As mentioned in the last post, different wash spins are suitable for different types of clothing and material. A gentler wash at a lower rpm (recall this means revolutions per minute, of the washing drum) is suitable for delicate materials such as wool or silk while a higher spin speed works for regular shirts and sweat pants. Also, you want a high spin speed for a cleaner wash.
If you need to wash several different types of clothing at once, either to avoid the hassle of different washes, or your washing machine does not offer variable spin speeds, then you can do the following.
Separate the non colorfast clothing from the colorfast ones; colorfast refers to fabric that will not run or fade with wash. This is the bare minimum you have to do, unless you want to walk around wearing white shirts bearing color other than white.
Next you want to run the washing machine at settings suitable for the most delicate material of the laundry you have to wash. For example if you have wool top and cotton towel mixed in the wash, then you want the washing machine to wash at speeds, temperature adaptable for the wool (more delicate) material. Although this means a longer wash for the cotton material to be cleaned, this will keep your wool clothing in one piece!
If you need to wash several different types of clothing at once, either to avoid the hassle of different washes, or your washing machine does not offer variable spin speeds, then you can do the following.
Separate the non colorfast clothing from the colorfast ones; colorfast refers to fabric that will not run or fade with wash. This is the bare minimum you have to do, unless you want to walk around wearing white shirts bearing color other than white.
Next you want to run the washing machine at settings suitable for the most delicate material of the laundry you have to wash. For example if you have wool top and cotton towel mixed in the wash, then you want the washing machine to wash at speeds, temperature adaptable for the wool (more delicate) material. Although this means a longer wash for the cotton material to be cleaned, this will keep your wool clothing in one piece!
Fabric softeners
If you use or would like to use Fabric Softeners with your wash, then take heed of the following. Fabric softeners contain substances that bind to the fabric fibres, giving it the soft and nice feeling. However, it is exactly these substances that can cause problems to your washing machine. The softener will leave a sticky waxy residue in the compartment as well as the interior of the washing machine. Left unmanaged, this will build up over time and damage your washing machine. Therefore it is essential that after every wash with softeners, give the softener compartment, linen filters and the interior of the washing machine a good scrub. This will ensure a longer lifespan for your washing machine.
Regular Maintenance
On the topic of maintenance of your washing machine, it is important that regular maintenance is done. Check your WM manual for the maintenance cleaning run. Usually it is a program in the WM where 60 degree Celsius water is run with soap but with no load. Run the maintenance program twice annually or once quarterly to maintain good hygiene. Grime from the waste trap should also be removed regularly, at least once a month. It is also good housekeeping wiping your washing machine interior and exterior with a clean slightly damp cloth after each use.
