10
Washing Hints
i
Sorting the laundry
Follow the wash code symbols on each garment label
and the manufacturer’s washing instructions.
Sort the laundry as follows:
whites, coloureds, synthetics, delicates, woollens.
Temperatures
95°
for normally soiled white cottons and linen
(e.g. tea cloths, towels, tablecloths,
sheets...).
60°
for normally soiled, colour fast garments
(e.g. shirts, night dresses, pyjamas....) in
linen, cotton or synthetic fibres and for
lightly soiled white cotton (e.g.
underwear).
(cold)
30°-40°
for delicate items (e.g. net curtains), mixed
laundry including synthetic fibres and
woollens bearing the label «pure new
wool, machine washable, non-shrink»
.
Before loading the laundry
Never wash whites and coloureds together. Whites may
lose their “whiteness” in the wash.
New coloured items may run in the first wash; they
should therefore be washed separately the first time.
Make sure that no metal objects are left in the
laundry (e.g. hair clips, safety pins, pins).
Button up pillowcases, close zip fasteners, hooks and
poppers. Tie any belts or long tapes.
Remove persistent stains before washing. Rub
particularly soiled areas with a special detergent or
detergent paste.
Treat curtains with special care. Remove hooks or tie
them up in a bag or net.
Maximum loads
Recommended loads are indicated in the programme
charts.
General rules:
Cotton, linen: drum full but not too tightly packed.
Synthetics: drum no more than half full.
Delicate fabrics and woollens: drum no more than one
third full.
Washing a maximum load makes the most efficient use
of water and energy.
For heavily soiled laundry, reduce the load size.
Laundry weights
The following weights are indicative:
Bathrobe
1200 g
Napkin
100 g
Quilt cover
700 g
Sheet
500 g
Pillow case
200 g
Tablecloth
250 g
Towelling towel
200 g
Tea cloth
100 g
Night dress
200 g
Ladies’ briefs
100 g
Man’s work shirt
600 g
Man’s shirt
200 g
Man’s pyjamas
500 g
Blouse
100 g
Men’s underpants
100 g
Removing stains
Stubborn stains may not be removed by just water and
detergent. It is therefore advisable to treat them prior to
washing.
Blood: treat fresh stains with cold water. For dried
stains, soak overnight in water with a special detergent
then rub in the soap and water.
Oil based paint: moisten with benzine stain remover,
lay the garment on a soft cloth and dab the stain; treat
several times.
Dried grease stains: moisten with turpentine, lay the
garment on a soft surface and dab the stain with the
fingertips and a cotton cloth.
Rust: oxalic acid dissolved in hot water or a rust
removing product used cold. Be careful with rust stains
which are not recent since the cellulose structure will
already have been damaged and the fabric tends to hole.
Mould stains: treat with bleach, rinse well (whites and
fast coloureds only).
Grass: soap lightly and treat with bleach (whites and
fast coloureds only).
Ball point pen and glue: moisten with acetone (*), lay
the garment on a soft cloth and dab the stain.
