Shed some light on your laundry-related doubts
Whether you feel like you know all you need to know when it comes to ironing and steaming — or you're just getting into garment care — tackling these myths, (mis)conceptions and FAQs will help you do laundry better. Having the right information will guarantee that you always care for your clothing and household materials correctly.
Myths
Myths abound when it comes to doing your laundry or taking care of your clothes. Have you ever been told to put your jeans in the freezer, for example? This is a very popular tip that supposedly helps rid your denim of bacteria and germs, and many people do this with their more worn out pairs to keep them in better shape. However, stronger germs won’t go away with this method and the majority come from your own body anyhow. If you’re looking to keep your denim free from odors, hanging them outside for a while usually does the trick. When it’s time to dry your clothes, you may have heard that tumble drying shrinks them, but it’s actually the lack of moisture that does this combined with too much heat. Thankfully, most dryers now come with an automatic setting, so using this instead of a timed cycle will help your machine detect appropriate moisture levels in your garments. When it comes to your delicate fabrics, did you know that you can actually place some in the washing machine? Always check your label, but most washing machines come with a “Hand-wash” or “Delicates” setting these days for garments that require a little extra care like satin or chiffon.
FAQs
Is a steam iron safe for my delicate fabrics? Steam irons can be used for most fabrics and in many cases are recommended over an iron, especially when it comes to your more delicate fabrics like silk or cashmere. Do my delicates need to be kept separate from my other laundry? It’s recommended that you always split your washing piles to keep delicate items from finding their way into the wrong washing machine cycle. Try keeping a different-colored laundry bag for silk, cashmere and wool, for example, and wash these garments together.
How should I wash items made of lace or that have sequins, beads, etc? As you probably already know, these garments are especially fine and delicate and it’s often enough to simply soak them in clean, slightly-soapy cold water after having turned them inside-out. Gently swirl the items if you have any stains or need to remove dirt, for example. Do not wring these items once you’ve washed them. Instead, softly press to remove water and hang-dry them. What steps should I take when placing delicates in the washing machine? Besides always checking the label on your clothing and making sure that you use the gentle, hand-wash or delicates/silk cycle, you can take extra precautions to keep your fanciest, most delicate items looking like new. Place delicate fabrics in a mesh bag to keep them from getting caught on the washer’s drum machine. You can also try washing these with a special detergent that’s softer on your clothing and tailor-made for lace, silk, cashmere, chiffon, etc.
Laundry Tips
When it comes to tips, there are plenty that you can keep in mind when doing your laundry that will help keep your clothes in tip-top shape. Firstly, make sure you don’t overuse detergent. It takes a lot of water to remove soap from your clothes, and overdoing it can even cause skin irritation and leave your clothing smelling overly fragrant. You should also avoid overloading your washing machine: although it may be tempting to get more clothing washed at once, overdoing it makes it difficult for the water to reach all of your clothes and may lead to half-washed items. Untangle your clothes before you place them in there too: this ensures that the water and detergent will reach every corner of your fabrics. For both laundry and ironing, it’s important to remove your stains as soon as possible and before applying heat to the area. Remember never to scrub a stain as this can actually have the opposite effect and make it more difficult to remove. If you have time, saturate the stain with water and detergent and let it sit overnight before putting the item in the wash. Keep your washing machine clean. Thankfully, it’s not difficult to keep them looking spic and span: you can fill the basin with hot water, add two cups of white vinegar and do a full cycle before rinsing it out with a second one. This will help prevent the growth and spread of bacteria and ensure that every corner of your washing machine is cleaned out well.
Find the best steam generator for you
PerfectCare Elite Plus
Steam generator iron
GC9660/36
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PerfectCare Elite Plus Steam generator iron
GC9660/36Intelligent automatic steam for easier ironing and faster results
PerfectCare Elite Plus is the most powerful and fastest steam generator in the world, with ultra-light iron and intelligent automatic steam for ultimate convenience. No temperature settings is required and no burns - guaranteed. See all benefits
Intelligent automatic steam for easier ironing and faster results
PerfectCare Elite Plus is the most powerful and fastest steam generator in the world, with ultra-light iron and intelligent automatic steam for ultimate convenience. No temperature settings is required and no burns - guaranteed. See all benefits
Intelligent automatic steam for easier ironing and faster results
PerfectCare Elite Plus is the most powerful and fastest steam generator in the world, with ultra-light iron and intelligent automatic steam for ultimate convenience. No temperature settings is required and no burns - guaranteed. See all benefits
Intelligent automatic steam for easier ironing and faster results
PerfectCare Elite Plus is the most powerful and fastest steam generator in the world, with ultra-light iron and intelligent automatic steam for ultimate convenience. No temperature settings is required and no burns - guaranteed. See all benefits
