|
Problem |
Causes |
Solutions |
Preventive Measures |
Greyness
Overall |
Insufficient amount of detergent.
|
Increase the amount of detergent and/or use a detergent booster or bleach.
|
Use a sufficient amount of detergent.
|
|
Wash water temperature too low.
|
Increase wash water temperature.
|
Wash in hottest water safe for fabric.
|
Incorrect sorting
Transfer of soil
Transfer of color
|
Rewash with an increased amount of detergent and hottest water safe for
fabric. Use bleach that is safe for fabric.
Do not dry items. Quickly rewash with detergent and a bleach safe for
fabric. Severe damage may be permanent.
|
Separate heavily soiled items from lightly soiled ones. Use a sufficient
amount of detergent, hottest water and bleach safe for fabric.
Sort carefully by color. Separate white or white background prints that
are colorfast, colored pastels in solids and prints, medium and bright
colors, and dark colors.
|
| Uneven |
Insufficient use of detergent after treating with prewash stain remover.
|
Treat entire item with prewash stain remover or soak in a concentrated
solution of a liquid laundry detergent. Rewash with an increased amount
of detergent and in hottest water safe for the fabric.
| Use a sufficient amount of detergent and wash in hottest
water safe for fabric.
|
| [Back to Top] |
|
Yellowing
Build up of body soil
|
Insufficient amount of
detergent.
|
Increase the amount of detergent
and/or use a product containing
enzymes, detergent booster or
bleach.
|
Use a sufficient amount of
detergent.
|
|
Wash water temperature
too low.
|
Increase wash water temperature.
|
Wash in hottest water safe for
fabric.
|
Treating synthetic fabrics as
"delicate," thus giving them
short, gentle, cool washes.
Handwashing synthetic
fabrics with a light duty
detergent.
|
Wash in hot water, at least 130 degrees F
(54 degrees C) using a permanent press
cycle (with a cool-down that lowers
the water temperature before the
first spin). Increase the amount of
detergent and/or use a detergent
booster or bleach.
For extremely discolored synthetics
that cannot be bleached with
sodium hypochlorite bleach, soak in a product
containing enzymes or a detergent
booster. Or, treat with a color
remover by soaking according to
package directions. Then wash in
washer.
|
Launder frequently with a laundry
detergent and in a washer with
water at least 100 degrees F (38 degrees C).
|
|
Yellowing
Fabric
Discoloration
|
Use of sodium hypochlorite bleach on silk, wool or spandex items.
|
Yellowing cannot be removed.
|
Do not use sodium hypochlorite bleach on wool or spandex items.
|
|
Blue Stains |
Failure of a blue coloring in detergent, laundry aid or fabric softener
to dissolve or disperse.
|
If caused by a detergent or powdered laundry aid, add 1 cup (240 ml) of
white vinegar to 1 quart (.95L) of water. Use a plastic container. Soak
item for one hour; rinse.
If caused by fabric softener, rub stains with bar soap, wash. |
Add product first, then clothes and start washer.
Dilute fabric softener before adding to wash or rinse cycle, or to dispenser.
|
|
Yellow or brown stains (rust)
|
Iron and manganese in the water supply.
|
To restore discolored load of white clothes, use a rust remover recommended for fabrics. Follow package directions. Repeat
if necessary.
|
Do not use sodium hypochlorite bleach to remove rust stains; it may
intensify discoloration.
Use a nonprecipitating water softener in both wash and rinse waters to keep the iron in solution.
For an on-going problem, install an iron filter in the water supply system
|
|
Iron in water pipes or water heater.
|
Same as above.
|
Before washing, run the hot water for a few minutes to clear the lines.
Drain the water heater occasionally.
|
|
Poor soil removal
|
Insufficient amount of detergent.
|
Increase amount of detergent.
|
Use a sufficient amount of detergent.
|
|
Wash water temperature too low.
|
Increase wash water temperature.
|
Wash in hottest water safe for fabric.
|
|
Overloading of washer.
|
Wash fewer items in a load.
|
Wash fewer items in a load. Sort clothes by color, fabric and amount of soil.
