Laundry: The Basics for Kids

Laundry: Teaching Kids the Basics.

There are a few basic concepts any kid will need you to share with him to succeed in the world of dirty laundry.

Here's what they need to know to learn that grown-up skill they will - believe it or not - someday actually really need.

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Get the Dirty Clothes to the Washing Machine.

-- Place hampers strategically to help this task along. Provide bins for each bathroom and/or bedroom for garments needing standard washing, such as school uniforms and play clothes.

-- Position a "special attention" or "stain" basket on the washing machine for clothes sporting visible drips, drops or smudges of everything from finger paints to Cross pen leaks.

Washing and Folding.

Now, someone needs to run the machines. And it can't always be Mom. To help new launderers get their wash game on, here's a step-by-step guide. Consider posting a copy in the laundry area for the kids.

-- Treat spills fast. Rinse or blot away spills right away to keep stains from setting. (Dampen a clean white rag and dab on the stain. You'll see color transfer to the rag. That's how you'll know it's working.) Then wash the clothes as soon as you can.

-- Before washing stained clothes... pretreat or presoak the spot.

-- Sort laundry by color. And if something's really dirty, don't wash it with the more delicate stuff.

-- Keep snags and lint to a minimum. Zip zippers, button buttons, brush away lint, and empty pockets before putting clothes into the machine.

-- Choose wash water temperature. Generally, use hot for whites or very dirty or greasy clothes, warm for most loads, and cold for delicates or dark or bright colors. Always choose "cold" for the rinse-water temperature. It saves energy and is just as effective.

-- Turn the machine on to fill the tub with water. Add clothes.

-- Add detergent and laundry boosters. Boosters includ things like color-safe bleach, chlorine bleach, and a fabric softener.

-- Don't overload the washing machine. It should be no more than about two-thirds full. The clothes need to tumble around to get clean.

-- After clothes have been washed, check for remaining stains, and re-treat as needed before drying. If you dry stained clothes - they become a permanent addition to the garment. Heat sets stains even Mom can't get out.

-- Load the dryer. Set the heat and time, choosing the most delicate item in the load as the baseline. When time's up, take out the dry items, and continue tumbling overly wet items.

-- Fold clothes right away. The longer they sit in the dryer, the more wrinkled they become. And the harder to fold. There is, of course, this gadget called the iron but - nevermind. Just fold clothes when they're warm

-- Finish with a quick swipe of the lint screen. A clogged screen makes dryers run longer to generate the preset heat temperature, which wastes energy and money. And, a clogged screen can be a fire hazard - in addition to causing excess wear and tear on your favorite clothes. Repeatedly dryings break down clothing fibers, making them look old before their time.

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