At Chelten Cleaners we know how important your clothes are. That’s why we’ve compiled some simple tips to keeping clothes looking their best right at home.
Crisp, Clean Whites
Keeping Clothes White: Spot treat stains and rinse in cold water followed with a whites only load in hot water.
Stained White Socks: Add 1 cup white distilled vinegar to a large pot of water, bring it to a rolling boil and add socks. Let soak overnight, then launder as usual.
Laundry Boosters: Adding laundry boosters like OxyClean or Borax can help keep whites looking their best.
Bleach: We recommend to avoid using bleach as it deteriorates the fabric over time.
Fade Free Darks
Set the Color: Before your first wash, soak darks in a saltwater solution to set the color and prevent fading.
Wash Cycle: Wash in cool water, inside out on a gentle, shortened spin cycle.
Detergent: Consider using a soap specifically for dark clothing such as Cheer Dark or Woolite Dark.
Drying: Line drying is the preferred method for keeping dark clothing dark. Just make sure not to line dry it in the sun which will cause fading.
Eliminate Odors
Baking Soda: Add 1/4 cup to your regular wash load to neutralize most body-odor-associated smells. For tackling smells on the spot, try creating a baking soda paste with 2 parts baking soda to 1 part water.
Smoke: Pre-soak clothes in a baking soda and water solution to rid garments of cigarette or campfire smoke.
Perspiration Odor & Stains: Spray full-strength white distilled vinegar on underarm and collar areas before tossing them into the washing machine.
Forgot a Load?: If you left a load in the wash and it now smells not so pleasant, pour a few cups of white distilled vinegar in the machine and wash the clothes in hot water. Then run a normal cycle with detergent.
Stain Secrets
Baby Spit-up: Rub dry baking soda directly to the stain before washing. This household staple also gets rid of spit-up odors.
Blood: Rinse with cold water, then pour on hydrogen peroxide and repeat.
Deodorant Stains: Spray full-strength white distilled vinegar on underarm and collar areas before tossing them into the washing machine.
Grass: Pretreat with a prewash stain remover and wash in the hottest water that is safe for the fabric.
Grease: Use cornstarch or baby powder to absorb the oil, then wash as usual.
Ink: Pour rubbing alcohol over the stain and watch it disappear.
Paint: To remove latex paint, vigorously flush the stain with warm water then sponge the stain with 1 part hand dishwashing soap and 1 part warm water. Rinse and repeat as needed.
Rust: Add 1 cup of lemon juice to the wash cycle to remove discoloration from cotton clothing.