How to wash things in a washing machine: how many times in a row to run it, is it possible to process only one item, how to choose the right detergent?

Thanks to the use of automatic washing machines, energy and time are saved, and things are put in order quickly and efficiently.

But even such a familiar household appliance has its own characteristics. In order not to be disappointed with the quality of washing and not to damage the machine itself, you need to know the basic rules.

We will tell you in this article how to properly wash things in a washing machine.

Preparing laundry

Even before starting the washing machine, it is necessary to carry out preparatory measures.

These include:

checking items for damage (holes, poorly sewn buttons, etc.);
checking pockets to ensure that foreign objects do not fall into the drum;
sorting things;
stain removal.

If the clothes that need to be washed have damage, they must be dealt with before washing.

Sorting

The first thing you have to deal with is sorting the laundry that needs to be washed.

All items should be sorted in advance, guided by the following laundry parameters:

Color (dark linen is washed separately, white - separately, colored - also separately).
Material composition (cotton, wool, synthetics, etc.).
The density of things and texture (jackets, underwear, etc.)

Items in contrasting shades should be washed separately. Even if they do not shed, you should not put them in the same load, as this will affect the quality of processing, and even dark items may appear dusty if you put them in the drum along with white laundry.

Sorting all items by type of fabric is necessary due to the fact that different materials require their own washing modes, setting the temperature, choosing a detergent, etc. Also, all items should be separated by type of clothing.

For example, jackets should not be processed together with underwear and shoes , even if they are the same color. Bed linen can be washed separately, shirts can be placed in the same load as T-shirts and tank tops, etc.

If there are too many things of one type, they can be divided into two or more lots.

Removing stains

Heavily soiled clothing with significant stains may not be washed out in the normal wash cycle. It is recommended to treat such contaminants in advance. Not only special stain removers are used for these purposes, but also homemade folk recipes.

They choose a means of dealing with stains based on what caused the marks and what material the item is made of.

Setting up a household appliance

Each automatic washing machine provides the ability to select a program mode and adjust the default indicators, as well as introduce additional settings.

Temperature

Even within one washing mode, Indesit allows you to adjust the water temperature settings.

Each program has an upper limit for water heating . If you are in doubt about what temperature to wash at, it is better to give preference to a lower one. It is necessary to take into account the color of things, their appearance, and the presence of decor.

When processing cotton and linen, it is permissible to select a temperature within the range of up to 95ºС. To wash synthetics, the temperature should not exceed 60ºC. Wool and delicate materials are even more demanding to care for. For them, it is advisable not to set the temperature above 40ºС.

In addition to modes based on the type of material, Indesit washing machines have quick wash programs . It is not possible to set a high temperature on them, since they are designed for regular care of things that are not too dirty. It is also necessary to take into account that washing in cold water may be completely ineffective.

You can find out what temperature is permissible to set from the information on the label for a specific item.

Mode selection

Automatic washing machines TM Indesit provide quite a lot of washing programs. The modes differ in the following parameters:

duration of processing;
water heating temperature;
washing intensity.

You can also set a delay, refuse spinning and draining the water. There are separate programs for washing sports equipment and shoes.

Indesit will tell you about the washing machine modes in a video:

Spin speed – which is better: more or less?

The spin intensity is set by the number of revolutions per minute. The maximum spin speed depends on the machine model.

The higher the spin setting value, the drier the laundry will be at the end of the wash cycle. The choice depends on the type of things. For cotton linen, you can set the maximum possible number of revolutions, for delicate items and wool - the minimum, so as not to damage the products.

If you completely refuse spinning, items will be removed from the washing machine wet after washing.

Extra rinse

The extra rinse function allows you to very effectively wash away detergent residues from the fibers of the material. But at the same time, the washing time is extended by several minutes.

It is advisable to use this mode when processing things of this type:

allergy sufferers;
children.

Also, the “Extra Rinse” mode will be useful in cases where the detergent has a very strong aroma or for some reason too much powder was added.

