\n<\/p>\n
I don\u2019t claim to be a laundry<\/a> expert, but I think at this point in my life I mostly have the chore figured out\u2026 right? Maybe not. The other day I was lamenting that one of my shirts came out of the washing machine with a snag in it, and my mom asked if I left any zippers undone. It turns out you\u2019re supposed to close any zippers before putting clothing in the wash\u2014otherwise, the metal teeth can grab onto other fabrics. Maybe it\u2019s just a common sense thing, but I truly never thought of it.<\/p>\n The whole situation got me thinking: What other laundry<\/a> mistakes am I making? I reached out to a few experts to ask what laundry mistakes they often see most often, and it turns out there are quite<\/em> a few things that I didn\u2019t know about.<\/p>\n I\u2019ll be the first to admit that I don\u2019t measure laundry detergent<\/a>\u2014not precisely, anyway. However, if you eyeball it like I do, you\u2019re probably using too much soap, which isn\u2019t good for your clothes or your washing machine.<\/p>\n When you use too much laundry detergent, your washer won\u2019t be able to rinse it all out of your clothing, which can leave your clothes feeling stiff and starchy. It can also cause extra wear and tear on the appliance itself, as the motor has to work extra hard to get all the suds<\/a> out of your clothes. Bottom line? You (and I) should definitely be measuring more carefully: One tablespoon of detergent<\/a> is enough for standard-size loads.<\/p>\n Do you know if your home has hard water? Me neither. However, for the sake of both your laundry and washing machine, it\u2019s worth buying a hard water test<\/a> to find out if you have too-high levels of dissolved calcium and magnesium.<\/p>\n \u201cUntreated hard water can leave mineral deposits on your clothes that dull their color and eat at their quality over time,\u201d explains Tim Dunphy, Water Expert at Leaf Home<\/a>. \u201cHomeowners can\u2014and should\u2014take preventative measures by using a water softener to preserve their belongings.\u201d<\/p>\n Over time, hard water can also cause problems with your appliances: \u201cHard water also decays pipes and adds wear and tear to your washer,\u201d says Dunphy. \u201cUsing a water softener improves the efficiency of your laundry appliances and minimizes the need for repair and replacement.\u201d<\/p>\n It\u2019s no secret that any type of fabric softener, including dryer sheets, can make your towels less absorbent, but it turns out they\u2019re not great for your dryer, either. \u201cDryer sheets leave a waxy buildup on the lint screen, leading to possible fires. Instead, look to use dryer wools or balls<\/a>,\u201d explains Scott Thomas, Director of Systems for Dryer Vent Wizard<\/a>. \u201cDryer balls<\/a> help reduce drying time and energy cost. They are chemical-free and help limit static cling and soften clothes.\u201d<\/p>\n Not willing to give up your favorite dryer sheets? (I will admit I love the Bounce Pet Hair<\/a> ones.) Make sure you\u2019re cleaning<\/a> your lint screen thoroughly to get rid of the residue: \u201cIf you use dryer sheets, it\u2019s essential to remove lint for every load, wash the lint screen with hot soapy water, and use an old toothbrush every three to six months for a deep clean,\u201d says Thomas.<\/p>\n I recently bought a pair of fairly expensive underwear, and I was super frustrated when the elastic waist band became misshapen after just a few laundry cycles. It turns out that you really shouldn\u2019t be drying clothing with elastic bands, especially on a high temperature setting. The high heat can cause the elastic to melt or become brittle, significantly reducing its lifespan<\/a>.<\/p>\n Instead, it\u2019s best to air dry any items with elastic bands\u2014a clothes drying rack<\/a> will be your best friend here. If that\u2019s not possible, you should at least put your dryer on a low temperature setting.<\/p>\n I recently explained that I\u2019ve stopped sorting laundry<\/a>, since it doesn\u2019t seem to make a difference, but that doesn\u2019t mean you should throw all caution to the wind. When washing whites and colors together, you\u2019ll want to use cold water, and experts recommend another level of protection, too. \u201cYou should try at least to keep your whites from your colors, and at a minimum, use color catchers,\u201d recommends Patric Richarson of the Laundry Evangelist<\/a>.<\/p>\nUsing Too Much Detergent<\/h2>\n
Not Testing for Hard Water<\/h2>\n
Using Dryer Sheets<\/h2>\n
Drying Clothes with Elastic Bands<\/h2>\n
Not Using Color Catchers in Mixed Loads<\/h2>\n