First published: 25 July 2021 @ 6:00 pm
The world we live in today is filled with all kinds of myths and legends. It is impossible to know them all, so it is easy to believe in one of them without being aware of it.
This article focuses on a laundry myth that has been around for a long period of time, but still people tend to believe in it. Laundry, one of the common family tasks in the household, is also not free from myths.
There are certain conditions that affect the quality of your laundry such as how many items you use, laudry loads, soap or detergent, type of clothing, type of detergents and other items.
Other items that need to be considered are lint filters, laundry products or laundry detergent, washing machine setting.
The laundry load that affect your effectiveness are how many pieces you wash on one wash cycle, using fast or gentle cycle and the air drying system.
There are types of laundry that you need to be separated by bulk too, for example, towels, clothes with delicate fabrics or fibers, they can’t be in one wash cycle.
In this article you will learn what the laundry myths are and how you can avoid believing in them. Avoid these laundry mistakes.
Myth #1: The hotter the water, the cleaner the clothes
This myth states that washing your clothes at high temperatures will make them cleaner. The truth is that temperature has nothing to do with how clean your clothes are. High temperature might cause negative consequences for your clothes instead.
This myth probably came from an old method used to wash clothes by hand called “boiling”. In this method, hot water and used to wash the clothes by hand (nowadays we use machines).
So as a result, people started believing that higher temperatures make clothes cleaner. This however is not true because higher temperatures will only ruin your clothes by fading colors or damaging fabrics (unless you are using a washing machine).
Myth #2: You should not use fabric softener
The reason why people tend to believe in this myth is because they don’t know about fabric softeners, or they think that they are too expensive. The truth is that fabric softeners do a great job at keeping your clothes looking and feeling great.
Fabric softeners are also very affordable and can be found in any store. Fabric softeners come in liquid, gel or sheet form and all of them do a great job at making your clothes feel soft and smell good.
Myth #3: You should use bleach to keep your whites white
This myth is similar to the previous one. It comes from the idea that if you don’t use bleach, your whites will get yellowish over time.
The truth is that this only happens if you don’t use cold water to wash them (cold water helps keep your whites white).
Bleach can also damage fabrics and it’s not necessary to use it for keeping your clothes white. Just use cold water, and they will stay white as new.
Myth #4: Clothes dryers are better than washing machines
This myth states that clothes dryers are better than washing machines because they are faster, and they make clothes softer.
The truth is that clothes dryers take more time than washing machines because drying cycles usually last longer than washing cycles (unless you put the same amount of water in both machines).
Also, most people believe that drying clothes at high temperatures makes them softer, but this is not true because higher temperatures will damage fabrics (the same applies for washing at high temperatures). If you want to soften your clothes, just tumble dry them on low heat.
Myth #5: You should not use washing machines with agitators
This myth is based on the idea that agitators will damage your clothes. The truth is that this is a very old myth and nowadays washing machines come with many features, including agitators.
If you have a top loading washing machine with an agitator, just make sure that you don’t overload it. If you do, it might be damaged and cause problems for your clothes.
Myth #6: Warm water can clean anything
This myth states that low water temperature can clean anything and you should use it to wash everything. The truth is that hot water can’t clean everything because some stains require cold water to be removed (just like how some stains require bleach).
You should always check the label of the clothing before washing them to see what temperature they require.
Myth #7: High temperatures make your clothes dry faster
This myth states that higher temperatures will make your clothes dry faster. The truth is that higher temperatures only damage fabrics and shorten their lifespan (unless you are using a drying machine).
For this reason, it’s better to use lower temperatures when drying your clothes by hand or tumble dry them on low heat in a washing machine.
Myth #8: Frequent handwashing clothes will help you lose weight
This myth states that frequent handwashing your clothes is a physical activity that will burn calories and help you lose weight. The truth is that this myth is just ridiculous.
You cannot burn calories by frequent handwashing your clothes, because it’s not a workout. Also, even if you can burn calories by washing your clothes because it’s a form of physical activity, it wouldn’t be enough to lose weight.
Myth #9: The colder the water, the cleaner the clothes
This myth states that washing your clothes at lower temperatures will make them cleaner. The truth is that temperature has nothing to do with how clean your clothes are.
As mentioned before, temperature only affects fabrics and it can damage them if you use higher temperatures. So as a result, people started believing that common cold water temperatures make clothes cleaner (which is not true).
Myth #10: Clothes can be washed in the dishwasher
This myth states that clothes can be washed in the dishwasher. The truth is that washing clothes in the dishwasher can damage them.
The reason why people tend to believe in this myth is because they don’t know about what happens inside a washing machine, and they think that it’s similar to a dishwasher.
If you want to wash your clothes in the dishwasher, make sure that they are made out of materials that are safe for washing machines (like cotton or polyester). Otherwise, you might end up damaging them.
Myth #11: You should never use fabric softener with bleach
This myth states that using bleach with fabric softener will ruin your clothes and make them less white. The truth is that this myth is just ridiculous.
You can use bleach with fabric softener and it won’t ruin your clothes. In fact, you should use bleach with fabric softener because it will help you remove stains.
Myth #12: Bleach is the only way to remove stains
This myth states that bleach is the only way to remove stains from clothes. The truth is that bleach isn’t the only way to remove stains from clothes, because there are many other products or detergents out there that can do a great job at removing stains (like baking soda or vinegar).
Also, bleach doesn’t always work on tough stains, so you should always try to remove stains with other products before resorting to bleach.
When it comes to your clothes, it’s best to consult with a professional. To lower the chances of your clothes getting damaged, HandyWork Marketplace is here to help you to connect with the professional laundry service providers easily.