Laundry doesn’t have to be a chore—make it a lifestyle win! Is your laundry running your life instead of the other way around? Washing laundry was not as easy as it used to be, the first washing machine was made in 1908, so there were hand crank machines or scrubbing by hand. But do you know the innerworkings of your washer? In its basic form the machines work by combining water, detergent, and mechanical action to remove dirt. There are several components to a washing machine which include the motor, pump, drum, agitator, and control panel. Each stage of the wash cycle holds a unique purpose, like the spin cycle. The spin cycle spins clothes at high speed to remove as much water as possible, which reduces drying time and prevents wrinkles.
There are two types of people when preparing to do laundry, the ones that sort by colors and the ones who don’t (I am the second option). When my mom first taught me to do laundry I would sort by colors, fabric, and how dirty they were, does it really matter? Yes! When sorting by color whites should be separately, pastels and medium colors can be washed together, while brights and darks should be washed by themselves. This has to do with fabrics picking up other dyes from fabrics during washing. Soil levels on a washing machine typically range from light, normal, and heavy settings. The light setting can be used for things like delicate clothes and light stains, normal is for everyday items like socks, sweatpants and T-shirts. Heavy soil is used for hard-to-clean items like bedding, washable furniture and sporting clothes (Maytag, 2025). If you are teaching the younger members of your family how to do laundry, print out a visual aid as a reminder and hang it in your laundry room.
Big brand detergents have developed stain removers in powder and liquid form to fight stains and are effective when used properly. Common stains consist of grease, grass, blood, and wine. The best way to treat them is quick action, the less time it must soak the easier it will be to remove, pre-treating the stain before washing is the most effective way. Before you buy a stain remover, check your cabinets there are probably ingredients to make your own! A versatile recipe includes one part dish soap with two parts hydrogen peroxide. Apply mixture to the stain, rub gently and let sit for 10-15 minutes than wash as normal. I use this method frequently and have success most of the time I am treating stains. It is important to read labels on any laundry chemicals as it can guide your washing to see the best results. Happy washing!
Sources:
Maytag. (2025). What Does Soil Level Mean on A Washer? https://www.maytag.com/blog/washers-and-dryers/soil-level-on-a-washing-machine.html