using a washing machine

[jono!!!]

I know this sounds pretty lame, but i have been married for 12 years and whilst I worked my wife did all the housework (bit old fashioned), any way we have now seperated (she moved out today) and I need to start doing things like washing clothes and could do with some advice, such as what gets washed with what, eg, dirty works clothes, underwear and socks, towels, new pair of dark jeans etc. i understand the basics like darks with darks etc. but could do with a bit more info.

MANY THANKS

[WendyS]

Light coloured cottons can be washed together on a hot wash, and you can include light coloured towels, and tea towels in this category.

Socks (if they're a dark colour) are best washed with other dark colours like jeans and other dirty clothes The colour will come out of black & navy socks so don't ever include them with light cottons. . Too hot a wash could damage the elastic on underwear, pyjamas etc. so I'd include them in on a lower temperature wash.

Woollens need a low temperture wash. Red is a nightmare colour on any temperature wash as the colour runs easily.

To be honest, I bung most light coloured laundry in on a quick wash much of the time and have always got away with it. But don't use Quick Wash all the time otherwise you'll start to get a smell like drains from your washing machine - run a hot wash for something at least once or twice a month.

Everybody uses their machine slightly differently so if the clothes come out clean without cross-coloured stains, I wouldn't be too purist about it.

[mgba_78]

I onlu use a couple of cycles on my machine..

I sort my washing out 1st..

dark pants socks knickers bras together -one wash - on 40 non colour fast cotton

white pants sock knickers bras together - one wash- on 40 non colour fast cooton or 60 colourfast cotton if they are particularly dirty

White clothes or pale colour clothes together (eg. t-shirts trousers skirts) on 40 non colourfast cotton or again if really dirty on 60 colour fast

Dark clothes, jeans trousers dark t-shirts etc on 40 non colourfast cotton or 60 if dirty.

If you wear shirts i put these in on a seperate wash norm on 60 cos i find if they are work shirts they can get grubby on sleeves and collar.

Towels on 40 machine wash wool

Sheets and bed covers etc on 40 non colourfast cotton

If you do a manual job and have work clothes and they get quite filthy if they dont come up as clean as you want on 40 non colourfast put them in on 60 colourfast.

Jumpers sweaters cardigans anything knitted basically on 40 machine wash wool.

As you can see i only really use :-

40 non colourfast

60 colourfast

40 machine wash wool

Hope this helps..if your not sure on something it always says in the label and if the label has been washed off put it in on its own if you think the colour might run out of it and put on a 40, this way it wont be too hot and shrink your clothes

Good Luck!!

[elviscilla]

You cant go wrong with a 40 degree wash, that way you wont shrink or ruin anything. If you have mucky clothes ie work stuff(overalls etc)/towels or underwear, stick them on a 60 wash - dark with dark so colours dont run into lighter ones. And lastly jeans should be washed inside out - they dont fade as quick... good luck

[October]

Sorry to hear about the break up jono. All the above is good sound advice. My extra bit is don't overfill the washing machine - check out the manual for suitable amounts/weights, but generally 2/3rds full max, so that you'll get a good wash and rinse, hence cleaner clothes, also the machine will last longer as there's less strain on the bearings. Also try not to fill the machine with just heavy clothes, put a range of clothes in, so it's evenly balanced.

[shaneystar2]

All the above excellent advice ..Always wash jeans and dark T shirts inside out to prevent fading and I always turn jumpers and fleeces inside out too ..prevents bobbling.

[Kilala]

I'm sure your brain is swimming with all of this advice, but I thought I would add my bit in having just taught my brother how to live alone for the first time...

- When washing clothes, the machine is as full as it should be when you can still easily fit two fists on top of your load in the machine- don't pack clothes in tight as they will not get clean and the machine will eat (and choke on) your socks and smalls.

-When tumble drying, the machine should be less full, say a gap of potentially 3-4 fists at least, as the air has to circulate. If you have any cheap T shirts/trousers or anything a bit silky, dry it on an airer or clothes line.

-Iron anything printed inside out. Thick clothes such as Jeans, if they are to be ironed, may need to be sprayed with water, as the creases 'set' into them when bone dry.

- a 'Vanish' soap bar rubbed on damped stains before throwing them into the washing machine works wonders on everything I have had to deal with!

- If you use fabric softener, don't use it on washes with towels as it decreases their absorbancy.

- The amount of soap you use with the wash should depend on how dirty it is, but err on the side of caution. I live in an area where the water is really hard (Chalky seaside cliff) so I use roughly 1/2 to 2/3 or a scoop- equating to about half a tumbler glass.

Good luck! Any more help needed just shout- How are you with ironing??!

(Maybe yu should invest in a reference guide- Household Management for Men by Nigel Browning has great reviews and covers everything.)

[Toureman]

God, you poor man, find another slave, quick!

[mullein3]

use a decent washing powder like persil as its good for stain removing..some of the cheaper washing powders dont clean your clothes as well..if your tea towels dishcloths get really dirty then do a weekly wash on the highest setting that will make sure they come up clean..you can also buy vanish oxi action to add to the wash if clothes are really stained..just think jono when you have had all this housework experience ..washing etc you will make the next woman a lovely husband..she can sit back and relax while you do the chores!! best of luck!!

[Steb]

Mate, life's too short for laundry.

My four rules.

1. Dry clean as much as you can afford; - don't f*nny about trying to machine wash suits, expensive shirts etc.

2. Never ever wash your footie top in the machine. For some reason the colour will always run. Hand wash it with a bit of the powder in warm-ish water.

3. Do what everybody else said about washing the rest of your clothes ie: sorting them into piles and doing one wash for darks, one for light stuff and one for white

4. If you can, find somebody in the local area to do your ironing - I use a firm called Increase Decrease - they're all over the place and will iron 15 shirts for a tenner or so.

You'll look tidy, less stressed and have more time to get out there and meet new women (if that's what you're after).

Cheers, Steb

[jono!!!]

Thanks everyone for all the advice, done a couple of loads now and have had no disasters , yet!!!

THIS DOMESTICATED STUFFS NOT THAT BAD.

next step cooking a meal, anyone know how to turn on a microwave!!!

Many Thanks Again