Do you need help getting into a laundry routine this New Year, without the hassle and stress that often comes with catching up on mountains of laundry?  If so, you have come to the right place! Laundry Express, coin-op laundry in Raleigh NC is here to offer you a few tips to help you get your laundry sorted, washed, and put away with no hassle at all! The first step toward establishing a laundry routine is making sure you understand a few laundry essentials. Below, you’ll find a few tips from Clorox.com, that should help you get into a routine this year!

Stocking the Laundry Room

Making sure you have the right tools and supplies is the first step in establishing a great laundry routine. If you don’t have the right supplies, it’s hard to do laundry at all.

• Keep dry detergent, in addition to liquid. Sometimes, dirtier clothing comes cleaner with powdered detergent.
• Always keep a stain fighting remover and bleaching agent handy for whites.
• Also keep a stain fighting remover and bleach on hand for colored laundry, as well.
• Stock the laundry room with topical soil and stain remover pens, wipes and sprays to spot treat and clean items.
• Fabric softeners make fabric feel softer and reduce static. They are available in liquid and dryer-sheet forms.

Sorting Laundry

• Separate lint producers (towels & blankets) from lint magnets (corduroy & fleece).
• Separate natural fibers from synthetic fibers, because they dry at different rates.
• Keep tough fabrics (jeans) away from delicate fabrics (lace camisole).
• Keep lingerie and hosiery in a mesh bag — straps and stockings won’t tangle up in the washer.
• Wash garments with bright colors on white (for example: red-and-white-striped shirt) separately for the first wash. If the dye runs, it only ruins one garment. Then you can call it a design element.

Washing Towels | Coin-Op Laundry Raleigh NC

• Always launder towels first before using them. Never use fabric softeners, as they will decrease the towel’s ability to absorb water.
• Machine wash after use in warm water with like colors and rotate to extend the life of your towels.
• Wash white towels in hot water with ½ cup of bleach per regular load. Or, try pouring bleach directly onto whites.
• For colored towels, wash in hot water with detergent and a stain remover. Occasionally, try laundering with a color booster.

For more tips to help you get into a laundry routine this New Year, be sure to visit back with our blog soon!

Laundry Express | Coin-Op Laundry Raleigh NC

If you’re running yourself ragged, trying to keep up with all the extra laundry that the holidays can bring, be sure to check out our coin-op laundry in Raleigh NC! We offer state of the art machines for washing and drying. We also offer other laundry services that include dry cleaning, wash-dry-fold, and stain removal! Don’t fall behind on laundry when we are here to help! Visit us soon!

Are you worried about getting all your laundry chores done before the holidays hit? If so, consider following the tips below, courtesy of marthastewart.com, to help you keep up with your laundry chores! In addition, these tips are a great way to get yourself into a new laundry routine, just in time for the New Year! Also, if you missed our last blog post, be sure to visit back with us to read it, before moving on!

More Laundry Tips | Coin-Op Laundry Raleigh NC

Baby Laundry

Regular detergents are often too harsh for sensitive baby skin. To avoid irritation, use the mildest soap available without unnecessary additives and chemicals. Some of these are less alkaline than regular soaps, so they may not clean stains as well, but they will be safer for your baby’s delicate skin. Avoid fabric softeners, and always pre-soak stains in cool water as soon as possible to prevent spots from setting.

Laundering Napkins | Coin-Op Laundry Raleigh NC

If you’re getting ready for holiday dinners and luncheons, it’s important to make sure your holiday tablecloths and napkins are ready to go, for each celebration!

Immediately place napkins and other linens in an ice-water bath. If you’re too worn out from a day of cooking and entertaining to do the laundry right away, you can leave the linens in the water bath overnight.

Next, lift the towel with the linens inside from the water, and drain the sink. Then, fill the sink with very hot water and laundry detergent. Spray any remaining stains with a stain treatment, and allow to sit for a few minutes. Add linens to the wash water, and gently squeeze suds through — do not rub or wring. Let soak for a few minutes, then drain the sink, and carefully squeeze out excess water. Rinse away the soap by refilling the sink with water and squeezing it through the linens until the water runs clear.

To dry, roll linens in a large towel, gently patting to remove excess water. Then, lay the linens on a rack until they are dry. Placing the rack in the sun is a great option, if possible. Lightly iron napkins before putting them away, so they’ll be ready for the next event.

Laundry Express | Coin-Op Laundry Raleigh NC

If you’re running yourself ragged, trying to keep up with all the extra laundry that the holidays can bring, be sure to check out our laundromat that offers coin-op laundry in Raleigh NC! We offer state of the art machines for washing and drying. We also offer other laundry services that include dry cleaning, wash-dry-fold, and stain removal! Don’t fall behind on laundry when we are here to help! Visit us soon!

Winter is slowly creeping in and the need for heavier clothing is near! One of the worst parts of winter weather is the extra bulky laundry loads that come with it. Many pieces of our winter clothing are finicky and can’t be washed together. Sometimes, they must be washed individually.

That is the case with our winter sweaters. Because of the different fabric types and tendency to lose their shape during a round in the washing machine, our sweaters need extra care as they’re being cleaned.

Below, our experts at the coin-op laundry in Raleigh NC offer a few tips that will help you learn the different types of sweater fabrics and how they should be laundered in order to keep their shape and last for years!

Tips For Washing Winter Sweaters | Coin-Op Laundry Raleigh NC

Cashmere: It’s very important to follow the care label instructions exactly for this type of fabric. Made of goat hair and wool or synthetic fibers, cashmere must be washed on the delicate cycle in cold water. To dry, roll it in a towel to remove excess water. Reshape the sweater and then lay flat to dry in a cool, dark place. Doing anything less can result in a misshaped, shrunken sweater!

Chenille: To keep chenille soft, it’s important that you don’t wash it in the machine, even if the label says it’s OK. The machine’s agitation can damage and break chenille’s delicate fibers. They’ll begin to snag, pill and feel rough after a few rounds in the machine. Wash the fabric inside out, by hand and lay flat to dry!

Cotton: Best washed in cold water, cotton sweaters also need a gentle cycle wash to make sure the fibers remain unbroken. To dry, lay flat.

Silk: Most silk can be washed on a delicate cycle in cold water. If it has hand-stitched or beaded detail, it might be best to hand wash in cold water. Both wash methods should follow by laying flat to dry. A light ironing might be needed, after drying.

Acrylic: These man-made fibers are easily stretched when in direct contact with heat. Because of this, it’s best to machine wash, following the care label. Most acrylics should be washed in warm water and can be dried laying flat or tumble dried in the dryer on a very low heat.

Angora: This fabric is known for shrinking, even when you think you’ve done everything correctly. The rabbit hair and synthetic fiber blend is usually best left to a laundry specialist. At the very least, hand washing and laying flat to dry is best.

Wool: As a tricky fabric to wash, some wool can’t be washed at all. It can’t take the hot, warm, or the cold water. Other wool can be washed in cold water on a gentle cycle. Be sure to follow the care label exactly in this instance and always lay flat to dry. Never twist or wring the material to remove excess water. Always wrap it in a towel to ensure it keeps its shape!

Laundry Express | Coin-Op Laundry Raleigh NC

If you’re running yourself ragged, trying to keep up with all the extra laundry, also be sure to check out our coin-op laundry services in Raleigh NC! We offer state of the art machines for washing and drying. We also offer other laundry services that include dry cleaning, wash-dry-fold, and stain removal! Don’t fall behind on laundry when we are here to help! Visit us soon!