Author: Rodel Cualqiera

Our hygiene technicians at Martinizing Dry Cleaners receive hundreds of questions from budding Airbnb owners and homemakers about washing a comforter without damaging their laundry machines every year. Some of their inquiries read, “Can you wash most comforters with fabric softener?” and “Can you wash comforters with sheets in one load?” Our customers are responsible for our award-winning status as the Most Trusted Dry Cleaner in East Bay, and we love telling them how to take care of their fabrics the right way.

In this explainer, our laundry professionals will detail how you can wash down comforters without damaging them, how often you should do it, and the cleaning materials you need for efficient long-term care. We will discuss some of the techniques we use in our shop to reduce the load on your hands, laundry machines, and dryers.

How Often Should You Wash Your Bedding?

How Often To Wash a Comforter?

Most homemakers dread washing alternative comforters because of their sheer size and volume, especially when wet, testing the tensile strength of many washing machines in East Bay every week. They represent some of the most time-consuming and labor-intensive fabric pieces to clean, and many professional dry-cleaning services reflect that in their prices. Some comforters cost thousands of dollars and feature delicate and high-thread-count constructions that could make a cleaning session feel like a high-stakes game.

According to experts like Jack Sukalac, the director of comforter manufacturing giant All About Down, you only need to wash your comforters and duvets every three to four years, even if you use them often.

Related: What Size Washer for King Comforter?

Should You Wash a Comforter Before Using It?

Watch out for some telltale signs of dirt and grime, like visible stains, deflation, and odor, before you take your comforters and duvets to the dry cleaners or throw them in the washer. Comforters feature a broad range of fabric combinations, and those with more wool, down alternatives, and down may require different maintenance schedules, so no hard and fast rule will tell you when to wash your comforter.

If you purchase a new one from the department store or factory outlet, we recommend washing comforters before use. It might have dust, dyes, excess chemicals, and components that may irritate your skin, which washing will remove. These harmful materials might still be present even if you receive your comforter in an airtight bag.

Use a Duvet Cover To Extend Time Between Washes

If you want to prolong intervals between washes, our laundry professionals recommend you use a duvet cover.

A duvet cover is like a thick pillowcase that acts as a protective layer for your beddings, using wool, feathers, and down or down alternatives to shield your comforter from dust and stains. Duvet covers prove far easier to wash than comforters because they are like bags filled with the same material as your bed sheets, even though American hoteliers tend to call them comforters too.

How Often Should You Wash Your Duvet Cover?

Duvet covers are significantly cheaper than comforters, so you can put them in the laundry chute whenever you feel like they are dirty without worrying if they will lose their luster. However, if you have multiple bedrooms, washing your duvet covers all at once can challenge the limits of your home machines. Instead, take them to a professional laundry service like Martinizing Dry Cleaning and let our experienced technicians do the heavy lifting for you.

How Often Should You Wash Blankets?

Most experts recommend that you wash your blankets once every couple of weeks, but your cleaning schedules might change depending on your needs and sleeping schedules. For example, if you have pollen or dust allergies, you might need to wash your blankets more often, and if you sweat a lot during sleep, you might need to change them every week.

If someone lies in your bed with a contagious illness, such as a common cold or the flu, you should wash your sheets immediately after they get well or stop using your bedroom for sleep.

At Martinizing Dry Cleaning, we serve many clients who wonder if they should wash their sheets more often if their golden retrievers, cats, and ferrets sleep in their beds. The answer is almost always yes, even if their pets are hypoallergenic.

How To Wash a Comforter With the Right Materials

The Care Label

At Martinizing Dry Cleaning, our technicians prefer not to dry clean comforters. Dry cleaning might wash away expensive organic dyes and damage their internal fiber content.

Comforters with high wool, down, silk, linen, and cotton content often shrink because they can absorb large amounts of hot water or cold water, releasing the air and tension that manufacturers weave into them on the production line. However, some comforters insist on dry-clean-only care. So review the care labels on your beddings before putting them in the washer.

Laundry Detergents

Our laundry technicians use a broad range of laundry detergents for cleaning comforters. We recommend the following brands and variants:

• Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day Lavender Scent with Essential Oils
• Tide Simply Clean & Fresh Liquid Laundry Detergent, Refreshing Breeze
• Tide Ultra Stain Release
• Seventh Generation Concentrated Laundry Detergent, Unscented
• All Liquid Laundry Detergent with Stain Lifters, Clear for Sensitive Skin

We recommend using scent-free and dye-free versions of laundry detergents as they make the safest choices in our professional opinion. However, many brands use organic fragrances that dissolve well in the wash. We never use fabric conditioners and softeners on comforters as they might reduce their fluff levels or cause them to shrink.

Our professionals avoid powdered detergents because they might leave a residue if they don’t dissolve 100% in the machine. Our cleaning agents are always non-toxic, safe for sensitive skin, and eco-friendly.

Spot Cleaners

If you find stains on your comforters, like blood, sauce, and oils, use enzyme sprays like the Zout Laundry Stain Remover Spray or Shout Triple-Acting before putting them in the machine. These two variants are safe for color-fast fabrics. They also work in various water temperatures.

A Washer and Dryer That Can Handle Your Comforters

Most home machines are too small to wash more than two comforters at a time. Get an electronic weighing scale, put your comforters in a basket, and weigh them. If they are heavier than 16 pounds, you need a machine that measures at least 4.5 cubic feet in size.

Most laundry room washers are 3.5 cubic feet and can accommodate a queen-size comforter. A 3.8 cubic feet washer can fit a king-size comforter, although it is all it can hold in one load.

A comforter needs to tumble and bounce around freely inside a commercial grade residential dryer, so we recommend a model at least twice the size of your washer. If you don’t live in a polluted area, air-drying your comforters offers the most cost-efficient choice.

How Much Time Will You Need To Clean a Comforter?

A comforter requires two to three rinse cycles to remove 100% of the detergent and soap in its inner layers. It also needs low heat drying with periodic repositioning to eliminate the wet spots the machine might miss. Altogether, the process takes at least three hours to completely dry.

A Simple, Step-by-Step Guide to Cleaning Your Comforters

Step 1: Spot Treat

Spray Zout or Shout directly onto new stains. If you spot tough stains like blood, wine, and coffee, use OxiClean for an overnight spot-soak. Rub opposing sides of the stained fabric together to lift the stains before putting the comforter in a washing machine.

Step 2: Machine Wash Repeatedly

Place your comforter in a washing machine on a delicate cycle with cold or warm water and one of our recommended detergents. When it finishes, put it through a rinse cycle with no fabric softeners or soap to remove detergent residue from its inner layers. Readjust your comforter a few times per rinse cycle to eliminate folded or hidden spots that your machine might miss.

Machine wash and spot treat your comforter repeatedly until you erase all traces of stains and blemishes because they will set once you place them in a commercial dryer.

If the stains do not respond to your treatments, get some professional help.

Step 3: Dry on Low Heat

Place your comforter in a large capacity dryer on low to medium heat. Reposition and remove clumps every 20 to 30 minutes to ensure thorough drying.

Set your dryer on high heat for a maximum time of 20 minutes to kill dust mites, allergens, and microbes. Prolonged exposure to high heat can harm silk, down, and wool.

Save Time and Money by Having Trained Professionals Wash Your Comforters

In a post-pandemic era where hygiene standards are higher than ever, every homeowner and Airbnb proprietor must learn how to sanitize their beddings while keeping them soft, fresh, and brand-new. If you’re in the East Bay, California, contact Martinizing Dry Cleaning to learn more about how to wash a comforter. Dial (925) 938-5000 today and get a free consultation.

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This article is for you if you are looking for ideas on how to clean white sheets. There’s nothing better than slipping into a bed with fresh, clean sheets. Unfortunately, keeping your sheets looking white and bright can be a daunting task.

This blog post will share tips on cleaning white sheets, so they always look their best. Follow these simple tips, and you won’t have to worry about your white sheets turning yellow again.

