How to Properly Wash Clothes?

Clothing and fabric have been essential to human life since ancient times. Keeping them clean is a natural part of everyday life. However, with the advancement of the garment industry, each type of fabric requires different washing methods to maintain its durability and quality.

1. How to Properly Wash Clothes?

Clothing and fabric have been essential to human life since ancient times. Keeping them clean is a natural part of everyday life. However, with the advancement of the garment industry, each type of fabric requires different washing methods to maintain its durability and quality.

Naturally, with the emergence of various types of fabrics, not every user can identify each type. Therefore, manufacturers have standardized symbols to help us know which cleaning method is suitable for each product. Here are the steps to follow.

Step 1: Identify the Symbols

Properly made clothes usually come with symbols or instructions indicating the appropriate washing method. If your garment lacks such information, you can refer to others with similar materials but fully labeled by the manufacturer.

• The Machine Wash symbol indicates the water temperature suitable for washing that fabric. If there's one dot (.), wash with cold water. Two dots (..) signify warm water. And three dots (...) mean hot water. If there's an X covering the entire symbol, consider taking it to the nearest dry cleaner.
• The Dry Clean symbol tells you whether you should dry clean the product or not. If there's an X covering it entirely, obviously, you should wet wash it.
• The Bleach symbol indicates whether you should use chlorine bleach or not. If it's just a triangle, use bleach cautiously. If there's an X covering the entire symbol, definitely do not use it.
• The Tumble Dry symbol explains the drying method. If there's only a single circle, you can tumble dry at any temperature. If there's one dot (.), dry in cool air. Two dots (..) indicate normal temperature. And three dots (...) mean high temperature.

Step 2: Sort Clothes

Sort clothes into 4 different piles - white, light, dark, and delicate. But if you prefer fewer categories, you can combine white and light-colored garments.

Step 3: Final Check

Many people forget items like keys, money in pockets. Remember to remove them all. Zip up to prevent damage. Turn denim items inside out and empty pockets. Pre-treat stains if necessary. Put delicate items (underwear, items with straps...) in a mesh bag.

Step 4: Prepare the Water

Cold water is suitable for dark clothing, thick fabrics, gloves, socks, denim, delicate items, and heavy garments. It also helps preserve the colors of new garments better.

Warm water is best for white and light-colored garments. Combined with detergent, the water temperature helps dissolve dirt and eliminate bacteria.

Hot water is the best choice for heavily soiled items and those with a lot of bacteria, such as towels and bathrobes.

Step 5: Laundry Detergent, Cleansers

Detergents that do not fade colors can be used with all types of clothing and remove stains. However, they do not kill bacteria like chlorine bleach.

Chlorine bleach can help whiten white and light-colored garments. But you should not use it with colored fabrics! If your washing machine doesn't have a bleach dispenser, dilute the bleach with water before pouring it onto clothes.

Fabric softener is an additional supplement that will keep your towels or furry items soft and smooth while preventing static cling.

Step 6: Machine Wash

First, fill the washing machine with water. When the water reaches one-third of the drum, add detergent or bleach.

Once the detergent or bleach has completely dissolved in the water, add the clothes. The maximum load level is three-quarters full.

There are 3 main washing cycles:

• Regular wash combines strong agitation and high drum speed, suitable for heavy soiled items, cotton, linen, denim, bath towels, and bed linens
• Extended wash combines strong agitation and slow drum speed, suitable for synthetic fabrics (polyester or nylon), minimizing wrinkles
• Gentle wash combines gentle agitation and slow drum speed, suitable for silk, wool, garments with delicate patterns, lingerie, or hosiery

Step 7: Hand Wash

Applicable for items unsuitable for machine wash. Pour water and detergent into a basin and soak the items for 15 - 20 minutes. Then rinse with clean water 2 - 3 times. Air dry.

Step 8: Machine Dry

There are 3 main drying types:

• High-temperature drying suitable for whites, jeans, linen, bath towels, bed linens, or heavy items prone to sinking. Avoid using this setting for clothes washed with hot water
• Medium-temperature drying prevents color fading and reduces wear. Avoid using this setting for delicate items prone to tearing
• Low-temperature drying with slower speed, suitable for delicate or thin fabrics

Step 9 - Air Dry Conventional Method

Hang on a clothesline is ideal for thick and durable fabrics such as cotton, polyester, silk, or non-stretchy items. Socks or woolens should be dried on a flat tile surface.