LAUNDRY CARE

I. Rules to Remember A. Sorting – Prepare separate loads by 1. Fabric type –

fiber content

and

fabric finish

.

2. Weight – Mixed loads of lightweight and heavier fabrics may result in

extra wrinkles

and

added ironing time.

3. Colors – Dark colors may not be

colorfast

and may also attract

lint

.

B. Check items for

stains

,

heavy soil

and

care labels.

Pre-treat stains – It is important to treat stains

promptly

with correct

methods

.

C. Make

needed repairs

before washing to

prevent further damage

.

D. Close

zippers, hooks

and other

closures

.

E. Turn pockets

inside out

to prevent

staining

or

damage

from anything left in pockets.

F. Tie belts loosely to prevent

tangling

.

G. Choose correct water temperature and

wash cycle

for each type of load.

1. Plan loads to use

water

and

energy

efficiently.

2. Never overload washer – Clothes must be able to move around easily in order to

clean thoroughly

.

3. Use correct detergent for the type of

washer

– Do not use more

cleaning agent

than is specified on the package.

II. Labels A. Textile Products Labeling Act (1972) – Permanent labels giving

fiber content

and

care instructions

must be sewn

securely

into garments.

B. Labels may indicate: 1. “Do not dry clean” 2. “Dry clean only”

Save Time By Reading Labels

Look for and read labels and hang tags on textile products. They tell about the care of fabrics by including information on fiber content, fabric treatment and recommended care.

When a care label does not mention bleaching, either chlorine or non-chlorine (all fabric) bleach may be safely used.

A care label also tells when to use non-chlorine bleach, if chlorine bleach is not appropriate.

III. Laundry Terms A. Hard water – Contains a large amount of

minerals

. (calcium and magnesium) B. Soft water – Water which contains

few minerals

.

C. Water softener – Product which helps tie up

minerals

in hard water.

D. Chlorine – Widely used for

bleaching, whitening

and

disinfecting

.

E.

Colorfast

– A term found on labels that means the colors won’t fade, bleed, or run together during washing.

F.

Sanforized

– Preshrunk up to 1%.

G. Detergent –

Chemical

cleaning agent.

H. Soap – A cleaning agent containing

fat

and

alkali

.

I.

Non-chlorine bleach – Sodium perborate is used as a

bleaching agent

that is safe for all washable fabrics (unless label says “No Bleach”).