Tackling Your Laundry

Better living is possible through safe laundry

practices.

Program objectives:Create a safe laundry room that protects

your familiesHelp choose the right product for the

right jobIdentify ways to remove common stains

that tend to ruin our garmentsUnderstand the difference between

traditional and high efficiency washing machines

Which picture describes your memory of laundry?

Creating a safe laundry room

Two key points to remember include:Safety regarding laundry products

Safety regarding laundry practices

Laundry products Storage

Keep out of the reach of children and pets

Keep in original containers with labels intact

Use immediately and return to a safe storage place

Laundry products Use

Never combine detergentsNever use empty detergent containers to store other materials

Recycle empty containers when possible

Laundry practicesDo laundry without any distractionsClean spills immediately after they

occurPay attention to statements on

containers and know, or have posted, the poison control number – (800) 222-1222

KEY pledge

Keep single-load liquid laundry packets out of the reach of children.

Educate your family on safe use and storage of new products.

You are the key to laundry safety.

Which is the right product?

Detergents

General purpose detergents

Light duty detergents

Let’s take a closer look at some of these

products.

Read the label…

Colorfast test

Stains

Stain solutionsProducts with enzymesLiquid chlorine bleach products

Washing machines

TraditionalHigh efficiency

Comparison of machinesHE washers use 20-60 percent less water

than traditional washers Energy use can be as little as 20-50

percent of the energy used by traditional washers because there is much less water to heat

The savings translate directly to long-term cost savings and long-term environmental benefits

Clothes dryerA dryer evaporates water

from the clothes and minimizes wrinkling by

tumbling clothes.

Water evaporation requires heat.

Heat costs money!

 

So let’s tackle the laundry…

References:American Cleaning Institute for Better Living Stain Solutions developed by: Susan Taylor –Former University of Illinois Extension Educator http://web.extension.illinois.edu/stain/index.cfm http://www.energystar.gov 

Photos: 123RF

Kenna Knight, BSPendleton County Extension Agent for Family and Consumer Sciences

March 2015

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