention to the “For hand wash” label. This powder is less aggressive to the skin of the hands. Before use, completely dissolve the powder in water, otherwise the granules may leave a colored mark on clothing.
	Washing gel- an excellent modern tool. Easily dissolves even in cold water, copes well with heavy stains. The only drawback- high price.
	Laundry soap– a product that has been tested over the years, perfectly removes any dirt and is safe for the skin of your hands. Washing with laundry soap is an ideal solution for people suffering from allergies to household chemicals.
	Oxygen bleach indispensable when dealing with serious stains. This product removes stains while preserving the color of the fabric. There are bleaches for white and black fabrics. Read the label carefully.
	Chlorine bleach Can only be used on natural white fabrics. It removes stains well and removes grayness from laundry. Chlorine bleach is quite aggressive and harmful, so it is best to use it in the most extreme cases.
	Air conditioner for washing it will give the laundry softness and a wonderful aroma.

Remember: lavsan, acrylic and lycra cannot be washed in alkaline detergents, including laundry soap. And for natural fabrics of animal origin - silk, wool - you cannot use products with enzymes. Read the composition of washing powders carefully!

Rule 3. Additional attributes for washing

In addition to detergent, you may need the following items to wash by hand:

Image	Description
	Brushes with soft and hard bristles may be needed when washing heavily soiled areas of clothing.
	Basin For washing, it is better to choose one that is not too tall and wide. It is better to stock up on several containers at once.
	Clothespins will be needed when hanging laundry to dry.

Washing sequence

Rule 4. Hand washing steps

Any hand wash, regardless of the number of items and characteristics of the fabrics being washed, consists of several stages.

Instructions will help you provide for all the nuances and simplify the task:

Image	Procedure
	Step 1 Decide on where to wash. The best places for this are rooms with access to water - a bathroom or kitchen. If you are going to wash clothes at your dacha, a bathhouse will do. Direct access to water will save time and effort.
	Step 2 Sort your things. Place bedding and underwear, children's and adult clothes, light and dark things in different directions. If you are going to wash wool items, turn them inside out. Also don't forget to check your pockets!
	Step 3 Prepare containers for washing. It is best to get at least two basins - one for soaking and washing, the second for rinsing. A sink with a stopper or a bathtub will also work.
	Step 4 Prepare laundry detergents depending on the type of fabric and the purpose of washing.
	Step 5 Dilute the chosen product in water according to the dosage indicated on the package. Before washing items by hand, allow the powder to completely dissolve in water.
	Step 6 Be mindful of the water temperature. Cotton and linen should be soaked in hot water, wool and silk - in cold water, colored items - in warm water.
	Step 7 Place items in a basin with water and detergent. Lightly rub the material together.
	Step 8 Leave the soaked items for a while. Heavily soiled items can be soaked for 2 hours, bed linen - overnight. Do not let soaked items smell bad, otherwise you will have to start washing again.
	Step 9 Heavy soiling It must be washed before soaking. Especially the collars and cuffs of shirts, the bottom of trousers, etc. Rub the items together again and place them in a bowl of clean water.
	Step 10 Rinse the laundry after washing, constantly renewing the water until it becomes completely clear. If desired, add fabric softener to the water at the dosage specified by the manufacturer.
	Step 11 Gently squeeze out excess water and put things in an empty basin. Now they are ready to dry.
	Step 12 All you have to do is hang the laundry until it dries completely.. It is better to dry things in the fresh air or in a well-ventilated area.

Rule 5. Delicate hand wash

Washing delicate fabrics requires special attention.

Fragile and delicate materials can only be washed in cold or lukewarm water with the addition of a small amount of detergent. For example, 1 tablespoon of powder per 5 liters of water.

note:

• silk and lace fabrics It is better to wash in liquid detergents for delicate washing;
• batik and embroidery with wool threads can only be washed in cold water;
• if you use bleach or stain remover for washing– add a tablespoon of hydrogen peroxide to the water, if you wash a product with embroidery – a tablespoon of lemon juice or vinegar.

Delicate items should not be actively rubbed or rinsed.. Therefore, I recommend following this washing sequence:

1. Dissolve the powder in water.
2. Place dirty items in the basin and leave for 5-10 minutes.
3. Carefully, without twisting or shaking, rearrange things into a bowl of clean water.

