Comments on: Heading Out on Your Own — Day 2: How to Do Laundry

By: Jimmy

Jimmy — Mon, 24 Dec 2012 06:36:30 +0000

Read this at 1:30 am due to insomnia. I haven’t washed my sheets in a good few months. DAMN YOU AND YOUR IMAGRY BRETT!

By: Joe

Joe — Thu, 20 Dec 2012 10:50:14 +0000

Somebody mentioned the energy savings of outside line washing & they’re absolutely correct!
However, ensure that you hang your clothes inside-out or the sun might bleach them which is NOT cool!
Also, when line drying shirts put them on a hanger immediately to let the weight of the water pull creases out for you! Just remember to pinch the hook part tight so that if the wind picks up your clothes won’t fall to the ground…
Why iron clothes if you don’t have to?

By: Tyler G.

Tyler G. — Wed, 12 Dec 2012 19:55:58 +0000

I’ve been doing my laundry for as long as I can remember. I go through the same process every time, and I’ve never had an issue with bleeding colors or shrinking:

1) Once the hamper in my room is full, go to the machines.
2) Separate the clothes into three groups: whites, lights, and darks.
3) Put the whites in the washer. If there’s still a lot of room, like there usually is when I do it, add some or all of the lights. The goal is to get down to 2 loads to save time and money.
4) Put the detergent in and start the washer on cold.
5) If there is another washer handy, put the rest of the clothes in there and repeat step 4. If not, wait for the first load to finish.
6) Once a load is done, move it to the dryer. Throw in a fabric softener sheet, and set the dryer for maximum drying time on medium.
7) Fold/hang/whatever once the dryer is done.

I know this system is a little counter-intuitive to some of the things said above, but it has worked for me for 10+ years, and I’ve never had a problem.

By: Louise

Louise — Tue, 09 Oct 2012 10:11:47 +0000

Hello Gentlemen
Loved reading this piece about how to do laundry. Some great tips and images :) Our website will be live soon so please feel free to check out the Distinctive mans approach to designer smelling, designer label-safe laundry. We’re not a student budget label I’m afraid. This is premium priced designer smelling laundry for men that don’t want to spray their clothes from top to toe but let their own body heat activate the fragrance molecules that are in your clothes as they leave the wash.
PS Happy to answer your washing Q&A’s Guys too. Distinctive Powder aims to take the hard work out of the wash – but unfortunately doesn’t iron for you.

By: CJ

CJ — Sun, 26 Aug 2012 21:12:55 +0000

I am a runner and i never dry the Hi-tech fabric/ Under Armour type clothing on any machines. I line dry them at home.

By: Jameel Brenneman

Jameel Brenneman — Wed, 22 Aug 2012 13:57:16 +0000

How does bleaching whites work if it is a predominately white shirt but it does have some dark blue lettering or sleeves? Are those susceptible to bleach stains?

By: Duke

Duke — Tue, 21 Aug 2012 01:58:32 +0000

You can save money on detergent at
a laundry mat:

Just go to the garbage and grab a discarded plastic bottle of detergent.
Fill wit water and dump into the
machine.
People throw the bottle out and there is always at least one loads worth of soap in them..

Free soap!

By: Stengel99

Stengel99 — Sat, 18 Aug 2012 02:27:48 +0000

Thanks for this post.

Thanks for giving us permission not to wash every garment after one wearing. I wear shirts twice if I’m also wearing undershirts, and I’ve often felt like I was cheating by not washing them every time, it sounds like that’s a fairly normal habit.

I would add that washing a pillowcase would be a good idea after 2-3 nights, especially if you’re, well, a drooler. Pretty gross to lay your face in that stuff again the next night. I usually have 2-3 clean pillowcases ready to rotate in, and wash at least one pillowcase almost every time I do laundry, whether it’s a color load or a bleach white load.

Great mini-series! Thanks.

By: Clothes Wearer

Clothes Wearer — Wed, 08 Aug 2012 23:50:01 +0000

Readers! Remember these simple tips to make your clothes last longer:
1. You know what laundry lint is? It’s fabric that comes off your clothes because it was drying too long. Do not dry your clothes bone dry! half an hour to get them mostly dry, then hang them up to dry. No wrinkles, and they will last much longer.
2. Nice denim jeans you can go without washing. If you put them in the dryer at all, the dye will wash off your jeans and they won’t look new. Spot clean stains and throw them in the freezer if they start to smell – this kills bacteria.
3. Wash your clothes in groups- colors, darks, denin, towels, sheets – are all groups to wash them in.

By: Kaarin

Kaarin — Mon, 06 Aug 2012 20:30:17 +0000

I’m so loving this series. This post is especially helpful. I’m a fashion consultant and starting to send people to this link when they have questions on how to care for clothes! Thank you!