Vertical or drum type? Surprisingly unknown ways to wash towels properly with different washing machines
2024/08/01
table of contents
- When is the right time to wash your towels?
- Dry towels that cannot be washed immediately
- Wash towels separately from other items and thoroughly
- If washing with other items, use a laundry net.
- Try not to use leftover bath water
- Rinsing is the key to laundry! Additional rinsing is recommended
- How to wash towels in different washing machines
- Summary
"I washed my towels in a drum washing machine and they became stiff."I hear this story often, but when I ask more about it, it usually comes down to the washing method.
In fact, the way you wash towels varies slightly depending on whether you use a top-loading washing machine or a drum-loading washing machine.
This time,Little-known facts about how to wash towels properly using different washing machinesI will introduce you.
We will also answer some of the little questions you may have about laundry, such as "When should you change your towels?", "Is it okay to pile up laundry in the washing machine?", and "Is it okay to wash clothes in leftover bath water?"
When is the right time to wash your towels?
The best time to wash your towels is"As soon as you use it"or sending us a message on"As soon as it gets wet.".
Because,Dirt is easier to remove when it's fresh, and odor-causing bacteria have not yet multiplied.On the other hand, if you leave it, the dirt will oxidize and bacteria will grow, making it difficult to remove even with washing.
For example, a bath towel after a bath. In fact, you sweat more than you think after a bath, soRepeated use of bath towels can cause dirt to accumulate and lead to odors.
The towels you use to dry your hands in the bathroom or washroom will gradually pick up residual dirt, sebum, dead skin cells, etc.Wet towels tend to absorb odorous substances floating in the air.This can cause the towel itself to take on an odor.
However, it is difficult to wash bath towels immediately after taking a bath, or to change and wash hand towels every time you use them. For example,Replace and wash after one day of use.Such,Wash as often as possiblePlease try doing that. I think that will make a big difference.
In addition, the hotter and more humid the environment, the easier it is for bacteria and mold to grow.Change and wash more frequently in hot weatheris also the point.
Dry towels that cannot be washed immediately
Ideally, you should wash the damp towel immediately after use.If you can't wash it right away, dry it first.
This is not a very good method for removing dirt, but it is a first aid measure to prevent odors and mold growth in the summer if left wet.
Also, even though you're going to wash it later,Don't just throw your laundry in the washing machine.
The inside of a washing machine has poor ventilation and high humidity, so if dirty or damp items accumulate inside it, mold will quickly grow.
If you have no choice but to store your laundry because you don't have enough space, try to pack it as loosely as possible and always leave the lid open.
Please note that if you have a drum-type washing machine, it is dangerous to leave the door open, so please avoid this method.
Wash towels separately from other items and thoroughly
A fully automatic washing machine determines the amount of water, washing time, mechanical power, etc. based on the weight of the laundry put in.
When comparing towels to clothes, towels have a larger volume even with the same mass, so if washing conditions are determined solely by mass, the amount of water and mechanical power will tend to be insufficient, resulting in reduced washing efficiency.
Unfortunately, even the latest washing machines cannot measure the volume of laundry.Towels are grouped together with towels only, and conditions are set manually.This is the important point for washing thoroughly.
If you want to wash towels,The amount to be poured at one time should be about 70% of the maximum capacity. and select loop cut from theSet water volume to maximumAs a rough guide, you want to make sure the laundry is completely submerged and not sticking out of the water.
Washing machine manufacturers also recommend that "in order to improve cleaning efficiency and reduce damage to laundry, the amount of laundry loaded should be limited to 70% of the washing machine's rated capacity and the water volume should be set to the maximum rated level."
In addition, towels are thicker than other textile products, and dirt becomes difficult to remove if it penetrates deep into the fabric or fibers.If you are concerned about dirt or odor, wash it thoroughly.Try washing it.
Dirt will be easier to remove if you choose the "Thorough Course" or "Stubborn Stains Course" available in addition to the normal course, or by setting the washing time to a longer time.
Washing towels separately, to customize the washing method according to the volume and degree of dirt, but the main reason isBecause I want to rinse thoroughly.
Recently, there are many detergents that only require one rinse, but towels have a much larger amount of water remaining in the fabric after spin-drying than other laundry items.If you don't rinse thoroughly, dirt and detergent will remain..
If washing with other items, use a laundry net.
If you really want to wash towels and other laundry together,Please put everything except towels in a laundry net..
Also, use a laundry net to prevent lint from falling off the towel.Small detailsPlease choose.
When placing items in a net, it is best to fold delicate items neatly and place them in a smaller net by themselves, but items that can be washed a little roughly can be placed loosely in a larger net.
