4 laundry mistakes that leave your clothes badly wrinkled
Laundry mistakes to avoid to keep clothes wrinkle-free (photo: Freepik)
If clothes require a long time to iron after washing, the reason may be common laundry mistakes. There are several frequent errors that cause fabric to wrinkle much more, according to Southern Living.
Overloading the washing machine
Too many clothes, towels, or bed sheets prevent items from moving freely in the washing machine and later in the dryer.
If garments do not have enough space to spin in the washer or dryer, they can tangle and bunch up. This is also bad for the machine and can put strain on its components over time. In addition, clothes may come out less clean because water and detergent are not distributed evenly.
Avoid overloading the laundry so items can rotate freely. This will help reduce wrinkles.
Incorrect laundry sorting
In addition to sorting laundry by color, pay attention to the material. Avoid washing heavy items such as towels or jeans with delicate clothes to prevent friction and wrinkling.
Each fabric has different washing requirements. Heavy towels need more agitation and a higher spin speed for effective washing. Therefore, wash towels, bed sheets, and delicate items separately.
Leaving clothes in the machine too long
If clothes stay in the washing machine or dryer for too long, they will become very wrinkled.
The same applies to removing clothes too late from the dryer. It may seem harmless to leave dry clothes in the dryer overnight, but once they cool down, wrinkles will appear. It is best to fold or hang them while they are still warm.
Choosing the wrong washing cycle
Some fabrics wrinkle more easily than others. Natural materials such as linen, cotton, silk, and satin wrinkle more easily than synthetic fabrics like nylon, polyester, and elastane.
For wrinkle-prone fabrics, choose the permanent press or delicate cycle. These cycles have gentler movement and lower spin speeds, which help prevent wrinkles.
Laundry tips
Dryer balls. When drying laundry, dryer balls help separate items and increase airflow. The more warm air that reaches the clothes, the fewer wrinkles they will have.
Lower water temperature. Hot water can cause wrinkles, so choose the lowest water temperature suitable for the clothes you are washing. High-heat tumble drying can also damage fabrics.
Shake clothes out. When transferring clothes to the dryer or hanging them outside, shake them to smooth out wrinkles. After drying, shake them again before folding.
