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 instruc-
tions for some special washables.
ITEM CARE INSTRUCTIONS
Blankets Pretreat spots and stains. Select water temperature, cycle, and
(electric or woolen) time according to the type of blanket being washed. Use of the
Extra Rinse feature may be necessary. Check care label to see if
manufacturer recommends machine washing.
Curtains, drapes,
slipcovers Wash small loads. Crowding may cause wrinkling. Replace
slipcovers while still slightly damp. They will dry to fit tightly.
NOTE: Sun-damaged curtains and draperies will tear whether
hand or machine washed.
Diapers When using chlorine bleach for soaking, add extra detergent to
the load. Avoid overuse of fabric softeners - absorbency will
be reduced.
Elastic, spandex 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.
Flame-retardant
clothing
Hand Washables
Items will be clearly labeled as flame-retardant. Follow
manufacturer’s instructions to retain flame-retardant qualities.
Garments are labeled “Hand Wash” because:
l The fiber or construction may be sensitive to agitation.
l The fabric contains sensitive dyes that may bleed.
Properly sort and then use your Ultimate Care Hand/Delicate cycle
for gentle washing. Follow care label directions for drying. Items
that may shrink should be dried flat. Block these items by gently
stretching to original measurements. Woolens tend to shrink more
the first time they are washed.
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