|
Q: I thought it would be a good idea to hang my clothes out in the sun over the weekend. But when I brought them in, some of them looked yellow. What happened?
A: Some manufacturers apply optical brighteners or fluorescent whitening agents to white and pastel fabrics during the manufacturing process. Although it's not a common occurrence, occasionally these brighteners will turn yellow when exposed to long periods of sunlight or to bleach. As an aside, some people think that they're supporting the green movement by drying their clothes on a clothesline. While this does use less energy, there's a serious trade-off. The increased use of cold- and warm-water wash cycles means that some bacteria may not be destroyed during the laundering process. Machine-drying will help reduce lingering bacteria; line drying won't.
Q: Several family members just took up biking. We love the health benefits, but not the bicycle grease on our clothes. What's the best way to remove it?
A: The easiest way is to pretreat the stain with a prewash stain remover and then launder, using the hottest water that's safe for the fabric. Check to make sure the stain is gone before putting the clothing in the dryer. If the stain remains, apply a concentrated heavy-duty cleaner (one that's labeled for use on grease stains) directly on the grease spots. Scrub gently, using a small brush or old toothbrush, and then launder again.
– Nancy Bock is Vice President of Education at The Soap and Detergent Association
Email
Us
 |
Cleaning Matters is
compiled by The Soap and Detergent Association and is
not copyrighted. Such information is offered solely to
aid the reader. The Soap and Detergent Association and
its member companies do not make any guarantees or warranties,
expressed or implied, with respect to the information
contained in Cleaning Matters and assume no responsibility
for the use of this information. |
|
