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Laundry Tips
Stained or wet garments should be
washed promptly. Dry laundry
immediately after washing to prevent
wrinkling.
For best results when using soap,
detergent, chlorine or all-fabric bleach,
fabric softeners, pretreatment or enzyme
laundry products, packaged water
conditioners, bluing, ammonia or starch,
follow the package instructions.
Water hardness
Many poor washing results can be
traced to wash water hardness. To check
your water hardness __.
. City water-ask your city water
company.
. Well water-call your Cooperative
Extension Service.
Ask for the mineral content in grains-
per-gallon or parts-per-million. If your
water is 9 or more grains-per-gallon or
more than 153 parts-per-million:
. Consider installing a water
softener.
. Use more detergent.
. Use a packaged water conditioner.
. Do Not use soap.
Fabric softeners
. Always dilute fabric softeners with
l/2 to 1 cup (125 to 250 mL) warm
water. Undiluted fabric softener can
stain fabrics.
. Add fabric softener after the washer
fills for the rinse part of the cycle.
(See arrows in the illustration under
“Rinse and spin” on page 6.) Use
liquid fabric softener only in the
rinse part of the cycle.
. Fabric softeners should not be
mixed with other laundry products.
. Too much fabric softener can make
some items non-absorbent (diapers
and towels). If this happens, use
less fabric softener or do not use it
every time.
Soaking
When soaking in your washer:
. Always use detergent.
. If using chlorine bleach, also
add detergent.
n
Vinegar or other acids should
not be used in your washer
because acids attack all
porcelain basket finishes and
can reduce the life of your
washer.
. Use only products labeled as
being washer safe.
Stain removal guide
I
Fire Hazard
. Never put dry-cleaning solvents or
fluids directly into your washer.
. Never put items treated with
solvents in your washer until they
have been completely rinsed and
air dried. The fumes from these
solvents can create a fire or
explosion.
. Treat stains when they are fresh.
Old or set stains may not come out.
m Before treating, check:
-type of stain.
- fabric label and how colorfast it is.
- how old the stain is.
. Use cold or warm water first. Hot
water can set some stains.
. Use a bleach that is safe for the
garment. Dilute chlorine bleach.
. Test stain remover products on
inside seam or hidden corner of item
to check colorfastness.
. Put stained area face down on paper
towel or white cloth. Apply stain
remover to back of stain to force the
stain off the fabric instead of
through it.
. Use meat tenderizer or enzyme
presoaks for easier removal of some
protein stains.
1 Use dry cleaning solvents in a well
ventilated room.
. For specific stain removal recom-
mendations, ask your Cooperative
Extension Service Office or consult a
public utility home economist.
Tints and dyes
n
Follow package directions for tints
and dyes.
. When you are finished
1. Put chlorine bleach and detergent
in the washer.
2. Run through a complete cycle using
hot water.
3. Repeat if staining occurs on
following loads.
NOTE:
Washer parts such as agitator,
washer lid, etc. can be stained by the
dye color.
Page 9