Use proper water level for size of load.
|
| [Back to Top] |
|
Greasy, oily stains
|
Insufficient amount of detergent to hold the soil in solution until the end of the wash cycle.
|
Treat with prewash stain remover or a liquid laundry detergent. Increase
amount of detergent.
|
Use a sufficient amount of detergent.
|
|
Wash water temperature too low.
|
Increase wash water temperature.
|
Wash in hottest water safe for fabric.
|
Fabric softener
Undiluted liquid
|
Rub fabric softener stains with bar soap; wash.
|
Avoid pouring fabric softener directly on fabrics. Dilute rinse cycle fabric softener before adding to the final rinse.
|
Dryer added type _
Too small a load.
|
Rub fabric softener stains with bar soap; wash.
|
Add a few bath towels to the dryer load to provide proper tumbling.
|
|
Improper dryer
cycle selection
|
Rub fabric softener stains with bar soap; wash.
|
Use appropriate dryer cycle, i.e., permanent press cycle with polyester/cotton blends, etc.
|
|
Dryer too hot
|
Rub fabric softener stains with bar soap; wash.
|
Reduce dryer temperature. Check dryer instruction booklet to be sure dryer is operating properly.
|
|
Residue or streaks of powder, particularly noticeable on dark or bright
colors
|
Undissolved detergent
|
Add detergent to the water first, then add clothes and start washer.
|
Same as solution.
|
|
Some powder detergents can combine with water hardness minerals to form a
residue.
|
Add one cup (240 ml) of white vinegar to 1 gallon (3.8 L) of warm water. Use a plastic container. Soak item and rinse.
|
Increase water temperature using hottest water safe for fabric. Do not overload the washer.
Or, use a liquid laundry detergent or use a nonprecipitating water
softener with a powder detergent. |
Stiff, harsh fabrics
Colored fabrics look faded
Increased fabric wear and abrasion
|
In hard water, some powder detergents can combine with
water hardness minerals to form a residue.
|
Add 1 cup (240 ml) of white vinegar to 1 gallon (3.8 L) of warm water. Use a plastic container. Soak item and rinse.
|
Use a liquid laundry detergent or use a nonprecipitating water softener
with a powder detergent. |
| [Back to Top] |
|
Lint
|
Improper sorting; mixing
items that give off lint such
as sweaters, bath towels and
flannels with synthetics,
corduroys, velours and other
napped fabrics.
|
To help remove severe lint deposition,
hand pat dried item using masking
or transparent tape. Rewash with
detergent and use fabric softener in
the final rinse. Dry in dryer.
|
Wash items that give off lint in
separate loads from synthetic or
napped fabrics. Turning lint collectors inside out may help.
Wash very heavy lint shedders alone,
such as blankets, chenille bedspreads or rugs.
|
|
Tissues in pockets.
|
Remove tissues and wash items.
|
Check pockets and remove tissues
before laundering.
|
|
Overloading of washer or
dryer.
|
Wash and dry fewer items in a load.
Use proper water level for size of
load.
|
Same as solution.
Same as solution.
|
|
Insufficient amount of
detergent.
|
Increase amount of detergent in
order to hold lint in solution during the
wash time. | Same as solution. |
|
Clogged washer lint filter.
|
Clean washer lint filter.
|
Clean filter after each use.
|
|
Overdrying in a dryer that
creates a build up of static
electricity in synthetic fabrics.
|
Rewash and use a fabric softener in
the washer or dryer or use a detergent containing a fabric softener in
the wash.
Remove items from the dryer while
they are slightly damp.
|
Use fabric softener in washer or dryer
to reduce static attraction of lint to
synthetics.
Same as solution.
|
|
Dryer lint screen is full.
|
Rewash clothes. Dry in dryer with a
cleaned lint screen.
|
Clean lint screen after each use.
|
|
Pilling
|
Some synthetic and
permanent press items have
a natural tendency to "pill."
This happens because fibers
break off the surface, ball
up and cling to the surface
rather than break off like
natural fibers. This is due to
an abrasion from normal
wear and is commonly
found on socks, sweaters,
collars, cuffs, underarm
areas or any other portion
subjected to abrasion.
|
Lint may be attracted to the little
balls. To remove the lint, use a lint
brush or roller with masking or
transparent tape.
|
Pilling is a wear problem which
cannot be prevented completely.
It is a natural characteristic of some
synthetic and permanent press
fabrics.