The Best Whitening Products for Your Sheets

White sheets usually start turning yellow and looking shabby after a few months. These changes are generally a result of sweat, body oils, and other fluids released while you sleep. You can use a range of whitening ingredients to remove yellowing or discolored patches and extend your bedsheets’ lifespan.

With proper washing and whitening, you can expect your sheets to last up to five years, depending on the fabric quality. Read on to learn how to get white sheets white again with various whitening ingredients:

Lemon Juice

Lemon juice is one of the most readily available whitening products. The juice contains citric acid, a natural bleaching agent that effectively whitens your sheets. You won’t have to worry about the adverse effects of chemicals on your fabric.

Lemon juice will also leave a pleasant citrus smell on your bedsheets. Here’s how to whiten sheets with lemon  juice:

• Squeeze out the juice from one lemon and pour it into the washing machine alongside your usual detergent.
• Wash your sheets normally

Alternatively, mix a half cup of lemon juice with a gallon of hot water. Leave your sheets to soak in the solution for at least 60 minutes and up to a day.

Next, remove your sheets and machine wash them normally. You should not use this alternative method with silk sheets.

Borax

Borax is a versatile cleaning agent, and one of its common uses is to eliminate stains and whiten sheets. Here’s how to clean white sheets with borax:

• Mix a half cup of borax with a gallon of water
• Leave your sheets to soak in the solution overnight
• Wash your sheets normally.

Baking Soda and Vinegar

Vinegar is another versatile household product, and you can use it to meet numerous cleaning needs. On the other hand, baking soda is popular for its powerful odor-neutralizing properties. Washing sheets with vinegar and baking powder delivers sparkling results.

Simply follow the steps below:

• Add a half cup of baking soda to your washing machine’s drum.
• Add white vinegar to the line in the fabric softener dispenser. Ensure the baking soda and vinegar do not mix.
• Wash your sheets as usual

Alternatively, add a half cup of vinegar to one gallon of hot water and soak your sheets in the solution for at least one hour. Then machine wash the sheets normally.

Bleach

Bleach is a universal whitener. It can even whiten your colored fabric if it accidentally spills on the fabric. Bleach contains chlorine, which chemically reacts with proteins in your sweat, body oil, and other body fluids, causing yellow spots on your fabric.

Bleach is not the best whitening ingredient because of this chlorine reaction. Nonetheless, you can still use tiny amounts of bleach to eliminate yellow stains from your sheets. Here’s how to bleach white sheets:

• Start by machine washing your sheets with regular laundry detergent.
• Add a half cup of bleach to the machine’s drum before running a regular cycle.
• Consider running a second cycle with regular detergent and hydrogen peroxide if the sheets still have a bleach smell.

You can also whiten your bedsheets with non-chlorine oxygen bleach. Using this bleach with every wash and cleaning your sheets every fortnight will keep them looking new and fresh.

Liquid Bluing

If you are still wondering how to clean white sheets, you cannot go wrong with liquid bluing. The blue color counteracts the yellow shade, restoring your sheets’ bright white color. Fabric manufacturers even use liquid bluing in the white fabrics’ finishing process.

However, the bluing effect usually wears off gradually with every wash. Here’s how to wash white sheets with liquid bluing:

• Mix a teaspoon of liquid bluing with a gallon of water. Avoid adding this whitening ingredient directly to your fabric. You don’t want the potent chemical to stain your fabric.
• Add the solution and your detergent to your washing machine’s drum.
• Machine wash your sheets normally.

You should not use bluing in your machine’s automatic dispenser, as the product may stain it. It is also not advisable to use liquid bluing with fabric softener, bleach, or other laundry products except laundry detergent. Most laundry products adversely react with liquid bluing, resulting in stains.

It is critical to read the liquid bluing manufacturer’s instructions before using the product. Diluting instructions usually differ between brands.

Hydrogen Peroxide

Hydrogen peroxide is another versatile whitening ingredient. Besides using it to white and brighten clothes, it is also excellent for disinfecting laundry and removing stains. It is an oxygen-based, chlorine-free bleach.

While it is not as potent as chlorine bleach, hydrogen peroxide is a safer option for humans and the environment as it breaks down into water and oxygen. If you want to brighten your soiled white sheets, you can’t go wrong with hydrogen peroxide.

This whitening ingredient works best with another cleaning agent, such as baking soda. However, you should not mix hydrogen peroxide with bleach and vinegar. Instead, start washing with your active cleaning solution and do the second load with hydrogen peroxide to neutralize the odors or buildup.

Here’s how to bleach sheets in a washer with hydrogen peroxide:

• Add a cup of hydrogen peroxide to your washing machine’s drum before adding the sheets. You can also place this whitening ingredient in the bleach dispenser if you’ve placed the sheets in the washer.
• Machine wash your sheets normally. 

Tips to Make Your Sheets White Again

You may not achieve the best results if you don’t know how to clean white sheets with bleach or other whitening solutions. You need to do the right thing at each stage of the washing process to ensure the desired outcome:

Pre-soak Your Sheets

Pre-soaking your sheets in warm water for about one hour will help keep your bedsheets white and crisp. Add a half cup of white vinegar for every gallon of hot water. Alternatively, mix a cup of lemon juice or a half cup of borax with one gallon of hot water. Next, pre-soak your bedsheets in the solution for at least 60 minutes.

First Cycle

Avoid using a fabric softener when using a whitener in the first cycle. Lemon juice or vinegar can serve as a fabric softener. During this cycle, you can use a half cup of baking soda, half a cup of bleach, or the juice of one lemon. You may also use a teaspoon of liquid bluing added to a gallon of water or white vinegar added to the line in the fabric softener dispenser.

Second Cycle

If the first cycle leaves your fabric with residual odors or buildup, use a hydrogen peroxide rinse before running a detergent-free second cycle. Diluted liquid bluing can also do an excellent job at this phase.

Line Drying

Line dry your sheets in the sun if possible. Sunlight has natural bleaching properties, and it will help enhance your white sheets’ brightness. However, you should not leave your sheets in the sun for over two hours, as excess heat can compromise the fabric’s quality.

Frequently Asked Questions

Below are some of the answers to the common questions people ask about washing white sheets:

Can I use bleach on white sheets?

While you can use bleach to brighten your white sheets, ensure you use it only on washed white sheets. Unwashed sheets may have sweat, body oil, and other body fluids with protein. Bleach reacts with protein, resulting in yellow patches on your fabric.

What causes yellowing on my white sheets?

White sheets turn yellow over time due to the build-up of sweat and body oils. Washing them regularly with detergent may not eliminate the build-ups effectively. So, it is important to learn how to clean sheets with whitening ingredients such as bleach, baking soda, vinegar, lemon, and liquid bluing to restore their brightness.

Should I wash bedsheets with cold or hot water?

You don’t have to worry about damaging your white or light-colored cotton sheets when you wash them in warm or hot water. The high temperature helps kill allergens.

However, you should read the manufacturer’s care instructions before cleaning your sheets. The cleaning process may vary depending on the material of the fabric.

Related: What Temperature To Wash White Clothes

Will hydrogen peroxide stain my sheets?

Hydrogen peroxide is generally safe for fabric. However, it may not deliver the best results for some fibers. Synthetic fibers react poorly with hydrogen peroxide, usually resulting in a yellow tinge or stain.

How often should I wash my bedsheets?

White sheets need cleaning more frequently than other sheets. If possible, wash them every four to five days because stains set in faster on white sheets. Ensure you rinse your sheets properly to prevent a yellow, unsightly patch.

Bottom Line

Cleaning your white sheets may seem daunting, but with these simple tips, it can be straightforward. Follow these tips to keep your white sheets looking bright and clean.

Get Help from Professional Dry Cleaners

You may have learned how to clean white sheets with various whitening ingredients, but you still cannot achieve the desired results. In that case, you should consider leaving the task to a professional dry cleaner.

