Washing special-care items
Most garments and household textiles have care labels with laundering instructions. Always follow care label directions when they are available. Below are general washing instructions for some special washables.
ITEM | CARE INSTRUCTIONS |
BlanketsPretreat spots and stains. Select water temperature, cycle, and
(electric or woolen) time according to the type of blanket being washed. Two rinses may be necessary. Check care label to see if manufacturer recommends machine washing.
Curtains, drapes, slipcovers
Diapers
Elastic, spandex
Knits
Pillows, stuffed toys
Wash small loads. Crowding may cause wrinkling. Replace slipcovers while still slightly damp. They will dry to fit tightly.
NOTE:
When using chlorine bleach for soaking, add extra detergent to the load. Avoid overuse of fabric softeners - absorbency will be reduced.
Elastic picks up oil from the body. Oil can damage elastic. Wash often to reduce the damage. Use warm water and sufficient detergent to remove oils. Do not use chlorine bleach.
Items will be clearly labeled as
Knits are comfortable to wear because they stretch. However, this means that knits are more likely to be stretched and damaged when washed (especially bulky knits). Knits made of synthetic fabrics such as polyester, nylon, and acrylic tend to keep their original shape more than knits made of cotton or ramie.
Washing feather pillows is not recommended unless they will be dried in a dryer.
Plastic, rubber items
Quilts, bedspreads
Scatter rugs
Snowsuits, jackets
Treat as delicate items. Wash in warm water. Wash small items in a mesh bag.
Do not wash
Shake or vacuum rugs to remove loose dirt. Wash more than one rug at a time. If washing only one rug, add bath towels to balance the load.
Wash only one or two items at a time. You may need to stop the washer occasionally to press air from the items being washed. An extra rinse may be necessary.
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