You’d be forgiven to think that the hot water temperature setting is the main way to get your clothes washed. However, you should also utilise cold water settings. In this blog, we’ll guide you on what you need to know about washing clothes in cold water.
Drying is fundamental in caring for your clothes. If not dried well, your clothes could smell, and the washing before would almost end up being in vain. You can dry your clothes using the tumble dryer, clothesline or indoor drying rack (for winter) but does drying your clothes inside out help? The short answer is yes and by the end of the blog, you’ll understand the reasons behind this.
White vinegar, for the most part, is useful; it can be used on a lot of things and can be a great benefit to your laundry routine. It does live up to its effective cleaning reputation but for other things, it can cause more damage than good. To save yourself from trouble and cleaning headaches, here is our list of 5 things you shouldn’t clean with vinegar.
1. Washing Machine
From time to time, your washing machine does need cleaning and it’s a task we strongly recommend you undertake. However, the washing machine is on our list of things you shouldn’t clean with vinegar. The reason being is that the plastic and rubber parts of the washing machine can be corroded due to the vinegar. If this happens, the appliance will have leaking problems
2. Egg Stains
We all love eggs for our breakfast but hate the feeling of dropping them and making a mess. You should avoid using vinegar to clean up the mess as this will only make the egg stains thicker and harder to remove.
Fortunately, we have ‘cracked the code’ on properly removing egg stains in our blog here.
If you do encounter any egg stains, just get in touch with Laundryheap and we’ll remove them for you!
3. Mirrors
You should also avoid using vinegar to clean your mirror – be it in the bathroom or wardrobe mirror because it will only corrode the glass and ruin the reflection quality because dark spots will form.
Instead, use spray cleaning products to clean your mirrors.
4. Electronic Screens
Using vinegar on your electronic screens like TV, phones or MacBooks will cause scratches to form because vinegar damages the coating. Instead, use a cloth to wipe off any dust carefully.
5. Steam Irons
Vinegar may be useful when getting rid of the limescale inside your kettle but when it comes to steam irons, you should avoid using vinegar to clean them.
Irons have metal, plastic, and rubber inside them and unfortunately, these will be eroded if you add vinegar to your tank to clean them.
To properly take care of your irons, we recommend reading the cleaning instructions in the manual to be on the safe side.
Vinegar is popular among many households for its ability to cook and clean. It is versatile.
We hope our blog has given you more knowledge on the 5 things you shouldn’t clean with vinegar.
Washing machines need no introduction – they are an appliance that helps us with laundry but like with all appliances, malfunctions are common. Fortunately, you can reduce the chance of malfunctions happening. If you want to spend less money on repair or avoid buying a replacement, here are 4 ways to make your washing machine last longer.
1. Clean Consistently
It may seem poetic that an appliance that primarily functions on cleaning, needs to be cleaned itself. Look for any signs that your washing machine needs cleaning. Check for any mould or mildew. Bad smells are usually a sign that your washing machine needs cleaning.
Sometimes, if your clothes aren’t in the best condition, it could stem from the washing machine not being cleaned properly.
2. Double-Check That Pockets Are Empty
Believe it or not but it’s common for people to throw clothes into the washing machine without checking the pockets first. This could be because they are rushing their laundry and often times, they forget to empty coins and other items from their pockets. Consequently, coins can damage the drum because they go around the cycle.
3. Balance Your Laundry
Always make a habit of balancing your laundry and avoiding overloading clothes. Use your judgement and decide if there are enough clothes for one cycle. Patience is required to ensure there is sufficient space for each load of clothes. If you overload too many clothes, the drums inside will get overwhelmed and as a result, will damage the mechanical parts and it will absorb a lot of water.
4. Don’t Overuse Your Laundry Detergent
Make sure you’re using the right amount of laundry detergent. It can be tempting to put extra detergent on clothes with stains. However, more detergent can result in malfunctions and suds will only end up blocking the draining system; making it difficult for your washing machine to pump out water.
