analysis: Doing Laundry – The Steps We Take to Keep Clean

Doing laundry begins with …

Notes:

• This is why we do laundry – because our precious ones and ourselves get dirty. And as your younger ones get a bit older and start to play sports, the laundry tasks will increase. Thank goodness we have machines that make laundry easy to do than the days of wash tubs and scrub boards.
• But the challenge is what to do when your child comes in from playing outside – or your young athlete comes home from a sporting practice all dirty and smelly? How do you keep them from dirtying-up the interior sections of your home?
• And how many times do your remind them to remove their shoes or disclose their clothes before going elsewhere in the home to clean up?
• That is where a makeshift mudroom comes into play. An area where kids and adults can stack shoes – discard dirty clothes – store outdoor toys and sporting equipment, etc. A place where the laundry appliances are connected to easily clean clothes that have been soiled.
• So a mudroom becomes the first step in doing laundry – a staging area for managing mud and laundry.
• QUESTION?
  what are the immediate benefits of having a mudroom
  
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Inside the mudroom or other laundry area …

Notes:

• That is where you will find the laundry appliances – the washer and dryer. Fantastic technology that replaced the old way on how we did laundry:
  INFO: history of doing laundry
• Laundry machine technology has improved over the past few years. Newer appliances use less water than conventional machines – both for front- and top-loaders. That’s important for saving utility costs and the environment:
  INFO: what are ENERGY STAR most efficient 2020 clothes washers
• And even the drying machines are more efficient – but they do consume utility costs. So hanging clothes on a line is coming back in style.
• QUESTION?
  what are the ways to make doing laundry more eco-Friendly

  view some ideas –

  energy star washer dryer combospacesaver washer dryer comboclothesline

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Washing clothes begins with sorting and pre-treatment

Notes:

• Sorting clothes for washing is an important step to preserve your clothing items. You probably know that washing whites with darks can turn your whites into a dingy grey. Sorting usually involves whites – medium colors – and darks:
  INFO: how to sort laundry
• But sorting into individual piles means more washing – which means more water – that’s why we need energy-efficient washers to save on water usage. And most fabrics can use cold water during your wash cycle to save on energy costs. Only use warm or hot for sanitizing and stain removal on certain fabrics:
  INFO: 6 reasons to cold-water wash—and 3 not to
• Prior to washing, you can pre-treat some clothing items that have been stained or soiled. Pre-treatments help remove touch stains like dirt, grass, and food/drink. Aso look for environmentally-friendly detergents that are best for cleaning and safe for the environment.
• QUESTION?
  what are the best eco-friendly laundry detergents of 2020

  view some ideas –

  laundry sorterhyacinth laundry basketeco friendly laundry detergent

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Drying and ironing

Notes:

• After the clothes are washed, it’s time to get them dry and ironed if needed. We are fortunate to have drying machine; it’s basically a clothes tumbler with a heating element.
• But what happens in the dryer is where you need to pay close attention to. The drying process releaases lint from our clothes. Excess lint blocks the free flow of air that dryers need to be efficient and safe:
  INFO: how does a dryer extract lint from your clothes?
• So keep your dryer working properly, you need to follow these basic guidelines:
  • —   clean the lint screen after every use – discard the lint or use if for other purposes:
    INFO: 8 Surprising Uses for Dryer Lint
  • —   periodically do a deep clean of the lint screen and its compartment by vacuuming and brushing out any lint trapped in corners and hard to reach areas:
    INFO: how to clean a clothes dryer filter
  • —   all dryers have an exhaust vent that runs from the dryer to the exterior outside. The dryer vents heat, moisture and lint to the outside. Over time, these vents need to be cleaned to remove build-up that can cause mold and potential fire:
    INFO: safety first: 5 reasons to get your dryer vent cleaned
  • —   an alternative drying option is using both an in-house drying rack and outdoor clothes line. You simply hang your clothes out to dry naturally. It does take more time, but does save energy and protects your fabric:
    INFO: 9 reasons we use a clothesline
• After your clothes are dried and removed from the drying process, it’s time to iron those items that just looked better pressed such as shirts, blouses, and slacks. You just need a nice iron and board … and a bit of know how.
• QUESTION?
  how to iron

  view some ideas –

  dryer vent cleaning kitdryer ballsclothes ironironing board

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Folded and ready to be put away

Notes:

• The laundry is all done – washed – dried – ironed – and folded to be returned to its rightful owner. It is a routine that we repeat weekly.
• So make it easy on yourself by getting the entire family involved. Young children should learn early how to do laundry – teenage children should take over the chore alternated by each family member. The entire family benefits when the laundry has been completed.
• QUESTION?
  8 tips for making family laundry easier

  view some ideas –

  laundry drying racklaundry folding tablelaundry storage cabinet

  What comments can you share?