Martinizing Dry Cleaners is your go-to dry cleaner for all your dry cleaning needs in East Bay. If you need more information about washing white sheets and are in the East Bay Area, call us at (925) 528-4688 for a free consultation, and we will help you make your sheets white again.

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Denim forms a significant part of many people’s wardrobes. It’s reliable and never goes out of style. Regardless of how much care you exercise when wearing denim jeans, sometimes life happens, and you can easily stain your favorite pair of denim jeans.

As any outdoor lover knows, grass stains qualify among the worst and most stubborn stains to handle. Grass adheres to the fibers in clothing similarly to the pigments in fabric dye. Moreover, a grass stain often combines plant material, dirt, debris, and natural compounds from the grass to create a super stubborn stain.

That’s why grass stains prove challenging to remove. So, how do you get grass stains out of jeans? Wait, do grass stains even come out?

The short answer is yes. With a few simple steps, you can easily remove stubborn grass stains before they become permanent. So, before you throw in the towel and rush to replace your grass-stained jeans, give a few expert stain-removal hacks a spin.

In most cases, getting grass stains out of denim requires less effort than you imagine. In this post, our hygiene technicians from Martinizing Dry Cleaning will discuss how to get grass stains out of jeans.

Stain Removal Basics                                                            

Let’s start with a few basics on removing stains from clothes.

• Deal with the stain as early as possible. A stain that has less time to soak in requires less effort than one already set in.
• Don’t mix clothing you’ve treated with a cleaning product with any other laundry.
• Don’t mix stained clothes with other laundry.
• Follow fabric care instructions when laundering.

The Best Cleaners for Removing Grass Stains from Jeans

Knowing which cleaners work best for grass stains can simplify the stain removal process. Some common cleaners work well for grease and other stains but will only worsen grass stains. Steer clear of ammonia, alkaline detergents, and degreaser.

Helpful cleaners for grass stains include:

• Vinegar
• Dish soap
• Rubbing alcohol
• Non-chlorine bleach
• Enzyme detergent
• Baking soda

You probably already have some of these simple cleaners in your pantry. If not, you can get them at your local store.

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6 Easy Steps on How to Get Grass Stains Out of Jeans

Soak the Jeans in Cool Water

Fill up a tub or bin with cold water and let your denim soak. The water temperature matters when getting grass stains out of jeans. While it may seem natural to use hot water, you want to avoid that because high temperatures will set the stain, making it even more challenging to remove.

The colder the water, the more problems you might have with detergent. Find a proper balance in water temperature. Let the jeans soak at or below room temperature for at least half an hour.

Pretreat the Stain with Vinegar

Pull your jeans out of the tub and lay them on a flat surface. Then, mix one part warm water and one part vinegar. You want to saturate the stained area thoroughly by pouring it or using a clean cloth to dab it. Let the vinegar water sit and work on the stain for about five minutes.

Spot Treat the Stain with Detergent

Apply an enzyme detergent or non-chlorine bleach directly to the grass stain. If you opt for a powdered detergent, mix it with water to make a paste and spread it over the stain. Use a soft-bristled brush to massage the cleaner into the stain gently.

Let It Sit

Give the enzymes about 10-15 minutes to work on the grass stain.

Rinse and Check

Run cool water over the stained area and check to see the progress. If the stain hasn’t disappeared, repeat the steps above until you get satisfactory results.

Hang Dry

Once you can no longer see the stain, hang the jeans up to dry. Only dry your jeans after removing the stain completely. Sun-drying your jeans might do the job if you have trouble getting the last bit of green pigment out.

However, remember that drying grass-stained jeans, especially in the clothes dryer, can set the stain and make it much tougher to remove.

More Tips on How to Get Grass Stains Out of Jeans

Using Rubbing Alcohol

You may want to avoid washing your jeans for various reasons. Have you ever wondered how to get grass stains out of jeans without washing them? Rubbing alcohol is quite handy when you need to remove grass stains from your jeans without washing them fully.

Follow the steps below to remove grass stains from jeans using rubbing alcohol:

• Depending on the size of the stain, use a cotton ball or sponge to saturate the stained area with alcohol
• Give it ample time to dry, then rinse it with cold water
• Put some liquid detergent on the stained spot and rub it until the stain fades
• Rinse the jeans with cold water and hang them to dry

Using Plain White Vinegar

When you decide to use only vinegar to remove grass stains from your jeans, the process is like the one mentioned above, with some minor tweaks. Once you’ve mixed one part vinegar with warm water, rub it onto the stain vigorously. Keep rubbing until the stain begins to disappear and goes away completely.

After completing this step, you can wash the jeans as you usually do. If you plan to put the jeans in a dryer, inspect the previously stained area for any residue. Remember that the dryer’s heat will completely set any remaining residue.

If you notice any grass particles left over, simply repeat the steps of rubbing the vinegar in and re-washing your jeans.

Using Banana Oil

Banana oil works quite well at helping to remove chlorophyll that makes grass stains so stubborn. If you don’t have banana oil at home, you will often find it in larger drug stores. Start by rubbing the oil gently on the stain.

Let it sit for about five minutes to work its magic. Finally, rinse the jeans with warm water to remove the oil. When you’ve washed the oil off, you shouldn’t see most of the stain.

You also want to wash the jeans fully to make sure you no longer have a stain.

Using Commercial Cleaners

While household items offer an easy way to remove grass stains from jeans, sometimes you may opt for something chemically engineered to remove grass stains from clothes. Commercial products may cost more than household remedies, but they also get the job done. Keep a few things in mind if you decide to go the commercial route.

First, always try the product on a small, inconspicuous area of the jeans to see if it discolors the fabric. Make this a habit every time you apply something new to a fabric.

Use cool or room-temperature water as it helps to dissolve the detergent best. Cold water works, but it will slow down the process.

Hot water might also work, but you want to avoid setting the grass stain and making it challenging for most commercial products to remove.

Follow the product instructions diligently, and make sure you read and understand the instructions on the clothing tag.

Using Hydrogen Peroxide and Baking Soda

As a household staple, hydrogen peroxide works wonders when it comes to knowing how to get grass stains out of denim. To treat grass stains with hydrogen peroxide, mix one part hydrogen peroxide with three parts cool water and rub it into the stain, along with baking soda. The chemical reaction between hydrogen peroxide and baking soda helps to lift the grass out of the fibers.

Alternatively, add a few drops of hydrogen peroxide to a tablespoon of baking soda to form a thick paste. Smear the paste onto the stained area and let it sit for about half an hour. Then scrub with a soft brush before rinsing with cool water and washing in detergent.

Using a brush helps to get the paste into every last fiber, which will help to remove the stain thoroughly. Finally, do a final rinse in cool water.

Super Stubborn Grass Stains

Some grass stains require an extra effort to remove than others, but this doesn’t mean you should give up just yet. Here’s how to get grass stains out of jeans that you probably left in the laundry basket for a while.

Start by saturating the stain in vinegar, then let it sit for about 10 minutes. Saturate once more and sprinkle baking soda over the spot. Rub the solution gently to create a paste that works on the grass stains.

Let the mixture break down the stain for 30 minutes before rinsing with cold water. Is the stain still visible? Soak your jeans overnight in a gallon of water mixed with a quarter cup of vinegar.

This bath will help to rid your jeans of grass stains.

How to Get Grass Stains Out of White Pants?

A pair of white denim pants makes for a lovely summer look when on holiday or at home, but it’s also, unfortunately, extremely stain-prone. Nothing can kill your summer vibe like noticing a big grass stain on your white denim pants. The following steps can help you remove grass stains out of white pants.

Submerge the Jeans in White Vinegar

Vinegar tops the list of best tools for combatting grass stains, and here’s why: its mild acidic properties prove effective for dissolving stains. To get grass stains out of your white denim pants, fill a bucket or tub with one part vinegar and one part cool water.

Let the denim steep for half an hour. Consider treating the entire garment rather than spot cleaning.

