Everyone will probably have garments collecting dust at the back of their closet - old-looking, stretched, stained, or faded. Many of these were new just a couple months ago. Ninety percent of our garment are actually thrown away long before their intended lifespan. The culprit?
Not only is this a waste of investment, it also contributes to fast fashion and environmental damage when you use too much water, energy and detergent. By adopting small habits every laundry day, you can help your clothes and the planet live longer.
Today, Electrolux Indonesia will share 10 easy tips on how to care for clothes so they can last longer.
1. Read the laundry symbols carefully
Different fabrics need different water temperatures to retain color, sanitize, remove stains and heavy soils. As a general rule, use hot for removing bacteria and cold to gently clean delicate and bright colored garments.
Take a minute to read the care labels on each piece of clothing. You'll find the information you need to choose both the best water temperature and the type of washing cycle. It’s extremely important to follow the recommendations on the label to ensure the lifespan of your garment.
Step-by-step instruction can be found in our blog post about How to use a single tub washing machine.
2. Sort dirty laundry
Sorting dirty laundry properly is the next thing you need to know to take good care of clothes. After reading the label, it's time to sort the dirty clothes by color, fabric weight, and washing temperature.
You'll have much better results in removing stains, preserving colors, and protecting delicate fabrics if you wash similar types of fabric together. On a basic level, you can separate whites, dark colors, light colors, and dry clean only.
3. Clean on the spot
Don’t let stains set. The longer a stain stays, the more likely it will stick. Prevent this with immediate treatment using natural laundry stain removers.
Simply saturate set-in stains with vinegar, rub the spot with a paste made from equal parts vinegar and baking soda, and pop in the washer for a cool rinse.
Another smart clothing care tip is to always carry a stain removal pen with you. This will allow you to avoid stains like red wine or food stains to ruin your favorite garment.
4. Wash less
Not all clothes need to be thrown in the washer after every wear. Jeans, sweaters and coats can be worn many times before washing, otherwise, frequent agitation and exposure to water could wear them out. Read our post about how to wash jacket with washing machine for more useful cleaning tips.
Gauge if you’ve sweated or spent a lot of time outdoors in them. If not, you get a free pass from hauling wet, heavy clothes from your washer — plus well-maintained clothes that look new for longer.
5. Say No to overloading your washing machine
Putting a wash on when you don’t have a full load obviously wastes water; but at the same time, cramming your whole wardrobe in and overfilling the machine isn’t good for your clothes.
Not only do the clothes not wash properly, they will also rub against each other and cause damage and fading. Also, the detergent will not get washed away effectively.
Selecting the appropriate load size is one of the most important tips on how to save electricity when using a washing machine.
6. Use the right program
The wrong ratio of water and cycle time can increase wear and tear on your clothes while unnecessarily using more energy — inflicting damage on your savings, your wardrobe, and the environment. Latest washing machines nowadays come with modern technology to automatically adjust time, water, and energy depending on your load size for the most optimal care.
How to wash delicate clothes & fabrics like silk, lace and wool with Electrolux washing machines
Electrolux’s PerfectCare 700 washers are chosen by many consumers in Indonesia thanks to its SensiCare technology which can automatically optimize settings to adapt the laundry load. Check out some of our best-selling PerfectCare 700 washing machine models below:
- SensorWash with AI removes 49 different visible stains*.
- No more visible detergent residue with UltraMix*.
- HygienicCare removes 99.9% allergens and germs*.
- SensorWash with AI removes 49 different visible stains*.
- No more visible detergent residue with UltraMix*.
- HygienicCare removes 99.9% allergens and germs*.
- StainCare removes 40 different visible stains*.
- UltraMix prevents visible detergent residue*.
- PowerJet ensures perfect washing and cleaning.
7. Don’t use too much detergent
Knowing how to choose and use detergent for washing machines properly is also crucial in maintaining the quality of your garments.
Excessive detergent leads to excessive bubbles, which can do the opposite of what the soap was formulated to do. Adding too much soap to your washing machine can prevent your clothes from getting clean, or worse: leave them dirtier than they were initially.
8. Master the ironing process
There are several pieces of clothing that require ironing, especially work clothes. Proper ironing is important to keep them look good. However, there are many things that can go wrong in the ironing process.
Learn how to care for your clothes properly with the following basic ironing process:
- First, check the wash care label on the garment to understand if the garment can be ironed
- Then, check the product manual of your garment steamers or irons for correct usage instructions
- For your regular clothes, check the wash care label on your garment to see the appropriate ironing temperature
- Finally, set an ironing order to make the work efficient. You may go by the order of collar, cuffs and then the rest of the areas.
If you are on the market for a good quality iron, check out some Electrolux dry irons below:
- Non-stick soleplate for smooth and easy ironing.
- Superior control with rubberized handle and base.
- Expert ProTip allows you to access tricky areas.
- Non-stick soleplate for smooth and easy ironing.
- Superior control with rubberized handle and base.
- Expert ProTip allows you to access tricky areas.
9. Know how to store your clothes
Clothes need breathing space too, especially those with natural fibers such as cotton, linen, silk and wool. It’s important that they’re stored in a cool, dry, and well-ventilated area to prevent mildew.
While hanging them retains their shape and keeps them wrinkle-free, make sure you’re using wooden or padded hangers. Heavy garments like sweaters may be folded instead so they don’t stretch out.
>>> Related post: How to wash wool coat in a washing machine
10. Keep your clothes in dry condition
Humid climates provide the optimal conditions for mold to grow, so keep the doors of your clothes open sometimes to allow air circulation. Also, after washing your garments, make sure they are completely dry before storing them away.
Check out our range of Electrolux heat pump and vented tumble dryers now:
- SensiCare protects clothes from over-drying.
- ReverseTumbling reduces wrinkles for easy ironing.
- ColourCare reduces fading by up to 80%*.
- ReverseTumbling reduces wrinkles up to 1/3.*
- Sensors adjust cycles to reduce wear and tear.
- ColourCare reduces fading by up to 80%*.
- ReverseTumbling reduces wrinkles up to 1/3.*
- Sensors adjust cycles to reduce wear and tear.
- ColourCare reduces fading by up to 80%*.
Choose the right washers = Take good care of your clothes
We’ve just walked you through 10 basic tips on how to care for clothes to make them last longer. Now let’s take your daily laundry care to the next level with Electrolux PerfectCare washing machines.
No more guesswork as both our front load washing machines and top load washing machines offer multiple programs to ensure your garments receive the right level of care. Electrolux washers also come with SteamCare technology which adds steam to the end of the wash to reduce wrinkles by a third. And by doing so, your clothes are less likely to be exposed to the heat of regular ironing, and therefore, looking better for longer.
Plus, adopting sustainable practices is the best way to make a fashion statement, because when you help your clothes live longer, the planet does too. Care for both with Electrolux washing machines!
>>> Useful washing tips to take good care for your clothes: