Washing machines woes

[flashdance]

I know colours/whites should be seperated but should socks and underpants go on a seperate wash?

Also, what's prefered temperature to use.. Is 40oC OK for everything or should I be using a 30oC wash?

Luckily I have no silk underkecks or things could become more complicated as the washing machine has a special wash for all that...

Done some towels already and they haven't shrunk and they smell alright to me, I put some conditioner in with them, is that OK to do or is that stuff for delicates...?

 

[pygmalion]

Ah ha! This will teach you a lesson for making fun of your Mum. *grin*

I use cold water for almost all colors, to minimize fading and save energy. For whites, I'll generally use warmer water, especially if they're stained and can handle shrinkage. I use fabric softener (which I think is the same as conditioner) for everything. And I don't worry about separating machine-washable socks from undies; I just separate by color. My delicates I wash by hand. HTH. :-D

 

[Peaches]

Wash and rinse all clothes in cold water. If stuff is sturdy, dry it on the lowest temperature setting. Otherwise, hang dry it. Use about half the recommended detergent. Fabric softener is your call.

For sheets and towels, which can tend to be more prone to bacteria and less likely to shrink, hot water and hot dryer. Ditto for dish towels or dish rags, or bath mats, etc.

Separate dark stuff from light/bright stuff. Anything that's deeply colored, wash and dry it separately the first time, in case it is going to bleed.

 

[flashdance]

thanks, I managed to drop a load of washing powder on the floor too We use some tablet things and they just break up too easily! grrr

I'm on last load now (three done today )

Just one last thing - can a wire bra be put in a dryer? It doesn't belong to me btw

 

[pygmalion]

For me, that's usually hand wash, line dry. But, if it's already washed, no worries. Line dry would be my recommendation.

 

[Peaches]

thanks, I managed to drop a load of washing powder on the floor too We use some tablet things and they just break up too easily! grrr

I'm on last load now (three done today )

Just one last thing - can a wire bra be put in a dryer? It doesn't belong to me btw

That's debatable. I do, but a lot of people don't. It's probably better if they are line-dried. If you don't hand wash and/or air dry them, it is a good thing if the back hooks/loops are closed.

 

[pygmalion]

Wash and rinse all clothes in cold water.

I disagree. I usually do DS's undies, gym socks and undershirts (which are white) together with his sheets and towels (which are also white) in warm water and add bleach. I don't think hot would hurt, though.

Other clothes I wash with cold.

Oh yeah and I agree about using the lowest dryer setting possible most of the time. Saves energy and minimizes the possibility of shrinkage. I've also read that one should take clothes out of the dryer as soon as they're dry, rather than leaving them in for excessively long periods of time. Excessive drying is supposed to shorten the lifetime of clothing. Something to do with all the lint that comes off. I've never tried out this theory, though. I dry my clothes to a crisp. :grin:

 

[Peaches]

I disagree. I usually do DS's undies, gym socks and undershirts (which are white) together with his sheets and towels (which are also white) in warm water and add bleach. I don't think hot would hurt, though.

Other clothes I wash with cold.

Oh yeah and I agree about using the lowest dryer setting possible most of the time. Saves energy and minimizes the possibility of shrinkage. I've also read that one should take clothes out of the dryer as soon as they're dry, rather than leaving them in for excessively long periods of time. Excessive drying is supposed to shorten the lifetime of clothing. Something to do with all the lint that comes off. I've never tried out this theory, though. I dry my clothes to a crisp. :grin:

Well, gym socks, underwear and undershirts should be safe on hot water with bleach. Yeah. They're sturdy enough to take it, and cheap enough to replace...and prolly need it!

 

[flashdance]

Well, it's mums bra so I could always say the dog ate it if it doesn't survive the dryer! Unless the weather gets any better!

Think everything is rinsed on the programme I selected so things seem to be going okay...

I've just realised... put one of my work shirts in the wash and that means ironing :shock::shock::shock:

A few years ago I actually expired our old washing machine when mum was on holiday... that was not easy to explain... me+washing machine = trouble.

 

[etp777]

we wash and dry all bras here. sure it shortens the life, but c'est la vie.

And I had exact same thought as pyg about not mocking your mom.

Jen goes for the wash/dry everything route. I am in middle. Wash everything on cold water, but stuff that says line dry I try to pull out. and all graphic tees should be line dried. Whether adults should be wearing them is an argument I try to avoid.

 

[bia]

For future reference, I've heard that it's best not to use fabric softener (what you call conditioner?) with towels, because it leaves a residue that makes them less water-absorbent. No harm done once or twice -- I used dryer sheets with towels for years before I heard this -- but maybe something to keep in mind for next time.

 

[pygmalion]

and all graphic tees should be line dried. Whether adults should be wearing them is an argument I try to avoid.

I make no comment about qadults and tees.

The problem with line-drying them is that then they're wrinkly. How do you get the wrinkles out without ironing, which can smear the printing? Asking seriously here. DS wears virtually no shirts other than graphic tees, and they can get mighty scruffy looking when they're wrinkled.

 

[pygmalion]

For future reference, I've heard that it's best not to use fabric softener (what you call conditioner?) with towels, because it leaves a residue that makes them less water-absorbent. No harm done once or twice -- I used dryer sheets with towels for years before I heard this -- but maybe something to keep in mind for next time.

I've heard that as well, but I ignore it. I like my towels soft and fluffy. Absorbancy is a lower priority for me. I know. I'm a loser with a capital L. But hey. I don't claim my laundry method is right. It's just mine. **shrug*

 

[Peaches]

I make no comment about qadults and tees.

The problem with line-drying them is that then they're wrinkly. How do you get the wrinkles out without ironing, which can smear the printing? Asking seriously here. DS wears virtually no shirts other than graphic tees, and they can get mighty scruffy looking when they're wrinkled.

If you shake/smooth things out well before you put them on a line/drying rack, that helps a lot. Wrinkle release spray takes care of the rest. (I can probably count on 1 hand the number of times I've ironed since I discovered that stuff.) Spray on, tug a bit, done.

 

[Peaches]

For future reference, I've heard that it's best not to use fabric softener (what you call conditioner?) with towels, because it leaves a residue that makes them less water-absorbent. No harm done once or twice -- I used dryer sheets with towels for years before I heard this -- but maybe something to keep in mind for next time.

I have felt towels that are over-fabiric-softenered, and they suck. But I have never had that issue with putting one dryer sheet in with a load of towels and sheets. I think the issue crops up more if you use liquid fabric softener.