Easy ironing

This function can be configured additionally . In this case, an additional cycle of drum rotation is set at low speeds, allowing the wet laundry to be slightly straightened.

Overview of washing machine modes

On semi-automatic machines, it is necessary to manually adjust the spin, rinse, and temperature functions. Washing in an automatic machine involves automatically setting functions when connected, depending on the selected program.

In everyday life, daily washing lasting 30-40 minutes is in demand. Removes fresh, medium-dirt stains and small items. The “express” mode allows you to save water and electricity. Takes from 15 to 30 minutes, suitable for small items with a low degree of soiling. To wash effectively, you need to load up to 1.5 kilograms of clothes.

The delicate mode with several spin cycles is suitable for clothes made from thin fabrics. A similar result (but without spinning) is obtained by a hand wash machine program operating in a temperature range of 30-40 degrees.

The “Cotton” mode involves washing for 1.5-2 hours. Used for dirty clothes, jackets, bed linen. Temperature mode - 90 degrees, spin - with maximum speed. Intensive – allows you to alternate the “Cotton” program with a quick wash. Suitable for large items, synthetics, linen.

The “Synthetics” program is designed for synthetic products and mixed loads. Washing duration – from 2 hours, maximum spin. Among the additional modes, which may vary depending on the model of the washing machine, there are:

baby wash;
with soaking;
economical;
drying;
curtains;
silk;
sportswear;
night wash;
jeans;
bio-care.

Bookmark norms

The maximum permissible volume of items specified by the equipment manufacturer is determined by their dry weight. But it should be borne in mind that some products are light in weight but large in volume, while others, on the contrary, are heavy but compact.

Bulky items such as jackets or pillows should be washed one at a time. This will improve the quality of processing and will not create additional stress on the mechanisms of the device.

The best option for storing laundry is to leave some space on top of the clothes in the drum. This approach will allow you to remove dirt more efficiently and rinse the detergent thoroughly.

When loading the drum, it is recommended to adhere to the following standards:

For synthetics, it is enough to put things in ½ volume.
For delicate products – by 1/3.
For linen and cotton, it is possible to fill almost the entire volume, but it would be better to fill it to ¾.

In cases where the batch of items for washing has not yet been assembled, sometimes it is tempting to throw just one small item into the drum, for example, a T-shirt. At the same time, during the washing and spinning process, the work may freeze due to the inability of the washing machine to evenly distribute the laundry.

Is it possible to wash one item? If only one thing needs washing, then it is better to find a “company” to load it into the automatic machine. This could even be a clean towel, for example.

Silk

Ben Bryant / Shutterstock.com

How to wash

Natural silk is a capricious fabric, so it is better to wash such clothes by hand. Forget about bleaches and harsh stain removers, they can ruin things. For washing, use special gels for delicate fabrics or regular shampoo.

Silk is suitable for water temperatures up to 40 °C. Soak the clothes for a maximum of 15 minutes and wash carefully, do not rub with all your might or stretch the fabric. Rinse your clothes thoroughly to ensure they are streak-free after drying. You need to rinse several times, gradually reducing the water temperature.

How to dry

Silk should not be twisted: wet fabric can be easily damaged. Wring out gently, let the water drain, and then dry the item with a terry towel (like wool items).

It is better to dry silk clothes in a horizontal position. You can use a clothes dryer or a clothesline, but then you should put a layer of thick fabric (at least the same terry towel) under the clothes. Clothespins are prohibited; they will leave traces.

Iron silk clothes at minimum temperature from the inside out. You should not steam or spray it with water: stains and streaks will appear. To get rid of them, you will have to wash and dry the item again. After ironing the product, let it cool, otherwise wrinkles will appear again.

Choosing a detergent

Only household chemicals marked “automatic” are suitable for washing in an automatic machine . These products do not form abundant foam, unlike those designed for manual processing.

Powders

The product is produced in cardboard packs and bags of various sizes. The powder is measured using a measuring cup and poured into the powder receiver compartment on the body of the machine. The product is selected taking into account the color of things and the type of material.

