Choosing the right cycle for the right type of load:
Different fabrics require different degrees of agitation. Agitation shakes the dirt loose, but afterwards you may need to add a softener for a more gentle effect. Whichever cycle you choose, use a liquid detergent and fabric conditioner as they are the best formats for washing machines and they provide the same great clean for your clothes.
While most of us have a basic knowledge of the steps in washing clothes, there are more helpful tips to learn and benefit from. Understanding how to properly wash clothes – for example how to rinse clothes in the washing machine and how to choose between washing machine cycles – can keep your clothes looking their best for a longer time.
Washing machine cycles:
Choosing the right cycle is one of the key steps in washing clothes. You might ask – won’t just any machine cycle do the job? Well, not really. Many laundry disasters are due to simply using the wrong cycle, and this usually results in damaged or misshapen clothes.
A washing cycle has one speed to ‘agitate’ or tumble the clothes, and another to quickly spin the water out of the clothes—the piga effect. Knowing this, you should choose the cycle based on how much agitation and spin a load requires and can tolerate.
Regular or normal cycle
This cycle takes the longest time, and uses the most agitation – perfect for cottons, linens, jeans, towels, bedding and other sturdy fabrics which can withstand this degree of agitation. These fabrics are built for the rougher treatment, both in wear and washing.
Permanent press cycle
Without sounding overly dramatic, the biggest mystery of them all is the permanent press cycle. It is used primarily for synthetic fibers such as knits, polyester and rayon. These materials require the agitation of a regular cycle and the slow spin of a delicate cycle. It’s a “50-50” treatment. The slow spin prevents wrinkling and reduces wear and tear. Simply put, it is a gentler, more sensitive treatment.
Delicate cycle
This cycle is even gentler. It uses a noticeably lesser degree of agitation and a slow spin speed to gently squeeze out water from laundry. Mas suave pa. Perfect for cherished lingerie, sheer fabrics, embellished garments (with beads or sequins), lacy garments and loosely woven items which require extra protection in the machine.
Always check the care label before putting clothes into the washing machine. You might find you need to avoid the machine altogether and hand wash some garments.
Always check the care label before putting clothes into the washing machine. You might find you need to avoid the machine altogether and hand wash some garments.
However, from pre-sorting to using the right amount of detergent, may style rin yan. If you’ve ever wondered how to put clothes in the washing machine check out our top tips:
Do you organize your laundry by color? Laundry can also (and sometimes should) be sorted by material type, dumi level, and whether clothes require special care such as hand washing or dry cleaning. Sometimes and it’s unavoidable, kailangan ang laba.
Having said that, always check whether any new garments will ‘bleed’ color in the wash—the dreaded hawa effect. Dampen a smaller discrete or hidden spot, then blot it with a white cloth to see if the dye bleeds. If it does, wash on its own until the color stops running.
Ensure that all pockets are empty (removing tissues from wet laundry isn’t much fun) and fasten all zippers to avoid them snagging on other garments. Otherwise any sabit can ruin your favorite clothes! Wash shirts unbuttoned, because keeping them fastened can rip up buttonholes.
Once your clothes are in the machine, add the detergent and fabric softener – absolutely important if you want your clothes to turn out soft and mabango. Powdered detergent can be put in the drawer or in the drum in a mesh bag. Liquid detergents and fabric softeners should go into the detergent drawer.
So there you have it – the proper way to load clothes in the washing machine and to select the best cycle to retain the quality of your clothes while ensuring that they are clean and bango.
Do you want to learn which household cleaning tasks cause the most stress? Then read our Heated Household data analysis.
