6 Bad Laundry Myths Debunked
Some laundry tips and old wives’ tales are simply a waste of time and money. Here are ten laundry myths debunked with some real information you can use that will make laundry easier.
1.Use Hair Spray To Remove Ink
The idea of using hair spray to remove ink from laundry began in the 1950s and was actually a valid tip. It was the alcohol in hair spray that worked on the ink stain. However, today’s hair sprays are different from those aerosols of yesteryear. Many formulas do not even contain alcohol and can actually cause stains compounding the ink that’s still on your garment.
2.Add Coffee To Rinse Water To Keep Clothes Black
I had not heard this myth until recently but a reader was convinced that adding a cup of black coffee to the rinse water would prevent black jeans from fading. It would take a washer-full of espresso to make a difference in the color of black jeans.
Coffee can color fabric and I’ve used it to dye some white or off-white fabric a lovely brown. But adding one cup will not keep your black clothes from fading.
3.Use More Detergent To Get Cleaner Clothes
More is not better when it comes to laundry detergent. We are all quite guilty of using too much detergent and creating excessive suds that actually redeposit soil onto our clothing.
Many liquid detergent caps make it difficult to see measuring lines. Take time to use a permanent marker to enhance those lines. You’ll save money and get cleaner laundry. It is also a good idea to use half as much detergent as recommended and see if you are pleased with the results. You can always add more but you can never pull it out.
If you have a front load washer, that smell coming from your machine could be because you are using too much detergent and fabric softener.
4.Treat All Stains From the Front
As tempting as it is to tackle the stain on shirt by rubbing away, turn it inside out and start there. By treating a stain from the back of the fabric, you are pushing the stain out of the fabric fibers rather than rubbing it in deeper.
5.Chlorine Bleach Boosts Detergent Power
Chlorine bleach and detergents can actually cancel each other out and leave your clothes still looking dull and stained. To allow the enzymes in the laundry detergents time to do their job of whitening and brightening, wait about 5 minutes after the wash cycle begins to add your diluted bleach. This tip and learning to use chlorine bleach correctly will save your clothes from a bleach stains and give you better looking laundry.
6.Hot Water Kills All Laundry Germs
Unfortunately, using hot water alone for laundry does not kill all germs and bacteria. Washing clothing or linens of someone who is ill can spread the germs throughout the entire washer whether you use hot or cold water.
Only a disinfectant like chlorine bleach, pine oil or a phenolic disinfectant will sanitize the laundry and the washer.
Source: https://www.thespruce.com/bad-laundry-myths-debunked-3576379
By: MARY MARLOWE LEVERETTE
