A washing machine can help you ensure better clean clothes. However, there are guidelines and steps to be followed that can help you achieve your desired results.
In this article, we will be providing you with an easy step by step process on how to use a washing machine effectively. This practical guide goes as follows:
How To Use A Washing Machine
1. Sort out your laundry
This is the first initial step you need to take while preparing for using the washing machine. As irrelevant as it may seem, sorting out your clothes before washing can save both time and energy.
Firstly you need to check your clothes tag for special washing instrustions. Afterwards, you can then proceed to sorting.
Sorting can be carried out by separating your laundry using color, texture, stains and fabric weight as important sorting elements. This is rather necessary to ensure your clothing is protected and it’s quality does not diminish.
For instance, separating light and dark coloured clothing items helps to prevent any colour transfer situation. You want to make sure that certain colours do not bleed onto other clothes and ruin your entire laundry.
For fabric weight, ensure that you separate lighter weight fabrics from the heavier ones to prevent wear and tear. You can wash the lighter fabrics with the use of a mesh wash bag to protect the quality.
2. Set up your washing machine
After sorting out your laundry, the next important step is to set up your washing machine for loading. This process involves choosing the right washing cycle and setting up the water temperature.
The first process which is the selection of the right washing cycle requires that you choose whichever washing cycle you intend using based on the fabric type. For every load, always make sure that the fabric matches the wash cycle you choose.
Let’s take a look at the 4 different types of wash cycle on every washing machine. This should guide you and help you in making the right decision.
The first is the normal cycle which goes well with sturdy fabrics. It helps to clean sweaty and dirty clothes using a fast approach.
The second is the permanent press which goes with synthetic fibre clothing. It helps to cleanse clothes as well as prevent wrinkles at the same time. It goes with a fast but slower approach.
The third wash cycle is the delicate cycle. It works well with clothing items like lingerie, sequinned clothing and sheer fabrics. It uses a much slower approach to prevent agitation or wear and tear.
The final wash cycle is the special cycle. For this cycle, it is important that you familiarize yourself with your machine’s instructional manual.
Special cycles have functions such as sanitize, steam and remove stains. Consult your manual on further explanation of what each cycle does.
The other process involves setting up the water temperature. It is important to note that the fabric type will determine your choice of water temperature.
There is a theory that states the hotter the water, the cleaner the clothes. In as much as this theory has been proven to be true and should be adhered to, there are a few exceptions to this case.
Depending on the fabric type, this same hot water can potentially damage your clothing items by shrinking and fading their fabrics. It can also the cost of electricity used and consumed. It is therefore advisable that you choose a water temperature that your fabric can stand.
3. Add Detergent
After setting up your washing machine, the next thing to do is pour in detergent and other boosters like fabric softener. Your washing machine will determine the type of detergent you can use. Most machines however can handle liquid and power detergents as well as some boosters.
It is important to note that not all detergents are suitable all types of fabrics. They differ in functions based on the fabric type involved.
If your washing machine is a front-loading machine, you will notice a drawer that can be used to dispense detergents. They normally come with separate compartments to place your bleach and fabric softener. At the right time, your front-loading machine will dispense the detergents for you.
Top-loading machines on the other hand require that you pour the detergent right into the drum before starting your cycle. It is advisable to add the detergent before loading your clothes. This can help prevent any stain or damage that might come from high concentration of detergent.
4. Load your washing machine
Once you’ve fully set up your washing machine for loading and added detergent, the next step is to load your washing machine. One important factor you need to consider during this process of set up is the drum capacity of the machine.
The drum capacity of a washing machine is it’s specific weight limits. All washing machines have their own unique weight limits so you must be sure of your own as it might be different from another.
It is important that you don’t overload your machine to ensure that there is enough space for the fabric to move around and get rid of unwanted stains.
One of the consequences of overloading is partly cleansed clothes. But remember your ultimate aim is to achieve better results, so overloading must never be an option.
Most of the commonly used washing machines have drum capacities within the range of 7-8 weight limits. It is therefore important that you choose a washing machine that suits your required capacity.
The process is simple afterwards. All you have to do is dump your clothes into the washing machine and let the machine handle the rest of the process.
5. Turn on your washing machine
The last and final step is to hit the on button and close the machine’s door.
On a final note, always remember to remove your laundry as soon as it’s done. Also consider leaving the door and detergent drawer open so your washing machine can air out completely.
0 comments