Wash Cycles

[twiney]

Wash whites separately. The best way to retain whiteness is to launder white items together in the hottest water the fabric will tolerate (water that is at least 120 degrees is most effective at removing soil).

How to Keep Darks Dark
During the wash cycle, articles of clothing collide with one another and the washer's interior, which causes some of the fibers in the fabric to break, exposing the raw fiber ends. This friction disrupts the surface of the fabric, tricking the eye into seeing less color. Tumble drying can cause similar damage, though to a lesser extent. Also, washing darks in warm or hot water can hasten dye loss. With some fabrics, expect a certain amount of fading; theres no such thing, for instance, as truly colorfast cotton.

What to Do

Wash darks separately. To help preserve dark items' original colors and prevent bleeding onto lighter clothes, wash darks together using the cold-water cycle (60 to 80 degrees).

Use the shortest cycle. Select the appropriate setting depending on how soiled the clothes are and what fabric they're made of. As far as detergents go, experts say that they don't really contribute to fading. While some formulas are designed specifically for darks, any liquid detergent without a bleach alternative is suitable (liquids work better in cold water; powders may not dissolve fully).

http://www.marthastewart.com/267832/the-wash-cycle

[Emperah]

[missus_vegas]

said ting mi say to dahjah. mi no know who did ask har fi washing instructions if she so concern she need fi come throw in a load and tap gi instruction

[Suesumba]

Twiney, question:

I have a man's eddie bauer down jacked in a light beige colour tha's in pretty messed up shape from my son riding his bike through slush/rain/whatever weather causes muck to splash up on light colours. What is the best solution? I've found that dry-cleaning is useless and I've washed down before.

I have the following I'm going to try:

1. Resolve
2. Spick n' Span
3. Ammonia
4. Pinesol
5. Old Dutch Liquid Washing soap
6. A box of fabric softner to fluff back up the jacket in the drying phase.

I was thinking of putting one cup each of 1-2-3-4-5 together after a thorough hand brushing with stain remover.

Do you think this will work? It's pretty filthy looking and he uses it for getting around rather than paying for transit.

why to heaven's earth is there a watermelon smiley on the forum now?

[twiney]

Is this a serious question Sue or u playing with me...

Anyways I would soak it in oxiclean over night and then wash with regular detergent (I use sunlight deep clean for cold water since i wash everything in cold water) and then air dry in the dryer with dryer balls ... no need for fabric softner and if it stinky some vinegar in the wash is always a good option. I wash my black coat (down-filled) all the time and it comes out just fine. other option let him go buy a black coat.

[Suesumba]

this is real. I finished darning it yesterday, today is wash day, so it has to be done so he can get it by weekend and it looks terrible. i should mention that it's lined in navy blue so i'm kinda scared if i let the colour bleed out. i wouldn't kind about something so utterly mundane as washing a coat. man.

LOL at the black coat comment, but seriously he's on a budget and this was a value village (local second hand store) $20 dealie. If anything i can always buy him a brand new second hand, but the coat is a serious piece of hardware and was originally an expensive one.

thanks, never thought of the oxyclean, but i will next time for shoes and stuff.

[missus_vegas]

the vinegar will stop it from bleeding. personally oxy alone dont give the results i think it should. by the sounds of it u may want to go over it with the resolve or shout etc before the overnite soak. i also find baking soda seem to tek out some stains quite well. wouldnt hurt to add baking soda to the mix while u soaking overnite.

[Suesumba]

it didn't turn out too bad. most of the muck went, but there are still old wounds (deep pen nib sized black spots) still on the coat. not bad but bway it smell like chemicals. that pinesol is strong. i usually put a capful in stuff for stubborn dirt - but the overkill was the way to go.

thanks for the vinegar hint M-V - i'm venturing out into bright colours these days and usually wash them one by one by hand. so it's good to know about the bleeding thing and vinegar