Blue stains

Failure of a blue coloring in detergent, laundry aid, or fabric softener to dissolve or disperse

If caused by a detergent or granular laundry aid, add 1 cup white vinegar to 1 quart of water. Use a plastic container. Soak item for 1 hour; rinse.

Add product first, then clothes, and start washer.

If caused by fabric softener, rub stains with bar soap; wash.

Dilute fabric softener before adding to wash, rinse cycle, or dispenser.

Color fading/removal

Surplus/unstable dye

Irreversible condition.

Read care label on item; it may not be washable.

Test item for colorfastness before washing. Wash new items separately the first few times to remove excess dye.

Water too hot for colored fabrics

Irreversible condition.

Use cooler water.

Improper use of bleach

Irreversible condition.

Test item for colorfastness before using bleach.

Undiluted bleach applied directly to fabric

Irreversible condition.

Use an oxygen bleach.

Do not pour directly on clothes. Follow directions on package label for correct use.

Fabric discoloration

Use of chlorine bleach on silk, wool, or spandex items

Yellowing cannot be removed.

Do not use chlorine bleach on silk, wool, or spandex items.

Greasy, oily stains

Insufficient amount of detergent to hold the soil in solution until the end of the wash cycle

Treat with prewash stain remover or a liquid laundry detergent. Increase amount of detergent.

Use a sufficient amount of detergent.

Wash-water temperature too low

Increase wash-water temperature.

Wash in hottest water safe for fabric.

Fabric softener -- Undiluted liquid

Rub fabric softener stains with bar soap; wash.

Don't pour fabric softener directly on fabrics. Dilute rinse-cycle fabric softener before adding to the final rinse.

Dryer-added type -- Too small a load

Same as above.

Add a few bath towels to the dryer load to provide proper tumbling.

Improper dryer cycle selection

Same as above.

Use appropriate dryer cycle, i.e., permanent press cycle with polyester/cotton blends.

Dryer too hot

Same as above.

Reduce dryer temperature. Check dryer instruction booklet to be sure dryer is operating properly.

Holes, tears, or snags

Incorrect use of chlorine bleach

Irreversible condition.

Never pour liquid chlorine bleach directly on clothes. Use the bleach dispenser in the washer or dilute with at least four parts of water before adding to the wash water. For powdered bleach, follow label directions.

Unfastened zippers, hooks, and belt buckles that readily snag synthetic knits

Irreversible condition.

Fasten zippers, buckles, and hooks and eyes before adding to the washer.

Turn synthetic knits inside out to wash.

Rips, tears, and broken threads in seams

May be irreversible if rips, tears, and seams cannot be mended.

Mend any visible damage before washing, especially open seams that will fray and become difficult to mend.

Overloading the washer

May be irreversible if holes, tears, and snags cannot be mended.

Let wash load circulate freely. Use the proper water level for the amount of clothes being washed.

Sun degradation

Irreversible condition.

Check items, such as curtains, before washing by gently pulling the fabric to determine condition. If curtains can be washed, use gentle cycle.

Lint

Improper sorting; mixing items that give off lint (sweaters, bath towels, flannels with synthetics, corduroys, velours, and other napped fabrics)

To help remove severe lint deposition, hand-pat dried item using masking or transparent ape. Rewash with detergent and use fabric softener in the final rinse. Dryer dry.

Wash items that give off lint in separate loads from synthetic or napped fabrics. Turning lint collectors inside out may help. Wash alone heavy lint shedders such as blankets, chenille bedspreads, or rugs.

Tissues in pockets

Remove tissues and wash items.

Check pockets and remove tissues before laundering.

Overloading of washer or dryer

Wash and dry fewer items in a load.

Same as solution.

Use proper water level for size of load.

Same as solution.

Insufficient amount of detergent

Increase amount of detergent in order to hold lint in solution during the wash time.

Same as solution.

Clogged washer lint filter

Clean washer lint filter.

Clean filter after each use.

Overdrying in a dryer that creates a build-up of static in synthetic fabrics

Rewash and use a fabric softener in the washer or dryer or use a detergent containing fabric softener in the wash.

Use fabric softener in washer or dryer to reduce static attraction of lint to synthetics.

Remove items from dryer while they are slightly damp.

Same as solution.

Dryer lint screen is full

Rewash clothes. Dry in dryer with a cleaned lint screen.

Clean lint screen after each use.

Overall greyness

Insufficient amount of detergent

Increase the amount of detergent and/or use of detergent booster or bleach.

Use a sufficient amount of detergent.

Wash-water temperature too low

Increase wash-water temperature.

Wash in hottest water safe for fabric.

Incorrect sorting -- Transfer of soil

Rewash with an increased amount of detergent and hottest water safe for fabric. Use bleach that is safe for fabric.

Separate heavily soiled items from lightly soiled ones. Use a sufficient amount of detergent, hottest water, and bleach safe for fabric.

