Laundry Myths Exposed!

Yes, that's right, I am not only a web designer with an international clientele (and international man of mystery), I wash my own clothes! In fact, I rather enjoy washing clothes and ironing. There is something about going to sleep on a freshly laundered sheet that was washed with my own hands (actually, washing machine) that I find particularly satisfying. I was so excited about discovering this list of common laundry myths that I had to share it. Now that you know the truth, whites will be whiter, and colors will never fade! Read on:

Not everything Mom taught us about doing laundry was on the mark. The Whirlpool Institute of Fabric Sciences sets us straight with these laundry myths and facts:

Myth: Bleach mixed with detergent helps clean and whiten at the same time.
Fact: Adding bleach with detergent counteracts the bleach's effectiveness. Instead, add bleach during the last five minutes of the wash cycle, or use the machine's automatic bleach dispenser.

Myth: Treat a stain head on.
Fact: Rubbing can work a stain into the fibers. Always treat the stain from the back of the fabric to help push it off the garment. Remember to blot the stain, don't rub.

Myth: More suds equal better cleaning.
Fact: Excess suds hold onto soils and redeposit them onto your laundry. If you have a front-loading washer, use a high-efficiency detergent to reduce suds.

Myth: Using the dryer leads to shrinkage.
Fact: In a dryer, it's the lack of moisture, not the heat, that causes clothes to shrink. Dryers with moisture sensors shut off the dryer automatically to prevent overdrying.