Help! How do I do laundry???

Question

Ok so i know these questions will seem very sad for some..many..most people, but nonetheless I'm going to ask them. I'm going to university this fall and will need to do my own laundry..the problem is I don't know how lol, no joke. So these are the following questons I have:

1) How do I seperate my clothes (is it whites, dark colors, light colors?)
2) Are my underwear and socks in a separate pile?
3) Are my jeans, other pants, or sweaters in a seperate pile?
4) How long should each load take to wash?
5) What water temperature should I use? (Is it hot for whites, warm for light color, cold for darks?)
6) How often should I use bleach for whites?
7) Can you give me a step by step directions for how to wash them like when do I turn the machine on, when do I add the detergent, when do I add the clothes, etc.
8) How long should a load take if I put it in the dryer to dry?

I will be much appreciated if someone can answer these for me!!!

Also, by whites do you mean the piece of clothing is all white..or can it also have a little bit of color too?

Answer 1

well this is the way i do it........ ya dont have to be too picky about things....

ONE PILE: i just separate dark colors (black,brown, dark blue n things that the color runs)

2ND PILE : and others, i just put my white clothes wit normal other clothes (as long as the normals dont run), and i put underwear and socks in the same pile.

dont wash sheets n towels n such with ur clothes, u will get fluff over everythin... some sweaters will do the same

the load time depends on the machine, usally bout an hour or so, i just wash all my clothes in cold water and its fine... u dont have to use bleach, i only do wen whites are goin pale or watever.........

turn machine on, put clothes in, put in detergent, set wash load, water temp and such....... then make it start washing

there should be a set time for the drier - a hour i rekon

well...... thats wat i think anyway but yeah

Answer 2

If it is a high efficiency washing machine (the European kind that uses less water but washes clothes very efficiently and uses high efficiency detergent), there is very little you need to know if you always use cold water to wash.
The machine will either have a booklet that shows you what to do - if you live in a house with a washing machine - or it will have directions on the machine - if you live in a dorm that has a coin-operated machine.
Anyone standing around can help you get started too, and that's a good way to meet someone. You both wash your clothes - you have something in common!
I always wash red clothes separately just because I have seen too many loads turn pink! That is when I had a standard American style washing machine.
When in doubt, break it down to whites, towels, dark clothes including blues, a separate load for reds, a separate load for underwear and socks. The last category needs hot water!
Don't wash sweaters in a machine. Wash them by hand in a sink with liquid detergent. Lay them out on towels to dry.
I'd skip the bleach unless you want to use it for very white shirts (do in a separate load) or white underwear and socks. If you wash a nice white shirt, you're going to have to iron that nice white shirt.
The machine will usually tell you how long it's going to take to wash (somewhere on the machine there will be digital display with the minutes for the load). Lacking that, there will be a sign posted somewhere in the room. Lacking that, strike up a conversation about the washing time with another person loading clothes.
High efficiency washers load from the front and they seem to never fill up with water but instead, flop the wet clothes over and over. They work really really well. I love them!

Answer 3

1) Yes and also gentles, but I normally don't separate them and they turn out just fine.
2) Not usually.
3) If your sweaters and more lightweight, then yes.
4) Depending on the size, I'd say anywhere from 20-60 minutes.
5) I typically use warm for all my clothes. Hot water makes colors bleed more.
6) Only when you're trying to get out a stain, and be careful, because bleach can ruin them.
7) First choose the size of the load, then select the temperature. You are suppose to add the detergent before the clothes, but I always forget. Then add your clothes. After that, turn the washing machine to the appropriate setting and start it.
8) Depending on the size about 45 minutes to 1 1/2 hours.

Perhaps before you go you should start washing your clothes, and if you can, maybe ask a parent or sibbling for help.

Answer 4

OK I would first reccamend practicing a few loads with your mom or dad at home first.

1) Probably the best but at college your going to be short on time and cash so seperate into whites/darks. I usually do a seperate pile for delicate clothse-- underwear, socks, dressy clothes.

2) They can be. Usually can go in with whites.

3) Go by colors

4) Depends on the washer. about half hour.

5) Correct. With college washers I usually go with cold or warm cuz they will shrink your clothes!!

6) I never use bleach. I wouldn't use bleach until your comfortble with laundry. Its so easy to ruin your clothes with bleach.

7) I usually turn the machine on, let water run a bit, add half of my detergent (half of the detergant bottles cap), put the clothes in, dont stuff it too much. then dump the other half of the detergent on top of them.
8) 30-45 minutes. The machine will stop when its done though.

Don't combine your towels with your clothes either.

Answer 5

Okay, let's start with separating. Use one pile for whites, one for colors and one for coarse, heavy fabrics like towels and jeans. It does not matter if your socks and underwear are in the same pile, so long as they're the same color.

Once you have your loads separated, put one in the washer. Depending on what kind of washer you're using it may have a separate compartment on the top for detergent to be poured in separately or you may be able to simply pour it in on top of the clothes. I would recommend using powder detergent, not liquid. Fill the detergent measuring cup (found in the detergent box) up about half-way unless you have a very large load and then you may use a little more.

I would stay away from bleach as you are inexperienced with laundry. Instead go buy some powder Oxy-clean. You can put it in with whites and colors in addition to the detergent and it will get rid of most minor stains. Use the scoop in the bucket to measure it out. One scoop is plenty.

