How to Use a Washing Machine Efficiently: Know What to Do and What Not to Do When Using a Washing Machine
Laundry is one of the most daunting household tasks that we don't look forward to that much. Thankfully, an innovative washing machine is always to the rescue.
With the help of a washing machine or a washer, you don't have to exert as much physical effort in doing your laundry as you do with manual hand washing. A washer with a dryer makes the process even more of a breeze. Still, this home appliance isn't magic. You need to understand how to properly use your machine to achieve the best results.
Here are some laundry tips to maximise the efficiency of a washing machine.
Note: Learning how your washing machine program works helps you better utilise your appliance to get optimal washing results. When buying a washing machine, choose a design that suits your needs and work preferences. A top load washing machine is ideal if you add more clothes during the cycle. A front load washer is designed with a glass insert to help you monitor the process better.
Laundry Tips: Washing Machine Dos and Don’ts
Do: Check Cloth Care Instructions
Before throwing your clothes into the washer, make sure to check the care guidelines to prevent unnecessary reactions to chemicals and the process itself. Carefully check if your garment is safe for machine wash or better cleaned manually. Also, remember that some clothes are more prone to fading, especially when bleached.
When you look at newly bought clothes, you will see some symbols on the tag. These are usually presented as washing, temperature, machine, ironing, and drying symbols. Washing symbols indicate if you are free to machine wash the clothes or if you need them hand washed. They also represent if a garment is only suitable for cleaning. Temperature symbols indicate if the clothes are okay with warm water or best cleaned with colder liquid. Importantly, these labels describe if the clothes need delicate machine and drying cycles or are okay with regular cycles.
Do: Separate Your Laundry
Some clothes, especially red and black, are prone to shedding dyes when machine washed. No one wants these random colours to ruin the quality of white garments. To prevent this, make sure to sort your laundry by colour to avoid dye bleeding. If you are unsure whether a new fabric is colourfast or not, wet a cotton ball and rub it on the garment to see if it absorbs the dye. Also, separate delicate fabrics that require hand washing.
After sorting your laundry, wash white clothes separately from coloured items. Handwash the clothes that fade easily to save their quality and prevent a potential colour disaster.
Do: Check Your Pockets
Clear out all the pockets of jeans, shorts, skirts, or polo shirts to ensure no tissue, small items, or bills are left. Any of these can clog or damage the washing machine's interior. In addition, clean your lint filter regularly.
Do: Pour Your Detergent Properly
Powder detergents are good for bigger loads and effectively wash the fabrics. However, they tend to leave powder stains on clothes when washed in colder water. Liquid detergent, although more expensive, comes with enzymes that are suitable for spot cleaning before the wash cycle: the more enzymes, the better in dealing with stubborn stains.
Do not pour the detergent directly on top of the laundry to prevent staining and overdosing with detergent. More so, overusing the detergent can make your garments stiff and soiled.
Do: Clean Your Washing Machine
After doing its work, your washing machine deserves cleaning too. When washing your clothes, your washer collects stains, detergent residues, and soils, resulting in clogged filters and drains and a smelly interior. To address this, bring your machine into regular cleaning and sanitation after working. After all, your washer becomes more efficient when thoroughly maintained.
Don’t: Overload Your Washing Machine
Never overload your washer even if you have a week's worth of laundry loads. A cramped washing machine will not run properly, resulting in poorly cleaned clothes or, worse, torn fabrics. To prevent unnecessary hassle, let's go back to the second tip: separate your clothes. The most effective way to clean your garments is to load your machine by batch to guarantee proper rotations.
Likewise, we do not recommend machine washing a small load as it takes too much water and electricity. It is good to set a laundry schedule to save money and maximize your laundry machine's efficiency.
Don’t: Leave Wet Clothes Unattended for a Long Period
Machine washing is a breeze compared to manual hand washing. However, even if you have an automatic washing machine, it's vital to be attentive to your wash cycles to preserve your clothes and protect your appliance. Wet clothes are more prone to building up mould and foul odours, so we need to remove them from the machine as soon as possible. Rinse the clothes carefully and dry them naturally if possible. If you’re using a dryer, use the right dryer setting to avoid too much shrinkage.
Don’t: Machine Wash Delicate Items
Always check your care label to know what cleaning process will work best for highly delicate items like silk, garters, paddings, cushions, or easily stretched clothes. Generally, these items do not belong in the washer. However, there are instances where you can run relatively delicate fabrics through a delicate wash cycle.
Maintain Your Washing Machine
Like your clothes and other home appliances, your hardworking washing machine also needs some TLC. Leave your washing machine's door open after use to air out the chemicals and odours and prevent mildew from building up. Run a short warm cycle to disinfect your interior, drain, and rinse it properly. Always clean and inspect your lint to prevent accidents caused by clogging the machine.
Many of us depend on the efficiency of washers and dryers in doing one of our heaviest chores. To make the most of this home appliance's efficiency, it's good to make sure that we follow the right ways to use it. Of course, we need to take care of the machine itself for a smoother laundry process.
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