GE's textile researcher discusses basic tips on how to clean and care for your laundry
- Learning laundry care basics may help reduce environmental impact of laundry
- GE® Profile™ washing machines and dryers offer new technology that takes the guesswork out of everything from stain removal to wash temperature
LOUISVILLE, Ky., April 10, 2012--- (NYSE: GE) --- When it comes to laundry, everyone has a routine. But are your laundry habits beneficial to you and your clothes? Dr. Elizabeth Easter, professor and textile consultant for GE Clothes Care, breaks down the basics.
Drying your clothes won't decrease their life expectancy.
Over the course of time, washing and line drying instead washing and drying in the dryer won't extend the life of your favorite yoga pants. During the first initial washes, line drying may lessen some shrinkage, but over time the shrinkage to any garment will occur anyway. Delicates or sweaters that need to be reshaped should still be hung on the line or laid flat to dry, as per the care label.
The GE® Profile™ dryer offers a line dry and baffle dry system for use within the dryer. It uses heat and air movement to dry items, without the tumble of regular drying.
Washing small loads doesn't mean cleaner clothes.
Not only is washing small loads harder on the environment, it's also not beneficial to the cleanliness of your clothes. Dr. Easter advises against overloading your washing machine, but running a cycle on a full load will get your clothes just as clean as a small load. With today's washers, like the GE Profile Frontload running at 4.3 cubic ft. capacity, you can fit a lot in one wash cycle. That cuts down on time you spend doing laundry and the impact on the environment.
No time to do the laundry? GE's Overnight Ready feature can be an advantage.
"Wet clothes left in the washer overnight can increase the potential transfer of color staining," says Dr. Easter. GE Profile Frontload washer's innovative "Overnight Ready" cycle washes clothes, then removes so much moisture that clothes are comfortable to wear without transferring to the dryer.*
It's the first unit in the industry with the ability to wash small loads* on an overnight cycle. The cycle even helps prevent clothes wrinkling compared to clothes that are left sitting in the washer overnight. The Overnight Ready cycle keeps clothes moving gently up to eight hours to remove moisture content.
Adding fabric softener and laundry detergent at the same time is a no-no.
According to Dr. Easter, the chemical reaction between fabric softener and detergent can render the other inactive. Only add fabric softener at the beginning of a wash load if your machine has an auto dispense.
Too much detergent and fabric softener isn't a good thing.
Follow the recommended dosage based on load size and soil level. Too much detergent can cause over-sudsing in the washer and result in a rough feel to clothes. GE's Profile Frontload offers a SmartDispense pedestal which takes the guesswork out of how much detergent and fabric softener to add, and when. It automatically dispenses fabric softener and laundry detergent at ideal times during the wash cycle. The pedestal, sold separately from the washer, holds three containers where consumers can add whatever laundry products they need. From basic laundry detergent to Woolite®, the SmartDispense option adds just the right amount of detergent or fabric softener based on load type and size.
Scrutinize your soils.
While 75 percent of the market uses liquid detergents, a powder detergent still reigns supreme when it comes to certain types of soils. Heavy soils, like dirt, are best removed with a powder detergent, but ridding your shirts of body oils and cooking oils fares better with a liquid brand. GE's Profile Frontload can also help you remove stubborn stains, with 40 pre-programmed stains. Select the type of stain plaguing your pajamas, from coffee to mouthwash, and let the machine work out the stain for you.
About Dr. Easter
Dr. Elizabeth Easter is a professor at the University of Kentucky in the Merchandising, Apparel and Textiles Department, where she has taught textile science courses since 1984. Her research experience ranges from basic research in the development of detergent formulations to applied research, such as evaluating the removal of pesticides during home laundering.
Currently, Dr. Easter supervises the Textile Testing Laboratory in her department at the University of Kentucky. The laboratory provides contractual and fee-based services for the Association for Linen Management as well as the textile and apparel industry in the state of Kentucky and the appliance industry. Dr. Easter received her M.S. and Ph.D. in Textile Science from the University of Tennessee.
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*2.5 lbs. AHAM spec allows drying of one pair of jeans, three cotton dress shirts, two soccer uniforms, three sets of crib sheets, one dress shirt, one pair of khakis, and two sets of scrubs.
Kim Freeman
GE Consumer & Industrial - Americas
[email protected]
502-452-7819