After you have the clothes and detegent in close the lid of the washer. I am assuming that you will be using a machine that is either coin-opperated or takes a money card. If so, now is the time to pay for your load of laudry. Once you have paid the washer will let you select the water temperature.

Temperatures work like this:
warm wash, warm rinse for whites
warm wash, cold rinse for towels/jeans
cold wash, cold rinse for colors

However, there's no harm in using a cold wash, cold rinse for everything. It will help you avoid shrinking and making big mistakes. Some washers may just have settings that read "whites" "colors" and "delicates". If so, just choose the "colors" setting to get a cold wash. It takes about 30-40 minutes to wash one load. Simply press the start button and the machine will go.

Once your clothes are out of the washer it's time to go into the dryer. Clothes take about 45minutes to an hour to dry. The settings are usually high for whites and colors, permanent press (or medium) for towels and jeans, and delicats (or low) for anything you don't want to damage or shrink in the dryer. It's important to note that dorm dryers often won't dry your clothes completely on a medium or low setting. You may have to put them in twice or let them hang dry. Towels can really be dried on high. Sometimes they stay damp on a medium setting. You can buy some dryer sheets to make your clothes softer and to make them smell good. Throw one or two in the dryer with your load.

A few other tips:
DO NOT use too much detergent. Soap will come out of the bottom of the washer. Not a good situation.
It's a good idea to get a spot stain treatment like Shout! You can put it directly on the stain before you put the clothes in, let it set for a while and then put it in with the rest of the load.
Good detergents, are Tide and All. Try to stay with powder.

Answer 6

1) Dark colors and light colors-the general rule is if it has some white or light color with a lot of dark put it in the dark pile.
2) socks and underwear can be washed with everything else but seperate based on color.
3) seperate into dark and light colors-make sure nothing pulls on the sweaters and that they don't get caught in the machine.
4) if it is a big load, set it for a longer time (45 minutes or 60)
if it is smaller, than lesser time
5) you are right I believe
6) When they start to fade
7) can't, it depends on the machine but set the everytime for delicate cycle
8) 30-60 minutes

Answer 7

1.) We do dark, light, and towels at our home.
2.) Only if you want to bleach them.
3.) No, just dark and light.
4.) It takes approx. 56 minutes.
5.) I use warm/cold and sometimes cold/cold.
6.) Whenever you want to.
7.) You turn on the washing machine after the clothes are in and the door is shut. You put the detergent in before you turn on the washer.
8.) Depends but approx. 60 minutes.

Answer 8

1) Whites/Darks/Colors/Denim/Sheets/ Towels
2) No socks and underwear should go in the whites unless they are colored then they should go in the appropriate pile.
3)Just put jeans and pants in the denim pile and your sweaters in the appropriate color pile.
4) Approximately 15-20 minutes
5)I just use cold for all of my loads because it prevents shrinking.
6)I use it every other week
7) Throw the cloths in put in the laundry soap then turn it on and walk away.
8) Approximately 30-50 minutes.

Answer 9

If you're going to college and STILL don't know how to do laundry you should be slapping your mamma... I've been doing laundry since I was 12..

First things first when you go to college make sure you have the following:

1. a good detergent... Gain, ERA,Wisk etc.. Generic detergents are too watery, Use liquid instead of powder, it's already dissolved...
2. a good pre-treater stain remover Shout, Spray and Wash etc..
3. Bleach I would stay away from for awhile.. You can ruin your clothes if not careful..

4. A folding drying rack they are nice so you don't damage your clothes and it folds to save space..

5. A small fan that clips to your bed, will give some air circulation for your clothes to dry.... I used to hang mine on my bedframe with a fan on them... Worked in a pinch...

Put a measured amount of detergent into the washer and start the machine filling..
Seperate your clothes into lights/darks I like to turn my darks inside out (jeans, graphic t's) in particular it helps fading and damage.. I also hang to dry. Darks (COLD/COLD) water rinse cycle...permanent press cycle

IMPORTANT: Do not use too much detergent it will not come out of your clothes....

You can wash your bras,underwear and other delicates on the gentle cycle (WARM/COLD)... Hang bra's to dry especially if you wear underwire.. Invest in a bra baby it's a plastic ball with large holes that keeps your bra's shape in the washer... If you have a small delicates pile you can always use lingerie bags and wash with your towels/linens.. If you don't want to do a seperate load.... *a little trick if you have your "cycle" and are prone to staining your underwear... Buy a few pkgs. of red underwear to wear during that "time of the month" So, you don't ruin/stain your nicer one's....

Also, keep towels/linens seperate they will pill on your clothes and make a real mess- wash those seperate... (HOT/COLD) permanent press cycle...

Your lights you can also wash (COLD/COLD)

I don't dry most of my things, but if you do depending on the load size you can dry them for 30 min at time.. Don't overdry it will weaken the threads of your clothes.... Or hang them, when they are still damp in the open.. To air dry...

good luck in college....

Answer 10

okay. What I do, is separate Jeans, colored clothes, delicates, and whites..You do not need to separate any further than this.
My washer takes 1/2 hour to wash and dryer takes 1 hour o dry.
You really do NOT need to use as much soap as they tell you to. Just use abot half- 3/4 what they say.
Hope I helped!
God Bless!