It is hard to come across someone who has never had any laundry problems or mishaps. It could be the wrong cycle type, wrong temperature, or the wrong cleaning product/detergent which causes these disasters. Some errors thankfully are easy to fix while others are difficult or sometimes impossible. Read on to find out some everyday tips which can help you the next time you do your laundry. 

However, pro tip: Always take out time to read the instruction manuals for your washing machine and dryer carefully before you start using them. Knowing your equipment well may actually help solve lots of the issues. 

• Equipment Problems

Some of your laundry problems can be a result of equipment issues. If your washing machine or tumble dryer has not been installed correctly or is malfunctioning, it is important to call in a certified technician. Self-diagnosis to save money may seem tempting but will not be so much when you end up ruining your expensive clothes. However, do check for potential problems and try to narrow them down for the repairman to save time and money when he does come in to call! 

• Shrinkage

Fabrics like wool, silk, and linen are prone to shrinkage. The fabrics which resist shrinking are synthetic ones such as polyester and nylon. Natural fibers are prone to shrinking because they absorb more water than synthetic ones. To prevent shrinking, wash by hand in cold water with a little bit of laundry detergent. If using a washing machine, use a gentle cycle with cold water and do not use the dryer. If cotton clothes do shrink, you can reverse the shrinkage by gently blocking and stretching the fabric. To unshrink items, follow these steps: 

Step 1: Use lukewarm water and a gentle soap/shampoo. Soak the shrunken clothes for up to 30 minutes so that the fibers start to loosen.

Step 2: Gently squeeze the water from the clothing. Do not rinse.

Step 3: Lay the clothing on a towel and squeeze to release more water. Use another dry flat towel and stretch it back to its original shape and size. 

Step 4: Air dry your clothes. Do not use a tumble dryer.

• Yellowing of white clothes/linen

White clothes are prone to becoming yellowed over time. Environmental factors such as cooking grease or the chemical reaction between perspiration and deodorant as well as body salts can cause this yellowing. The most gentle way of whitening yellowed clothes is to use a combination of warm water and an oxygen-based bleach such as Ecover Laundry Bleach. Soak your clothes in the concoction overnight or for 8 hours. Repeat using a fresh batch of the mixture if some yellowing remains. This process is safe for polyester, cotton as well as linen but still, read the package instructions on the back of the bleach bottle to determine suitability for fabric types. Also, try to dry your white clothing in the sun whenever possible. 

• Detergent residue on clothes

Overloading your washing machine causes white detergent residue to accumulate on your clothes. When water cannot circulate through the clothes, the detergent tends to sit on the surface of the clothes. Unsightly and prone to causing skin reactions/problems, this problem can be fixed by loading your washing machine properly. If the problem persists, get your washing machine checked by an experienced service technician to get to the bottom of the issue. Adding the right amount of detergent according to the size of your washing load is also very important so be mindful of that as well. 

• Grease Stains

Whenever you have grease stains on your clothes, it is important to remember to pretreat them and not put them in the washing machine directly. Apply a suitable detergent solution or use Dr Beckman Stain Devil (for fats and sauces). When the stain begins to come off, rinse your clothes and then put them in the washing machine with the other load.

• Pilling and Shedding

Some fabrics have the tendency to pill and shed. It is one of those irksome issues which leaves even brand new clothes looking well worn and unpleasant. You can avoid pilling and shedding by using a gentle wash cycle on your washing machine and using cold-warm water (never hot!) Try to avid the washing machine for clothes which have the tendency to pill and shed by hand washing them instead. Also, turn them inside out before putting them in the machine if you are using one. Always try to air dry clothes with the tendency to pill and shed by laying them flat. 

• Ink Stains

These are most commonly the result of a pen or permanent marker being left in the pocket of a garment placed in the washing machine. This problem can be easily avoided by checking pockets before putting the laundry load in. If you have an ink stained garment, use rubbing alcohol and dab it on using a cotton swab. Allow to air dry between treatments. 

• Colour bleeding

Perhaps one of the most common issues is that of dyes from one fabric bleeding onto the other. Ever ended up with pink underwear as a result of one pesky red sock which somehow made its way into your white load? Well we have all been there at some point. The easiest way to avoid colour bleeding is to separate your laundry loads. Wash the whites and light colours separately from the darks. If you have any white clothes which have been faintly dyed another colour, follow our instructions under Yellowing of white clothes/linen to get your whites back!

Phew! Was that quite a lot of information to digest? Well you can make your lives easier and never have to combat laundry problems again if you choose Gold Dry Cleaners! Our dedicated wash, fold and iron service is just what you need for a hassle free laundry experience. Place your order on www.golddrycleaners.com or contact us on 07908154397 today!