Laundry day: a chance to refresh your clothes and sheets and leave them looking bright and clean and smelling fresh. Except that sometimes your laundry doesn’t come out as white or pleasant-smelling as you thought it would, or feels stiff, or has damaged fibres – and you suspect you might be doing something wrong. There are plenty of laundry myths floating around that could be making your laundry routine less efficient or even damaging your garments.
In this post, we're here to debunk some of those myths and set the record straight with some facts and the do’s and don’ts of laundry.
Laundry Myths to Stop Believing, and Facts You Should Know
Myth #1: More Detergent Means Cleaner Clothes
It's a common belief that adding extra detergent will make your clothes cleaner, and that makes sense, right? Wrong! Using more detergent than recommended can actually be counterproductive. Here's why:
Residue buildup: Excess detergent can leave a soapy residue on your clothes, making them stiff when they dry and less comfortable to wear.
Inefficient rinsing: Modern washing machines are designed to work effectively with the recommended amount of detergent. Using too much can result in inefficient rinsing, leaving detergent residue behind (the reason your damp laundry feels sticky when you take it out of the washing machine).
Don’t: Overload on laundry detergent. More is not more, in this case.
Do: Follow the manufacturer's guidelines on your detergent's label for the correct amount to use. Adjust the amount if you are only washing a smaller load. When it comes to detergent, a little goes a long way, especially with high-efficiency (HE) machines.
Tip: You know you’ve added too much detergent if you see lots of soap bubbles forming in the washing machine during a cycle. If this is the case, after the washing cycle ends, start the machine on a rinse cycle to get out that extra soap.
Myth #2: Hot Water Cleans Better Than Cold Water
Many people believe that hot water is the key to getting clothes truly clean. While hot water can be effective for certain stains and fabrics, and in some cases, very hot water may be used for certain types of laundry to sanitise it, it's not always necessary. Laundering using hot water can have downsides such as:
Colour fading: Hot water can cause colours in fabrics to fade faster, especially in vibrant or dark-coloured garments.
High energy consumption: Using hot water requires more energy, contributing to higher electricity bills and a larger carbon footprint.
Don’t: Use hot water in a laundry cycle unless necessary.
Do: Use cold water for most laundry loads. Modern laundry detergents are formulated to work effectively in cold water, and it's gentler on both your clothes and the environment.
Myth #3: All Stains Require Hot Water Treatment
It's a common misconception that hot water is needed to effectively treat stains. In reality, some stains, especially blood or protein-based stains, can be set in hot water, meaning they then remain more embedded in the fabric and become very hard to remove. Cold water works better to rinse out stains.
Don’t: Use a hot-water rinse to launder stained garments or bedding, especially if the stains are recent.
Do: Always check the care label on your clothing for stain-specific instructions. In most cases, cold water is the safer option for pre-treating stains.
Myth #4: All Clothes Can Go in the Tumble Dryer
While many garments can safely go in the tumble dryer, not all fabrics are dryer friendly. For instance, delicate fabrics like silk, lace, and certain synthetics can shrink, warp, or lose their shape when exposed to high heat.
Don’t: Chuck all your clothes in the dryer without checking if they can be tumble-dried.
Do: Check care labels to determine if an item should be air-dried or tumble-dried on low heat. Invest in a drying rack for delicate items to extend their lifespan.
Laundry doesn't have to be complicated, and debunking these common laundry myths can make your laundry day more effective and environmentally friendly. By following these do's and don'ts and with some practice, you'll be able to keep your clothes looking better for longer, save on energy costs, and reduce your impact on the planet – all while having softer, fresher laundry.
---
Vogue Hygiene Services offers a range of effective and environmentally friendly cleaning and sanitation solutions as well as waste disposal services for residential, retail, commercial, and industrial spaces in Cape Town and Gauteng.
No matter the assignment, our team of experts use top-of-the-range cleaning equipment and sustainable products to deliver top results.
Contact us now for a free quote.