The 5 Mistakes You’re Probably Making with Your Laundry — And How to Fix Them
A lot has changed since we first learned to do our laundry. It feels like our lives have gotten way more packed, and our personal time is at more of a premium. Plus, the machines themselves have changed. Washing machine drums have gotten bigger, which is a good thing: You can put off doing your laundry since the machines can handle larger loads. The problem is that our habits haven’t really changed with them. Larger loads accumulate more dirt, and more dirt requires more cleaning power — but many of us aren’t using enough detergent to get our clothes clean.
Fortunately, with a few easy course corrections, you can make everything from delicates to whites look good as new. Tide Power Pods have more cleaning power to ensure your large loads get clean every time. If you’re ready to start doing laundry the right way (and get some time back in your hectic schedule), here are the mistakes we make most in the laundry room, and how to fix them.
Overloading the machine
It’s super tempting to shove one more sweatshirt in there, but jamming your washing machine won’t leave enough room for your clothes to tumble properly and get clean (aka the “washing” part of washing machines). It can actually ruin the machine, which is a way bigger drag than doing an extra load. This is especially important now as our loads have gotten larger. If you’re shoving it all in to get it all finished in one go, our customized tips can help.
Not checking your pockets before washing
Take it from someone whose last load was covered in tissue confetti and don’t skip this step! It’s not just annoying: Things left in your pockets can create more stain issues than you have to begin with. And harder objects like coins and keys can cause major damage to your machine, blocking up vents and drain pipes and denting drums. If you have a front-loading washer, they might even shatter the glass window.
Not getting enough cleaning power
Like we said, now that washing machine drums have gotten bigger, they require more detergent to fully clean our clothes. We’re doing larger loads, which means it’s harder to know how much detergent we need. The simple formula is that more clothes mean more dirt, and more dirt requires more power to get our clothes clean. Enter Tide Power Pods, which will ensure you’re using the right dosing for these larger loads every time. With 50 percent more cleaning power than Tide Original Liquid, they were specifically designed to fight set-in stains — even stubborn ones like grease and wine — and ensure your closet is always filled with nothing but fresh, clean clothes.
Leaving clothes in the washer too long
We’ve all forgotten about a load, but it’s one of those small oversights that can turn into a big problem. Leaving clothes in the washer vat where there’s reduced light and airflow can prevent your machine from drying completely and get the mold and mildew party started on your clothes within 24 to 48 hours.
Stressing too much about a full hamper
In a perfect world, all of our clothes would always be clean and we’d never have to worry about doing laundry. But in reality, laundry piles up — often quicker than expected. If you stress about a full hamper, don’t. It’s okay to let laundry pile up. When it does, Tide Power Pods will let you stop scheduling your life around laundry.