Combat Set in Stains With Bleach

Bleach can effectively treat grass stains on white jeans. This brightening agent can effortlessly take your white denim from grass-stained to as good as new. Bear in mind that bleach is harsher on fabric than other cleaning solvents. So, rather than use it to spot treat your jeans, add ½ cup of bleach to the wash with laundry detergent.

Again, remember to use cool water as hot water sets in stains.

Sun Dry

Did you know that the sun is a natural brightener? After treating the grass stain and tossing the white jeans in the wash, hang them out to dry. Sunlight will brighten your denim and help to get grass stains out of your jeans.

Nothing beats the feeling of freshly washed, sundried jeans. With these steps on how to get grass stains out of jeans, your white denim pants will stay fresh and clean no matter your plans.

Related: How to Get Dirt Stains Out of Clothes

Bottom Line

Whether you’re a hiking enthusiast, parent, soccer player, or someone who loves an occasional walk in the park, you need to know how to get grass stains out of jeans. Regardless of the grass stain removal method you choose, you need to remember a few universal rules.

Time matters. The faster you can remove the stain, the higher the chances that you can actually remove it completely. Waiting longer gives the stain time to set in, and nobody wants that to happen.

Remember to use cool or room-temperature water when removing a grass stain. This will help the cleaners and detergents work optimally, increasing the chances that you can remove the stain successfully.

Avoid rubbing the stain excessively unless you’re actually cleaning it. Rubbing the stain makes it easier to dig deeper into the fabric fibers, spreading the stain further and making it harder to remove. Touch the stain only when rubbing a cleaning product onto it.

Armed with these tips on how to get grass stains out of jeans, you can lie on the lawn and enjoy the outdoors without any worries. Yes, even in your white denim.

Get Help from Professional Dry Cleaners

Martinizing in East Bay is your one-stop shop for all of your dry cleaning needs. If you need more information on how to get grass stains out of jeans, and you’re in the East Bay, contact us for a free consultation or call our dry-cleaning team today at (925)938-5000, and we’ll help you restore your jeans to brand-new condition.

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Red dye remains one of the most popular coloring agents for clothing items like knitwear and swimwear. It’s common in manufacturing components, too, like cotton, polyester threads, and wool. However, every year, thousands of people search the internet for instructions regarding how to get red dye out of clothes.

Red became one of the most prominent colors in the clothing of many ancient cultures, and it still remains popular today. Unfortunately, it’s also famous for bleeding over into other pieces of clothing during wash cycles, and every day, hundreds of people fish pink underwear out of their washing machines because of a rogue red scarf or glove they accidentally put in the mix. Some people find that their blue shirts suddenly turn maroon, or their beige curtains now have the hue of raspberries.

Removing dye from clothing can be a protracted and labor-intensive battle, especially when dealing with reds. So, in this explainer, our hygiene technicians from Martinizing Dry Cleaning will give you the low-down on how to get red dye out of clothes.

We will also throw in a few tips and tricks regarding how to get dye out of clothes with home remedies if you don’t have access to some of the industrial cleaners we will recommend. Whether you want a straightforward solution, like using dye remover on your clothes, or have the time and patience to get red dye out of clothes through multiple washes, we have you covered.

What Is Fabric Dye Bleeding?

Before you learn how to get red dye out of clothes, you need to understand why your clothes look the way they do today. Clothing manufacturers use different chemicals to dye their products, and some of them can stain forever.

Dyes and other coloring additives may wash out quickly on materials like denim and wool. However, designers preplan a base color that will stay on for years during the manufacturing process, no matter how many washes you put your clothes through. Red dye is usually a product of multiple substrates of coloring materials from natural sources, like beets, blackberries, tomatoes, and even insects.

Most of the clothes people wear today have synthetic red dyes, which imitate the hues from the natural sources you can find above through synthetic chemical bonds with chlorine. Synthetic and organic reds are famous for bleeding over in the wash. Your red clothing items may bleed on their first wash or after a few cycles, depending on the chemical composition of the dyes used on them.

If you find cautionary statements on the labels of your red clothes, such as “do not use detergent” or “color may wash away over time,” expect color bleeding. Even colorfast clothing items will fade over time as it brushes against other clothes in the wash or gets exposed to bleach, ultraviolet light, and hot water. If you want to remove dye from clothing and minimize fabric dye bleeding in the future, follow our tips below.

How To Remove Red Stains From Clothes

Most clothes feature a combination of cotton, polyester, acrylic fabric, linen, nylon, and spandex. Eliminating red stains from these materials can be challenging but not as arduous as removing them from carpets and curtains.

The Ammonia Method

Dry cleaners have been using ammonia to remove dyes and other stubborn stains from clothes since the ’60s. It’s no industry secret that ammonia ranks as the number one countermeasure we most likely recommend for anybody looking to remove red dye from clothes.

You will need:

• A quart of warm water
• Half a teaspoon of fluid detergent or dishwashing liquid
• A tablespoon of ammonia

Mix the half-teaspoon of detergent and ammonia into a quart of water and soak your red-stained clothes in it for half an hour. Never apply the ammonia directly onto your clothing items.

Home Remedies for Stubborn Stains

If the red dye persists, put one and a half tablespoons of vinegar into a quart of warm water and soak your stained clothes in it for an hour. Vinegar is acidic, so we don’t recommend it for linen and cotton items.

Using Rubbing Alcohol

Red stains can be nearly impossible to remove after they set in, so you need to act quickly.

If you have a set stain, dip a brush in rubbing alcohol and run it through the area with light strokes. As dye fragments and separates from fabric, remove them with an absorbent pad and blot the liquid. Keep the stained area moist until the removal process is complete.

How To Get Red Stains Out of Clothes With a Dye Remover

We generally don’t recommend using dye remover on clothes as it can affect their color when the stain is gone. Reserve this measure as a last resort.

Use tried and tested dye removers, like variants from Rit, Nakoma, or DeColourant. Mix their different components, following the instructions on the packet, and apply the mixture directly onto the red stain. Rinse the once-stained area with water and let dry.

Related: How To Get Dirt Stains Out of Clothes

Get Help From Professional Dry Cleaners

If you want more information regarding how to get red dye out of clothes, contact our dry cleaning team, and we’ll give you a free consultation. Call Martinizing Dry Cleaning today at (925) 938-5000, and we’ll restore your clothes to brand-new condition.

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At Martinizing Dry Cleaning, we entertain the questions of hundreds of parents, white-collar employees, and even newlyweds asking how to get dirt stains out of clothes. Dirt stains can come from a broad range of sources. Whether they’re from gardening work, puddle splashes from playing sports, or paw prints from your pet, they never fail to put a damper on your favorite shirt or suit pants.

If you want to know how to get dirt stains out of white clothes, keep reading. Our dry cleaning technicians will explain how you can do it without ordering industrial-strength cleaners.

Dirt stains on clothes rank as one of the most common problems we solve at Martinizing Dry Cleaning. In this explainer, our professional dry cleaners will outline how to get dirt stains out of your clothes step-by-step and which cleaning materials you should avoid no matter how much the internet pushes you to get them.

Whether you want to learn how to get dirt stains out of a suit jacket for an upcoming event or would like to know how to remove set-in mud stains from an athletic uniform before putting it away, our technicians have you covered.

What Are Dirt Stains, and Why Are They So Hard To Remove?

Dirt stains on textiles come in all shapes and sizes. Some come from grass, leaves, and other natural sources, while often-overlooked ones come from causes like cars, animal waste, and mud from shoes. The most common dirt stains we tend to from customers who don’t work outdoors involve some mixture of grease, coffee grounds, and sweat, with other human secretions that act as a primer.

Dirt stains on clothes differ from ones you can find on non-washable surfaces, like curtains, carpets, and rugs. Dirt stains are a common occurrence in homes that host children and pets. If you want to know how to get dirt stains out of various household surfaces, call us today, and we’ll tell you in a consultation.