Your washing machine is your best friend when it comes to laundry. It’s best to always make sure it is looked after and cleaned. Unfortunately, there are items that could damage your washing machine. If you are putting these items in, now is the best time to stop.
1. Coins And Keys
It’s human to forget things. After all, we all lead busy lifestyles. Coins and keys are items that could damage your washing machine. If you do forget to check your pockets, these two items will spin around the machine and bang against the washer’s drum. To keep your washing machine scratch-free, always remember to check your pockets before you start laundry.
2. Rubbers Mats
Another item that could damage your washing machine is a rubber mat because when the cycle starts, the rubber can tear apart inside. Consequently, this will lead to bits of rubber all over your machine which can cause all sorts of problems. To avoid this, it’s highly recommended you wash rubber mats by hand.
3. Lingerie
You’d be forgiven to think that lingerie will wash like any other clothes. To keep your washing machine safe, it’s best to handwash them to avoid problems. This is because the hooks and wires in your lingerie could very easily hook onto parts of the machine while the cycle is going on. As a result, this makes the machine slow down and could potentially damage it.
4. Pet Hair
We all love pets even if their stubborn hair is everywhere in the house. If you are dedicating a day to doing laundry for your pet’s items, make sure their hair is removed from the items before starting the washing cycle. Use a rubber glove or lint roller to remove pet hair. If you leave this unchecked, pet hair can cause damage to your washing machine because it can clog the drain pumps.
5. Too Much Detergent
It may seem counter-intuitive, but detergent is on the list of items that could damage your washing machine. You’d be forgiven to think that using more laundry detergent will make your clothes smell nicer and fresher.
However, you need to balance it correctly because using too much detergent will cause damage to the washing machine’s control panel and invite unwanted mould and mildew. Usually, bad odours inside the machine are a sign you’ve used too much laundry detergent. Bad odours can also be a major sign that your washing machine needs cleaning!
Now that you are aware of the items that could damage your washing machine, you’ll take care of your machine better next time!
If your washing machine is not working, just get in touch with Laundryheap and we’ll do your laundry for you!
Every now and then, you should check for signs that your washing machine needs cleaning. Washing machines go through cycles daily of dirty clothes so it’s not uncommon for dirt and odours to build up. Our washing machine takes care of our clothes so it’s only fair we take care of it regularly.
To keep your clothes in good shape, you need to take care of the washing machine first. Here are signs that your washing machine needs cleaning!
1. The Clothes Aren’t In The Best Condition
You set your washing cycle on, you wait for your clothes to finish and then find out they’re not cleaned to a high standard. If you find yourself in this position, it’s a sign that your washing machine filter needs to be clean.
Leaving your filter unchecked will cause laundry detergent to latch on your clothes and your clothes won’t dry well. The rule of thumb is to clean your washing machine filter every six months to avoid clothes’ condition decaying.
2. The Washing Machine Has a Bad Odour
If you spot a bad odour lingering from your washing machine, it is a major sign that it needs to be cleaned. Expectedly, a washing machine contacts germs and bacteria from dirty laundry so it’s not surprising mould builds up inside.
Nonetheless, this mould can go on your clothes, which is extremely unhygienic, so it’s better to clean without delay.
3. The Rubber Seal Around The Door Has Black Stains
A major sign that your washing machine needs cleaning is noticing any black stains on the rubber seal around the door. In a damp environment, mould, and bacteria build up and these get stuck on the rubber seal. Always make sure you act fast and clean the rubber seal to avoid further dirt forming.
Sometimes, any stains left on the washing machine door could be from laundry detergents that haven’t been rinsed away. Always make sure you are keeping an eye out for any stains.
Our guide should help you to spot the signs that your washing machine needs cleaning and make your laundry experience better!
If your washing machine is faulty or you missed the day to give it a good clean, get in touch with Laundryheap! We’ll launder your clothes and return them back to you within 24 hours until your washing machine is in good condition again!