10 Common Laundry Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Top-notch laundry practices play a great role keeping your new clothes and linens bright and in impeccable condition. That said, laundry mistakes still happen, some due to unawareness of the best practices, others because of simple mistakes. Take a leaf out of the book of expert laundry services in Dubai and familiarize yourself with the usual errors in laundry. Read this guide to become more informed about taking better care of your clothes.

Steering Clear of the Laundry Mistakes That You May Be Making

The smallest details, from the number of clothes in the machine to the water temperature, can greatly affect your laundry results. Take a look at a comprehensive list of the usual culprits of poor laundry practices and safeguard your clothes and other belongings diligently.

1.      Not Separating Different Fabrics

It may seem like the obvious error to not mix whites and colors or to not put in fabrics that shed too much fiber with others. Yet, improper separation of clothes remains one of the top laundry mistakes, resulting in devastating results.

Make sure you separate fabrics by color, even if your total laundry load is small. Within colored stuff, try and group together too-darks separately. If you can, divide clothes and linens by fabric types too. It will be an effort to go through all the grouping and separate washing, but your belongings will look better and last longer.

2.      Putting in Too Much Load Per Cycle

To get clean, there needs to be space for clothes to move around, and for the detergent to make an impact. That cannot happen if your washer is loaded beyond the ideal capacity and the clothes are jumbling together. You can always hire professional dry cleaners if you have too many clothes. A standard home washer overloaded constantly may have mechanical problems too often.

So, if you make one of the common laundry mistakes of stuffing clothes in the washer, the stains and marks may be left behind despite the clothes being in the washer for long. Another sign of an overloaded tub is soap/detergent particles stuck on the fabrics.

3.      Adding Too Much Fabric Softener

Just as using a lot of detergent will create a layer of residue on your clothes and linens, too much fabric softener has the same effect—especially on darker clothes. You need a very small amount of fabric softener to have the desired effect and add in some fragrance.

On that note, try to purchase a natural fabric softener or make your own with some distilled white vinegar solution. It is much better for your clothes and other belongings in the long run, and environmentally friendly too.

4.      Not Using Stain Treatment Before Wash

A regular wash cycle alone usually cannot tackle stubborn stains and marks on fabrics. You should ideally work on stains as soon as they occur, but no worries if that delay occurs.

Use a stain removal solution in the troubling areas before washing as not addressing these is one of the common laundry mistakes to avoid. You can take a little bit of detergent with water to make a paste if you don’t have a remover. Apply it on the stain and let it sit, then scrub it out gently with a soft-bristled clothes brush. You can then put that fabric in your usual wash-and-dry cycle.

5.      Not Getting Large and Stained Items Professionally Handled

Even a great washing machine and good laundry practices can’t keep your clothes from having some left-behind stains and discoloration. Too-large items like blankets and curtains are not suitable for a machine, and professional laundry services can be a practical choice.

If you have ever wondered whether you can make your clothes and linen look like new, a professional laundry service in Business Bay or anywhere else in your area gives as perfect a result as possible. Additionally, expert dry cleaning is safer for clothes with a ‘dry-clean only’ label and special occasion wear and use items.

6.      Too-Hot Water for Washing

Dealing with especially dirty clothes and have turned on the hot water valve to get the muck and grime out? As effective as it may seem, hot water can damage your clothes. A little heat can help loosen up the dirt lodged in the fibers. However, fraying and tearing are not worth the ease of getting done with a wash cycle quickly.

Lukewarm water works fine for too-dirty clothes, while even cold water does a great job of cleaning clothes for some fabrics. Check the label on the clothes if you are not sure which temperature is safe for fiber integrity.

7.      Neglecting to Clean the Lint Filter

Did you know that fires in dryers are far more often caused because of lint accumulation rather than electrical issues? Lint is highly flammable, and too much buildup in the dryer exhaust system can cause overheating and, in turn, a fire.

This is one of the laundry mistakes where the safety of more than just your clothes is at stake. Another reason to prevent excess lint buildup in your dryer and vents can prolong drying times. This results in higher energy consumption and reduces the lifespan of the dryer.

8.      Leaving Clothes Unzipped and Unbuttoned

The force from the spinning of a washer can tug on unbuttoned and unzipped tops and bottoms, while the metal teeth of a zipper can easily snag on another item of clothing. This can potentially causing a lot of damage, especially to delicate fabrics with bead and embroidery work.

You may have a loose button to fix or a stuck zipper to deal with after every wash if you simply toss everything in. Keeping your clothes safe means securing all buttons and zippers before putting them in the wash.

9.      Skipping Washing Machine Maintenance

Dirt and residue, as well as mold can accumulate inside your washing machine and result in odd-smelling clothes. Laundry and dry cleaning prevents the spread of germs and viruses, but the machine itself needs some TLC too. Leaving your washer dirty can also result in mechanical problems and minimize its efficiency and lifespan.

Run an empty cleaning cycle using hot water and cleaner (or bleach) to eliminate washing machine bacteria and detergent residue. Do this at least once every two months to keep your machine fresh, and go for annual inspection and maintenance to catch mechanical/electrical issues before they occur.

10.      Pushing Through with An Old Washer

You are making one of the common laundry mistakes if you are still using a 15+ old washing machine. It will perform poorly in cleaning clothes as well as naturally use way more electricity than a new washing machine.

Consider upgrading to a newer appliance such as a high-efficiency washer that needs less detergent and is very energy-efficient. High-quality modern laundry machines also come with useful features like load capacity sensors and steam cycles to remove common allergens.

Bottom Line

Even the most cautious individuals are at fault for making the usual laundry mistakes, which is why and a little care can make a difference. That said, it is be a good idea to get some help from laundry professionals when you feel tired by your laundry and cannot avoid mistakes. Consider booking Maham Laundry for your next laundry cycle to get fresh and vibrant clothes and linens. Ours is a service that focuses on quality, efficiency, and utmost care for your belongings!