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I didn't know what I didn't know! Need your guidance!

7 years ago

I stumbled upon this page while researching washers and dryers for my new home, and began lurking. Apparently I've been oblivious as to how to properly wash clothes; I've always just tossed in a Costco laundry pod and washed everything on cold. (I do sort by color, and always wash towels separately.) However, I have been very dismayed with how my laundry has turned out, and I think it is time to seek your expertise!

Reading your posts and seeing your stash photos has me feeling overwhelmed; is owning so many products really necessary for quality results? What is a Borax, and what does it do? What are optical brighteners, and what is their purpose? What the heck is STPP? Is color-safe bleach really okay to use on non-white items? As a newbie to actually doing laundry properly, what is essential to know?

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Comments (5)

mamapinky0
7 years ago
Welcome to the Laundry Room.

Yes oxygen bleach can and will fade colors. Theres no such thing as color safe bleach, if its bleach its going to do one of two things strip color or fade, oxi fades.

OB's ....lets see...when you buy something white like a white tee shirt its screaming white and its because it was treated with OB's. People want that same shade of blinding white after washing the tee, but we know a true white is not glaringly white unless its treated with OB's . Problem is OB's wash out and the white isn't so white anymore..cure for this is OB's in the detergent which is fine for whites and lights but not so fine for darks. It leaves a dusty appearance on darks as if you used those black dlacks to dust furniture. Finding an OB free detergent isn't easy.

STPP is Sodium Tripolyphosphate...its a complrx phosphate that does a number of things..it binds up hard water mineral, soils, oils, detergent residue and holds it in suspension keeping it from redepositing onto clothing. This was commonly used in detergent up until 20 some years ago.

You absolutly do not need a stash of detergents, boosters and all the other laundry what nots that these crazy people have. Sure you need a good detergent for whites, colors, darks, speciality fabrics like wool, silk, down, cashmere. And perhaps a booster for expecially tragic things.

One of the best things you can do is switch from cold to warm and hot. Trust me you will see a vast improvement.

I'll leave space here for others to jump in LOL.
D thanked mamapinky0
D
Original Author
7 years ago
Good to know about the STPP; our new home has really hard water. We are thinking of getting a water softener to help combat it.
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D
Original Author
7 years ago
Anything I should stay away from? I picked the Electrolux 617s, but they won't be delivered until the 10th. I want to use them properly right out of the gate. I'm assuming my use of pods is a no-go going forward.
georgect
7 years ago
last modified: 7 years ago
@nucleartumbleweed...

Congrats on the new Electrolux's (I have the older 70 WaveTouch series) you should enjoy your machines very much.

What I do when I'm done using mine is wipe down the door glass, boot (the rubber seal between the door and the drum), take out the detergent drawer and shake it dry. Leave the door open and the detergent drawer open or leave it out (on top of the machine) to dry out until next use or for 24/48 hours.

Use hot for your whites and you can do a Sanitize wash every once in a while to help kill bacteria not only in your clothes but in the machine also (use Sanitary for whites).

Warm is now the new Cold. Temps in today efficient machines have been turned (dumbed) down. Warm is now in the 70-80 degree range (not in the 90/100's like they used to be). Use cold infrequently for dark specialty items that are super delicate...but most of today's colorfast times can withstand warm.

Do the Clean Cycle when the machine promps you (Electrolux is every 50 washes), with a cup of bleach. Remember scented bleach or splashless bleach is not a disinfectant. Only traditional good old bleach is labeled to kill 99.9% of household germs.

You can use "pods" but DO NOT put them in the detergent drawer. They go directly into the drum with the clothes. The same with scent beads, pods or scent crystals.

Most of us separate our whites from our colors. If you want dazzling whites, wash them together with no color items.

You don't need all the stuff we post here in pictures or talk about. We just get carried away here and simply must have our stash of new and improved or just discussed items.

Ask if have more questions, there are a bunch of great people here that would be happy to assist you.
D thanked georgect
practigal
7 years ago
Mustangs81 posted this a while ago (so some of the items mentioned may no longer exist). I thought it was brillant. The only thing I would add to it is which cycle/temp to select on the washer. I am working on one for my machine and our needs because I thought having this handy was just a great idea.
D thanked practigal

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