|
Wash Daze: Laundry
Gadgets Won't Lighten the Load
Don't
let the detergent makers soft soap you.
Wouldn't it be great to
throw out those heavy boxes and bottles of laundry detergent and
replace them with a small, light-weight, money-saving plastic ball?
Some businesses claim that their reusable balls, rings and discs,
filled with what they say is a special liquid, can take the place of
laundry detergents.
The manufacturers claim
their products "change the molecular structure of water" to
force dirt out of clothing. Internet ads and product distributors
maintain that their laundry aids, which cost about $75 apiece, can
last for thousands of loads — and save customers hundreds of dollars
in detergent costs.
Before you toss out your
tried and true detergents, consider this: Tests show that these
gadgets do little more than clean out your wallet. At best, they're
marginally better than washing clothes in hot water alone, and not as
effective as washing them with laundry detergent. At worst, the
products are completely useless.
The Real Dirt on
Getting Your Laundry Clean
-
Follow the care
label instructions. Cleaning instructions are required on most
textile clothing. They are not required on clothing made primarily
of suede or leather, footwear, items for the head and hands —
such as hats and gloves — or on household items like sheets and
towels. However, many manufacturers of these items provide care
information voluntarily.
-
Pre-treat stains.
-
Sort by color. Wash
whites separately; light and medium colors together; and brights
and darks by themselves.
-
Don't overload your
washer. Clothes need room to move and enough water to carry away
the soil.
-
Follow product
instructions. Use the recommended amount of detergent and other
laundry products, and follow the recommended procedures. Some
products are added to the water before the clothes; others, like
liquid fabric softener, are added at the start of the rinse cycle.
For More Information
|
