Proper Handling of Laundry – Part 2

In Part 1 of this guide to laundry, we explored the concept of getting your dirty laundry to the laundry room. This week we will discuss those machines known as the Washer and Dryer.

Washing and Drying
Great strides have been made in the arena of washing and drying clothes over the last millennia. Since about 1910 mankind has enjoyed technical advancement of the automatic clothes washer, which has greatly reduced the effort required for fresh, laundered clothing. The best part is that you can have one of these magical contraptions in your own home! 

The wide array of buttons and knobs found on the washing machine control panel can be intimidating; but don’t be fooled, the operation is quite easy. Just find something that says "NORMAL" and push it. Good enough. If you’re looking to impress, change the water temperature. And if you really want to get fancy, try reading the tags in your garments and see what is recommended. That’s right; there is actually information on those annoying strips of fabric. Remember, you can almost never go wrong with cold water.

The good people at your favorite laundry soap producers have even dumbed down the process of measuring detergent. Gone are the days when you had to actually scoop powered detergent or pour liquid detergent. We now have the pod. Just toss one in with your pre-sorted clothes (see Part 1), close the door, and start washing.

Advanced Activity: Try adding some fabric softener to your load. Not only will your clothes be super soft, but they will also smell like a meadow of wild flowers (at least that’s what the television tells me). 

Upon completion of the wash cycle (which will happen even if you’re not in the room), the wet laundry must undergo a drying process. There are two standard methods‒each of which is acceptable. 

The first is to use the automatic clothes dryer. This contraption is typically located within three feet of the washing machine and applies heat and moving air to dry your garments. So look left, look right, or even look up‒you are almost certain to find it. Like the washing machine, the dryer panel is laden with knobs and buttons. Whatever you do, do not panic! The idea is to get things inside warm, or even hot, so just pick something that makes sense and push start.

The second method relies on a process that scientists call "evaporation." While somewhat more labor intensive, this approach is a safe, gentle, and environmentally friendly way to dry your clothes. All you need is an old-fashioned clothesline, drying rack, clothes hanger or anything else that will allow air to contact your wet clothes. Once you’ve draped your clothes, just sit back and let the wonder of science do its thing. This method is recommended for items that you wish to have last for a long time, such as printed tee shirts and sweaters.


Congratulations! You have now successfully made your dirty clothes clean. But the fun does not end here. Next week we will discuss the adventure of getting your newly laundered wardrobe back from whence it came.