Dirt stains are so common that most dry cleaners consider them the number one enemy of white clothing, but at Martinizing Dry Cleaning, we opt to see them in a positive light. Dirt stains prove that people continue to stay active and take risks, and we believe that is something to celebrate.

Our technicians know how to remove dirt stains from all kinds of clothing, and if you want to work on a DIY laundry project, consider this article your guide.

How To Remove Mud Stains When Fresh

Removing dirt and mud stains from your clothing is essential for your laundry care routine. The usual first reaction when people spot stains is to rinse them off with water, isopropyl alcohol, or tamp them in a rush to remove the pigmentation from the fabric at the earliest opportunity. If you must deal with mud and dirt stains, patience is the key, as you would need to negate this reaction.

Follow this list of steps on how to get dirt stains out of clothes:

• Wait for the mud to dry, which should not take more than five to fifteen minutes
• Scrape away the solidified mud using a spoon or dull knife
• Apply dishwashing liquid or liquid detergent directly into the area and let soak for ten to fifteen minutes
• Grab a toothbrush and dip it in water, then scrub the soap into the opposing sides of the area
• Put the stained piece of clothing into a separate wash from your other clothes
• Air dry and repeat this process until you remove 100% of the mud stain

How To Get Rid of Dirt Stains From Red Mud

Red mud is an industrial term for a soil mixture that looks like red dirt. It refers to the red particulates from bauxite, a metal oxide that refers to a by-product of aluminum processing. These red mud concrete mixtures are highly reliable, and contractors use them in a broad range of flooring and roofing materials.

Removing red mud from clothes can be challenging, but it’s doable. Here’s how:

• Follow the first three steps of our prior guide, but let the detergent soak overnight on the stained area
• Scrub the opposing sides of the stained area with a wet toothbrush
• Wash the item separately from your other clothes
• Erase traces of red mud with color-safe bleach
• If reddish spots remain, flush the stained area with rubbing alcohol before machine washing a second time
• Air dry and repeat as many times as necessary

Related: How To Get Hair Dye Out Of Clothes

Get Expert Help

Perhaps the best tip regarding how to get dirt stains out of clothes lies in knowing when to enlist the help of professionals. Call Martinizing Dry Cleaning today at (925) 938-5000, and we’ll save your clothes from getting permanent marks.

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You’ve wanted to color your hair, but accidentally you’ve dyed your clothes as well. It can happen to anyone, but because hair dye is a dye, it can leave stains. If you’re wondering, “How to get hair dye out of clothes before they are ruined?” you are in the right place.

Well, since each dye color contains various ingredients and pigments, you may need different treatments to remove dye stains from your t-shirt or sweater. In this post, we will share helpful tips and information on getting hair dye out of clothes.

How to Remove Hair Dye From Clothes: Is It Possible?

Like most homeowners, you probably want to know how to remove hair dye from clothes and whether removing dye is even possible. Yes, it is possible, and the most important thing is to act quickly by applying white vinegar or rubbing alcohol on your clothes. There are commercial stain removers that also do an excellent job removing hair dye spots on your pants or blouse.

However, it is essential to consider the clothes’ color. For example, if you wear white clothes, most of them require chlorine bleach to remove any hair dye residue successfully.

The most efficient way to remove hair dye from any type of clothing is to catch the stain while it is still fresh. If you notice a drop or two on your clothes while coloring your hair, remove it immediately. However, after you wash your clothes and put them into the washer or dryer, removing a hair dye stain becomes more difficult.

Related: The Best Time To Laundry

How to Get Hair Dye Out of Fabric: The Best Methods to Try

Before we explain how to get hair dye out of fabric, let’s see some efficient methods to prevent stains on your favorite pieces of clothing.

After prepping the hair dye, it is a good idea to wear an old t-shirt, a protective cape, or a cotton-blended material that you don’t mind getting stained. If you don’t have any of these items at the moment, you can also use a garbage bag as a cape which is cost-effective, and you won’t mind throwing it away later.

All you need to do is cut three holes into it for your arms and head to wear while you color your hair. If, despite your effort, you still notice a few drops of hair dye on your clothes, here is how to remove them:

Liquid Laundry Detergent

Believe it or not, liquid laundry detergent is one of the most efficient ways to remove hair dye stains from your shirt or pants. First, take a dollop of the detergent and saturate the stain. Then, if you have an old toothbrush at home, use it to scrape the stain. If not, you can also use a washcloth.

Then, soak the clothes in a bowl of warm water or the sink and let them sit for a couple of hours. If the hair color is darker, you can let the clothing sit for 24 hours. After that, you can rinse it out and throw it in the washing machine.

Letting your clothing sit in a liquid laundry detergent prepares it so the stain doesn’t set into the fabric. However, you need to wash it after that.

Hairspray

Hairspray is an efficient method for getting stains out of jeans, sweaters, pants, and shirts. We recommend using an old hairspray to keep the color from spreading further into the fabric.

One of the reasons why hairspray successfully removes hair dye from clothes is due to the alcohol base. It helps break up the color and absorb it into the material. You will need to spray over the stain and cover the entire area.

After spraying your clothes, soak them in a bowl of cool water for 30 minutes. Then, wash your clothes in the washing machine as usual.

Vinegar

White wine vinegar is an old trick for removing hair dye stains from various pieces of fabric. Like hairspray, it stops hair dye from absorbing further into the material.

Although it doesn’t smell nice, it doesn’t release dangerous fumes or toxic substances like commercial products. If you splash vinegar on your skin, you can wash it off with water without worrying about irritations.

The simplest way to use white wine vinegar is to soak the clothes in cool water. Ideally, you need to cover the piece of garment in water and add one cup of distilled white vinegar. Allow it to soak for 30 minutes, and then rinse out the vinegar under cold water.

Rubbing Alcohol  

When homeowners ask for solutions online on how to get hair dye out of clothes, one of the standard solutions they come across is rubbing alcohol. Alcohol was and still is the go-to product for removing stains from clothing and furniture.

Isopropyl alcohol is a natural stain remover for most stains, including hair dye ones. All you need to do is add a folded paper towel between the stain and other parts of the clothing piece. Then, soak a cotton ball in isopropyl and start cleaning the stain with it.

Once you see color staining the ball, discard it and use another ball. Repeat the process from the inside of the fabric to ensure the stain is 100% removed. When you finish, rinse the alcohol under cold running water.

Baking Soda

Like white wine vinegar and rubbing alcohol, baking soda is a standard household product with various cleaning uses. From cleaning your furniture to your kitchen appliances, many homeowners also use it for cleaning hair dye stains on clothes.

Take a clean bowl and mix ⅓ cup of warm water with six tablespoons of soda. It is essential to create a thick paste to remove the stain successfully. Rub the paste into the stain using a toothbrush in circular motions.

Allow the paste to dry (it may take a couple of hours), and then run the clothing piece through cold water. Next, add it to the washer and let it air dry.

Related: What To Do When Sorting Laundry.

Commercial Stain Remover

Besides the good old household stain removers, there are commercial products that are also successful at removing hair dye stains from clothes. For example, you can find various stain removers in local supermarkets, including OxiClean, Tide, Zout Triple, and others.

If you haven’t used any of these products, it is best to use the instructions on the package. In general, you apply the product as a pre-wash treatment on the stain. You need to let some products sit overnight, while 30 minutes is enough for others.

After each product, it is essential to wash the material in cold water in your machine and let it air dry. Most of these commercial stain removers won’t damage your clothes, but for extra safety, perform a spot test to ensure you don’t experience any discoloring.

How to Remove Hair Dye Stains: Consider Professional Laundry Services

While all of these methods are effective, you might still see smudges if you don’t notice the stain immediately, act fast or use the correct method. No matter how old your shirt or pants are, you still want to save them and eradicate the stain.

If you want to know how to remove hair dye stains like a pro, consider Martinizing Dry Cleaning. We pride ourselves on being a leading dry cleaning service in the East Bay Area. We know how to get hair dye out of jeans, jackets, shirts, pants, and other pieces of clothing quickly and successfully.

