Washing

Hand-washing

Make sure that the bowl, bucket, or tub you're using is large enough to accommodate the clothing without having to jam it in. Fill it with water and make sure the washing product is completely dissolved.

To gently agitate lingerie, silk blouses, and pantyhose, bring the clothing to the surface, then drop it back into the water several times. Gently knead with your hands to help remove the dirt unless the care label advises against wringing or twisting. Rinse thoroughly until there is no sign of detergent. Add 1/4 cup of white vinegar to the final rinse to remove any residue.

Drip-dry if possible or roll up in a clean, dry towel to remove moisture, then lay flat on another towel or a rust-free window screen or other appropriate surface that will allow air to circulate. Or spin out in a washer to extract excess water. But do not agitate in the machine.

Soaking and bleaching

Items that are heavily soiled will benefit from presoaking before being added to the regular wash. Soaking in ordinary washing detergent or in diluted bleach might have the same effect as using a commercial presoak product. Soaking helps to loosen soiling or dirt so that when the clothes are washed, the dirt will be removed more easily. Bleaching also takes the color out of stains, so the stain seems to have disappeared. Soaking in diluted chlorine bleach whitens whites; soaking in oxygen bleach brightens colors.

Before you presoak, scrape off any mud, dirt, or food debris. After checking the care label to make sure the fabric can be soaked, rub a little straight detergent on especially soiled spots such as collars, and then place the item in a tub with dissolved detergent and leave overnight or at least two hours. Or put it in your machine if it has a presoak cycle. Squeeze as much water as possible out of the item, then launder by machine or continue to hand-wash.

Should presoaking not remove the dirt, try using the appropriate type of bleach. Use all-fabric bleach for colored items and white items whose labels say "do not bleach." A warm-water solution is better than a cool one. You can use hydrogen peroxide as a mild bleach for silk and wool; to remove spots, use one part 3 percent hydrogen peroxide solution and two parts water.

Sorting, separating and loading

As anyone who has ever turned a load of whites pink can tell you, the important work is done before the machine starts its wash cycle. Washing well is in large part determined by what you put in your washer and the way you put it in.

For best results, wash darks apart from lights and items that can be washed in hot water (generally cottons and whites) separate from items that need cooler temperatures (such as synthetics). Don't wash fabrics that shed lint, such as terry cloth and sweatshirts with fuzzy linings, together with fabrics that attract lint, like corduroy, velour, and permanent press items. Turn lint-attracting pile fabrics, like corduroy or velour, inside out to reduce the chance of linting.

Test for colorfastness

If you suspect an item might not be colorfast, wet an inconspicuous area, such as a hem, with cold water. Blot with a piece of white cloth, such as an old diaper or towel. If color transfers, wash the item separately or have it dry-cleaned.

If you are uncertain how fabric will respond to all-fabric bleach, mix 1 teaspoon of the product with 1 cup of hot water and put a drop on a hidden area. Check for any color change after about 15 minutes.

If you suspect that the dye in a fabric will run, try this old-fashioned remedy to "set" color. Rinse the item in 1 quart of water to which you have added 3 tablespoons of salt and 1 cup of vinegar. For fabrics that have run, redye in a dye such as Rit, which will not run.

Treat your clothes right

Put delicate items, such as lingerie, in mesh bags or pillow slips. Fasten, turn to the inside, or remove trims, buttons, hooks and eyes, or any other items that could damage other garments. Empty pockets, close zippers, tie straps and strings, and buckle belts. Don't put torn items into the wash before you mend them; the rip is likely to get bigger.

For especially soiled areas, such as collars, cuffs, pocket edges, and seams, apply a paste of powdered detergent and water or a commercial prewash and remove with a brush or old toothbrush.

Pay attention to load size

Washers have a maximum load guide. You can weigh the laundry in a bag on the bathroom scale or weigh yourself holding the laundry and subtract your weight. On the low end, top-loading machines hold about 6 to 8 pounds; a large-capacity top-loading machine holds 12 pounds or more; front-loaders can hold as much as 19 pounds. For a better and more efficient wash, mix smaller items with larger items and make sure there's enough room for the load to agitate correctly.

Make additions properly

Add soap or detergent as the washer is filling--ideally before adding the clothing. Follow instructions on the package about when to add bleach or water softener. Add fabric softener or liquid starch at the final rinse.