Transfer of color

Do not dry items. Quickly rewash with detergent and a bleach safe for fabric. Severe damage may be permanent.

Sort carefully by color. Separate white or white-background prints that are colorfast, colored pastels in solids and prints, medium and bright colors, and dark colors.

Pilling

Some synthetic and permanent press items have a natural tendency to "pill" (fibers break off the surface, ball up, and cling to the surface rather than break off like natural fibers). This is due to abrasion from normal wear and is commonly found on socks, sweaters, collars, cuffs, underarm areas, or any other portion subjected to abrasion.

Lint may be attracted to the little balls. To remove the lint, use a lint brush or roller with masking or transparent tape.

Pilling is a wear problem that cannot be prevented completely. It is a natural characteristic of some synthetic and permanent press fabrics.

Use a fabric softener in the washer or dryer to lubricate the fibers.

When ironing, use a spray starch or fabric finish on collars and cuffs.

Poor removal of soil

Insufficient amount of detergent

Increase amount of detergent.

Use a sufficient amount of detergent.

Wash-water temperature too low

Increase wash-water temperature.

Wash in hottest water safe for fabric.

Overloading of washer

Wash fewer items in a load.

Wash fewer items in a load. Sort clothes by color, fabric, and amount of soil.

Use proper water level for size of load.

Residue or streaks of powder particularly noticeable on dark or bright colors

Undissolved detergent

Add detergent to the washer first, then add clothes, and start washer.

Same as solution.

Some nonphosphate granular detergents combine with water-hardness minerals to form a residue

Add 1 cup of white vinegar to 1 gallon warm water. Use a plastic container. Soak item and rinse.

Increase water temperature using hottest water safe for fabric. Do not overload the washer.

Use a liquid laundry detergent or use a nonprecipitating water softener with a nonphosphate granular detergent.

Shrinking

Overdrying

Irreversible condition.

Reduce drying time and remove clothes when there is a trace of moisture in them.

Remove knits, especially cotton, while they are slightly damp. Stretch back into shape and lay flat to finish drying.

Residual shrinkage

Irreversible condition.

Many knits and woven fabrics can shrink when laundered. Allow for this when purchasing. Also check the quality of the item.

Agitation of woolen items

Irreversible condition.

Keep agitation in wash and rinse cycles at a minimum. Use slow agitation or soak method for washing and rinsing. Regular spinning does not contribute to shrinkage and speeds up drying.

Stiff, harsh fabrics; colored fabrics look faded; increased fabric wear and abrasion

In hard water, some nonphosphate granular detergents can combine with water-hardness minerals to form a residue.

Add 1 cup of white vinegar to 1 gallon of warm water. Use a plastic container. Soak item and rinse.

Use a liquid laundry detergent or use a nonprecipitating water softener with a nonphosphate granular detergent.

Wrinkling of synthetic/permanent press fabrics

Failure to use correct cycle

Use permanent press cycle on washer and dryer if available. If not, use warm wash and a slower or shorter spin speed. Use cold rinse. Remove items promptly from dryer; hang or fold.

Same as solution.

Overloading washer and/or dryer

Allow wash load to move freely in washer and/or dryer.

Do not overload washer and/or dryer.

Use fabric softener.

Overdrying

Put clothes back in dryer. Set control for 15-20 minutes on permanent press or timed cycle. Heat and cool-down periods remove wrinkles.

Remove clothes promptly after tumble drying.

Yellow or brown stains (rust)

Iron and manganese in the water supply

To restore discolored load of white clothes, use a rust remover recommended for fabrics. Follow package directions. Repeat if necessary.

Do not use chlorine bleach to remove rust stains. It may intensify discoloration.

Use a nonprecipitating water softener in the wash and rinse water to keep the iron in the solution.

For an on-going problem, install an iron filter in the water supply system.

Iron in water pipes or water heater

To restore discolored load of white clothes, use a rust remover recommended for fabrics. Follow package directions. Repeat if necessary.

Before washing, run the hot water for a few minutes to clear the line.

Drain the water heater occasionally.

Yellowing -- Buildup of body soil

Insufficient amount of detergent

Increase the amount of detergent and/or use a product containing enzymes, detergent booster or bleach.

Use sufficient amount of detergent.

Wash-water temperature too low

Increase wash-water temperature.

Wash in hottest water safe for fabric.

Treating synthetic fabrics as "delicate," giving them short, gentle, cool washes

Wash in hot water, at least 130 °F, (54 °C) using a permanent press cycle (with a cool-down that lowers the water temperature before the first spin). Increase the amount of detergent and/or use a detergent booster or bleach.

Launder frequently and in a washer with water at least 100 °F (38 °C) with a laundry detergent.

Handwashing synthetic fabrics with a light-duty detergent

For extremely discolored synthetics that cannot be bleached with chlorine bleach, soak in a product containing enzymes or a detergent booster. Or treat with a color remover by soaking according to package directions. Then wash in washer.