The document provides information on basic laundry products and techniques for washing, drying, and cleaning clothes. It discusses the differences between soap and detergent, bleach types, fabric softener, and separating laundry by color and fabric. Tips are given for washing, such as checking pockets, using appropriate temperatures, and not overloading the dryer. Drying can be done in a machine or by line drying. Ironing techniques include selecting the right temperature and waiting for steam to heat up. Dry cleaning uses solvents instead of water and should be done professionally for delicate fabrics.

1. Laundry and Dry Cleaning
Chapter 15
Basic Laundry Products
Separating your laundry
Washing, drying, ironing
Dry Cleaning

2. Basic Laundry Products
Soap vs. Detergent
 Both remove soil
 Detergents prevent soil from returning to
fabric

3. Bleach vs. Non-Chlorine Bleach
Non-chlorine
 Both maintain brightness of whites
bleach
 Non-chlorine bleach:
 Maintains brightness of colours
 Can’t restore dignity of fabric to white
Chlorine Bleach
• Restores
whiteness
• Can damage
Use a dispenser or dilute bleach fibres
before putting into a washing
• Not colour safe!
machine to prevent spots

4. Fabric Softener
 Liquid in final rinse or
 Sheet in dryer
 Reduces absorbency
 So don’t use with towels, washcloths, diapers

5. Separating your Laundry
Darks and Lights
 Whites can pick up colour, especially manufactured
fibres
 Can become grey after repeated washings (or pink,
or blue!)
 Darks/colours should be washed in cold water to
maintain brightness
 Whites should be washed in warm or hot

6. Separate by Fabric
Wools – cold
water, short cycle
Cotton and linen–
long wash, hot
water
*Don’t wash
terry or fuzzy
sweats with Delicates silk, nylon,
Permanent corduroy or lingerie, sheer and lacy,
press fabrics – velveteen = loose knits – cold wash
warm then cool pilling and lint and rinse
to prevent
wrinkling
You may have several stacks when you are finished
Lights, Darks, Whites, Towels and sheets, Hand-wash or delicates

7. Washing Tips
 Check the pockets before washing
 Lipstick, tissues, crayons, pens can create
lint or stains!
 Three basic wash temperatures
 Hot – for best clean, sanitizing, whites,
can shrink some fabrics
 Warm – many fabrics, especially durable
press or manufactured fibres
 Cold – for darks, lightly soiled, most
economical, delicates

8. Drying Tips
Machine Drying Tips Line Drying Tips
 Use appropriate heat  Shake out and smooth
and time length wrinkles before
 Shake damp clothes hanging
before drying  Place clothespins
 Don’t overload dryer where marks won’t
 Don’t overdry – show
wastes energy and  Use plastic hangers
increases wrinkles indoors where air can
 Fold or hang clothes circulate
when still warm to
reduce wrinkling

9. Select the
temperature
for the fabric
Ironing
 Unsure? Start with a low
temperature to avoid damage to
fabric
 Iron on the wrong side, to avoid
putting a shine on
 Steam only for higher
temperatures
 Wait for steam to be hot enough,
or water will spill onto garment

10. Dry Cleaning
 Uses solvents to clean
garments
 Point out stains and their
cause to professional
 Some trims and buttons
can be damaged by the
process
Home dry-cleaning kits are available to
freshen and deodorize lightly soiled
garments between trips