The Basics of Doing Laundry - Averett Admissions (2024)

Step One: Read the Tags

If you’ve ever been uncertain how to wash an article of clothing, just check the tags! They hold a wealth of information about how to go about getting your clothes clean.

Step Two: Check Your Pockets

We’re past the days of MP3 players being small enough that they get stuck at the very bottom but check anyways to make sure that’s nothing important in there.

Step Three: Sort Your Clothing

It’s tempting to just throw everything in at once but sorting your clothes by colors (light colors, dark colors, whites) helps with keeping clothes looking fresh and new!

Step Four: Treat Any Stains

Stains should be treated immediately but if you’ve forgotten or just didn’t have time, make sure to take care of them before you put them in the wash!

Step Five: Water Temperature

Dark clothing needs to be washed in cold water, whites in hot and for everything else, warm water works just fine!

Step Six: Detergent

Check the instructions on the container and pour in only what’s called for. Make use of bleach, fabric softener, etc as need be!

Step Seven: Wash

Dump the clothes into the washing machine, get it going and go ‘bout your business until they’re done (don’t overload it, and make sure the water level is appropriate for the amount of clothes).

Step Eight: Dry

Move wet clothes to the dryer, set it to normal and let it run! – Ladies, remember that bras and other delicates may need to be air dried!

Step Nine: Fold

Retrieve clothes, fold them immediately and congrats! Successful laundry day!

Step Ten: Repeat as needed.

I hope this helps, and please feel free to practice at home before coming to college. Next post, we’ll talk about sharing a public laundry area as well as the different types of detergents out there.