Local homeowners choose us for our professional approach, exceptional services, and affordable prices. Before returning your clothes, we inspect them using green and eco-friendly methods. Call us today at 925-528-4688 to schedule a pick-up, learn how to get hair dye out of clothes, and preserve your favorite pieces. 

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Most people don’t think twice when it comes to what time of the day they do their chores, so they may not know that there is the best time to do laundry. Something as simple as shifting the time you wash your clothes can actually make a big difference. So, when is the best time to wash clothes?

Unfortunately, there isn’t just one best time to do laundry. Many factors play a role in deciding the time, and even then, it varies for every household. The good news is that there are plenty of adjustments you can incorporate into your daily life to help save money and electricity.

Covering everything from the best time to do laundry in winter to ways to save electricity, we will guide you through the best time to wash and dry clothes so you’ll be able to reap the benefits of the most efficient laundry times. If you want to learn more about when to do laundry, keep on reading!

When Is the Best Time To Do Laundry?

It’s safe to say that the best time to wash clothes is generally not during your energy company’s peak hours. The tricky thing about peak hours is that they’re different for everyone. Peak hours will depend on two factors: the season and where you live.

If you live in a warmer climate, the demand might be higher during the summer months when most people use their air conditioning and lower in the winter when there isn’t much of a need for heating. You can always contact your energy company to verify your area’s peak hours.

So, when should you do laundry? While the perfect answer will depend on your energy provider and your location, you can follow these general hours if you aren’t sure.

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General Peak Hours

Peak hours often lie between 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. People tend to do laundry after they come home from work, so it’s best to avoid these times if you’re looking to save money.

Summer Peak Hours

The peak hours change with every season. During the summer months, peak hours could take up most of the day, landing anywhere from 10 in the morning to 8 in the evening. Do your laundry outside of this window to avoid higher electricity bills.

Winter Peak Hours

When the winter comes around, electricity use tends to peak in the early morning, from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. This timeframe gives you most of the day to run your washer and dryer and still save on money and energy.

Nighttime Hours

Is it cheaper to wash clothes at night? The short answer is it depends. It can be easy to assume that the peak hours are during the day, but it depends. To ensure that you’re taking full advantage of the best time to do laundry, you should confirm peak hours with your energy company while incorporating best practices.

Other: How To Get Hair Dye Out Of Clothes

When Is the Best Time to Wash Clothes to Save Electricity?

If you’re concerned about saving energy, your washing machine will use the same amount regardless of your laundry schedule. Whether you choose to do laundry during peak hours or in the middle of the night, it will still affect your energy bill.

However, saving energy goes hand in hand with saving money. When your laundry requires less energy, you’ll find yourself paying less and less for your monthly bills. You can implement a few habits into your laundry routine to help you save energy and money.

Use Cold Water

Washing machines expend much of their energy on hot water. By switching your laundry temperatures and using cold water, you can save a significant amount of energy and money. In addition to these benefits, cold water is more gentle on your clothes, which can help your clothes last longer.

However, using hot or cold water have its respective benefits. Hot water can effectively remove stains, so you should consider which water temperature is best for your situation. Otherwise, cold water will be beneficial when your main goal is to save money and energy.

Air-Dry Your Clothes

Choosing to air dry instead of running the dryer is an obvious way to save energy. Using your dryer in addition to your washer will use a significant amount of energy. So if you’re looking to save money and electricity, you should air-dry your clothes when you can.

In addition to saving energy, air-drying instead of using a dryer has its own benefits. Air drying can help preserve the quality of your outfits since using a dryer contributes to clothes fading and wearing out. Although air-drying may require more time and effort, you’ll be able to save money on your bills and have more long-lasting clothes.

Switch to Energy Efficient Appliances

Making the switch to energy-efficient appliances can save you considerable money over the machines’ lifetime. While these appliances may cost you more money than other models, energy-efficient washers and dryers are well worth the money. Not only are they better for the environment, but these models also use less detergent and provide a deeper clean to save you money with every cycle.

Use the Moisture Sensor Mode

Many dryer models will be equipped with a moisture sensor mode. Drying on this mode will allow your dryer to end the cycle as soon as the clothes are dry rather than drying your clothes for the full amount of time specified. Using this mode can save you time and lower your monthly bill.

Alter Load and Washer/Dryer Settings

Regardless of whether you’re looking to save energy or money when doing laundry, you should always be sure you’re washing the right sized load. If you wash a load of laundry that is too large, you could keep your washer from efficiently cleaning your clothes on top of causing damage to your machine. However, if your load is too small, you will waste water and energy.

For more efficient washing, you can adjust the settings of your washer and dryer according to the size and type of load for each wash. Typically, the delicate and short cycle options will wash your laundry in less time while using less energy. In addition, using your dryer on a lower heat setting can save you money on your electricity bill while preventing your clothes from wearing out faster.

Clean the Dryer’s Lint Trap

You should always clean your dryer’s lint trap after each cycle. Not only is this to prevent fire for your household safety, but it can also improve air circulation, enabling your dryer to complete cycles quicker. So, cleaning the lint trap every time will help you waste less electricity by providing shorter cycles.

The Best Time To Do Laundry

To summarize, you can really benefit from washing your clothes during the best time to do laundry throughout the year. While the savings for each month may not be too significant, they definitely add up.

While you can plan around peak hours when it comes to laundry, you can also apply this knowledge to other aspects of your household, such as air conditioning and heating. If you start to schedule your energy use throughout the week, you’ll be able to save money and electricity in no time.

Overall, making these small changes to your laundry routine is easy and incredibly beneficial. If you don’t have the time or energy to do your laundry regularly, consider taking advantage of laundry services. That way, you don’t have to worry about the best time to do laundry!

Martinizing Dry Cleaning

Since 1989, our team at Martinizing Dry Cleaning has been providing high-quality cleaning services to residents across the East Bay. Offering services from pick up and delivery to laundry and alterations, our team is highly trusted in the community to deliver exceptional results every time. We are committed to making your everyday life more convenient by offering a cleaning experience geared towards quality and efficiency.

Our team at Martinizing Dry Cleaning can help you with all your dry cleaning needs. Our cleaning process is ideal for your clothes and the environment because we use green and eco-friendly cleaning methods.

If you’re currently looking for the best time to do laundry and want a more efficient way to do it, our team can help eliminate the stress of washing clothes while keeping them in perfect condition.

Get in touch with our team today to discuss your needs and learn more about our services.

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Do your freshly washed clothes feel rough and uncomfortable? Maybe you experience your clothes stubbornly sticking together when you get them off the dryer? Maybe you wonder what do dryer sheets do? These issues often result from static electricity, and you can prevent them by using a dryer sheet.

You could be asking: what are dryer sheets? What is the purpose of dryer sheets? Read on to find out everything you want to know about dryer sheets.

What Are Dryer Sheets?

Dryer sheets are squares of polyester or cellulose fibers coated with fatty acids, fragrances, liquid softeners, and other chemicals. These ingredients melt from the dryer heat and coat your fabrics to make them soft and minimize static electricity. So, what does a dryer sheet do?

A dryer sheet helps prevent static electricity buildup on fabrics during machine drying. Additionally, they act as fabric softeners, promote stain resistance, and prevent lint buildup on clothes.

In addition, a dryer sheet will add a touch of freshness to your clothes. Some sheets even have a pleasant fragrance.

The Origin of Dryer Sheets

Fabric softeners date back to the mid-20th century when people used them to add a touch of softness to clean clothes. Manufacturers then started adding chemicals to the softeners to prevent static electricity charges.

However, using a softener was quite inconvenient. After the first wash cycle, you needed to add the softener to your automatic washer as softeners had a positive electric charge.

On the other hand, detergents had a negative electric charge. The softener and detergent would counteract when put together, reducing their effectiveness. In the 1960s, manufacturers learned to treat small sheets with fabric softener.

