Occasionally, you may want to sanitize your washer and laundry.
Sanitizing is desirable during periods of family illness to help prevent the spread of infections from one family member to another,
To Sanitize Your Washer
Fill washerwithhot water, pour
Sanitize Your Laundry
Select adisinfectant thatsuits the loadof laundry (fiber and color), and carefully readthe directionsonthe package. Followthe manufacturer's
directions for amount to use, and note any precautions. Carefully
measurethe recommended amount of disinfectant, andadd it directly to the tub at the proper time in the cycle. Do not put any disinfectant
other thanliquid chlorine bleach into the dispenser as itcould damage the dispenser,
Bleach helps to whiten clothes, remove certain stains and soil, disinfect and deodorize, Bleach shouldbe used in the wash cycle,
The two basic types of bleach are:
Chlorine-Liquid
Chlorinebleach can be usedwhen washingmostfabrics. Do not use
Alwaysfollowthe bleachmanufacturer'sdirectionsfor the amountto
use. Usuallyitisbesttoaddbleachtothedispenserbeforeloadingthe washer in order to prevent any undilutedbleach from accidentally spilling onto items in the wash load.
Fabric damage related to misuse of chlorine bleach may not appear untiJseveraJlaooderings later. If undiJutedbleach comes into direct contact with fabrics, it will show up as rips, tears, holes, overall
yellowing or color loss.
Oxygentype bleachesare mild,containno chlorine,and are consid- ered safe for most washable colodast fabrics. They may be added directly to the wash water along with the detergent. Follow directions on the package for the correct amount to use. Oxygen bleaches are more effective in hot water. They are not designed for heavy stain removal,
Many complaints about unsatisfactory washing results can be traced
directly to hard water. Water hardness is measured in grains per gallon.
Hardness | Grains Per Gal. |
Soft | 0 - 3 grains |
Medium | 4 - 6 grains |
Hard | 7 |
Very Hard | over 11 grains |
The local water company or County Extension office can supply information about water hardness in your area.
IdealJy,softwatershouldbeusedbothforwashingandrinsing. Ifyour water is hard, it can be softened in several ways:
1. Increasingtheamountofdetergentisaneffectivewaytotieupthe water hardness minerals.
2. Add a
water.
3.Consider installing in your home a mechanical water softener which willsoften the water as itflows throughthe faucet.
The correctwatertemperatureinsuresgoodwashingresults. Select the watertemperatureaccordingto the fabricsbeingwashedand the degree of soil present.
HOT
HOT water is effectivefor washingmost white items or for washing heavilysoiledcolorfastitems. It is also helpfulin removingbodysoil, perspiration and greasy soils. If your water heater is located a great distance from the washer, it may be necessary for you to set the thermostat on the water heater to its hottest setting because water cools as it travels from the water heater to the washer.
WARM
WARM water is recommendedfor washing normal to lightly soiled regular,permanent press, knit and some delicate items. It reduces the amount offading and the amountof wrinkles.
COLD
COLD water minimizes shrinkage and gives best color retention. Usingcold water can provide less effective cleaning, so be sure to use a detergent especially formulated for cold water. Since the tempera- tureof ooldwatervarieswiththeseasons, someitems maynoflookas clean as in warmer water. Follow these steps for best results when using cold water:
•Increase amount of detergent to about
•Dissolve detergent in warm water before adding to the washer.
•Pretreat spots and stains.
•Increase the length of washing time to maximum provided.
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