T-shirts with holes, missing socks, smelling clothes. Why do these things happen? A group of experts explains what is happening with the seven mysteries in the wonderful laundry world – and what we should do. Including spraying the pieces with… vodka.
When we treat the clothes, we hope the pieces Get out of the cleaner machine and fresh, with Good aspect and cute. But that doesn’t always happen, and what we end up having is a load of frustrations.
Sometimes the pieces of clothing appear with Mysterious spots or smellsor a strange texture. Some (especially socks) do not even give a sign of life.
These things happen to everyone – even the laundry professionals.
In an article on, experts analyze seven common laundry mysteries, explain what causes them, and advise us about what to do in each case.
Hair -covered clothes
This can happen if we will leave scarves in our pockets or have a dirty hair filter (if the machine has one).
Always check your pockets and remove handkerchiefs before starting a cycle and clean the washing machine hair filter – which may be along the drum edge, or inside the central agitator on the upper loading machines – after each use, it says Kristin Dinicolantoniosenior director of the American Cleaning Institute in Washington.
We can use a small brush or paper towel To remove the hair from the filter. In addition, it is important to clean the dryer’s hair filter after each cycle so that the hair does not glue to clothes while they are drying.
Another possibility is to be mix tissues that release through (such as Turkish fabric, polar, flannel and Chenille) with fabrics that attract (such as polyester, nylon, microfiber and darker cotton clothes) in a load, says Emily Adamsgestora na NW Maids House Cleaning Service em Seattle.
“The tissues that release through the release fibers during washing, while the tissues that attract through the tend to cling to the loose fibers. ” The solution: Wash the parts that release through and those that attract in separate loads.
The clothes smell badly
This can be a sign of mold or mold on the washing machine. “If my clothes smell bad when he leaves the wash, it is usually due to a combination of accumulation of detergent wasteBolor growth and a dirty washing machine, ”says Barbara Sterntextiles and fabric specialist at Ottoman Textiles in Manchester, UK.
“In high efficiency washing machines, the small amount of water causes the residues of detergent and softener accumulate both in clothes and on the drum of the machine. This accumulation retains mold bacteria and spores and is responsible for this odor to mold. ”
To remedy the problem, Stern recommends make a monthly cycle of hot water eduas cup of white vinegar in the drumwithout any outfit; Then make a cycle of hot water and ½ cup of baking soda, placed directly on the drum to neutralize persistent odors.
The strange smell can also appear if we will leave rGrandparents Húmidas on the washing machine for a long time; Therefore, we should always remove the clothes right after the washing, and leave the machine door open to air, says Adams.
T-shirts with mysterious holes
“Holes, tears and pulls can be caused by fakes, hooks and buckles Of unlavose belt that pulls synthetic meshes, ”says Dinicolantonio.“ To prevent this from happening, we should close fakes, buckles, hooks and brackets in the clothes before we put them on the washing machine, and turn the synthetic meshes inside out to wash them. ”
For particularly fragile tissues, we may want to take an extra step: put them in network washing bags And wash them in a soft cycle without rough garments, says Stern.
The socks disappear
No, there is no monster eating meias on your washing machine. First of all, make sure the missing socks are arrested on other pieces of clothing or elastic sheets.
If there is no sign of them out there, may have been arrested Between the drum and the rubber sealing of the door to a front loading machine or under the central agitator in a upper loading machine, says Stern.
To prevent this from happening, use a hammock To keep the socks together in the wash, says Dinicolantonio.
Rigid clothes
When your clothes are rigid when they leave the washing machine, the culprit is usually detergent residue combined with deposits hard water minerals.
“The hard water contains calcium and magnesium that bind to detergent molecules and leave a rough and limestone deposit in the tissues, ”says Stern.Too much detergent aggravates the problembecause the excess cannot be completely rinsed. ”
To eliminate stiffness, wet the clean clothes in a solution 3.8 liters of warm water and a white vinegar cup to dissolve deposits, Stern suggests. Then rinse them with clean water or pass them through a machine rinsing cycle.
To avoid this in the future: If you live in a region with hard water, use the appropriate amount of detergent, consider adding a water softener for laundry, and Make an extra rinse cycle“Says Adams.
Use a liquid detergent can also helpbecause it dissolves more easily, says Dinicolantonio.
Clothes with strange spots
White spots or risks that are particularly visible in dark or brightly colors can be unsolved detergentsays Dinicolantonio.
To prevent this from happening, make sure that Add first The detergent to the washing machine, then the clothes, and finally turns on the machine. Also, make sure you use the Right amount of detergent for the size of the load.
Keep in mind that Some detergents in powder may be combined with minerals in the hard water to form a residue.
“If this happens, add a White vinegar cup 3.8 liters of warm water in a plastic container, wet the garment and rinse it, ”says Dinicolantonio. This procedure should remove any stains.
EXERCISE CLOTHING WITH DRAFTS
According to Dinicolantonio, sports clothes may require a little more care because they can con even after being washed. Persistent odor is most likely due to sweatbody oils and bacteria prey within synthetic tissues like polyester, nylon and elastane.
A washing cycle with normal detergent may not decompose themsays Adams.
To mitigate the problem, previously wet the smelling pieces for 30 minutes in a Solution from 1 to 4 white vinegar for cold water to deodorize them; after Wash them in warm water With a laundry detergent based on enzymes, says Stern.
With Only part of a piece of clothinglike the armpit area, still smells bad after being washed, spray the armpit areas with vodka and let the nightgown dry, recommend Patric Richardsonspecialist in laundry and cleaning of Minnesota.
Vodka??
SIM, Vodka. “It works because it is antibacterial And kills the germs that cause odor, ”says Richardson, author of the book“House Love: A Joyful Guide to Cleaning, Organizing, and Loving the Home You’re In.”
After spraying the vodka jersey, let it dry and you can use it again- No need to wash.
