5 common mistakes to avoid when doing laundry

There's no doubt about it: laundry care products are the best way to transform a pile of dirty laundry into beautiful, fresh, and pleasantly scented fabrics. However, if we use too much of them, the result is more likely to be impaired than improved. If too much detergent is used, it cannot be completely washed out during the rinse cycle and makes the fabric stiff and uncomfortable. On the other hand, too much fabric softener can stick to the fibers and leave greasy stains. There's only one thing that helps: restraint. Follow the instructions on the package and, if in doubt, there's the Vernel rule of thumb: use about half a cap of fabric softener per 4 kg of laundry.

Is fabric softener the same as liquid detergent? Definitely not! Not at all. The two products are not interchangeable and should not be confused, as they have very different functions. Detergent fights stains and cleans clothes by penetrating deep into the fibers to remove dirt and grime. In contrast, fabric softener only comes into play during the very last rinse cycle. It washes out the detergent, neutralizes static cling, and softens the fabric. At the same time, it protects the fabric from wear and tear, locks in color, and creates a fresh scent. Fabric softener cannot remove stains, just as detergent cannot soften fabric.

Take a look inside any item of clothing and you're sure to find a small label with washing and care instructions. These clever little tags tell you exactly how to care for the garment in question – from the right water temperature to the correct drying method. Unfortunately, they are all too often completely ignored, to the detriment of your favorite jeans or a once-white shirt. If you want to avoid color changes and a host of other problems, take a few seconds to read the care instructions.

You probably know that you should sort fabrics by color before washing them. But did you also know that they should be separated according to their lint behavior? That's right. Some fabrics, such as cotton, terry cloth, carpets, and chenille, are known to shed lint as if they were going out of style. Others, on the other hand, attract lint, such as linen, synthetic fibers, knits, and corduroy. As you can imagine, the results are not exactly ideal when these contrasting fabrics are washed together. If you want to keep lint under control, wash the fabrics separately and use a splash of fabric softener—it helps loosen the fibers so that lint can be rinsed away more easily.

They may look sturdy, but don't make the mistake of assuming that dark fabrics can withstand rough treatment. In fact, they are among the most delicate fabrics. Too much heat or movement can affect the surface of their fibers, causing the items to fade and look unkempt. What can you do about it? When washing dark clothes, turn them inside out and use a cold wash cycle; and don't forget to add fabric softener. This will relax the fibers and protect them from wear and tear, as well as lock in the color. Last but not least, forget the dryer and hang dark items on a line, but protect them from direct sunlight.