How to do Laundry the Smarter Way – Washing Machine Wise

A Simple Guide to Washing Delicate Clothes

Do you have that expensive piece of clothing that you’re just too afraid of washing? Or wait, you have some pure cotton apparel that you want to stay fresh (and alive) for long. The thing is – whenever it comes to washing delicates and expensive clothing, we get a tad bit nervous. However, intimidating the idea might seem to many, but at Washing Machine Wise, we are here to help you. I know how delicate clothes are managed with difficultly when it comes to washing or even drying. A lot of people, unknowingly, even damage the fabric and that’s voila for that apparel.

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Consider a classic lacy bra or even a dress made out of chiffon – these two items are very intricate. It is due to their fabric type that it often gets a big nuisance to get the perfect mix of detergent. You should always consider one thing – read the labels. Yes, you read that right. Reading the labels is a healthy practice and they just have the right information for you. Apparel brands ensure that labels are informative along with being concise. From detergent-type to washing and ironing instructions, labels contain it all. Guys, read along to find out the correct way of washing clothes to ensure fabric longevity and overall freshness.

Types of Fabrics Considered Delicates

• Silk – Silk is one of the most common textile materials that is a protein fibre in nature. It is extracted from the cocoons of the silkworms. Some silk fabrics promote hand-washing, a gentle-cold cycle can also wash the material just fine.
• Synthetics – There is one rule of thumb for synthetics – i.e. no heat. Stains can be treated with undiluted detergents, whereas a simple and cold machine wash is enough. Be sure to keep the wash-type as gentle and not rough.
• Fine Knits – Use mild-warm water settings for fine knits as they need water and detergent to perforate the insides of the fabric. You have to submerge the garment and soak it for some minutes (10-15). Then rinse it and you’re done.
• Chiffon – Make sure that you use the warm-water wash setting in your washing machine. Don’t use more than two cups of mild detergent (liquid detergent). Rinse it well.

There are a lot of other clothes that have a delicate fabric type and should be handled with care. The aforementioned fabrics should be used with a mild detergent with cool or lukewarm water only. The fully-automatic washing machines that are featured on Washing Machine Wise ensure the longevity of the fabric and gentleness.

Can I wash dry-clean-only clothes?

You first need to understand what dry cleaning means. Dry clean means to wash a garment without using water. So, how does one clean garment without using water? Well, washers/dry-cleaners use an organic solvent that gets washed away easily. This is beneficial in two ways –

1. It does not damage the fabric as there is no penetration or activity of the detergent.
2. It saves water as it is eco-friendly.

There are a lot of clothes whose fabric can be washed and it stays put, however, it isn’t advised. In case you follow the washing instructions nicely, it will be an easy task and the clothes would be just fine. In other cases, if there is dry-clean only mentioned on the fabric label, I would advise that you go by it. I mean, you ruining your perfect-fitting garment is the last thing we want, right? There are so many people on the internet who share their experiences with spoiling any silk or rayon apparel by washing. You see, the trick here is to wash delicates separately. Do not run or hurry into quickly being done with washing everything that you find in one go. You should take your time and the only machine wash delicate clothes only if necessary.

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Machine Washing to Ensure Longevity of Fabrics

Machine washing is the only technique we use nowadays. Today, we don’t have enough time (nor the energy) to wash the clothes with our hands. In fact, washing machines were made to make our lives easier when it came to washing garments. But wait, doesn’t machine-washing certain clothes destroys the fabric? You see, this question has a very diplomatic answer – yes and no. There are a lot of clothes that do not require enough washing and can be worn for long (if not dirty). Denim would be the prime example in this case. You can wear denim for long and a life hack is – store them in a cool and dry place to ensure freshness.

In the case of washing clothes properly, the most basic thing that you can do is to wash them inside out. Inside out? Yes, it is a proven method that is even recommended by an array of experts. This makes sure that the fabric isn’t exposed (directly) to the water and detergent. The lack of exposure ensures the softness and colour is not affected much with the chemicals of the detergent. All you have to do is to choose a delicate cycle (lowest-spin) and keep the water temperature cool. This will avoid any sort of water-damage (yes, it is a thing) to the fabrics. Once everything is done, be sure to dry your clothes at a very low temperature in the dryer and hang them afterwards.

Conclusion

Handling of gentle fabrics and delicate can be a difficult task. People who are naive may end up harming the material and that is why we are here to help you. Not all clothes should be tumble washed, some should be washed at a very slow cycle. In fact, even if you are washing them using your hands, be sure to squeeze them gently. For those who opt for a machine wash, do not use much detergent and let the inside temperature be cold as well. Warm and hot water causes the fabrics to soften and add it to machine-wash and you’ll surely harm your garment. So, be wise and choose the lowest-preset washing technique for your delicate clothes. Not only will it ensure their long life but also the long life of your washing machine. This was our really simple and easy guide to washing delicate clothes.
Check out some of the finest fully automatic washing machines on Washing Machine Wise.