Laundry may not be anyone’s favorite chore, but taking a little extra care when washing your clothes pays off. Done correctly, it keeps your wardrobe looking sharp, prevents damage, and makes your clothes last longer. Here’s a step-by-step guide to doing laundry the right way—plus why professional cleaning is worth it for delicate or expensive garments.
Step 1 – Check Pockets
It sounds obvious, but it’s easy to forget. Leftover crayons, pens, or lipstick can ruin an entire load. A quick pocket check can save major headaches.
Step 2 – Pretreat Stains
Before you toss clothes in the wash, treat stains as soon as possible. Use a pre-wash product or dab a little detergent directly on the spot. For heavily soiled items, soaking is an effective form of pretreatment.
Step 3 – Sort Your Laundry
Sorting properly makes a big difference in results:
- By color – Separate whites, darks, and bright colors.
- By fabric type – Keep delicate fabrics out of heavy loads like jeans and towels.
- By soil level – Wash heavily soiled items separately to prevent dirt transfer.
Step 4 – Choose the Right Water Temperature
- Cold water – Best for brights, darks, and delicate fabrics.
- Warm water – Everyday use for mixed loads.
- Hot water – Whites, bedding, and heavily soiled clothing (if the label allows).
Always follow the care label—some fabrics shrink or fade in high heat.
Step 5 – Select the Correct Cycle
Use the cycle that matches fabric type and soil level:
- Delicate cycle – For silks, lingerie, and lightweight fabrics.
- Normal cycle – For everyday clothing.
- Heavy-duty – For jeans, towels, and work clothes.
Step 6 – Don’t Overstuff the Washer
Overloading prevents clothes from getting clean and strains the machine. A loosely filled drum ensures proper movement, detergent distribution, and rinsing.
✅ Check pockets
✅ Pretreat stains
✅ Sort by color, fabric, and soil
✅ Choose correct water temperature
✅ Select the right cycle
✅ Load washer correctly
When to Call in the Professionals
Home laundry works well for everyday wash-and-wear clothing. But for:
- Dress shirts, suits, and blouses
- Delicate fabrics like silk or wool
- Items with set-in stains
…it pays to trust the experts.
At Bibbentuckers Dry Cleaning in Dallas–Fort Worth, we use advanced cleaning solutions, stain removal techniques, and professional pressing equipment that home machines can’t match.
READY TO EXPERIENCE THE DIFFERENCE?
Create your Bibbentuckers account, schedule your first pickup, or stop by one of our locations.
READY TO EXPERIENCE THE DIFFERENCE?
Create your Bibbentuckers account, schedule your first pickup, or stop by one of our locations.
