How Do I Wash?
Question:I know this sounds wierd, but my mom is going away for a week and I don't know how to wash clothes (she never let me near our waher and dryer). We have our own washer and dryer, but I don't know what to do. Please help me!
Answers:
Seperate loads into : Lights, Darks, Jeans, Towels...Like things go together basically. Pretend like your in elementary school sorting things again. Make sure you check the labels on the clothes, because some things have to be hand washed, and some things can be washed but should be hung up to dry. If you have a shirt with writing or decorations (beads) on it that can be washed, make sure you turn it inside out. Since this is the first time you've washed clothes I would wash everything on cold because its less likely to fade if you missed something. This is deffinatly a skill you should learn soon. Hopefully your mom can give you some other pointers.
When drying the clothes, Jeans and towels can go on permenate press, if in doubt just dry it on delicate. Make sure you clean the lint trap, or the dryer may not dry well.
Good luck! As long as you have a washer and dryer laundry can be easy.
you need to ask your mom to show you what to do
separate the clothes into the following: darks (black, blues, purples), whites (white t shirts, underware, socks) , reds (reds and pinks), towels (bath towels, kitchen towels),and jeans.
Whites and towels: each load gets washed in hot water and 1/3 cup (give or take) bleach and i cap full of detergent
Darks, reds get washed separetley in cold water with a cap of detergent.
Jeans get washed in cold water and a cap of detergent.
if applicable, you can wash all of baby's clothes together with anywhere from 1/4-1/2 cap of detergent, depending on skin sensitivity.
All loads can be washed in cold water, it will save on gas/electric for the heating of the water, but washing the towels, undies and socks in hot water gets them cleaner and kills the germs on them better. If you have shirts or something you dont want to shrink (100% cotton will shrink if dried in dryer) seperate them from the other clothes and hang them up to dry.
These are the basics and if you havent noticed, most washers have some sort of instructions on the lid.
Separate your light colored clothes and your dark colored clothes, first of all. Do a load of lights and a load of darks. Read the tags on each article of clothing to see how to wash it (some garments need to be washed only in cold water; some can not be put in the dryer - you have to read each tag). Have someone in your house show you how to use your washer/dryer because every machine is different. I use about a capful of detergent for medium/large loads, half a cap for small. A small load consists of around 5 items, anything over that is a medium (I don't do large loads because it doesn't drain properly from my machine). Stay away from bleach, because it's tricky to use if you've never done laundry, and you can ruin the clothes. Laundry isn't hard to do, it's just a pain in the neck :)
There are a couple of ways to approach your question.
1) ask your mom to show you
2) read the detergent container
3) actually answer your question.
I think I'll choose #3.
First you'll separate your clothes. If you're lucky there won't be many towels and you can eliminate that load (save 'em for mom). Then separate your dark colors from your light colors. This is done so that your dark color clothes won't bleed dye onto your lighter colored items.
*If you have any "special" clothes, like a really fuzzy sweater (unlikely this time of year), or silky, dainty things, save them for later.
Next, you'll put a load of clothes in the washer. Set the selector to "normal," set the water temperature to cold. If you have a front-load machine, there will be a pull-out tray where you'll put the soap. If you've got a top-load machine you'll put the soap on top of your laundry before you start the machine. If you've got dry soap, there will be a scoop in there. If it's wet soap, there will be a line on the inside of the cap. ***DO NOT OVERDO THE SOAP*** It will actually make your clothes (and house) dirtier, not cleaner. This part should take about 40-45 minutes
Then you'll put your wet laundry in the dryer. Set the timer to 1 hour. If your mom uses dryer sheets, throw 1 in there.
When the timer goes off, your clothes should be dry. Then you'll fold your clothes and put them away.
*Be sure to allow a couple of hours for a load.
Now that wasn't so bad, was it?!?
Simple answer here .. look at the box/bottle of laundry detergent, it has instructions printed on the label!
Be careful not to put too many clothes in one load or they will not get very clean and they will not dry properly and you will have clothes that are very wrinkled. Make sure to take clothes out of the dryer immediately and hang or fold them, or you will also have horribly wrinkled clothes.
Follow instructions on washer lid. And when mom, gets back be sure to ask her for help, so when you get married your new wife doesn't kill you.
start by sorting your clothes into different piles. jeans and dark colors, soft pastels and khakis , towels, and then of course whites. then go to washer , decide which water level you need...temp( i would do cold to be on safe side). turn the handle to the normal cycle...pull on the knob and the water should kick on. use 1 cup/lid full of detergent add to the water and then add your clothes. make sure you shut the lid. hope this helps you!! Good Luck!
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