1. Leave for 5 minutes.
2. Place items in clean water and rinse gently.
3. Lay out a terry towel and place the washed items on it, so that the water is absorbed.

1. If the fabric is subject to deformation(may stretch) - leave the item in a horizontal position, replacing the wet towel with a dry one if necessary. If there is no such threat, hang things up and dry them at room temperature.

Summary

Wash by hand or machine - only you can decide. But now you know, hand washing is not such a difficult task, especially if you have all the necessary attributes. And if you are still in doubt, watch the video in this article, it will help clarify some points. Any questions? Leave them in the comments, I will be happy to answer.

Many people will no longer remember the last time they washed something by hand, because now washing machines can successfully cope with this labor-intensive process. Modern devices have all the necessary functions, much more effective than hand washing. However, despite the automation, you should not leave this process to chance, because the quality of washing depends not only on the machine.

Installing a washing machine

Before you start washing, it is better to make sure that the machine is installed correctly and will not vibrate or move during operation. The unit must be placed only on a hard floor, leveled and the legs firmly secured with locknuts. If you place the device on a smooth tile, then place a thick rubber mat under it to avoid moving.

It is logical to store dirty laundry in the bathroom in a wicker basket or drawer with small holes.

Storing dirty laundry before washing

Before entering the washing machine, soiled clothes wait for some time until a sufficient amount of them has collected and it is time to wash them. It is logical to store dirty laundry in the bathroom in a wicker basket or drawer with small holes: things should “breathe” so that difficult-to-remove damp stains do not appear on them.

Sorting things

There is no need to throw everything into the machine indiscriminately. Before you start washing, you need to re-sort the laundry, dividing it into several parts: by color - light, red, black-blue-green; by fabric composition - cotton and linen, synthetics, wool, silk. Heavily soiled clothing and items that may fade should be separated into separate categories.

Preparation

Immediately before loading the machine, all items must be prepared for washing. The first thing you need to do is check your pockets - it will be very disappointing to wash money, travel tickets, flash drives, business cards or other necessary items.

On clothes you need to fasten all the zippers and buttons, tie the laces, but it is better to leave the buttons undone. It is better to straighten the sleeves of shirts, and turn trousers and jeans inside out. Pins and other iron objects, belts and belts, as well as loose buttons should be removed from clothing.

It is recommended to turn pillowcases and duvet covers inside out and shake out any fuzz from their corners. You should also turn stockings, socks, and clothing made from knitwear or terry cloth inside out. Small items and underwear are best placed in a special laundry bag.

Of course, it is better not to leave stains on clothes for a long time, but if they “survived” before washing, treat them with special products.

Putting clothes in the car

When placing clothes in the washing machine, you must adhere to the manufacturer’s recommendations and observe the optimal load weight specified in the instructions. Do not fill the machine to capacity; distribute the items evenly for each wash. Avoid washing items that are too large and too small (such as sheets and socks) together to avoid causing the machine to become unbalanced.

Avoid washing items that are too large and too small (such as sheets and socks) together to avoid causing the machine to become unbalanced.

It is not necessary to weigh the laundry before each wash - just remember that a full load for cotton laundry is a completely filled, unpacked drum, for synthetics - a half-filled drum, and when washing wool - a drum one-third full.

Program selection

When choosing the appropriate program and temperature for washing and spinning, you can be guided by the signs that are given on the labels sewn on the clothes.

But if such shortcuts are not preserved, you can follow the general recommendations:

• Durable light-colored cotton and linen fabrics can be washed at 95 degrees and spin at the highest possible speed.
• Colored cotton linen can be washed in hot water up to 60 degrees, and they are not afraid of spinning at the highest speeds.
• It is recommended to wash items made from synthetic fabrics at a temperature no higher than 50 degrees and spin at a speed of 800-900 rpm.
• To wash items made of delicate fabrics (for example, wool or silk), it is permissible to heat the water no higher than 40 degrees, and spin at low speeds - no more than 600 per minute.
• Items that may fade are best washed in cool water no higher than 30 degrees.

Selection of detergents

It is unacceptable to use detergents intended for hand washing - their excessive foam can damage the washing machine.

The powder should be selected according to the type of fabric and type of contamination, guided by the information on the packaging. Its quantity must also be determined in accordance with the instructions.