Use a fabric softener in the washer or
dryer to lubricate the fibers.
When ironing, use a spray starch or
fabric finish on collars and cuffs.
|
| [Back to Top] |
|
Holes, tears or snags
|
Incorrect use of
sodium hypochlorite bleach.
|
Irreversible condition.
|
Never pour liquid sodium hypochlorite bleach
directly on clothes. Use the bleach
dispenser in the washer or dilute with
at least four parts of water before
adding to the wash water. For
powdered bleach, follow package
directions.
|
|
Unfastened zippers, hooks
and belt buckles that readily
snag synthetic knits.
|
Irreversible condition.
|
Fasten zippers, buckles, hooks and
eyes before adding to the washer.
Turn synthetic knits inside out to wash.
|
|
Rips, tears and broken
threads in seams.
|
May be irreversible if rips, tears and
seams cannot be mended.
|
Mend any visible damage before
washing, especially open seams that
will fray and become difficult to mend.
|
|
Overloading the washer.
|
May be irreversible if holes, tears and
snags cannot be mended.
|
Let wash load circulate freely. Use the
proper water level for the amount of
clothes being washed.
|
|
Sun degradation.
|
Irreversible condition.
|
Check items like curtains before
washing by gently pulling the fabric
to determine condition. If curtains
can be washed, use gentle cycle.
|
|
Color loss or color fading
|
Unstable dyes used in garments. Most common with
neon and fluorescent colors
as well as bright reds, greens,
blues, purples, pinks, black
and peach. Full strength
application of laundry pretreatment products may
remove some or all of the
color. Sometimes even rubbing with water will cause
these colors to bleed or
fade.
|
Color loss or fading due to unstable
dyes may be irreversible. If garment
care label instructions were correctly
followed, return garment to the store
where it was purchased and ask for a
refund or replacement.
|
Read and follow garment care label
instructions; the garment may not be
washable. To be safe, always test
pretreatment products on an
inconspicuous area of the garment.
Test item for colorfastness before
washing. Wash new items separately
the first few times to remove excess
dye.
|
|
Water too hot for colored
fabrics.
|
Irreversible condition.
|
Use cooler water.
|
|
Improper use of bleach.
|
Irreversible condition.
|
Test item for colorfastness before
using bleach.
Use an oxygen bleach.
|
|
Undiluted bleach applied
directly to fabric.
|
Irreversible condition.
|
Do not pour undiluted bleach
directly on clothes. Follow package
directions for correct use.
|
| [Back to Top] |
|
Wrinkling of synthetic or
permanent press fabrics
|
Failure to use correct cycle.
|
Use permanent press cycle on
washer and dryer, if available. If not,
for the washer, use warm wash and a
slower or shorter spin speed in the
washer, then use a cold rinse. For the
dryer, use high temperature setting
followed by 10 minutes of air drying.
Remove items from dryer as soon as
it stops; hang or fold items.
|
Same as solution.
|
|
Failure to remove items
promptly from dryer at end
of cycle.
|
Remove items from dryer as soon as
it stops; hang or fold items.
|
Same as solution.
|
|
Overdrying.
|
Put clothes back in dryer. Set control
for 15 to 20 minutes on permanent
press or timed cycle. Heat and cool-down period will remove wrinkles.
|
Reduce drying time and remove
items when there is a trace of
moisture in them; hang or fold items.
|
|
Overloading of washer and/or dryer.
|
Allow wash load to move freely in
washer and/or dryer.
|
Do not overload washer and/or
dryer.
Use fabric softener.
|
|
Shrinking
|
Overdrying.
|
Irreversible condition.
|
Reduce drying time and remove
clothes when there is a trace of
moisture in them.
Remove knits, especially cotton,
while they are still slightly damp.
Stretch back into shape and lay flat
to finish drying.
|
|
Residual shrinkage
|
Irreversible condition.
|
Many knits and woven fabrics can
shrink when laundered. Allow for this
when purchasing. Also, check the
quality of the item.
|
|
Agitation of woolen items.
|
Irreversible condition.
|
Keep agitation in both wash and
rinse cycles to a minimum. Use slow
agitation or soak method for
washing and rinsing. Regular
spinning does not contribute to
shrinkage and will speed up drying.
|
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