The handkerchief trick and other washing tips
How much detergent do I really need? What’s the environmental impact of using the boiling water cycle with an extra rinse? A routined laundress could answer these questions for you but if you are having a hard time finding her when you need her, this is a great alternative.
How to get the embroidered tablecloth from faded yellow to white again: Slosh it around
First, soak it: Boil 10 litres of water. Dissolve 0.25-decilitre soda in the water. Let cool then place the tablecloth in the solution and let soak for 12 hours. Then, boil it: Boil 10 litres water with 10 tbs. soap flakes. Add the tablecloth when the water temperature is 60o C. Let the tablecloth slosh around for 20 minutes. Rinse in clean water 3 times. Now the tablecloth is white again.
How to remove pink discolouring in a more eco-friendly way: Cook with lemon
Cook the sock in a pot together with a couple of slices of lemon. Lemon is natural bleach.
How to check if the colours on dyed fabrics still run: Use the handkerchief trick
Always wash new coloured textiles separately and if need be, wash them by hand the first few times. When is the excess colour washed out? Test it with the handkerchief trick. Wash a white handkerchief together with the coloured garment. If the handkerchief is still white, there isn’t any excess colour remaining in the clothing.
How the most common excuses for discoloured clothing sound: Sloppy sorting
Establish a sorting system. Sort clothing by temperature, wash program and colour. White/light colours together, dark/strong colours together. Wool separately. Wash clothes that can stand boiling separately.
How to make sure the children can go out and play in all kinds of weather: Let the snowsuit tumble
Give the snowsuit a ride in the tumble dryer after washing, if it can withstand drying that is. The snowsuit regains its resistance. Not enough? Buy a waterproofing product and add it to the pre-wash.
How to avoid fading your jeans in the wash: Add vinegar
Soak the jeans in 5 litres of water to which you’ve added 4 tbs of vinegar and let soak for ½ hour. Then wash them as stated on the care label. Vinegar retains the colour content in the fabric.