The “white” pile doesn’t need to be pure white. Anything you don’t want stained by bright colors should go in the white pile. This could include patterned white fabric, muted pastel colors, or light grays.
If the machine only had a few items in it, use a “quick” or “small” setting so that you don’t waste water.
You can also add fabric softener at this point, if you like, and you can add bleach if you are washing white fabric. Bleach is harsh on fabric, so use it sparingly to remove difficult stains on white fabric.
Override the warm water of a normal cycle by choosing 30 °C (86 °F) as the temperature. This a gentler and more energy-efficient option for cleaning.
Some washing machines let you set separate temperatures for the wash and the rinse cycles. Select 30 °C (86 °F) for both. Make sure to use a detergent that is compatible with cold water. Some powdered detergents won’t fully dissolve in cold water.
If you chose a normal setting and it automatically set the temperature to “hot,” leave the temperature setting as is. Keep in mind that heat can shrink cotton. Check if your cotton is pre-shrunk before washing it in hot water.
Air drying cotton also saves energy and extends the life of your fabric.
If you washed cotton in hot water, usually that means it is safe to dry at a hot temperature.
Use more detergent if you are washing a large item or multiple items. As a rule of thumb, use 1 teaspoon (4. 9 mL) for each garment.
Avoid any twisting or scrubbing motions, as this can stretch the fabric.
Rinse out the tub to get rid of any soap that might be left behind.
You may have to repeat this step with another fresh tub of water to rinse the clothes completely.
Don’t wring out cotton fabric. You can also dry the clothes in a clothes dryer, if you prefer.
Use ice water for bloodstains. Hot water cooks the protein in blood and makes stains difficult to remove later. [14] X Research source Water usually isn’t 100% effective at removing any stain.
This is most effective if the stain is fresh. The longer a fabric has been stained, the more difficult it will be to get the stain out.
Vinegar is also effective on sticky residue and mildew. If the stain doesn’t come out right away, try letting the lemon or vinegar sit on the stain for about 30 minutes.
You can also use dish detergent, but it will be harsher on the fabric. Alternatively, use rubbing alcohol to remove oily stains.
Stain sticks are usually made with a combination of glycerin and laundry detergent.
Professionals use protein spotters to remove blood stains. It is diluted ammonia or alkaline. First, they see the integrity of the color and how it would react. They test the spot to see if any color would come out. If not, they use the standard dry cleaning product. It’s called BPR, which is a blood protein remover. If the stain remains, they use diluted ammonia.
