1. A quick and easy tutorial!
How to do Laundry
A quick and easy tutorial!

2. 5 Steps to Clean Clothes! Gather your materials
Separate & evaluate your clothes
Wash your clothes
Dry your clothes
Fold your clothes

3. Step 1
Gather Materials
Quarters (if you don’t have a washing machine at your house)
Each load will usually take between $0.75-$1.75 (per machine)
Drying will take more quarters!
Detergent
Two kinds…bottles (liquid) or boxes (powder)
Really no difference between the two…liquid may be less messy but slightly more expensive
STOP!!!
Watch out for detergents that may cause an allergic reaction!!

4. Still Gathering… Bleach Used to make your WHITES brighter
Use ONLY with WHITE colored clothing and linens
They now have “color-safe bleaching action” in some detergents
So…which bleach is the best? Consumer Reports found that
Tide with bleach alternative came in 1st
Followed by Cheer and then Arm & Hammer

5. Fabric Softener Eliminates static cling Makes clothes soft Two forms
Liquid…added during the wash cycle
Sheet…added during the dry cycle
Please note that liquid fabric softener is DIFFERENT from liquid detergent…if you use this form of softener you must also use detergent!!!
Examples…Bounce, Downy, Snuggles

6. Last thing to grab! Now you are ready to begin!!! Laundry Basket
If you’re classy…buy a plastic heavy-duty basket or a nice drawstring bag
If you’re not…a pillowcase will work too!
Now you are ready to begin!!!

7. Step 2 Separate and Evaluate Your Clothes Preparation is CRUCIAL!!!
Evaluate your dirty clothes to see how many loads should be done
Separate your clothes by color

8. Sorting Whites Lights Darks Delicates
Basic t-shirts, white socks, sheets, pillowcases and other plain white clothing/linens
Lights
Everything from pastels to striped or patterned whites
A white item with enough color (logo/pattern) to make you think doesn’t fit with the whites
Darks
Dark socks, shirts, all jeans, dark pants
Newly dark clothing should be washed alone first
Delicates
Wool garments, sweaters, satin, undergarments
These can be washed in a machine but hand-washing is usually better.

9. Why separate?
Separating helps protect the color and durability of your garment
Should an accident occur the damage cannot be undone!
What would happen if a red sock got mixed into white towels?
Look at the care labels

10. What to evaluate? Pockets Zippers Ties (hoodies/drawstrings/etc)
Are they empty?
Zippers
Are they up? (This prevents snagging)
Ties (hoodies/drawstrings/etc)
Should be tied to prevent losing them or getting them tangled

11. Step 3 Wash This is the easy part Pre-treat any visible stains
Select your cycle
Add your detergent to the machine

12. Setting Your Machine
Some require you to set the temperature (of the water) others ask you to set a cycle
WHITES
“hot” cycle…vigorous agitation, hot water rinse
LIGHTS & DARKS
“warm” or “permanent press”…mild agitation, extra cool water rinse
cool water protects the colors
DELICATES
“delicate” or “cold” cycle…extremely short and gentle agitation spin cycle

13. A last few tips… When in doubt…read the care label!
A typical wash cycle takes minutes
2 problems that arise
Overloading the machine
Fill the machine ½ to ¾ full
Using too much detergent
Only use the full amount if you have a full load…use your judgment for the rest
smaller loads = smaller amt. needed

14. Step 4 Drying your nice clean clothes Clean the lint filter
Add fabric softener/dryer sheets
Unload clothes from washer…shake them a little
Inspect stains…the heat in the dryer will bake it in!

15. More drying… Overloading…why is this a problem
Most cycles last minutes
Jeans/towels take longer
Take light cotton items out early to avoid wrinkles
Dry for too long=shrinking!!!
Hang delicates to dry
Helps them maintain shape

16. Step 5 Folding…the last task! Begin immediately…avoids wrinkling
Don’t hang sweaters (they will lose shape and take the form of the hanger)
Hang button down shirts