Worst Laundry Mistake Minnesotans Need To Avoid Right Now

On average, a family of four will open up the washing machine and dump clothes in about 5 to 8 times a week.  No matter if you are washing clothes for yourself or throwing in a load for the whole family, there is a good chance that you are making a huge mistake.

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Most Minnesotans Are Making This Huge Mistake When Doing Their Laundry

At about age 10 to 14, most of us were pulled aside and shown how to start a load of laundry.  This is a huge life skill that is very appropriate to learn at that age, and I can confidently say that I thought I was "washing clothes" correctly this entire time.  Based on what I just read in Reader's Digest, I appear to be one of the many who are making a huge mistake when attempting to clean my clothes.

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The Biggest Laundry Mistakes People Are Making

Every week, about 840 million washing machines around the world are turned on, filled up, and spinning around with the attempt to get all the dirt and grime out of our clothes.  Unfortunately, everyone isn't finishing this task successfully.  Below are the top laundry mistakes people tend to make, including one that Reader's Digest recently highlighted:

Neglecting Stain Pre-Treatment

• If you've got kids, having stain remover on hand is a must.  Treating stains prior to putting the clothes in the washing machine is a crucial step if you want to remove the mark effectively.  If you don't and happen to throw the item in the dryer, that stain could be extremely challenging to remove.

Ignoring Care Labels

• All of the symbols on the tags mean something, and most of would have to use Google to figure them out.  Care instructions will help prevent items from shrinking, being damaged, or fading.

Overloading the Washing Machine

• Putting too many items in the washing machine can cause damage to the machine.  It will also make it more challenging for the clothes to get clean if there isn't enough room for the clothes to circulate.

Not Cleaning The Dryer Lint Trap

• If you don't know what this is, you need to find it ASAP on your dryer.  Pulling out the lint from the trap on the dryer not only help improve dryer efficiency but will prevent the possibility of a dryer fire.

Using Too Much Detergent

• The thought that more soap will do a more thorough job appears to make sense.  Unfortunately, too much detergent can leave residue on the clothes you just attempted to get clean and could lead them to attract more dirt.

Leaving Clothes in the Washer and Dryer

• Most of us have done this, so don't feel like you are being judged.  You probably already know why it isn't a good idea to leave items in the washer and dryer too long.  Yep...that smell.  Mildew odors can linger on clothes and excessive wrinkling can happen as well.

Not Leveling the Washer

• If you ever hear your washing machine making a ton of noise or can see it physically moving around, it is probably off balance.  Make sure the washing machine is stable, otherwise it can damage the floor or walls nearby.

Worst Laundry Mistake We Make According to Reader's Digest

Washing Towels With The Rest Of Your Laundry

Reason #1 - This seems like a harmless act but according to Reader's Digest, putting towels in with the rest of your clothes is a bacteria playground.  Bathrooms aren't always the most well-ventilated areas and as a result, towels can be great hosts for bacteria.  When you wash those, they can easily just transfer to your clothes.  Washing separately will help keep those germs off your everyday items.

Reason #2 - towels typically are washed better when different settings are used than what is used for clothing.  For clothes, many individuals use fabric softener.  When towels are in the washing machine, it is best to leave that additive out so the towel will be more absorbent.

Reason #3 - Clothing could get damaged by the towels.  Towels tend to shed more lint than clothes, and if clothing is in the same wash, that lint is going to be attracted and cling to the clothing items.  Towels tend to be bulkier items and if mixed with fabrics that are lighter, there is a chance the clothing items will be tangled or stretched out if they are in the same tub as towels.

Reason #4 - The recommended water temperature for washing towels is hot.  Most clothes should be washed in cold.  Not complying with the recommendations for each item could lead to shrinkage, damage or fading.