How to Wash Your Clothes in a Washing Machine

Using a washing machine is a skill we all have probably mastered. It saves your time and energy. However, learning to use it the right way is important for effective results. Because today, different laundry machines offer separate features to suit the needs of different fabrics.

Check the wash care label on the clothing to understand whether it can be washed at home or needs dry cleaning. If it says ‘dry clean only’, we suggest you to hand it over to dry cleaning services.

We have a set of methods to help you wash different garments the right way.

Ingredients to keep handy

1. Step 1: Pre Treat the Stain

   Start by pre-treating your garments. Remove the stains if any. To remove stains, pour 2-3 drops of liquid detergent on the affected area. Rub it in using gentle motions of your fingers. Sprinkle some water and rub again. This will help you to clean as much of the stains as possible. This method of removing stains works for all types of garments.

2. Step 2: Soak the Garment

   Once the stains are gone, prep the garments for wash. Take a bucket filled with water. Add 1 tsp. of liquid laundry detergent and drop your garments in it. You can try Surf Excel Matic Liquid as it leaves no residue (like powders do) as being a liquid it dissolves completely in water. Allow it to soak for 20 minutes. Gently wring out your clothes to remove excess water. To soak, you can use cold water for cottons and tepid water for other types of garments. Correct water temperature can prevent shrinkages.

3. Step 3: Check the Care Label

   This is a step which needs maximum attention. Check the wash care label to determine whether the garment needs to be hand-washed or machine-washed. It will also help you understand the right temperature to wash the garment at. Regardless of the fabric type, we suggest you always wash light and dark coloured clothes in separate loads.

4. Step 4: Separate Your Garments

   Before washing, always separate your garments basis their fabric type. Separate cottons, polyesters, woollens, chiffons, silks and so on and wash them in separate loads in order to ensure they are washed correctly without causing damage to each other in the wash. Once you have separated your loads basis the fabric type, do another round of separation basis the colour. Always wash dark and light coloured clothes separately to prevent colour transfer during the wash.

5. Step 5: Right Setting to Wash Cotton Garments

   To wash your cottons, you can use a gentle wash cycle. We suggest you use a cold water setting as hot water can cause shrinkages to cotton.

6. Step 6: Right Setting to Wash Polyester, Woollen and Chiffon Garments

   For polyester, woollens and chiffon garments, it is best to use warm water. You can use your regular wash setting for these garments. But for wool, we suggest you to prefer hand-washing unless your laundry machine has ‘wool’ setting in it, as wool is a delicate material and needs to be handled with care. Always use a good quality detergent that is specially designed for woollens.

7. Step 7: Right Setting to Wash Silk, Satin and Georgette Garments

   Before washing delicate materials like silks, satins or georgette, check the wash care label to know whether these can be washed at home. If yes, wash using the temperature that is suggested on the care label. Some washing machines offer a hand-wash setting too, check if your machine does. If yes, you can use that setting whenever you want to wash delicate fabrics. It will ensure gentle handling and maximum safety. Always use a laundry detergent that is specially formulated for it.

8. Step 8: Right Setting to Wash Lingerie

   Some washing machines offer a special, gentle setting to wash lingerie. It ensures your delicates are well taken care of in the wash. Always wash it in lukewarm water using a mild detergent. Lukewarm water will promote gentle cleaning. Using a good laundry detergent is very important to make your garments last longer. You can also try using a fabric softener to soften your lingerie.  You can use a fabric conditioner such as Comfort Core. It keeps the fibres intact, thus making the fabric soft and smooth. It also adds a mild fragrance to the fabric. Always check the label on the pack and follow the instructions on it.

9. Step 9: Use a Good Detergent and Right Amount of It

   If you're looking for an effective detergent for your washing machine, you may try Surf Excel Matic Liquid as it is specially formulated for washing machines and is easily available in the market. Occasional wear and expensive garments require extra care and using a mild detergent can work wonders. Delicate garments made from silk, wool and cotton require extra care and using a mild detergent can work wonders. We recommend Love and Care, which is available in the market. Before using any product, check the pack to understand the correct usage instructions. Use the amount of detergent as directed on the pack.

10. Step 10: Dry

    After washing, dry your clothes the right way. Make sure your clothes are completely dried out before you store them away. This helps prevent the growth of mould in storage. It is helpful when you are not planning to wear a particular outfit anytime soon. You can dry white clothes in the daylight, and coloured clothes in partial shade. Remember to never dry silk clothes in sunlight as it may damage the texture and colour of the garment.

Right washing tips can give your clothes a long lease of life. These simple steps will help you wash clothes in washing machine the right way and make them last longer.

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