Helpful hints and tips
Sorting out the laundry
Follow the wash code symbols on each
garment label and the manufacturer’s washing
instructions. Sort the laundry as follows:
whites, coloureds, synthetics, delicates,
woollens.
Before loading the
laundry
Never wash whites and coloureds together.
Whites may lose their «whiteness» in the
wash.
New coloured items may run in the first wash;
they should therefore be washed separately
the first time.
Make sure that no metal objects are
left in the laundry (e.g. hair clips, safety
pins, pins).
Button up pillowcases, close zip fasteners,
hooks and poppers. Tie any belts or long
tapes.
Remove persistent stains before washing.
Rub particularly soiled areas with a special
detergent or detergent paste.
Treat curtains with special care. Remove
hooks or tie them up in a bag or net.
Removing stains
Stubborn stains may not be removed by just
water and detergent. It is therefore advisable
to treat them prior to washing.
Blood: treat fresh stains with cold water. For
dried stains, soak overnight in water with a
special detergent then rub in the soap and
water.
Oil based paint: moisten with benzine stain
remover, lay the garment on a soft cloth and
dab the stain; treat several times.
Dried grease stains: moisten with
turpentine, lay the garment on a soft surface
and dab the stain with your fingertips and a
cotton cloth.
Rust: oxalic acid dissolved in hot water or a
rust removing product used cold. Be careful
with rust stains which are not recent since the
cellulose structure will already have been
damaged and the fabric tends to hole.
Mould stains: treat with bleach, rinse well
(whites and fast coloureds only).
Grass: soap lightly and treat with bleach
(whites and fast coloureds only).
Ball point pen and glue: moisten with
acetone
1)
, lay the garment on a soft cloth and
dab the stain.
Lipstick: moisten with acetone as above,
then treat stains with methylated spirits. Treat
any residual marks with bleach.
Red wine: soak in water and detergent, rinse
and treat with acetic or citric acid, then rinse.
Treat any residual marks with bleach.
Ink: depending on the type of ink, moisten the
fabric first with acetone
1)
, then with acetic
acid; treat any residual marks on white fabrics
with bleach and then rinse thoroughly.
Tar stains: first treat with stain remover,
methylated spirits or benzine, then rub with
detergent paste.
Detergents and additives
Good washing results also depend on the
choice of detergent and use of the correct
quantities to avoid waste and protect the
environment.
1) do not use acetone on artificial silk
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