How do you wash your clothes?

1. 82

   Millionaire Tipsposted 12 years ago

   How do you wash your clothes?
   
   I am  interested in finding out how people from different parts of the world wash their clothes. 
   Do you use a clothes washer for everything?
   Do you hand wash anything?  What do you hand wash?
   Do you use a clothes dryer?
   Do you use a clothes line?  How do you decide when to use a dryer and when to use a clothes line?
   Where are you (or what is the heritage of your particular clothes washing technique?)
   
   Anything and everything you are willing to tell me is appreciated.  Thank you for your input.
   
   photo is used via creative commons license from Mike Lacon
   
   

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2. 72

   lburmasterposted 12 years ago

   Washer and dryer. No clothes line. Texas, USA.

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   1. 82

      Millionaire Tipsposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Thank you for your input Iburmaster - a washer and dryer is certainly the most convenient way to do the laundry!

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3. 60

   fpherj48posted 12 years ago

   Hi there, Millionaire.....It's interesting that you're collecting this info...and I am happy to participate......I'm your average 2nd generation, caucasion American, retired woman....grandmother, married home maker.........
   My laundry habits and activities have changed through the years,  as washing machines have advanced to such high-tech, computerized "household robots"  and fabrics used for clothing, etc have advanced to shrink-free, wrinkle-free, color-fast......
   Unlike even 20 years ago, I no longer need to hand-wash anything (unless there's a time limit involved)  My washer has not only a "delicate' cycle, but one more gentle, as in "hand wash."   
   I will always continue to SEPARATE my laundry into  whites,  dark colors, light colors, & heavily soiled.......I go a step further, making sure each pile is in a "sub"-category.....such as.....all towels & wash cloths........all bed linens & blankets/quilts.....all underclothing and pajamas/nightgowns.......Come to think of it, I guess I'm pretty FUSSY about doing my laundry a specific way, but i"ve done it for so many years, I no longer have to think about it or put extra effort in.....Maybe I'M the robot!!  LOL
   I put everything except my own personal clothes.......in the DRYER (on appropriate temp for the fabric).....my clothes are hung outdoors all year excluding winter months.  I have an indoor rack for drying in winter.  To take care of any wrinkles....I will toss my dried clothes into the dryer for just a couple minutes to smooth out wrinkles.....OR, I'm still a die-hard when it comes to pressing my clothes.   Female friends will tell me I'm "Crazy," but I like the LOOK of neatly-pressed fabric. 
   This may sound like a lot of work, but it's really not.  As I said, it's all 2nd nature to me after 50 years of doing laundry.  Also, these days, since it is just my husband and me here......I only need to do a load of wash, perhaps every two days.
   I use both mild or heavy-duty detergents, as required......bleach for whites.....a "booster" product if I happen to have one handy........and a small amt of fabric softener........Laundry's done!

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   1. 82

      Millionaire Tipsposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Thank you so much for your detailed description of your laundry habits Effer.  It is very helpful. I do hope I receive much more input like this.  It is fascinating to read about how people have their own, very particular, way of doing laundry.

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4. 70

   teaches12345posted 12 years ago

   I would love to be able to use a clothesline.  The fresh air makes the clothes smell so good and the sunlight bleaches and deodorizes the laundry.  Our development doesn't allow this, so I have to use the machines.  I wash delicates apart from the rest and let them air dry.  Afterwards, I just run them through the fluff cycle.

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   1. 82

      Millionaire Tipsposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      I am so sorry your development doesn't allow the use of a clothesline.  That is so strange - do they maybe get the money for the dryer?  I have heard of some communities that changed their mind when people spoke up. Thanks for your input.

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5. 87

   Sunshine625posted 12 years ago

   I use a washer and dryer. I use cold water only. Never hot, seems pointless and a waste of money to me. I give the load a second spin before placing in dryer to save a bit of time in the dryer which saves a bit of money on the power bill. I wouldn't use a clothes line due to Orlando having some sort of pollen going on 365 days a year. That's all I got for you. I hope it helps Shasta!

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   1. 82

      Millionaire Tipsposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Thank you Linda -  I use cold water only as well.  I hadn't thought about giving the clothes a second spin though.  I'll have to try it.

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6. 81

   DeborahNeyensposted 12 years ago

   Front-load washer for everything, including stuff I used to hand wash that I now wash on the "hand wash" cycle. I separate everything by color and use environmentally-friendly detergent. Dryer for most, although I do use a clothes rack I have in the laundry room to air dry some stuff. The homeowners' association doesn't allow clothes lines, otherwise I might consider it.

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   1. 82

      Millionaire Tipsposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Thank you Deborah - I would love to have a handwash cycle for my clothes, although most of my handwash stuff bleeds. I hope your HA reconsiders clothes lines.

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7. 81

   Janine Huldieposted 12 years ago

   I am with Sunshine on this one.  I use a washer and dryer, always cold water never hot and agree about not wasting money.  If it is a small load I usually only do a rinse to save time and money as well.  Larger loads over course I do a full cycle.  Then everything gets thrown in the dryer too.

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   1. 82

      Millionaire Tipsposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Thanks Janine for your input. I agree that the washer and dryer is the way to go!

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8. 61

   jcevans2009posted 12 years ago

   I wash separate dark and light loads in the machine using cold water, and I have to hand wash some colors that bleed. I use the dryer for most items, but I usually hang delicates and favorite shirts to air dry over the bath tub. Sure wish I had an outdoor clothes line, but it's not possible at our apartment complex. I try to wash towels separately so that the fuzz doesn't stick to everything else!

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   1. 82

      Millionaire Tipsposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Thank you jcevans2009 for your input .  I have a tendency to buy clothes that tend to bleed so have to hand wash a lot of clothes for that reason.  And gave clothes that say dry flat.  I need to pay better attention to labels before buying clothes.

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9. 87

   Jools99posted 12 years ago

   I wash most of my clothes in a washing machine but always hand wash woollens and some of my daughter's more 'delicate' clothes like silk blouses etc even though my washing machine has a delicates programme - it isn't much good.  I use biological washing tablets and fabric conditioner.  In the Summer, if the wind is blowing and sun shining I always hang my washing out in my garden and dry it that way, I like the smell of fresh air on clean washing.  Sadly, in the winter it would freeze on the line so I have to dry it on the radiators in my house. 
   Like Effer, I separate my laundry into piles of whites, darks and coloureds before I begin.

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   1. 82

      Millionaire Tipsposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Thank you for your input Jools99.  It sounds like you are a good steward of the environment - using special detergent and hanging clothes to dry when you can. I will certainly have to look for biological washing tables.

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