9 mistakes we make when washing clothes

Clothes are essential items in our daily lives. And, therefore, they deserve special care: they must be well washed, ironed and stored.

However, taking care of them is not that simple. Many women who have this task know that a small mistake when washing a garment can destroy it.

Below you can see a list of the most common mistakes when washing clothes. It is worth paying attention, after all, even without realizing it, you may be committing one of them. And, of course, from now on you should avoid them altogether!

1. Mix the parts

Many people, even for the day to day rush, end up putting all their clothes at once to wash. In the opinion of Rejane Quirino do Nascimento, textile products specialist and training manager at 5àsec, the most common mistake we make is mixing delicate pieces with normal pieces.

It is essential to recognize the care that each piece requires. Many clothes, including, should only be washed by hand.

2. Ignore color

It’s not just the white pieces that deserve special care (see below). According to Rejane do Nascimento, clothes must be washed separately according to their color. “This separation of colors is necessary and care must also be taken with the pieces that migrate, that is, they release paint”, she warns.

3. Ignore the tags

Most people are not used to looking at the tag of the garment, neither at the time of purchase, nor at the time of washing. However, this is an important habit, as the labels have symbols that show the best way to preserve that garment.

Rejane warns, however, that despite this being an important measure, the labels are not always correct.

That way, in case of doubt, take the clothes to a laundry, for example, right after the first wash, and talk to a specialist in the subject.

4. Put personal use parts together with household parts

Many people, due to lack of time, end up mixing personal items with household items when washing. However, this is a big mistake.

“This separation is absolutely important, even for reasons of hygiene and also because we cannot forget that our skin is very sensitive”, highlights Rejane.

5. Mixing heavily soiled items with others

Sometimes, for different reasons, some parts are much dirtier than others. This is a very common case in homes that have children, for example. And mixing them with the others – which have a little dirt or another – can be very negative.

Rejane do Nascimento explains that clothes with greater dirt require a greater mechanical action, that is, they require a slightly longer procedure. Therefore, they must be washed separately.

On the other hand, items with less dirt do not need to undergo a heavier wash, that is, this is damage that can be dispensed with.

6. Excessive soap powder

It is worth mentioning that it is not the excess of soap that will clean the clothes. Therefore, it is not necessary to abuse the quantity. After all, the more soap is added, the more the pieces will need to be rinsed, and can fade. In addition, if there is any foam residue left on the pieces, people with more sensitive skin may have an allergy.

“Today, modern machines already have a marking of the right amount of soap you should put through the amount of clothes and water levels. But we advise that this soap powder is diluted, so it does not harm the fibers”, says the training manager at 5àsec.

7. Too much bleach

Many people, believing in an immediate cleaning of a certain piece, end up exaggerating the use of bleach. However, there are no miraculous tricks to remove stains and there are fabrics that can fade and even fray with the use of inappropriate products.

According to Rejane do Nascimento, the best bleaches are based on peroxide – which does not harm the fibers too much. “But commercial bleach is used to whiten mainly light or heavily soiled clothes. Remembering the importance of removing all the product so that the piece does not turn yellow and that the fibers do not lose their elasticity. Usually we target the white pieces more,” she explains.

8. Leave the piece to soak for a long time

Rejane do Nascimento explains that, only when the stain or dirt does not come off immediately, the piece should be left to soak for a maximum of two hours. “It’s like a hair dye. When you spend more time on the wires, it doesn’t mean it will make them better. So is the case of letting a garment soak,” she says.

9. Forget the fabric softener

“The fabric softener serves to realign the fibers. We can compare it to a hair conditioner. Not to mention that the product leaves a clean smell on the clothes”, highlights Rejane.

Special care with white pieces

White clothes are part of most people’s lives. They are a key piece in the wardrobe of health professionals, such as doctors, dentists, physiotherapists, nutritionists, etc., and are also widely used, especially at the turn of the year.

However, because it is a very delicate color, which can quickly get dirty or stained, white clothes require special care.

According to Rejane do Nascimento, they must be washed separately from colored clothes and, if they are delicate, they must receive professional treatment.

“In the event of an accidental stain, it is important to wash and sanitize the piece as soon as possible. Dried stains become resistant and then are more difficult to remove”, says the specialist.

Here’s a tip for all the people who often wear white pieces!