Hot water may not necessarily make clothes cleaner
Washing clothes is a familiar daily job, but many people still make seemingly harmless mistakes. According to fabric care experts, many common habits such as using too much laundry detergent, abusing hot water or skipping the stain treatment step can make clothes quickly discolored, reduce durability and even cause skin irritation.
Ms. Cyndi Prince - CEO of the LooHoo dry cleaning product brand in the US - said that many people think that the hotter the water, the cleaner the clothes. However, this is not entirely true. According to her, washing with hot water frequently can shrink fabric fibers, causing clothes to fade quickly and reduce lifespan.
Experts recommend prioritizing cold water washing for most daily clothes, especially colored or thin fabrics. Cold water not only helps protect fabric fibers but also supports energy saving.
Another common misconception is that the more detergents you use, the cleaner clothes become. In fact, excess detergent powder can create residue on the fabric, causing unpleasant odors and increasing the risk of skin irritation. Experts advise users to follow the correct dosage written on the product packaging instead of pouring it subjectively.
Common mistakes when doing laundry
According to Ms. Laurie Fulford - a laundry expert at the Poplin service in the US - many wrong laundry habits still exist commonly in families today.
9 common misconceptions include: always using hot water to wash clothes; using as much laundry detergent as possible; fragrance paper for dryers is necessary; bleach only for white clothes; laundry detergent is more effective than laundry detergent; old stains cannot be cleaned; fabric softener is mandatory; clothes labeled "only dry wash" cannot be washed on their own; and dirty clothes can be put directly into the washing machine without pre-treatment.
According to experts, fragrant paper used for dryers and fabric softener is no longer recommended for use as often as before. Some fragrant ingredients can stick to clothes, affecting the absorbency of towels or sportswear.
In addition, many types of clothes labeled "only dry wash" can still be hand-washed or steamed at home if users carefully read the fabric care instructions. For stains, early treatment with vinegar, soft brushes or specialized solutions will help increase cleaning effectiveness and limit stains from sticking deeply to the fabric.
Experts believe that understanding laundry properly not only helps clothes last longer but also saves costs, electricity and water and reduces the risk of excessive exposure to detergents.
