How to Wash Clothes

INDEX
Section 1: The Art of Washing Different Colors and Fabrics
1.1: How to Wash Bed Sheets
1.2: How to Wash Cotton Clothes
1.3: How to Wash Down Jackets and Bedding
Section 2: How to Remove Stains
2.1: Different Types of Stains
2.2 Stain Removal Guide

1.1 How to Wash Bed Sheets

Your bed should be a calm and peaceful retreat. You deserve ultimate comfort in perfectly clean and nice smelling,
fresh sheets. Just follow these tips on how to wash bed linen and enjoy a brilliant night’s sleep on your freshly
washed pillows. Night, night!
Tip #1 Check the Label
Read all labels to be sure you don't have any specific cleaning requirements to follow. Most sheets can be washed at
home in your washing machine, but specialty fabrics may require careful consideration.
Tip #2 Wash
Wash with the hottest water temperature setting listed on the care label. Polyester blends are best washed using
warm water, while cotton can tolerate hot water. Hotter water kills most germs and also takes care of dust mites that
thrive in bedding.
Tip #3 Wash Regularly
Wash at least once every other week. Although, it is sometimes easy to forget to wash your sheets, think of it this
way: Some people spend more time in bed than they do in their clothing. We wash clothes regularly, so bed sheets
shouldn't be any different.
Tip #4 Sort
Separate by color. Just like clothing, dark colors or reds can dull or bleed onto lighter colors.
Tip #5 Dry
Hang sheets to dry on a clothesline outside, if possible. Sunshine is a natural disinfectant and helps brighten whites.
If you can, do this every couple month. If weather or time doesn't permit, tumble dry your sheets with a dryer sheet.
Tip #6 Iron
Always iron bed linen, because ironing helps kill the last of the germs and dust mites that might remain after the
wash. Ironing also helps you to easily store bed linen.
Tip #7 Store
Keep freshly laundered sheets and bedding in a dry, cool place. Sunlight has its benefits when it comes to drying
bedsheets outside once every couple of months. However, if you want to keep your bedsheets looking as good as
new, especially if colors are involved, then store away from direct sunlight to avoid fading.
Tip #8 Match
To help keep matching sets together, store each set inside one of the pillowcases.

1.2 How to Wash Cotton Clothes

Here's how to take care of your cotton clothes when it comes to laundry day:
Tip #1 Pre-treat
Pre-treat any stains with Stain Release Liquid and cold water. Place the required amount of detergent (follow the
dosage instructions on the pack) on the stains before you load the clothes in the washing machine.
Tip #2 Soak
Put your cotton fabrics in a small basin filled with cold water. After soaking the fabric for 15 to 30 minutes, gently
rub the stain.
Tip #3 Wring Out
Roll your shirts, pants, or blouses in a large towel to remove the water or gently wring out the water from your
clothes.
Tip #4 Wash
Machine-wash white and light-colored cotton fabrics in warm or hot water. For white and light-colored clothes
always use Bleach Powder. This powder will allow you keep the color of your clothes bright.
Tip #5 Rince
Rinse your cotton fabrics on a cool cycle. To avoid shrinkage, wash with minimal agitation. With Tide, this isn't a
problem, as all Tide products offer great results even on a cold setting. Shake garments after removal from the
machine to minimize wrinkles. Use a hot iron to remove wrinkles from your cotton items.

IMORTANT TIPS
 When it comes to bleach, avoid using more than the recommended amount with cotton, as it can damage
the fibers of your favorites. If your garment has had a finish applied to it, then avoid using bleach
altogether.

 Because cotton items tend to wrinkle and shrink easily, they are usually combined with other fibers.
Because of this mix, no cotton garment is created equal so check the fabric care instructions on the tags
before washing.
 Cotton is a durable, soft fiber, and most clothes today are made from it. Unfortunately, it does have one
serious drawback: It tends to shrink when washed and dried.

1.3 How to Wash Down Jackets and Bedding

Step 1- Check fabric care labels to make sure your down goods can be put in the washing machine.

Step 2- Check pillow and bedding seams for durability and mend any shaky seams. For puffy jackets,
fasten all zippers and empty pockets.

Step 3- Choose a normal wash and spin cycle (unless otherwise noted by the care label,) and add gentle
detergent.

Step 4- Submerge items when washer is half full and balance the load by adding a few same-colored
towels. Stop the washer occasionally to press air from items. In the case of a front-loading washer, there is no need
to submerge the items, just use a gentle cycle and run through two rinse cycles to wash out the soap completely.

Step 5- Tumble dry on low. (Always check care label for drying instructions before you start, to make sure
that your fabrics can be machine dried, and to check at what temperature.) Follow these tips and you'll soon know
exactly how to wash bedding, down jackets and much more. Just be sure to use a quality detergent like Tide.

Section 2: How to Remove Stains

It’s important to know what type of stains you’re facing before choosing the most appropriate pretreatment and
washing methods to use. Dealing with oily stain removal? You can use a dish soap to pretreat these spots, but for
enzymatic stains, like blood, you’ll want to pretreat with a liquid detergent and a clean toothbrush. Follow along to
learn how to remove stains from clothes most effectively and more details about some of the most common types.

2.1: Different Types of Stains

Tough Stains- Glue, Ink, Oil, Clay, Sweat, Soot, Mildew, Blood, etc.

Drink Stains- Wine, Soft Drink, Beer, Fruit Juice, Coffee, etc.

Beauty Stains- Perfume, Wax, Deodorant, Mouthwash, Nail Polish, Hair Dye, etc.

Outdoor Stains- Pollen, Dirt, Mud, Skunk Odor, Tree Sap, etc.

Food Stains- Spaghetti, Ketchup, Dairy, Grease, Mustard, Butter, Chocolate, etc.

Baby Stains- Baby Food, Urine, Poop, etc.

HOW DO YOU GET RID OF STAINS?

Different stains can require different removal processes. Now that you have an idea of what type of stain you have,
the good news is that most stain removal procedures are similar, except when it comes to pretreating. Whatever the
cause of the stain, however, here are a few tips on how to get stains out of your favorites:

Step 1: Remove the Excess Stain

Use a paper towel, a fork, or a brush to get rid of as much of the stain as possible on the garment. This is particularly
important for stains that have already dried.

Step 2: Pre-treat Stains

Here it’s important to know the type of stain you are dealing with, because each requires a different pretreatment
method:
 Enzymatic Stains- Pour Liquid detergent directly onto the stain. Gently rub the fabric together or use a soft-
bristled toothbrush to help work the detergent into the garment’s fibers in a circular motion.
 Greasy or Oily Stains- Presoak in a soaking solution of detergent and warm water or pretreat them with
dish detergent.
 Body-Soil Stains- Rinse garments affected by body-soil stains under cold water.
 Bleachable Stains-Presoak and wash with powder detergent.
 Clay or Dirt Stains- Presoak in cold water with liquid detergent.
Step 3: Add Detergent
Measure that corrects amount of detergent according to the product labels and your load size.
Step 4: Wash your Garments
Choose the most appropriate wash temperature and cycle setting according to the instructions given by the
garment’s fabric-care label.
Step 5: Check Garments Before Drying
Don’t put the clothes into the drier until the stain is completely removed, as drying will set the stain.

TIP: To Prevent stains from setting in, remember to soak the garment in cold water as soon as possible. When it
comes to removing stains, it’s usually best to use cold water if you’re not sure about the stain type. However, for
greasy stains, you’ll want to use warm water.