Clothing Care

Different laundry products exist to help meet the needs and preferences of consumers. An understanding of the products and how they work will help you select and use laundry products successfully.

Soaps and detergents are used in the laundry to clean clothing by removing soil and holding it in suspension in the wash water. Often the words "soap" and "detergent" are used interchangeably. Actually, the two products are different.

Originally, soaps were made from fat and lye. Today they are basically the same with a few added ingredients. Most laundry soaps now available are light-duty, granular or flake products designed for baby clothes and lingerie.

Soap is recommended for use only in areas with soft water because in hard water it forms a curd or scum that collects on fabric and machine surfaces. Eventually, clothes become gray, dingy, and greasy from curd buildup.

Today detergents have essentially replaced soap for laundering and home care. They can be used with all types of machine- and hand-washable fabrics. Detergents have some or all of the following basic ingredients:

Surfactant -- A surfactant, or surface-active agent, is the most important ingredient in a detergent. It has three main functions:

• Helps water penetrate into fabric and soil quickly.
• Loosens soil so agitation can remove it from fabric.
• Keeps the soil suspended in wash water so it will not settle on fabric.

Builders -- Increase the efficiency of the surfactant by

• Softening wash water.
• Providing and maintaining proper alkalinity level.
• Dispersing and suspending soils.

Brighteners or Whitening Agents -- Dyes added to make white fabrics appear whiter and colors brighter.

Anti-redisposition agents -- Helps prevent soil from being redeposited on cleaned fabrics.

Corrosion Inhibitor -- Protects washer parts.

Suds-Control Agent -- Controls amount of sudsing.

Fragrances -- Adds pleasant scent to clothes.

Other Ingredients -- May include oxygen bleach, borax, enzymes, colorants, and fabric softener.

Detergents are heavy-duty or light-duty. Heavy-duty detergents are designed for machine washing and are available in liquid and powder form. Liquid detergents are especially good for cold water washes since they dissolve readily.

Light-duty detergents are intended for dishwashing or hand washing delicate fabrics.

Laundry additives are products designed to make clothes look cleaner and last longer. They increase the cost of home-laundry care, but when used properly they also improve the results.

There are laundry additives available. Understanding the product benefits and how to use them enables you to make wise home-laundry choices.

Bleach helps the detergent remove stains and soils, restores whiteness and brightness to the fabrics, and serves as a deodorizer and disinfectant. You can safely bleach most fabrics according to label directions. If used correctly, bleach does not weaken fibers, fade colors, or break down fabric finishes. There are two types of bleaches, chlorine and oxygen.

Chlorine

Chlorine bleach comes in liquid and dry forms with liquid the more popular.

Chlorine bleaches are safe for all fibers except spandex, wool, silk, and specialty fibers such as mohair, angora, and cashmere. They are also safe to use on colorfast fabrics. If in doubt about colorfastness, test by diluting one tablespoon of bleach in one-fourth cup of water. Apply one drop to a seam allowance or facing. If there is no change, the fabric should be safe to launder with chlorine bleach. Do not use chlorine bleach if the care label warns against it.

Oxygen

Oxygen bleaches are milder than chlorine bleaches. Most are combined with a water conditioner and brightener. These bleaches come in dry and liquid forms and are often labeled "safe for all fabrics" or "all-fabric bleach." Oxygen bleaches are preventive ones and must be used on a regular basis.

Spray

Apply spray prewash products directly onto the soil or stain before washing. Wash the garment according to its care label. Prewashes are especially good for removing oily food stains from synthetics.

There are two types of fabric softeners: those added to the washer and those added to the dryer. Use softeners to soften and fluff, reduce static cling, reduce wrinkling, and to add a fresh fragrance to fabrics.

Add washer fabric softeners during the wash cycle or the rinse cycle, depending on the product. Dilute the softener first and do not pour it directly on fabric because staining may occur. If too much softener is used, fabrics feel greasy, may discolor, and are less absorbent.

Dryer-added fabric softeners come in liquid sprays, fabric sheets, foam sheets, pads, or packets that attach to inside of dryer. Sometimes greaselike spots appear on some synthetics from dryer softeners. If this happens, wash the garment again.

You will need a water conditioner (not to be confused with a fabric softener) for water that is considered hard or very hard. Most of Mississippi does not have hard water. However, certain lime regions with shallow wells have hard water. If in doubt, have the water tested at your county Extension office.

Water Hardness Table

A water conditioner softens the water for better cleaning. The best cleaning action takes place in soft water. For general use in an automatic washer, use a nonprecipitating water conditioner. Remember to add the water conditioner before adding detergent or soap. Be sure it is dissolved, and use in wash and rinse cycles.

These products add a finishing touch to the laundering process. They supply body to fabric, enhance soil resistance, facilitate soil removal in the next wash, and make ironing easier.

Starch is available in dry, liquid, or spray forms. It is most effective on cotton fabrics. Sprays are the most common type. Liquid and dry starches are more economical to use; however, they require more work than do spray starches.

Fabric finishes and sizings are formulated especially for synthetic fabrics, since they can be used with lower ironing temperatures suggested for these fabrics. They are available in spray form.

Disinfectants are used to kill germs in the laundry. It is a good idea to use a disinfectant when someone in your family is sick, you use a laundromat, or clothes have become contaminated from sewage waste (for example, flood-soiled clothing). There are many disinfectants on the market. Liquid chlorine bleach is the most accessible, least expensive, and easiest to use.

To sanitize clothing, add two tablespoons of liquid chlorine bleach per washer load. Add the liquid bleach to the water and mix in before putting clothes into the washing machine. If this is not possible, dilute bleach in one quart of water before adding it to the washer. (Such disinfecting should not be done on a regular basis with clothes containing silk, wool, or spandex fibers.)

Under normal conditions disinfectants are not needed in a wash because hot water, detergent, heat from the dryer and/or outdoor sunshine disinfects.

Consumers often think they don't need instructions for using everyday products. It is unwise to make this assumption. Products, even familiar ones, change from time to time and so do usage directions. No matter what type of laundry product you use, it is important to read the directions carefully.

Care also is needed to preserve the effectiveness, maintain the life of a product, and to insure safety. Follow these guidelines:

• Open all packages according to the directions.
• Reclose all packages after use to protect the product and prevent spills.
• Store all laundry products out of the reach of small children.
• Store laundry products in a cool, dry place.
• Do not reuse empty containers.

Many brands of laundry products exist because consumers have different needs, preferences, habits, and budgets. The responsibility rests with you to select the brands and products that will best suit your needs.

By Beth T. Duncan, former Extension Clothing Specialist

Mississippi State University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, or veteran status.

Information Sheet 1248
Extension Service of Mississippi State University, cooperating with U.S. Department of Agriculture. Published in furtherance of Acts of Congress, May 8 and June 30, 1914. Ronald A. Brown, Director

Copyright by Mississippi State University. All rights reserved.

This document may be copied and distributed for nonprofit educational purposes provided that credit is given to the Mississippi State University Extension Service.

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