Common Laundry Mistakes
Have you ever accidentally washed white and colored items in the same washing machine? If so, welcome to motherhood and common laundry mistakes. We are all human, and everyone, whether a mother or not, has their fair share of ”oops moments.”
So, imagine you mix colored garments with whites, and what appeared to be white clothes have inadvertently transformed into tie-dye t-shirts, or you pull out a medium-sized shirt from the laundry that has shrunken to the size of a toddler. What do you do next? Let’s go through 11 common laundry mistakes moms make and how to avoid them.
Here are a few common laundry mistakes to avoid:
Don’t Use Too Much Detergent
Have you ever put a bit of extra detergent in the wash, believing it will make the garments look brighter and new? But I’m sorry to break it; adding excess detergent to the washing machine can negatively impact your garments.
Firstly, your detergent may be more challenging to remove, and after washing, detergent or germs may remain on your clothes, which is unsanitary and may cause skin allergies. Secondly, detergent contains strong chemicals that aid in the removal of bacteria, dirt, and odors from our clothing. If we use too much detergent, our clothes may begin to wear out prematurely.
Don’t Just Sort Out Clothes According To Color
We’ve all heard the basics, but let me refresh your memory for those new to laundry duties. Your mother has probably told you to separate colors when washing garments in the machine. However, several people are unaware that you should also sort items based on fabric density.
Thick materials like denim are washed together, while light t-shirt textiles are washed separately. This prevents lightweight fabrics, such as cotton, from wearing out.
Clean Your Dryer Vent and Lint Trap
Did you know clogged lint traps and dryer vents cause most washing machine fires? Yes, there is such a thing! Dryer vents and lint traps should be cleaned regularly to ensure no buildup and that the washing machine can work properly.
Our dryers are directly connected to the vents and dryer ductwork. Therefore, if you haven’t cleaned your dryer vent and lint trap, your dryer will likely have to work twice as hard to complete its job. This will increase the load on your dryer, causing it to malfunction in days and consume significantly more energy.
To avoid these common laundry mistakes, inspect your outdoor dryer vent and lint trap for any buildup and have your dryer ducting professionally inspected every few years. It is also recommended that your vacuum and dryer vent hoses be separated at least twice a year.
Washing and Drying Clothes at High Temperatures
When you’re in a rush and have a lot to accomplish, it can be tempting to turn up the heat on high while washing or drying clothes to make the process go faster.
However, you may not realize that you are causing more harm than good. Washing and drying garments on high heat can cause significant damage to your clothes, such as shrinkage, fabric fading, and wear and tear. I suggest True Detergent. It is locally made in the USA.
While this may not do any signs of immediate damage, it will reduce the durability of your clothes and cause them to lose their newness considerably faster in the long run.
Taking Too Long To Treat Stains
One of the most common laundry mistakes is taking too long to treat stains. Some stains become much worse and more difficult to remove if left on clothes for an extended period. Furthermore, some people fail to check the labels on garments for washing instructions.
White garments are easily stained; some people may use bleach without reading the labels, which may say ‘do not bleach.’ This results in the yellowing of white clothes and deterioration of fabrics. The easiest way to handle stains is to soak them in detergent or treat them with stain removers as soon as possible before washing.
Overburdening the Washing Machine
When loading clothes into the washing machine, and a tiny pile is left behind, most people wing it and throw the entire heap of garments in it. This reduces the effectiveness of your washing machine while damaging the drum. If you continue doing this, your washing machine may stop working, and your clothes may become dirty and unclean.
Say No to Open Hooks and Zippers
Laziness causes most people to leave their pants in the washing machine unzipped and their bras unclipped. This causes the zippers or hooks to become snagged on other clothes while being laundered, causing those clothes to tear and get damaged. This may also cause harm to your zippers. To avoid this, close zippers and hook bras before tossing them in the dirty clothing bin.
Don’t Scrub Stains Vigorously
Do you want to rub stains with detergent to remove them vigorously? What you may not realize is that this might permanently ruin your fabric. Furthermore, this may result in color fading that cannot be recovered. So, instead of scrubbing the life out of your clothes, be kind to them and leave stains with stain remover on them for a bit before washing them in the machine.
Don’t Forget To Empty Your Pockets
Before discarding your clothes in the dirty laundry bin, always inspect and empty your pockets. If any item like lipstick, food, sweets, or crayons are left in the laundry, and you end up washing them, it can severely harm your clothing.
Don’t Over Dry Your Clothes
Your clothing may be more prone to shrinking or wrinkling if you leave them in the dryer for too long. The fibers of our clothes are delicate, and they start to degrade more quickly if we leave them in the dryer for more time than recommended. So, avoid overfilling your dryer and don’t dry your clothes too much.
Taking All Duties upon Your Shoulder
Sometimes we make silly laundry mistakes, and the easiest way to avoid them is to split laundry duties among other household members because tiredness and exhaustion might cause us to make these blunders. Although this is not a laundry mistake, I wanted to discuss it on my blog.
Most mothers are too hard on themselves and take on all housework without sharing it with other household members. You and your family are a team, and teams work collaboratively. Similarly, all house duties should be allocated among children and parents to ensure that no one bears the entire workload and everyone has their me-time.
Even if your children are too young to handle laundry, teach them simple tasks like folding washed laundry and putting their filthy clothes in the dirty clothes bin. This will instill a sense of responsibility in them, and they will soon be assisting you with household chores.
Our Final Thoughts
Now that you know about the 11 common laundry mistakes moms make, you can remember these. Try to avoid common laundry mistakes in the future. With the following tips, I want to help moms ensure their washing machines and clothes stay in pristine condition.
Also, I want to remind you to take a breather now and then and ask for help if you are too exhausted. Taking time out of yourself is very important, so get away from the daily house chores and try to do things that make you happy every once in a while. I hope these tips help you in some way and if you have any other tips on how to avoid laundry mistakes, please feel free to share them in the comments below.
Also, check out my other blogs discussing homeschooling and mom life.
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