How to Wash Your Clothes Like a Scientist | Consumer Reports

Want to protect your favorites clothes from fading and shrinking in the laundry? Consumer Reports’ Chief Scientific Officer reveals tips for prolonging the life of your wardrobe.

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[LlyleHunter]

Through a process known as Darma the socks that go missing from your dryer will return to you in the form of lids for pieces of Tupperware that you no longer have.

[DADoESofTX]

Indigo dyes on denim/jeans always bleed. That's more of a reason than any other to wash jeans separately from other items. Checking the wash water when it drains, which most people can't see unless their machine drains into a sink or laundry tub, it may be a dark blue color.

Zippers and snaps should be closed on items to avoid abrasion and snags during tumbling or agitation.

Washing in cold water is the *worst* thing for the washer, and not all that great for most clothes. Cold water doesn't properly "melt" oily soils (which includes skin sebum) to be flushed away and residue may adhere to the inside of the washer's outer tub and outside of the inner drum. The inside of the inner drum may look clean and shiny from the clothes rubbing on it ... but the outer parts that aren't seen are typically covered with smutz. That's the reason for the Clean Washer cycles that so many machines have nowadays, to be used with a special strong cleaning product.

It's surprising how many people have dryers with Auto Sensor cycles but they use only the timed cycle instead of letting the machine's electronics adjust the time according to the load size, fabric weight of the load, residual moisture per the washer's spin speed, and other factors.

[kenc]

He has the voice, demeanor, and enthusiasm that's PERFECT for a Saturday morning TV show for kids... [I guess this was recommended to me because I always watch "Talking Cars, " with the CR car people]

[carolineapodaca]

wool dryer balls are a help too, at running thick hard to dry items like towels, pillows and comforters. Used to have to run king size fleece blankets on 2 dryer cycles, dryer balls got it down to one saving time and electricity.

[CDNRower]

I like this presenter. He's not talking to us like we're in preschool.

[jeffburtonnottheracecardriver]

You covered the science of the yarn fiber, inferred friction and recommended sensor drying.
When will you discuss water temperature, water level in re: don't load too many clothes, amount of soap v. water hardness, and PLEASE don't use fabric softener in either form?

[bettykwong]

He’s got a really good point . I only wash things that needs to put in the laundry mesh bags. Sometimes I don’t have it. You don’t have to use every single laundry mesh bag for delicates . Some things I throw in without a bag . Sometimes I do. It depends. Thank god for these bags. But at the same time you want to use less bags because you need the washing machine to move around or if you use all the bags the l machine will think hmmmm why is this not spinning correctly .

[triniwarrior]

But you didn’t mention how much to load up your machine and how much detergent is actually needed

[m.l.r]

I like to wear those no show socks and I have small feet. I got tired of buying socks every week so I place my dirty socks on top of my dryer until wash day than pin them together and throw them in the wash 😊. I’ve been doing that for years and now I have never lost a sock 🎉.

[sebastian_manuells]

Great explanation.
Would you please make another video for a semi automatic machine? You know, the ones that don't use heat to dry your clothes, just use a centrifugal spinner to squeeze out the water.

[JosephNJ]

We have a top loader washer. I find washing everything except jeans on gentle is best.

[dannycarrington]

George Costanza told me it was cold water that caused shrinkage.

[ThatMrBurger]

Dude talks about sensor mode on a dryer as if half of us don’t still have a dryer from the 70’s

[KamisKisses]

Ok My Mom is a scientist, that is all I learned. 😉

[koko-rlzm]

What about fabric softener/static sheets?

[monkofmayhem]

Ive been washing and drying at the same setting for years because i don’t understand the labels lol

[wisdom-in]

The owner's manual for my new Samsung front load washer says to place socks inside a zippered mesh laundry bag to wash them. I do it and don't lose a sock!

[JosephNJ]

A few good tips, but what if you don't have a high tech washer dryer?

"choose the right setting"
*just use normal*

[koston]

I guess my wife is a scientist afterall