After putting the sheets in the dryer, the moisture and heat warmed up the softener, spreading it across the clothing pieces. This process is how dryer sheets were invented.

How Do Dryer Sheets Work?

A dryer sheet features a thin, electronically conductive layer of fabric lubricant or softener. You can use it in an electric or gas dryer. Once you run a dry cycle with the dryer sheet in your dryer, you will get softer fabrics with minimal static electricity.

The fabric softener in the dryer sheet contains chemicals that work on electrostatic charges, eliminating those lingering on your fabrics’ surfaces. This process neutralizes static electricity, resulting in zero shocks.

Now that you know the dryer sheets’ purpose and how they work, how do you use them?

Once you transfer your laundry from the washer to the dryer, add a fresh dryer sheet to the top of the pile. Then, start the dryer cycle. You may need to use two dryer sheets for larger laundry loads.

It is also advisable to check the product packaging for usage recommendations. Avoid overloading the dryer. You want the laundry to tumble freely to dry properly.

Overloading may also lead to the dryer sheet getting stuck in one place, resulting in the concentrated softener melting onto your fabric and creating unsightly stains. Always remember to remove the used dryer sheet from the dryer when unloading.

Should You Use Dryer Sheets?

Your laundry load will determine whether to use a dry sheet or not. You can use dryer sheets on most fabrics made of natural fibers, including cotton shirts, socks, and pants. It is advisable to read the fabric’s care label before putting it in the dryer.

Professionals do not recommend dryer sheets for several fabrics, including the following:

Athleticwear & Microfiber

When you use dryer sheets on athletic wear and microfiber, the ingredients may coat the fibers and adversely affect your fabric’s stain and moisture-absorbing properties.

Towels

The softeners in dryer sheets may reduce your towel’s absorbency. If you want to soften your towel and enhance its absorbency, you should only use dryer sheets moderately.

Flame-Resistant Clothing

Dryer sheets can undermine the self-distinguishing ability of your flame-resistant clothes.

Water-Repellent Fabric

Your water-repellent fabric may lose the ability to repel water when coated by the softness from the dryer sheets.

What Are Other Benefits of Dryer Sheets?

When you ask: what do dryer sheets do? You should realize that their benefits go beyond just softening your clothes and reducing static electricity. Let’s review several other ways to use dryer sheets outside of the dryer:

Removing Soap Scum

You can easily wipe the grime off your faucet, sink, shower doors, tile, or any other surface using a dryer sheet. Moisten the dryer sheet a bit and scrub the soap scum away.

Removing Pet Hair

Dryer sheets can do an excellent job removing pet hair from furniture, clothes, and other surfaces, thanks to their antistatic properties.

Controlling Flyaways

If your hair feels electric, a few quick swipes over your head with a dryer sheet can help control the flyaways.

Freshening Shoes

If your shoes have a foul odor when you take them off, you can freshen them by putting a dryer sheet inside.

Eliminating Deodorant Marks

You can quickly eliminate the unsightly deodorant marks on your shirt by rubbing them with an unscented dryer sheet.

Keeping Insects Away

Are you tired of insects bugging you? Simply rub a dryer sheet on your skin or tuck some sheets in your pocket to keep the irritating bugs away.

Sharpening Scissors

You don’t need to discard your dull scissors. Instead, you can quickly sharpen them by cutting through a dryer sheet several times or rubbing a sheet on the blades.

Cleaning Electronic Screens

Consider this another great benefit of dryer sheets. They effectively clean delicate electronic screens. Simply swipe a dryer sheet across your screen to keep it clean and free from static electricity. You can also use a dryer sheet to remove dirt, pollen, and other contaminants from your car’s windshield.

Eliminating Food Residues

If you need a simple but effective way to remove stubborn stains on your pots and pans, you can’t go wrong with dryer sheets. Fill your food-stained pan or pot with hot water and place a dryer sheet in the middle.

Leave it to soak overnight and discard the water the next day before scrubbing the stains out with the wet dryer sheet.

Are There Dryer Sheet Alternatives?

While dryer sheets do an excellent job, they do have some downsides. For example, they may trigger allergic reactions for individuals sensitive to dyes and fragrances.

Dryer balls are an excellent alternative to dryer sheets if your family member has allergies. These balls are usually made of natural wool, making them safe to use for most people.

Related: What To Do When Sorting Laundry?

#1 Professional Dry Cleaning Company in the East Bay Area

What do dryer sheets do? What are dryer sheets for? You now have a comprehensive answer if you’ve been asking these questions. If you have other questions about dryer sheets or dry cleaning in general, ask the experts at Martinizing Dry Cleaning.

With over two decades of experience in the dry cleaning business, we can address all your dry cleaning needs in the East Bay Area with a 100% risk-free guarantee. Contact us today to schedule your service.

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We all know how frustrating it is to pull your white clothes out of the machine only to discover a red sock had sneaked and turned everything pink. Sorting laundry before you press “start” is something we all need to do to avoid such incidents.

So, how do you separate laundry? Are there specific instructions on how to separate colored clothes from white or black ones?

This post will cover everything you need to know about how to sort clothes for laundry properly according to color and fabric type.

How to Separate Clothes for Washing: Your Step-by-Step Guide

Sorting laundry is essential to avoid coloring incidents and protect your clothes from fading and tearing.

Some of the items you need for laundry sorting are:

• A basket
• Bags for delicates (optional)
• Detergent
• Other laundry products you use

Once you ensure you have all the items you need, here is how to separate clothes for washing.

Step 1: Read the Label

If you want to protect your clothes, make sure to read the garments’ labels. Manufacturers include clear instructions for washing and caring for specific articles of clothing, so follow them to avoid damaging sensitive items in your load.

Step 2: Separate Laundry by Color

Most homeowners know that sorting laundry begins by separating colored clothes from dark and white ones. However, some experts advise you to go even further and sort your clothes by shade.

Related: What Do Dryer Sheets?

How to Sort Laundry by Color and Shade?

• Darks: Separate blues, purples, and other dark colors from black and brown fabric. It will help keep the black and brown dye from coloring other pieces of clothing in a pile. If you want to keep your dark clothes intact, follow this guide. 
• Brights: Colors like yellow, orange, light blue, green, and red are bright colors, and it is better to wash them separately.
• Lights: White clothing with prints, pale blue shades, or other pale tones are light clothes.
• Whites: White shirts, pants, socks, or delicates with no patterns.

Step 3: Separate Laundry by Fabric

Now that you know how to separate laundry colors, it is time to learn how to sort them by fabric. Some will say that this is an extra step, but it is never too much if you want to keep your clothing in excellent shape.

During the washing cycle, clothes make contact with each other. Heavier fabrics can sometimes cause wear and tear on sensitive clothes and damage the fabric. So, before you toss your pile of darks or lights into the washer, always check the labels and set aside clothes that require dry clean or hand wash only.

Next, sort clothes into daily wear fabrics (t-shirts, pants, shirts), heavy-duty fabrics (denim or jackets), and delicates. Don’t forget to remove the items from your pockets, turn knits inside out, and secure all fasteners (buttons and zippers).

Related: Best Time To Do Laundry

How to Sort Laundry by Fabric?

Here are some other valuable tips on how to separate clothes for laundry by fabric and use:

• Towels: It is best to wash light or white towels separately from dark-colored ones to prevent fading or color transfer.
• Sheets and Bedding: For sheets and bedding fabrics, it is essential to check the label because some require washing at high temperatures while others don’t. Check the material and see what your sheets are made of so you’ll know at what temperature to wash them.
• Delicates: Some delicates require dry cleaning or hand washing only, including silk ones. If you want to use the washing machine, avoid combining fabrics such as lace, cashmere, poly, and knitwear because they might lose their quality and shape. The best way to protect your delicates is to place them in mesh bags.
• Jeans: Dark or light jeans are best when washed independently and on a gentle cycle to avoid shrinkage. If you need to combine them with other items, make sure they are similar colored ones.
• Sportswear: Sportswear is prone to odor-causing bacteria, and the best way to reduce the odor is to wash them at low temperatures and with mild detergent.