The two main types of contaminants are water-soluble (sweat, salt, soluble oils) and water-insoluble (dust, sand, grease, pigments). The former are easily washed off with a solution of water and washing powder, but to eliminate the latter, you often have to resort to dry cleaning.

Pigment stains (from tea, coffee, beer, wine, vegetables) can only be overcome by bleaching the fabric by oxidizing and destroying them. Stains from starch, cocoa, eggs, and blood can be removed only with the help of enzymes—biological catalysts contained in modern washing powders that effectively dissolve protein-type stains.

Little secrets of successful washing

• Before throwing the item into the car, it is a good idea to check whether the colored fabric has faded. To do this, you need to moisten a small area of ​​it with warm water and wipe it with a white cloth: if the material remains clean, then the item can be safely washed.
• If you add a small amount of salt to the water after rinsing your bathrobes and terry towels, they will become much softer and more pleasant to the touch.
• Lace curtains and other fabrics that require special care can be safely washed in a washing machine if the drum is noticeably underloaded.
• To prevent pockets and button holes on knitted or knitted items from stretching out, you can sew them up before washing with small stitches, and then rip them open after drying.

My grandmother was an ideal housewife. She could do everything and did it all. The house was always neat, the pies were the most delicious, and the kitchen towels were perfectly clean. And how did she manage to do this? I will share with you my grandmother’s secrets on how to wash kitchen towels.

Oily stains

The easiest way is to change table towels once every two days. In this case, they do not need to be soaked. Just set the temperature of the washing machine correctly (for white, cotton towels - 90-95, for colored towels - 60 degrees), select the appropriate washing powder.

Grandma dealt with stubborn greasy stains quickly and easily. She told how to wash kitchen towels with the addition of sunflower oil. Place a bucket of water on the fire, bring to a boil, add two tablespoons of dry bleach (the cheapest), two tablespoons of sunflower oil and half a glass of washing powder. Place dry towels in the bucket and turn off the gas. All you have to do is wait for the contents to cool down and rinse things.

No boiling

Grandma knew several ways to remove grease from kitchen towels without boiling.

Wet the fabric, soap it well with laundry soap (72%) and put it in a regular bag so that air does not get inside. After a day, you will only need to rinse the towel.

Dishwashing detergent can also help remove grease stains. Apply it to the dirtiest area and wash with powder.

You can deal with oily stains on colored towels like this: mix three tablespoons of baking soda and dish detergent in three liters of water. Soak a dirty towel in this solution and leave for an hour, and then wash.

You can also soak kitchen textiles in warm water, adding a little vinegar, and after an hour wash as usual.

Dissolve table salt in a bucket of cold water (you can also use a basin for these purposes). Use a tablespoon per liter of water. Leave the towels in this solution for a couple of hours, then simply wash.

Various spots

Every good housewife knows how to wash kitchen towels from stains of various origins.

Hair shampoo will help you get rid of fruit stains. Apply it to the stain and wash the towel in warm water.

Traces of tea and coffee are easily removed with a solution of water and ammonia (1:1). Gently pour the solution onto the stain and then wash.

Rub fresh red wine stains thoroughly with a mixture of salt and water. Do not immediately put into hot water - the stained area may change color, and then it will be more difficult to wash.

The grandmother rubbed stains of stubborn dirt with hydrogen peroxide, citric acid or ammonia. I left the towel on for about an hour and then washed it.

Helpers - soap and oil

Laundry soap was an indispensable assistant in my grandmother’s struggle for cleanliness. Grate half a bar of 72% laundry soap on a coarse grater. Place it along with a handful of soda ash in an enamel bowl. Fill halfway with water. Stir until this mixture dissolves. Then dip the kitchen textiles into the water. Bring to a boil over high heat. Now keep the dishes on low heat for 15–20 minutes and wash with bleach.

Grandma knew how to wash towels from unpleasant odors. At night, I soaped the towels with laundry soap and dipped them in cool water with potassium permanganate. In the morning all that was left was to rinse.

Table salt will help remove stains from the towel. Soak the dirty item for an hour in a solution of cool water with one tablespoon of salt. Then wash it in the machine.

My grandmother taught me how to wash mold from kitchen towels. Wash your towels. After this, without allowing them to dry, soak them in a strong solution of vinegar or hydrogen peroxide. Rinse in water.

She told me how to wash kitchen towels using vegetable oil. Dirty items should be left in hot water overnight, after adding three tablespoons of soda, washing powder, vegetable oil and bleach. In the morning, wash on the quick wash cycle.

