Washing machines are so practical: put dirty clothes in, press the button and wait. Nevertheless, you should follow a few tips for a perfect result. This not only protects the textiles, but also saves electricity costs and helps the environment.

Follow the care instructions

It's annoying when new favorite items lose their color and shape or are even completely ruined due to incorrect washing treatment. Therefore, always read the care labels before the first wash and clean the clothes accordingly.

Sort correctly

To prolong the life of textiles, first sort the laundry by temperature, then by color. White, colored and very dark laundry should be washed separately. Functional laundry, wool and silk need special programs and detergents.

Pre-treat stains

Worthwhile, as the entire wash load would otherwise have to be washed hotter or with more detergent. Citric acid or stain remover from the drugstore, for example, can help against annoying traces of deodorant.

Loading the machine

For whites and colored laundry, the drum can be fully loaded without any problems. For delicates and wool, only fill the machine halfway so that the delicate fabrics do not rub against each other.

Dosing detergent

Always follow the instructions instead of dosing by feel: Detergent formulas are frequently changed. It is also important to know how much detergent the instructions refer to. Tip: Ask the waterworks about the water hardness - hard water needs more detergent than soft water.

Select the temperature

To save energy, you should wash at lower temperatures if possible. Today's detergents are generally so good that 30 to 40 degrees is completely sufficient for optimum results. To effectively combat bacteria, run the machine once a month at 60 degrees with a full detergent.

Caring for sportswear

Always put in the machine separately from cotton clothing. Use a mild detergent, set the program to a maximum of 40 degrees and only spin a little. Never use fabric softener, as it will make the fabric stick together. Air dry.

Powder or liquid - which detergent do I need for what?

Delicate detergent forms a fine-pored foam that forms a protective layer around delicate fabrics such as silk.

Color detergent is the best choice for non-sensitive colored laundry. Ensures that colors do not "bleed".

Heavy-duty detergent is well suited for heavily soiled and white laundry as it contains brighteners and bleaching agents.

Wool detergent prevents wool fibers from matting and protects against strong friction in the machine.

Is fabric softener really necessary?

Less effort when ironing, protection of fibers and colors, not to mention a nice scent: there are many good reasons to use fabric softener. However, it should only be used sparingly as it is not absolutely necessary and is harmful to the environment.

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