4 Strategies to Eradicate Creases in Clothing Laundry
Untangling Your Towels: A Guide to Wrinkle-Free Clothes
Sick of wrestling with the ironing board? Here's a simple fix: prevent wrinkles in your clothes! Most fabrics don't need to wrinkle, and with a little know-how, you can avoid the hassle of ironing. Alastair Dorward, the big cheese at Dropps (an eco-friendly laundry pod company), is spilling the beans on the top tips to stow away those wrinkles. Read on to learn intriguing secrets to keep your wardrobe wrinkle-free.
The Top Smelling Laundry Detergents, Put to the Test by BHG
Say Goodbye to High Heat
While it may seem that high heat could banish wrinkles, the reality is quite the opposite. That's why Dorward advises using low heat settings on your laundry equipment and opting for the cool-down option at the end of the drying cycle. "Lower heat is your friend in the battle against wrinkles, while excessive heat can weaken fabric polymers, making them more prone to creases," Dorward explains.
Sticking to a lower temp when washing and drying your clothes is key to reducing wrinkles. "Utilizing a permanent press cycle or cooler settings keeps clothes under their 'glass transition temperature,' which aids in wrinkle prevention," Dorward adds. As an extra step, he suggests employing the cool-down cycle at the end of your dryer cycle if your dryer is equipped with one.
Ditch the Dryer Pile-Up
Time is of the essence when it comes to warding off wrinkles, and promptly removing clothes from the dryer at the conclusion of the cycle is crucial. "Snatch your clothes straight out of the dryer once the cycle ends and hang or fold them promptly," Dorward advises. Leaving your clothes to linger in a tangled heap in the dryer, even if they're still damp, will lead to sizeable wrinkles. "The longer your laundry lingers in a crumpled mess, the deeper the wrinkles become," Dorward explains. Removing your clothes as soon as the dryer cycle ends and immediately hanging or folding them will ward off wrinkles from forming.
Restrain the Washer and Dryer Overload
The temptation to chuck a mega load of clothes into the washer and dryer to save time, funds, and energy is strong. But resist, because it only leads to wrinkled and potentially damaged or improperly cleaned clothes. "Steer clear of overstuffing the washer or dryer. You want your clothes to move freely during the cycle," Dorward suggests. When the washer is overflowing, efficiency takes a hit as water and detergent can't circulate properly. Furthermore, clothes become squashed, resulting in wrinkles. When you tackle the overly full load in the dryer, the already-creased clothes will once again encounter the same problem as air won't circulate well, resulting in wrinkles.
Swap Dryer Sheets for Wool Dryer Balls
"Not only do wool dryer balls prevent wrinkles, but they also reduce drying time," Dorward asserts. Typically fashioned from 100% wool, dryer balls are a fantastic replacement for disposable dryer sheets for several reasons, including their ability to combat wrinkles by boosting air circulation. Dorward explains that their brand's dryer balls are highly absorbent and can help nix wrinkles before they occur. "They can absorb up to 30% of their weight in water while also fluffing and separating laundry as it tumbles through the cycle, allowing more air circulation, which helps clothes dry faster and with fewer wrinkles," he says.
- For a wrinkle-free wardrobe, follow Alastair Dorward's tips from Dropps, an eco-friendly laundry pod company featured on BHG's 'The Top Smelling Laundry Detergents, Put to the Test'.
- To prevent wrinkles, Dorward recommends using low heat settings on your laundry equipment and the cool-down option at the end of the drying cycle, as high heat weakens fabric polymers and increases wrinkle-proneness.
- Removing clothes promptly from the dryer at the end of the cycle and immediately hanging or folding them can help significantly in avoiding wrinkles.
- Overloading the washer or dryer with clothes should be avoided, as it can lead to wrinkles and potentially damage the garments.
- Swapping dryer sheets with wool dryer balls can help reduce drying time and boost air circulation, preventing wrinkles and making clothes dry faster.
- To maintain a lifestyle that is fashion-forward and wrinkle-free, housekeeping advice like these laundry tips checklists from experts like Dorward can be very beneficial for your home-and-garden routines.