LAUNDRY TIPS
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. Two rinses |
| may be necessary. Check care label to see if manufacturer |
| recommends machine washing. |
|
|
Curtains, drapes, | Wash small loads. Crowding may cause wrinkling. Replace |
slipcovers | slipcovers while still slightly damp. They will dry to fit tightly. |
| NOTE: |
| 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. |
|
|
Items will be clearly labeled as | |
clothing | manufacturer’s instructions to retain |
|
|
Hand washables | Garments are labeled “Hand Wash” because: |
| • The fiber or construction may be sensitive to agitation. |
| • The fabric contains sensitive dyes that may bleed. |
| Properly sort and then use your Hand Washables 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. |
|
|
| continued on next page |
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