6 common laundry mistakes that damage clothes

6 common laundry mistakes that damage clothes

Doing laundry seems straightforward enough, right? You just have to take the dirty clothes from the laundry basket to the washer, select a wash and rinse cycle, and later transfer them to the dryer unit and finish the cycle. Despite seemingly simple steps, certain mistakes can damage clothes. So, here are a few blunders to avoid to get the most out of your washer and dryer and get fresh, clean clothes every time:

Not sorting the clothes
Clothes should be sorted according to material and color to avoid hassles during the wash. For example, you should never wash your delicates with jeans and cargo pants, which require hot washes. This will ruin the fabric of delicate garments. Additionally, always separate your whites from colored clothing to avoid staining the lighter clothes.

Not scrubbing stains beforehand
Washing machines cannot remove all the stains, even if you run them for multiple cycles. Some stubborn stains call for presoaking and scrubbing the fabric. Here, presoaking and mild scrubbing can remove or loosen most of the stain. But you should not scrub vigorously to remove the stain. Just let the stain soak for a few minutes and use a napkin gently to dab the satin with the slightest pressure. Then use a hot wash cycle, as hot water is more efficient in removing stubborn stains.

Using too much detergent and softener
Detergents contain harsh chemicals for removing dirt and stains from all types of fabric. The temperature of the water also plays a role in the effectiveness of these chemicals. Adding too much detergent can cause weathering of the fabric. Further, if you add a lot of softener, the clothes can carry an overpowering fragrance. Also, never pour the detergent directly onto the garments; use the small pouring hatch built into the machine to ensure it mixes with the water spreading evenly.

Not checking the pockets
Dumping all the dirty laundry in the washer without checking the pockets first is one of the most common laundry mistakes that can damage clothes. Loose change or any other items left behind in pockets during the wash and rinse cycle can rub against other clothes and damage the fabric. The same principle applies to zippers; you should always close the zippers so that their edges do not brush against other clothes tearing the fabric. Also, note that loose change can get jammed in the washer or dryer unit, costing you hundreds of dollars in repairs. So, check the pockets and empty them before you throw them in the washer.

Drying clothes with elastic
Undergarments and sportswear designed for physical activities usually contain elastic to stretch and provide comfort. Putting such garments in the dryer can make the elastic expand and stretch too much when running the heated spin cycle. This is a common laundry mistake that can damage clothes, making it droopy and overstretched. So, always separate stretchy garments once the wash and rinse cycle is complete.

Overloading the washer
Check the user manual to see how much load the washing machine can handle per cycle. Overstuffing the machine with clothes not only damages the machine’s motor but also results in an ineffective wash cycle that does not completely clean the clothes.

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5 easy home improvement hacks to try today

Home improvement projects are exhausting but can be extremely fun if they are thought through and well-researched. If you want to do some renovation or add a new touch to your home, we recommend starting with something small and seeing how far your DIY skills and ambition take you. Of course, the sky’s the limit but let’s start with your door for now. Here are some easy home improvement hacks that you can try. Statement doors This is the first thing anyone notices about your home, so wouldn’t it make sense to work your DIY magic here? Statement doors are a rage right now, and the beauty of it is that while it’s in style, you don’t have to follow any particular style or design. Just go with what resonates with your home decor style. Color it bright, add an expensive door knob, make it look vintage - endless choices to make a statement in your home. Lighting This is very important. Make sure you invest time, money, and energy into adding warmth and ambiance to your home with just the right lighting. The lamps are great; hanging lights are super, too - ensure you can create a comforting and homely vibe. Wouldn’t it be lovely if your guests felt right at home when they visited? Paint color and texture This doesn’t have to be too much. Unless, of course, you are looking to follow any particular theme, a well-painted home does combine everything. If you’re not a fan of any textured walls, pick a pastel, calming color that you can add to your wall. Accessorize the wall with the right paintings, wall hangings, and shelves, and you have an elegant setup. Flooring You’d be surprised at how much character this adds to your home. You can choose several options like wooden, marble, or tiles and decide what theme you would like to go for. Of course, you also must consider factors like budget, cleanliness, accessibility, and such. The marble looks great but costs a fortune! Wood adds a beautiful rustic feel, but it can be prone to termites, or if you live in a humid region, it may spoil the wood. So, pick wisely. Window treatments This is a great idea to add some pop of color to otherwise plain wall paint. You can try out just using bright, bold colors or even look at painting the windows with some design. 

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8 things one should never clean with paper towels

Wiping surfaces and other items with paper towels is an easy way to clean them quickly. Once the towel has served its purpose, the individual can throw it away and use another. However, some surfaces and products should never be cleaned with paper towels. While one might get that region dry and sparkly clean, it could damage it in the long run. On that note, one should avoid cleaning these eight things with a paper towel. Electronics Several people use paper towels to clean electronics like televisions, laptops, and smartphones, especially the screens. But while it might not look like it, paper towels are abrasive in nature. So when an individual uses the towel, it could scratch the body of the device and even the screen. Instead, one should use a microfiber cloth dedicated to cleaning these surfaces. Cutting boards It's easy to want to wipe a cutting board with a paper towel to soak meat juices because it's convenient and quick. But one should know that the towel might not absorb the liquid as well as it should, causing one to use more, which results in a lot of wastage. A clean, damp cloth that is washable and reusable is better suited to clean cutting boards with such residue. Dusty moldings Cleaning the molding of a ceiling or top of the walls with a paper towel is not the best idea. Such disposable towels are usually brittle and may wither away when it brushes across the surface. One should use a wet microfiber cloth to clean moldings as these are sturdier and suitable for scrubbing tough dirt. Textured surfaces Textured surfaces like brick and grout are often difficult to clean because of their deeper grooves. So, if one cleans the surface with a paper towel, they are likely to get pieces of the disposable towel lodged in the textured region. An ideal alternative would be to use an old toothbrush to brush out stains. Rugs Trying to clean household rugs with a paper towel is a mistake that many people regret immediately. Residue from the paper towel might get lodged in the fibers of the rugs and make it much more tedious to remove. The ideal cleaning option is to use a dedicated cleaning solution, brush, or vacuum cleaner based on the mess that needs cleaning. Glass windows People sometimes use disposable towels to clean their glass windows at home. While this might look like it's working, there are often specks of lint that get left behind, which is a little more difficult to clean. One of the best cleaning essentials for windows are microfiber cloths, coffee filters, or an old t-shirt. Eyewear Eyewear, like reading glasses, usually have a protective film to keep them safe and offer clearer vision. Since paper towels are abrasive, using them to lean such eyewear may result in scratches, consequently deteriorating clarity. One should stick to a dedicated liquid solution or microfiber cloth to clean eyewear. Dishes Paper towels are usually made with chlorine and formaldehyde, which are chemical byproducts that get left behind when rubbed on dishes and silverware. Using it to dry washed dishes like glasses and plates could leave residue on them that could be harmful to the body if ingested with food. Air-drying dishes are a much safer alternative to paper towels.

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