So You’ve Fucked Up Your Laundry
Grime and stains are inevitable, but they can seem a little more daunting when you have to figure out what to do about them yourself. Here is a compilation of common cleaning tricks that you could give a go.
- Clothes dyed in the dryer
I honestly thought dying your clothes in the washing machine due to pieces bleeding their colour was a myth. I laughed along at Rachel with the live audience in Friends until a pesky red sweater dyed all my clothes pink making me look like a marshmallow peep as well. If this happens to you, don’t put the clothes in the dryer. Just remove the item that bled the colour and re-wash the clothes with detergent and bleach. If the colour is faded, but not completely gone, wash them again. - Food stains on clothes
Hot water may seem like an intuitive solution for spilling food on something, but this isn’t the case with fabric. Most food stains, as well as blood or sweat, are considered “protein-based”
blemishes. When submerged in hot water, these marks can coagulate and set into the material, which is why cold water is key. There are a couple of things you can try. Start by soaking the item in
cold water. Similarly, many people online recommend rubbing detergent on the stain with an ice cube. In my experience, this only fades the stain. I’ve found blotting the mark with white
vinegar pretty effective. If you have stain remover handy, soak the spot before washing the piece of clothing. - Dirty white shoes
Your white sneakers are bound to go through a lot at university. If you wake up from a night out with your once-flawless white shoes covered in dirt and grime, don’t panic. The first step is Lysol wipes.
Starting with the rubber soles, scrub until they gleam, then do the same with the leather. More permanent damage arises when dirt gets into scuff marks. Get off what you can with the wipes, then dab the marks with bleach. Buying fresh white laces will make the shoes look good as new, or clean yours by soaking them in detergent and cold water before rinsing them.
Overall, with any stain, the key is to address the blemish as soon as possible. The longer you leave the stain, the harder it will be to remove. Also avoid putting clothes in the dryer before you are done removing the stains. Time and heat help stains set into fabric, basically
guaranteeing that you get stuck with the new discoloration.
And if you really struggling, calling your mom is never a bad option.