Try not to use leftover bath water
The higher the water temperature, the easier it is to remove dirt, especially oil stains.
In Europe, where the water is hard and detergent is less effective, washing machines often have a function to boil water.
In Japan, the water is generally soft, so there is no problem doing laundry at room temperature, and I think using hot leftover bath water in the winter when the tap water is cold is an effective way to remove oil stains.
But,While using leftover bath water for laundry has the advantage of being able to remove oily stains, it also has some disadvantages..
The leftover bath water contains dirt that has fallen off your body, and its high temperature makes it an easy environment for bacteria to grow.
To put it in extreme terms, tap water is clean water that has been sterilized and filtered,The leftover bath water is "dirty water" that is a mixture of dirt, sweat, sebum, etc.It will be said.
Of course, the degree of dirtiness of the water varies depending on how you bathe and the number of people in the bath, so it is not true that the water is unusable just because it is dirty.Detergent also acts on dirt in the remaining water, so the detergent is not effective.There is also a thing.
Using leftover bath water is a good idea from the perspective of saving water, but it is important to carefully consider the balance between the benefits of temperature and the drawbacks of dirt before using it.
Incidentally,If you use leftover bath water, use it only for the first wash.so,Never use for rinsingLet's do it.
Rinsing is the key to laundry! Additional rinsing is recommended
No matter how advanced washing machines and detergents become,Rinse is the key to laundry.
Washing is the process of dissolving dirt in water and removing it, but rinsing is the process of diluting the water that contains the dirt.The more times you rinse and the more water you use, the less dirt will remain..
On the other hand, if the laundry is not rinsed properly, it will be squeezed and dried while still absorbing the water mixed with dirt. Towels in particular contain a large amount of water, so if there is dirt left in the rinse water, the dirt will remain in the water after the spin cycle.
When washing towels, do not use the usual rinse cycle.Choose a water-filled rinse cycle or add an extra rinse and spin cycle after the wash cycle is completeis recommended.
Also, depending on the model of washing machine, selecting a "thorough cycle" may increase the number of rinses or require water-filled rinsing, so be sure to check the cycles on your home washing machine.
How to wash towels in different washing machines
For vertical washing machines
There are many types of fully automatic vertical washing machines with various functions, but basically,Put in about 70% of the maximum washing capacity of the towels.InManually set water volume to maximumPlease wash it.
The course you choose"Meditative Course","Stubborn dirt course"If the towels are relatively new and not very dirty, the regular course is fine.
For safety reasons, many fully automatic washing machines do not allow you to check the status during use, so it is recommended to put in only a small amount of laundry.First, set the washing cycle to a level that will thoroughly wash the clothes.This is the key to not failing.
For towels only, do not use the drying function on the washing machine.It will look better if you take it out immediately and shake it before hanging it out to dry..
For drum-type washing machines
In the case of drum-type washing machines, there are many types where the amount of water cannot be precisely adjusted."Meditative Course","Stubborn dirt course"Let's choose.
If you have a model that allows you to adjust the water volume and time,Time is longer than usualToSet the water volume to maximumIt would be a good idea to do so.
Please choose detergent that is specifically designed for drum-type washing machines or that is compatible with one rinse cycle. Drum-type washing machines use less water, soChoose a detergent that rinses easilyThe point is.
In addition, Drum-type washing machines tend to crush the pile and make the garment stiff, so be sure to cycle through the drying process in succession..
If you don't want to dry it, select the dry or delicate cycle, which will prevent the garment from becoming stiff even if you hang it to dry.
For two-tub washing machines
By the way, the most powerful washing machine, not just for washing towels, is the large-capacity two-tub washing machine.
Because it is not fully automatic, manual intervention is required between washing and spin-drying, and it is not possible to leave it entirely to the washing machine. However, the wash and rinse times, number of times and amount of water can all be freely set, allowing you to choose the best washing method for your laundry and the condition of the dirt, which is a major advantage that other washing machines do not have.
If you have a two-tub washing machine, check the movement of the laundry and the degree of dirt removal while it is running, and extend the time or add water as necessary.
When rinsing, check the cloudiness of the water and the amount of foam and add more water or rinse more frequently until the rinse water is clear and there is no foam left.
Summary
Wash your towels using a method that is compatible with your washing machine.
Fill the laundry to about 7% of its maximum capacity and wash with the maximum amount of water. If you have a drum-type washing machine, set it to a cycle that will thoroughly wash the laundry and dry it all at once.
It is also important to wash towels as frequently as possible after use.
If you cannot wash towels immediately after use, do not leave them wet. Instead, dry them first and then put them in a laundry basket to prevent odors and mold from developing.