Laundry

The dorm laundry room is amazing place for socializing, studying, or taking a quick snooze. Review these tips and your expertise will lead to much laundry room conversation and maybe even to dates!

Choosing the Right Laundry Product

While people may have a product preference, the choice of brand is probably not as important as the techniques used to wash the clothes. Here are some considerations:

Laundry Detergents: Is any one better?

Many brands claim miraculous results with stains and tough dirt, but it is difficult to rate the performance of one brand over another

Laundry detergents come in three forms: liquid, powder and tablets. It is a personal preference as to which to use, but here are some thoughts:
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• Powder stores easily, but scooping can lead to spills
• Liquid jugs have secure caps, but are heavy and bulky
• Tablets store easily, avoid spills but may be more expensive
• Laundry detergents have a variety of additives. Some have brighteners (safe for colored clothes), antibacterial agents or are fragrance free for those with sensitive skin.

Pre-Wash Products/Techniques: What to do?

• Pre-treat greasy or colored dye stains to avoid disappointing results
• Pre-treat with liquid laundry detergent or a commercial pre-wash product
• Apply a spray, liquid or stick and wash the garment as soon as possible

The Ins and Outs of Fabric Softeners: Are they necessary?

• Fabric softeners decrease “static cling,” soften, and scent clothing
• Fabric softener use is a personal preference, but if sensitive to fragrance, avoid them.
• Liquid fabric softeners are added to the washer’s final rinse and dryer sheets are tumbled with clothes.

Bleach: Beware and Respectful!

While bleach does have a purpose, this is the one laundry product that can potentially ruin more clothes than help. It is designed to whiten dingy or stained white clothes. Bleach will lighten anything it contacts. Unless necessary, bleach may be best avoided.

1.Pour carefully to avoid bleach splatters on clothes, the floor or washer rim
2.Pour close to the bleach dispenser on the washer rim
3.Roll up sleeves to avoid brushing arms up against the rim of the washer
4.Rinse washer rim or wipe with a wet paper towel if bleach splatters

Sorting the Clothes

This is the most critical step in doing laundry. If all clothes are thrown together to save time and space, the results may be devastating. Dark fabrics will make the lighter fabrics dingy. If delicate fabrics are not placed with similar fabrics, snags, lint and permanent fuzz balls can result. Team up with your roommate for the most cost effective approach to doing the laundry. Here are some tips:

• Review manufacturing washing guidelines on the tags
• Determine suggested water temperature
• Identify suggested dryer settings
• Avoid lightening products unless suggested
• Avoid the washer if dry cleaning is suggested
• Separate fabric colors:
  • Lights: white, pastels, light gray or combinations of whites and pastels
  • Darks: deep colors like navy, black, purple, green, royal blue, red, gray, rust, and orange
• Sort like fabrics and colors:
  • Towels
  • Micro fiber, dazzle cloth, mesh, polyester shorts, warm-ups and jerseys
  • Knit sweaters, tops
  • Cotton and cotton-polyester blend shirts, pants, tops
  • Fleece sweat shirts and pants
  • Flannel shorts, boxers, night wear
  • Fleece (not sweatshirt fabric) pullovers, jackets, vests
  • Lingerie
  • Denim jeans, shirts, shorts, skirts, dresses
• Combine compatible fabric textures and colors:
  • Towels, denim
  • Sweat shirt/pants, flannel shorts, boxers, night wear, denim
  • Cottons, denim
  • Lingerie, cottons
  • Fleece (not sweat shirt material) alone to minimize fuzz balls
  • Knits alone
  • Micro fiber, dazzle cloth, mesh, polyester alone
• Minimize potential damage:
  • Wash wet or stained clothes quickly to avoid black fungal mildew
  • Place lingerie in a closed mesh pouch to avoid twisting and snagging
  • Keep velcro away from knits, dazzle cloth, mesh, polyester and microfiber
  • Minimize fuzz balls and lint by keeping towels away from:
    • Knits
    • Dazzle cloth
    • Mesh
    • Micro fiber
    • Polyester
    • Fleece (either kind)

Washer Setting: What to do Next?

• Select the water volume (high, medium, low or extra low) based upon the size of the load
• Select water temperature (hot, warm or cold) based upon fabric and color:
  • Dark colors will be more stable in cold water
  • Hot water may cause shrinkage colors to bleed
  • Light colors do well in warm or cold water
  • Delicate fabrics and knits do well in warm or cold water
• Select agitation time, and a delicate or regular setting:
  • Permanent Press: Slower speed and shorter time
  • Normal : Regular speed and shorter time
  • Wash : Faster speed and longer time

The Dryer: How to Avoid Melting and Shrinking Your Clothes

• Refer to clothing tag for manufacturer’s suggested dryer temperature
• Select the dryer heat setting (high, medium, or low)
• Consider that cottons, even if pre-shrunk, continue to shrink in the dryer
• Avoid shrinkage by short drying time, low heat and hanging to dry
• Avoid melting, rumpling or stretching by hanging or briefly fluffing:
  • Delicate knits
  • Polyester
  • Mesh
  • Dazzle cloth
  • Micro fiber

Paying for the Washer and Dryer

• Collect lots of quarters or go to the bank and get $10.00 rolls
• Use the laundry change machine, but this can be a hassle if it jams
• Use a local college debit card