The 9 most common mistakes in using the washing machine

Doesn’t your laundry smell so fresh every time you finish washing and open the bucket? On the other hand, do you often find detergent stains on your washed clothes and therefore have to wash them again? Before blaming your washing machine, –υδραυλικοί Αθήνας– is here to help us!

It is a good idea to first ask yourself if “something is wrong” with the way you use it, and therefore if these … side effects are due to the mistakes you make in washing clothes. The machines have evolved so much in recent years (as detergents) to be rather unfair now be argued that simply cleaning the wardrobe, sheets and towels.

What’s more, their mission is to take care of everything in your closet – as they can wash even the most delicate fabrics in-depth while keeping their fibres intact and the colours alive. The only requirement is to adjust the washing to some basic rules, which have to do with how your device works. Otherwise, not only will your clothes soon stop looking like new, or they will even spoil in the wash, but it is also possible to damage the washing machine itself.

So let’s see what are the most common mistakes you (maybe) make and how you can correct them.

1. You overdo it on detergent

You do not ensure greater cleanliness of the fabrics if you use more detergent than the dosage indicated on the package. On the contrary, you not only consume detergent for no reason, but you also increase the risk of an allergic reaction as soon as the fabrics come in contact with your skin. Also, if you use a powder product, it is very likely that you will find traces of grains on your clothes, which you may, therefore, need to wash again.

Detergent (and emollient) overdose also burdens the washing machine, as its residues accumulate in the pipes of the appliance. The consequence is that the cleaning of your clothes is no longer so “deep”, while with the blockage of the pipes it is possible that the washing machine will show damage.

If your clothes still have a “stubborn” stain, almost all detergent packages have tips on how you can do the pre-treatment so you can be sure it will be cleaned. Practically, the advice is to apply a small amount of detergent topically and rub it gently before putting it in the bucket.

2. You do not separate the laundry

You should always separate your clothes, towels and sheets, based on their washing temperature and the type of fabric – information you will find on their labels. So, you will organize the laundry according to the programs of your washing machine – e.g. “Silk” or “coloured”.

Many models have a program for “mixed” fabrics, and recently laundry with “circles” for all fabrics (ie regardless of their colour, type of fabric and washing temperature), such as Hoover All-in-One. However, if your washing machine does not have such a program, it is advisable to be doubly careful when washing a new coloured garment. To check if it fades or not, soak a small area of it that is not visible when wearing it (eg inner seam) and iron it on a piece of small white cloth. If you see colour stamps on the fabric, then that means you don’t have to wash it with other clothes.

3. You overload the washing machine

In every wash, you should make sure that the weight of the clothes does not exceed the maximum number of kilos that the manufacturer of your device mentions in the instructions. Otherwise, your clothes will not be completely cleaned – something you may notice from the smell as soon as you open the “door”. Also, due to the excess weight, it is possible to destroy the mechanism that supports and rotates the bucket.

4. You close the “door” after washing

Due to the moisture that develops inside the washing machine, the growth of bacteria is favoured. So, if you close the door as soon as you take off the freshly washed clothes for laying or for the dryer, it is possible that the bucket will start to smell mouldy, transferring the smell to the fabrics that you wash every time.

That is why it is very important that the washing machine dries after washing – leaving not only the door open but also the detergent case.

5. You leave the washed clothes in the bin

The higher the humidity inside the washing machine, the more likely it is that bacteria will grow. This is another reason why you should not leave your freshly washed (and therefore wet) clothes in the bin, apart from the fact that they will wrinkle and fill with wrinkles.

6. Use detergent for handwashing

Handwashing products create too much foam is used in the washing machine. This way, it is possible that foam or detergent residue will remain on your clothes, but also cause damage to the device. See what can happen in your washing machine if you put the wrong hand detergent in the relevant:

7. You don’t close the zippers and you don’t unbutton the shirts

If you do not unbutton your clothes, then it is possible that the buttons will “go away” during washing or their holes in the fabric will loosen. Also, from the open zipper of one of your clothes, there is a risk of damaging another garment that “lives” with it in the bucket, so you should close the zipper of the pants or hoodie.

The same can happen with bras or bra straps, which must fit in a special mesh bag if they are to be washed in the washing machine, along with other clothes. It is also important to check your pockets to make sure they are empty.

8. Use emollient on bath towels

If your towels are too hard or have lost their absorbency, this is because you are using a conditioner. The chemicals in fabric softener reduce fibre absorption, making your towels less rich. Try not to use fabric softener on the towels or put on a minimum of once a month.

9. You let the washing machine … cut walks

If the feet of the washing machine is not aligned, then the appliance will not “press well” and therefore during its operation, it will make too much noise and shake – even moving, especially in the stage of spinning clothes. Apart from the fact that the noise is annoying, in such a case, it is possible for the washing machine to wear out the floor and the nearby walls as … it cuts walks, as well as to damage its mechanical parts from the strong vibrations. Therefore, by aligning the “feet” of the device, you will extend its “life” time.