Are you using too much detergent or overloading the washer?
Even if you’ve been doing laundry for many years, these simple laundry mistakes are surprisingly easy to make.
Here are 7 common mistakes made while doing laundry.
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Scrubbing stains too much
Scrubbing stains too much can result in spreading the stain further. Instead try different strategies to remove the stain or slowly scrub the stain making sure to stop if the stain starts to spread.
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Machine washing “Dry Clean Only” items
Making this mistake will make it a lot harder to wear your clothes. Washing dry clean only clothes in the washer shrinks your clothes. Just make sure you’re washing what needs to be washed and not washing what does not and you shouldn’t have an issue.
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Using too much detergent
Excess suds can hold dirt pulled from clothes and get caught in areas that won’t always rinse clean, like under a collar, leading to bacteria buildup.
The remedy: Use only half the amount of detergent that you normally do, then gradually increase that amount if your clothes are not coming out as clean as you would like. If you have hard water, you may actually need more soap than you are using. Check the recommendation for hard water on your detergent bottle. -
Leaving wet clothes in the washer
Leaving clothes in the washer is something that happens a lot. If you start to smell a funky odor then you know that you’ve left your clothes in too long. Unfortunately the only way to get rid of this smell is to run your clothes through the wash again.
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Not Leveling/balancing your washer
If your washer doesn’t have a stable base it will rock and bang back and forth damaging the surrounding floor and walls. Just make sure to double check your washer is stable while setting it up. If you hear a consistent sound or your washer tends to scoot during a spin cycle, put a level on top of the washer and adjust the feet until it is truly level.
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Filling the washing machine incorrectly
When washing in a top-loader with liquid detergent, you should first fill with water, then add soap, then add clothes, right? Well, no. This protocol from the past was meant to prevent residue on the fabric and the machine. But modern detergents are phosphate-free and not harmful to clothes the way old formulas were. As long as you’re not using bleach, don’t add clothing after the water. Instead, use this order to distribute detergent best: clothes, then water, then soap.
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Over drying clothes
Over drying clothes makes up the brunt of all damage done to clothes, it will shrink and warp the elastic. Set clothes to low temperatures if you want to solve this problem.
These were the 7 common mistakes we have gathered for you. Remember that here at Hollywood Dry Cleaners we avoid any kind of a mistake and treat all the clothes in the most professional manner!