Step 4: Separate Stained Clothing

Before putting the clothes in the washing machine, check for dirt, stains, and heavy soiling. If you notice that some clothes have stains, set them aside to treat the stain first. Today, there are cleaning solutions for almost any stain and fabric type.

Doing this will help prevent stains and dirt particles from settling other pieces of clothing. Once the wash cycle is over, see if the stain is gone. If it is still there, repeat the process until your clothes are 100% clean.

Step 5: Separate New Clothes

When you purchase new clothes, you want to wear them as soon as possible. However, that doesn’t mean that you should put them in the washer with other (older) clothes. Instead, wash them independently for the first two or three cycles.

Looking for Professional Dry Cleaning Services?

Now that you know how to sort clothes separating clothes for laundry should be an easy and quick part of the washing routine. However, some clothes are not easy to sort or wash at home in your machine.

If you have trouble sorting laundry, don’t have enough practice, or fear that you might damage your new dress or pants, consider professional dry cleaning services.

Martinizing Dry Cleaning has been the team of choice for numerous households in the East Bay area. Contact us today to schedule your free pickup, and we’ll deliver your clothes back in perfect condition.

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While king-size comforters are thinner than standard duvets, they provide better protection and warmth during the night. Although the bedding is budget-friendly and available in several colors to match your bedroom decor, some comforter sizes are challenging to take care of.

What size washer for king comforter is one of the most popular questions homeowners ask themselves when it’s time to clean their bedding. So, what size washer do I need to wash my bedding properly?

In this post, we will discuss how big of a washer for a king-size comforter you need in your home.

Washer Size for King Comforter

The truth is that almost no one enjoys washing bedding because of the size and time they take. However, it is a weekly activity, so it is better to learn how to do it quickly and efficiently.

First, you need to ensure you got the proper washer size for the king comforter. If you have a large family, you probably need two washing machines or one extra-large machine with more capacity. However, for a small family or a single person, what size washer for queen comforter do you need to wash the oversized blanket or sheets?

Related: What To Do When Sorting Laundry?

Washing Machine for Comforters

Ideally, you need to have a washing machine with a 4.2 cubic ft capacity to clean your large bedding set. The good thing is that there are large machines with such a capacity available for household use. 

Some homeowners say it is easier to wash a comforter in a top load washer, but others disagree and reveal that front load washers are better for the job.

It is also essential to consider the quality and brand of the washer. Not all washers can accommodate the needs of a large family who uses king-size comforters.

Best Washer for King Size Comforter

If you take the proper steps and you have a suitable washer, you can easily clean your favorite comforter at home.

Here are some of the best washers suitable for king-size comforters:

1. LG Electronics WM3398HBA

If you are looking for an all-in-one washer and dryer at a competitive price, you can’t go wrong with LG WM3398HBA. It is an excellent choice for prominent families or people worried about the small drum size. In this washer, there is plenty of space for all of your clothes, towels, and bedding items, including your comforter.

The standard front-load washer’s drum capacity is 4.5 cubic feet. The capacity is bigger than other all-in-one appliances, making the cost worthwhile. LG WM3398HBA also has 14 different washing cycles, including activewear, bedding, and allergies.

2. Electrolux Titanium EFLS627UTT

Electrolux Titanium EFLS627UTT is the best washer for heavy blankets, making it the perfect option for washing a king-size comforter. In addition, it removes stubborn stains better than any other washer on the market. With its modern design, it can be the perfect addition to any bathroom.

Electrolux Titanium will impress you with its superior performance, detergent pod dispenser, and ease of use.

3. LG WM3488HW

Some will say that LG WM3488HW is small in size. However, this incredible device is designed to last a long time, is built from premium materials, and has a powerful direct-drive engine.

The drum’s capacity is impressive. It can hold oversized comforters, bed linens, and sheets. Another benefit is the detergent dispenser which doesn’t produce any noise and is very handy during the washing process.

Helpful Tips for Washing King Comforters

Now that you are familiar with the appropriate king comforter washer size and appropriate washers, it is time to learn a few steps that will help you in the overall machine washing process.

Read the Comforter’s Label

Before you throw your comforter in the washing machine, make sure to check the label and read the manufacturer’s instructions. Manufacturers put those labels for a reason – to help you take proper care of your comforter and wash it at the right temperature.

As you know, you can shrink some materials, such as silk and wool, in the washing machine, so if the instructions say, “Dry Clean Only,” it is best to let local professionals take care of your comforter.

If the instructions say it is okay to wash your king-size comforter in the washing machine, make sure to use the right setting – handwashing or cold water. It is also worth mentioning that you should also wash your down comforters. You can also wash them in the machine, but separately because of the large size.

Wash Your Comforter Individually

Don’t let the big drum size fool you. You should always wash your king comforter by itself. Due to its large size, the comforter needs to have proper space to absorb the detergent.

Adding sheets or pillows into the machine isn’t recommended.

Remove Any Stains 

Before washing, it is essential to treat the stains. Based on the material, use an appropriate cleaning solution to remove the stain. If you don’t have a cleaning product at home, you can always use the good old mix of water and baking soda.

Once you treat the stains, check the comforter for any holes or loose threads. If there are some, repair them before you put the comforter in the machine to prevent further damage to the material.

Select the Appropriate Detergent

While you might be tempted to use heavy detergents for a long-lasting smell, sooner or later, you will realize that the scent is too strong and not appropriate for the bedroom.

It is to go with a mild detergent and a natural smell.

Choose the Right Washing Cycle

The temperature you wash your comforter is critical. Follow the instructions, and if they say you need to wash your comforter on a gentle cycle, don’t experiment. If you want, you can add an extra rinse for better and more thorough cleaning.

Some labels also recommend washing in cold water to protect the fabric and the color.

Related: How To Wash A Weighted Blanket

How to Dry a King Comforter at Home

If washing a king comforter at home is a challenge, drying one is an even bigger struggle. After you’ve cleaned the king-size comforter, you will need to dry it thoroughly before putting it back on your bed.

Air Dry Dryer

If you have space and the weather is appropriate, it is best to hang your comforter outside to air dry. Pale-colored bedding will benefit because the sun will bleach any blemishes and revive the fabric.

If your dryer is large enough to accommodate a king-size comforter, you can throw it inside. Make sure to set drying at a lower temperature to avoid shrinkage or damage.

The best way to ensure your comforter dries evenly is to remove it from the dryer every 30 minutes, fluff it to redistribute the filling, and return it inside the dryer.

Dry with Tennis Balls

Believe it or not, drying king-size bedding with tennis balls is a secret used by so many people around the world. Tennis balls will evenly distribute the filling and make sure your comforter looks brand new.

Always dry at the temperature suggested on the label for several hours.

Are There Any Alternatives to Wash a Comforter?

Whether you can’t find a suitable washing machine with a large capacity or don’t have enough space to accommodate a large washing and/or drying machine, we understand your struggle. Unfortunately, you are not the first person who has difficulties washing a king-size comforter. Luckily, there are alternatives to washing your bedding quickly and easily.

Dry cleaning was and still is one of the best options to wash and dry your comforter. Some will say it is expensive, but the price is well worth it because it gets the job done faster than any other washer for household use.

#1 Professional Company for King-Size Comforters in the East Bay Area

If you are looking for a reliable and affordable dry cleaning company for king-size comforters, you can’t go wrong with Martinizing Dry Cleaning. With almost two decades of experience under our belt, modern equipment, and industry knowledge, we are the first team homeowners choose for their washing and drying needs.

If you are still not sure what size washer for the king comforter to use or can’t afford the right washer at the moment, we are here to make your issues go away. Contact us today to schedule your free pickup in the East Bay Area, and we’ll deliver your comforter in perfect condition as soon as possible.

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