More information about powders here.

Gels

The detergent is produced in liquid form.

Before starting the cycle, the gel is measured using the measuring cap of the bottle and poured into the powder compartment. Gels come in different types:

for black things
white,
for wool, etc.

Liquid detergent dissolves in water and rinses better than powder.

Capsules

Detergent pads are a relatively new product and are only suitable for automatic machines. They are not used for hand washing. The capsules contain a carefully selected composition of components, which allows you to do without other drugs (conditioner, stain remover).

The pads are used very simply: even before putting things in, one piece is placed in the drum, and the laundry is placed on top. Each capsule is designed for one wash. In the case of very dirty things, you can use two of them.

Even more information here.

Air conditioner

Using conditioner allows you to remove static tension from your laundry, soften the fabric and give things a pleasant aroma. Before washing, the product is poured into a special compartment of the washing machine, which is located near the powder receptacle.

Bleach, stain remover

Preparations intended for additional processing of things - removing stains and bleaching are loaded into a special compartment of the cuvette, which is intended for pre-treatment of textiles.

How much to load?

It is uneconomical to load things in small batches. If the SMA has a decent load of about 7-8 kg of dry laundry, it is more profitable to accumulate more of it in order to wash it in one cycle. By loading the drum to the maximum, you save water, powder, and electricity. Of course, you need to comply with restrictions - you should not pledge more than what is required.

Why you can’t overload the SMA:

Vibrations increase, especially during spinning at high speeds. This accelerates the wear of components and the entire device as a whole.
When overloaded, the motor operates under extreme conditions - it overheats and can even burn out.
In cramped spaces, clothes are washed less well and rinsed poorly.

It should be noted that the maximum load applies, most often, only to cotton; other fabrics - synthetics, wool and others - are loaded in smaller quantities. For each model, see a special table regulating loading standards for different types of fabric.

If you put off doing laundry, you need somewhere to store your dirty clothes. Often they are simply thrown into the drum. A musty and unpleasant odor may appear there, which will have to be removed using special means. Therefore, it is better to put dirty laundry in special ventilated baskets. Without access to air, in damp conditions, soiled items can become stained, and it will be extremely difficult to remove them.

Non-stop operation of the washing machine: dangerous or not?

The service life of a washing machine largely depends on the intensity of its use and compliance with the rules.

There is no clear answer to how often you can start the machine. But there is a connection between the load on the equipment and the service life .

How many times in a row can you run the wash? The optimal launch frequency is 3-4 times a week. If you need to wash a large volume of clothes - once a day.

More intensive use can lead to a shorter service life of the equipment.

How to wash white and colored items in a washing machine?

Regarding washing items of different colors, you must adhere to the following rules:

Do not wash colored items with black ones (the former may become damaged) or with white ones so that the latter do not become stained.
Soak bright towels and socks in a solution of boric acid (50 g per 200 ml of water) for an hour.
If possible, use soft water for bright fabrics. You can test for softness by pouring 25 g of soap shavings into a glass of water. The soap should dissolve completely.
Washed colored new clothes can be rinsed in a basin with a vinegar solution (3-4 tablespoons) to preserve the color.
When working with white items, it is worth adding bleach to the powder.

Drying

The drying mode is not available in all models . This is an additional option that allows you to process things by drying them. After such exposure, the laundry comes out of the machine almost dry.

In machines without drying, things remain damp even with very intense spinning. The presence of a drying mode in the device significantly increases the cost of the washing machine.

Read this article for tips on how to dry your laundry.

Recommendations

you perform a quality wash :

Things should be placed loosely in the machine, not in a pile.
If you have doubts about loading laundry into the drum, it is better to leave it a little short than to shift it.
It is advisable to wash items with complex decor in a special mesh bag. Moreover, even if some element comes off during processing, it will remain in the mesh and will not be able to damage the washing machine.
It is advisable to put underwear and other items made of delicate materials into the washing machine in special bags.

You will find maximum useful information about washing clothes and various fabric products here.