Your everyday washing method may be keeping your clothes clean and disinfected at all times, but are you sure it is the appropriate way to clean them without causing damage to the fabric? If you’re not sure, you may want to take a look at some of the most common laundering mistakes that most of us are guilty of doing.
1. Incorrect Use of the Machines
If you choose to go to a self-service 24 hour laundry in Singapore, make sure you read the instructions on how to use the machines properly. Commercial washing machines in laundry service shops are bigger and more sophisticated than the washers used at home, but they also come with a lot of problems.
You need to know how much water is needed and which type of detergent should be used. Using the dryer is also different from using the washer, as well as knowing how to set the right temperature when ironing or pressing clothes. As for steam-cleaning, remember the recommended temperatures for specific materials to avoid burning the items.
2. No Stain Treatment
Most commercial laundry services in Singapore provide express wash and dry cleaner for clothes and will pre-treat stains before washing them to make the cleaning process easier. If your clothes have stains in it, be sure to let your laundry service know and have it washed right away. Avoid the stain from drying into the garment as it will set permanently onto the fabric. Your commercial laundry services should be able to remove any stain by doing a pre-treatment procedure.
3. Wrong Drying Method
One technique of drying your clothes fast in the dryer if you’re in a 24 hour laundry self-service shop is to run back-to-back dryer loads. This will allow you to take advantage of the heat that has been maintained for several loads. Make sure to follow instructions when drying clothes because you cannot load the same number of items in the dryer as in the washer.
4. Using Too Much Bleach
Although there are colorsafe bleaches available for colored or dyed clothes, you should avoid using bleach as much as possible. Commercial laundry services will also advise you that bleaching can only be done if the stain is too difficult to remove using detergent alone. Even stains made from protein such as blood and sweat will not need bleaching in most cases, unless the stain has been dried for several days. Laundry pick up services will not bleach your items unless you specifically instruct them to, because it can deteriorate the fabric when done too often.
5. Wrong Ironing Method
Heat will cause some fabrics to shrink or stretch, that is why you should use only the recommended ironing settings for specific fabrics, especially with uniform laundry that are prone to wear and tear.
6. Washing Dry-Clean Clothes
Clothes that are labeled dry-clean only should never be soaked in water or cleaned with water-based detergent, but some labels can be misleading. For example, if the label says dry clean, it means that the clothing can still be hand-washed and air-dried, although www.laundryfirst.sg in Singapore will always opt for the dry cleaning method if you ask them. It also helps if you know the laundry process of your laundromat to ensure that your clothes are always washed with care.
7. Washing Spot-Clean Fabrics
Spot-clean fabrics are common in some linen and upholstery, because they cannot be cleaned using both water-based detergent and dry cleaning solvent. The best cleaning method is to use an upholstery cleaner or the foam of a mild detergent on a stubborn stain.
8. Washing in Hot Water
Use hot water only if you need to sanitize clothing, because even laundry for spa and towel washing should not be done frequently using hot water. Most fabrics will eventually deteriorate when exposed to high temperatures.
The best tip we can probably share is to read your clothing’s care label. The care label states all the cleaning methods you can use on your clothing without damaging the quality of the piece.
