Laundry: How to Teach Kids
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Laundry: How to Teach Kids to Do It.
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.
1: Getting the Dirty Clothes to the Machine
1 Place hampers strategically.
Provide bins for each bathroom and/or bedroom for garments needing standard washing, such as school uniforms and play clothes.
2 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.
2 & 3: Washing and Folding the Clothes
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.
1 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.
2 Before washing stained clothes...
Pretreat or presoak the spot.
3 Sort laundry by color.
And if something's really dirty, don't wash it with the more delicate stuff.
4 Keep snags and lint to a minimum.
To do this, zip zippers, button buttons, brush away lint, and empty pockets before putting clothes into the machine.
5 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.
6 Turn the machine on to fill the tub with water.
7 Add detergent and laundry boosters
These include color-safe bleach, bleach, and/or fabric softener after reading the package direction.
8 Dump in the clothes.
If you have to stuff them in, though, you've got too much stuff for one load. The machine should be no more than about two-thirds full. The clothes need to tumble around to get clean.
9 After clothes have been washed, check wet garments for remaining stains, and re-treat as needed before drying.
If you dry stained clothes in the dryer, the heat will set the stains.
10 Once clothes are clean, place the in the dryer.
Set the heat and time for the most delicate item in the load.
11 Fold clothes right away.
The longer they sit in the dryer, the more wrinkled they become.
12 Clean the lint screen.
A clogged lint screen can make dryers run longer. This wastes energy and money - and it's a fire hazard - in addition to causing excess wear and tear on your favorite clothes.
9 Common Stains and How to Remove Them
Hot, Warm or Cold? Choosing the Right Temperature for Your Wash
Detergent: Liquid or Powder?
How to Organize the Wash Room
Return to Laundry & Stains
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