Unless you just crawled out from under a rock, chances are that you're quite familiar with the process of doing laundry. You also have probably realized that there's a lot more to doing the laundry than just tossing your dirty clothes into the washer, that is - if your goal is to have clean clothes. You've got to sort according to color or texture, measure the proper amount of detergent, set the right cycle and more. Unfortunately, even for the most seasoned laundry chore doers, it's easy to make mistakes. While some are easily fixed, others could potentially be ruining your clothes and your equipment. As such, today we'll discuss some of the most common laundry mistakes people make and how you can correct them to get your laundry as clean as possible every time!
1. You're Not Sorting Your Laundry
For years and years, we've been taught to sort our laundry into whites and darks. While this approach is typically pretty good, we've found that if you really want to get your laundry clean and keep those pieces looking new, that you should take the time to also separate by texture or material. For examples, wash your heavier items such as jeans or sweaters separately from lightweight items such as t-shirts or blouses. Furthermore, wash bulkier items such as towels, sheets, etc separately.
By sorting your laundry into textures, this will also help your clothing and lines to dry more evenly and prevent you from over-drying your clothes. You'll also avoid that pesky sweater fuzz that keeps showing up on your dress pants.
2. You Failed to Zip Your Zippers
If it has a zipper, it should be zipped, but why? Zippers have jagged little teeth that have a tendency to snag on other fabrics when piled in the washing machine. You can easily prevent this common laundry mistake by simply zipping up all your zippers before you throw your clothes in the wash. Think jeans, pants, jackets and anything else that might have a zipper.
3. You Buttoned Your Buttons
We know we just told you to zip your zippers, but when it comes to buttons, it's best to leave them undone. Leaving your buttons unbuttons will protect your garments from any tears as well as prevent your buttons from being pulled or loosened while being washed. Easy enough, right?
Unfortunately, most laundry mistakes occur beyond that long row of buttons found on a button-down shirt. Don't forget to unfasten the buttons on your sleeves or collars as well.
4. You're Using Too Much Detergent
One of the most common laundry mistakes is using too much detergent. In theory, more detergent would mean a better clean, but that's now how washing machines work anymore. Too much detergent can create unnecessary suds that never fully rinse out of your clothes. This leaves a sticky residue behind that can irritate your skin and attract even more dirt and bacteria.
That same residue sticks to the machine and can make your entire washing machine stink (usually a result of mold, mildew and bacteria). Therefore, make sure that you really pay attention to the fill line on your detergent cup and only use the recommended amount for the actual amount of clothes you're washing (especially important if you have a high-efficiency machine).
5. You're Closing the Door of Your Washer
If you have a front-loading machine, you may (or may not) be aware that they are infamous for trapping moisture and bacteria around the door, leading to mold and unpleasant odors. Top-loading machines aren't quite as bad but still seem to do better if you leave the washer door open after each wash cycle so it can completely dry out. You don't have to leave it open all the time, but try to leave it open for 2-3 hours after you're doing with laundry.
6. You're Not Cleaning Your Washing Machine
Believe it or not, your washing machine is not a self-washing appliance (neither is your dishwasher). While it spends it's entire existence washing your clothes, towels and other garments, it occasionally needs to be cleaned itself to rid it from detergent residue, mold, mildew, and hard-water deposits.
Washing your washer doesn't have to be complicated. In fact, it's pretty simple. You can either use your machine's self-clean cycle along with a cleaning agent such as Afresh. Alternatively, you can run a hot-water cycle with vinegar instead of detergent. If you use this approach, make sure to wipe down the lid, rubber gasket and wash barrel afterwards to make sure that everything has been properly cleaned.
7. You're Forgetting to Clean Out the Lint Trap
One of the most important things you can do for your dryer is to regularly remove the lint from the lint trap, and by regular - we mean after every dry load. Forgetting to remove the lint is a serious fire hazard, so it's important not to make this laundry mistake for too long.
Additionally, it's important to clean the space that holds your lint filter. This often holds additional link and can block airflow, preventing your dryer from working as efficiently as it should. You can use a long, skinny brush to clear out the area every few months (or more often if you're managing a commercial laundromat).
Finally, you need to make sure that you're checking your dryer duct on an annual basis to make sure that it's not clogged. To clean the duct, just detach the hose from the back of the dryer and clean it out.
Buy Commercial Laundromat Equipment in North Carolina With T & L
If you're opening a new commercial laundromat, laundromat payment solutions are just one of the things you need to consider. Call T & L Laundry Equipment for all your laundry equipment in North Carolina. We offer in-house financing and have been proudly servicing the laundromat and commercial laundry facilities in North and South Carolina for more than 40 years.
