Laundry Tips

Stained or wet garments should be washed promptly. Dry laundry immediately after washing to prevent wrinkling.

For best results when using soap, detergent, chlorine or all-fabric bleach, fabric softeners, pretreatment or enzyme laundry products, packaged water conditioners, bluing, ammonia or starch, follow the package instructions.

Water hardness

Many poor washing results can be traced to wash water hardness. To check your water hardness __.

. City water-ask your city water company.

. Well water-call your Cooperative Extension Service.

Ask for the mineral content in grains- per-gallon or parts-per-million. If your water is 9 or more grains-per-gallon or more than 153parts-per-million:

. Consider installing a water softener.

. Use more detergent.

. Use a packaged water conditioner.

. Do Not use soap.

Fabric softeners

. Always dilute fabric softeners with l/2 to 1 cup (125 to 250 mL) warm water. Undiluted fabric softener can stain fabrics.

. Add fabric softener after the washer fills for the rinse part of the cycle. (Seearrows in the illustration under “Rinseand spin” on page 6.) Use liquid fabric softener only in the rinse part of the cycle.

. Fabric softeners should not be mixed with other laundry products.

. Too much fabric softener can make some items non-absorbent (diapers and towels). If this happens, use less fabric softener or do not use it every time.

Soaking

When soaking in your washer:

. Always use detergent.

. If using chlorine bleach, also add detergent.

nVinegar or other acids should not be used in your washer because acids attack all porcelain basket finishes and can reduce the life of your washer.

. Use only products labeled as being washer safe.

Stain removal guide

I	Fire Hazard

. Never put dry-cleaning solvents or fluids directly into your washer.

. Never put items treated with solvents in your washer until they have been completely rinsed and air dried. The fumes from these solvents can create a fire or explosion.

. Treat stains when they are fresh. Old or set stains may not come out.

mBefore treating, check: -type of stain.

-fabric label and how colorfast it is.

-how old the stain is.

. Use cold or warm water first. Hot water can set some stains.

. Use a bleach that is safe for the garment. Dilute chlorine bleach.

. Test stain remover products on inside seam or hidden corner of item to check colorfastness.

. Put stained area face down on paper towel or white cloth. Apply stain remover to back of stain to force the stain off the fabric instead of through it.

. Use meat tenderizer or enzyme presoaks for easier removal of some protein stains.

1 Use dry cleaning solvents in a well ventilated room.

. For specific stain removal recom- mendations, ask your Cooperative Extension Service Office or consult a public utility home economist.

Tints and dyes

nFollow package directions for tints and dyes.

. When you are finished

1.Put chlorine bleach and detergent in the washer.

2.Run through a complete cycle using hot water.

3.Repeat if staining occurs on following loads.

NOTE: Washer parts such as agitator, washer lid, etc. can be stained by the dye color.

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