No matter how hard we try sometimes we cannot avoid stains on our laundry. These accidents can become pretty costly if not treated promptly and in the right way. This post will give some pointers on how to properly soak your clothes before washing them. This can save you lots of money by saving your stained clothing.
Soak Clothing Before Washing | Raleigh Laundromat
Pre-soaking your laundry can help with stains that are heavy or really large. The first thing to consider is that some clothing may not be what is referred to as color-fast. Color-fast clothing can be safely soaked for a period of time without fading. If the item is not color-fast you will run the chance that the dye will loosen and fading will occur. Reading the care label inside your clothing will let you know if it is safe.
Some types of fabric never do well with soaking. This will include silks, wool’s, leather, and any item that is labeled flame resistant. If your item has a metal zipper or fasteners these will not soak well. If these items become stained you will want to seek professional help to get your stains out.
When getting ready to pre-soak your clothes fill a plastic bucket or container with water. Use the correct temperature of water for your garments. Make sure the container is large enough as well. Your washing machine can be used as well. Many machines today have a pre-soak cycle which is really convenient. After soaking in a washing machine a regular wash cycle can be run with no rinsing needed.
Once you have the water to the correct temperature add your detergent. When soaking clothing you need to make sure the detergent is well dissolved. Do not add your clothing until it is. If you are adding a detergent booster add this as well and allow it to dissolve as well. Stir the water really well and get it mixed and soapy. Use the recommended amounts indicated on the bottle when adding detergents or any additives.
You may then add the clothing to the water. Don’t add too many since you need the clothing to move freely and the water to saturate thoroughly. Soak your clothing from 1 hour – 2 hours. If really tough stains are present you can soak them overnight. Once the soaking is complete rinse your clothes thoroughly unless you are using your washing machine to soak. You can then run the regular laundry cycle.
Check your clothing before drying to ensure the stains are gone. If not you can repeat the soaking process. Once they have been run through the dryer they may be permanently set. If the stain seems really bad you will want to use a stain remover directly on the stain as soon as possible before soaking. Doing this will hopefully save your garment.
If you find yourself short on time and in need of a laundromat check us out at Laundry Express. We are a state of the art laundry facility with the newest in equipment. Catching up on your laundry will be a breeze at our laundromat. Come by and see us today!