• Change table textiles more often. Then he simply does not have time to become dirty.
• Iron kitchen towels after each wash. Ironed towels not only look beautiful, but are also less dirty.
• Add starch to the water.
• Wash the towel immediately as soon as it gets dirty.
• Use different fabrics for dishes, hands, and stoves.
• Avoid terry towels - they quickly absorb dirt and take longer to dry, making them ideal for bacteria and fungi.
• Do not leave wet clothes in the washing machine or basin for a long time - this will give them a bad smell.
• Wash white and colored kitchen textiles separately from each other.
• Dry washed towels in the fresh air. Sunlight is the perfect bleacher, and your clothes smell fresh afterwards.
• To save money on fabric softener, use grandma's secret: mix baking soda with any scented oil.

How many times has it happened to you that, when you take laundry out of the washer, you want to immediately put it back in? How to wash dirty things so that the whites shine clean and the clothes look like new?

Of course, a modern housewife cannot forget about chemistry when doing household chores. Chemicals make housework a lot easier. If the issue of naturalness and safety of laundry and laundry products is not so pressing for you, then you can try washing things at home in the following products:

The secret weapon of experienced housewives

But what about washed and dirty clothes, especially children’s clothes, if you don’t want to use aggressive chemicals? Such things can be easily washed using improvised means that can be found in every home. These products are not as expensive as household chemicals and are completely safe.

Starch

A great way to wash washed items is to treat them with regular potato starch. Few people know about this method, and yet it has been used for centuries.

Starch is an excellent remedy if you need to remove yellowness and gray tints. It can be poured directly into the washing machine drum, or can be used when rinsing white laundry. Approximate consumption 2 tbsp. l. starch per 5 liters of water.

Boric acid

Boric acid is sold in pharmacies, and this product is very cheap, but it washes perfectly. Using boric acid, you can significantly enhance the snow-white effect of things.

Dilute the acid at the rate of 2 tbsp. l. for 3 liters of water. The water should be warm, but under no circumstances hot. Rinse the laundry in the solution for 10 minutes. Then the final rinse of the items is done in cold, clean water. You will be surprised how clean your underwear will become.

Ammonia

If you need to wash bedding or other home textiles, then the first assistant is ammonia. The material should be soaked in hot water using detergents. We dilute ammonia, add powder or salt, soda or peroxide and wash the bed linen.

Potassium permangantsovka

Ordinary potassium permanganate is one of the best whitening agents. Fill a bucket with hot water, add a little powder and just a little potassium permanganate - the water should turn pinkish. Washed items are dipped into a bucket, left for 4 hours, and then rinsed. As a rule, after the first procedure, washed items become noticeably whiter.

Peroxide

This method was used by our grandmothers, who knew nothing about oxygen bleaches.

To make grayed things whiter, you need to dissolve 1 tsp in 2 liters of water. facilities. Linen is dipped into the solution and left for half an hour. In order for things to bleach evenly, they need to be turned over.
If you will bleach wool or cotton, then add 3 tbsp to a bucket of water. l. peroxide and 1 tbsp. l. ammonia, 1 tbsp. l. salt and 3 tbsp. l. powder. The laundry is soaked in the solution for half an hour, and then rinsed thoroughly.

Soda

This substance is most often used to gently whiten children's clothes. You can add baking soda during the main wash. It is enough to pour 2 tbsp into the tank. l. soda and turn on the program. Can be dissolved in 10 liters of water 2 tbsp. l. baking soda and soak clothes in the solution for a couple of hours. Children's yellowed and grayed clothes will again take on a fresh look.

Hydroperite

You can also bleach clothes with hydroperite, which contains peroxide. There is no need to even wash it hard. It is enough to dissolve a couple of tablets in 5 liters of hot water and dip clothes in the solution for 30 minutes.

Vinegar

You can bleach the fabric with vinegar and at the same time refresh the brightness of the colors. Typically, vinegar is used to remove yellow stains from sweat in the armpit area of ​​clothing. Dissolve a couple of tablespoons of vinegar in a glass of water, and then soak the affected areas of the fabric with the solution.

As you can see, there are a lot of ways to return clothes to a fresh look. Choose a product that you have on hand, or try something from household chemicals - and your things will become snow-white again.