Some friends are very diligent, washing their clothes immediately after soaking them. However, this practice is not scientific. Generally speaking, it is recommended to soak clothes in cold water for a while before washing. This has several benefits:
The technology enables dust and sweat adhered to fabric surfaces to脱离 from the clothing and enter the water, thereby enhancing the washing quality of garments while also conserving detergent. It utilizes water penetration to thoroughly expand the fabric before it enters the washing solution, causing dirt trapped in the fabric fibers to be forced to the surface, making it easier to remove.
Some woven fabrics with poor water-fastness are prone to color bleeding. Pre-soaking can timely identify these issues, making it easier to take preventive measures during the washing process. The amount of water for soaking the fabric should be sufficient, and the soaking time should be determined based on the type, material, age, cleanliness, and color-fastness of the item. Generally, down jackets for 5-10 minutes, synthetic fiber clothing for 15 minutes, worsted wool for 15-20 minutes, coarse wool for 20-30 minutes, blankets and sweater knits for 20 minutes.
There are four taboos in washing clothes by hand:
Avoid prolonged soaking. According to tests, dirt in the fabric fibers can be effectively penetrated after soaking in water for about 14 minutes, making it easier to clean. If soaked for too long, it can actually take more time and effort to wash.
Avoid using too much laundry detergent. It only shows its intended surfactant properties at a certain concentration; excessive use can weaken its cleaning power.
Avoid adding more detergent during the washing process. Adding detergent while washing will only cause it to dissolve unnecessarily in the soiled water, rendering it ineffective.
Avoid mixing soap and laundry detergent: Laundry detergent is alkaline, while most soaps are weakly acidic. Mixing them can lead to neutralization, which defeats the purpose of cleaning.
Washing "Color Transfer" Treatment:
High washing temperatures can cause color transfer; be mindful of this during washing. If color transfer occurs, quickly swish the garment up and down in the original wash solution, then rinse in cold water. If this does not work, soak the color-transferred clothes in a hot soap solution at around 80°C (a bit more concentrated) and swish repeatedly. Then, rinse clean with warm water; it usually removes the color.
Washing Process for the "Flower" Treatment
"The term 'bleeding' refers to the lightening of color in certain areas after washing. It is usually caused by excessive force during washing, uneven operation, uneven brushing, or too high water temperature. Mild bleeding can be corrected by laying the garment flat on a clean, even surface, gently brushing it with moderate force twice, then dipping it quickly up and down in a solution of hot, dilute soap with a small amount of laundry starch (add half a tablespoon to every 5 liters of solution), and rinsing several times. For more severe bleeding, re-dyeing the garment is necessary.
When washing cotton flannel garments, first soak and pre-wash the clothes in the washing machine with cold water, then scrub the heavily soiled areas with soap. Be gentle when scrubbing to prevent color fading or the loss of fluff from the corduroy. After scrubbing, wash the clothes with laundry detergent for 15 minutes at room temperature, followed by rinsing with warm and cold water, and then dry and hang to dry.
