8 Laundry Secrets No One Ever Talked to You About

Doing the laundry and taking care of our clothes is something everyone does on a daily basis. Despite that, there are many things that some of you might not be aware of. For example, many people tend to close their washer’s door right after they remove their wet clothes. This is one mistake we are about to reveal to you and let you know what the right things to do are.

1. You have to air the machine.

When we close the door of the washing machine right after taking clothes out, we leave it in a state of increased moisture. This, in turn, creates a perfect environment for mold and bacteria growth. Therefore, it is better to make sure to leave it ajar for 15-20 minutes, or even help it dry faster by wiping the surface with a cloth after washing.

2. Create a mold removal solution for the washing machine.

There are several mold removal solutions that you can make at home to successfully clean your machine.

Here are some examples:

• 2 cups of water, ½ cup of hydrogen peroxide, and ¼ cup of lemon juice: The mixture of lemon juice with hydrogen peroxide can effectively remove mold and prevent its growth.
• 2 cups of water, ¼ cup of lemon juice, and ½ cup of distilled white vinegar: This mixture of white vinegar and lemon juice can work as well as hydrogen peroxide and has the same effects.
• 1 part vinegar and 4 parts water: If there isn’t too much mold present, just vinegar and water will do the trick.
• 1 part bleach and 4 parts water: If the above methods don’t seem to work, try bleach.

Add one of the solutions mentioned above to a spray bottle. Spray it over the mold on the washing machine’s gasket. Don’t forget to use gloves and a dust mask so you don’t inhale any mold spores.

After spraying the areas of the gasket where the mold is, use a cloth or towel to clean it thoroughly.

3. Remove fur from clothes before washing them.

If there are animals in the house, it is quite natural that clothes often turn out to be abundantly covered with their hair. But one shouldn’t put them into the washing machine this way as it can damage them. The thing is fur gets accumulated in lumps while washing, which might clog the drainage system and even the motor, and end up with it breaking.

Therefore, it is better to play it safe and spend a couple of minutes cleaning clothes with a sticky roller before washing in order to avoid the hassle and costs associated with repairs.

4. What to do about the missing socks.

According to experts, during the washing cycle, socks can simply get stuck between the rubber gasket and the metal part of the drum or slip through a hole in the gasket. Eventually, socks and other small items that escaped the drum during the washing cycle can be found inside the machine, and you can see them if you take off the machine cover, as shown in the picture below. According to engineers, both front-loading and top-loading washers can “eat” the laundry.

To save yourself the trouble of taking out the lost laundry out of your washing machine, you can follow these 2 simple steps recommended by the experts:

• Regularly check the rubber gasket when you clean it. Make sure there are no holes in it. This will also prevent water from leaking.
• Do not overload the washing machine.

5. Use mouthwash to clean the washing machine.

Washing machines need to be disinfected regularly in order to continue functioning at the level it’s supposed to. There are special detergents you can buy, but you can also use regular mouthwash — just add half a glass to the area where you usually put the detergent in the washing machine and start the full washing cycle. Fungus, mold, and harmful bacteria will be destroyed.

6. Steam your clothes in the dryer using ice cubes.

If you are somebody who doesn’t like to do the ironing, then this is an easy alternative. Simply add a few ice cubes to your creased clothes in the dryer and run it on hot for 5 minutes. This will effectively steam your clothing, hassle-free.

7. Add salt to stop your colors from fading.

A tablespoon of salt added to your wash will help to seal in the colors of your clothes and anything else that is machine washable. This works because the chloride in the salt helps to lock the dyes into the fabrics.

This is a cheap and easy way to keep your clothes looking fresh and new.

8. Hook your bras and close all of your zippers.

It is advisable to protect your bras when you wash them, by hooking them closed. This will prevent the hooks from bending and the elastic from being stretched out of shape, as well as snagging on other clothes.

To prevent further tears and snags, you should make sure all of your jean’s zippers are zipped up all the way, so they don’t get damaged, and so that their teeth can’t catch ahold of the rest of your clothes.