At least once in her life, every housewife has encountered a situation where, after washing, she takes faded clothes out of the machine. A black sock that accidentally gets into the drum can cause damage to many products.
It turns out that on the modern market of household chemicals you can find an amazing product - anti-staining laundry wipes.
Their use allows you to wash both white and colored fabrics in one cycle, without worrying about them fading.
Read the article about how to use napkins for washing colored laundry and how to choose the right innovative product.
What are they and why are they used?
Anti-dye wash cloths help prevent pigment from transferring from colored fabrics to light ones. They contain special trap substances that absorb dyes, attracting them like a magnet.
The material is represented by viscose and polyester. It has impregnation based on nonionic surfactants with a concentration of up to 5%. Thanks to the use of such color traps, mixed washing has become not a dream, but a reality.
Advantages of using them:
no need to sort laundry when washing;- saving time, detergents and electricity;
- careful care of fabric;
- preventing the appearance of grayness and yellowness;
- effective stain removal (for products with a whitening effect);
- Suitable for both hand and machine wash.
The wipes are disposable. They cannot be used for multiple wash cycles.
Varieties
There are several types of laundry cloths. On sale you can find such products as:
- Color catchers only . They are used in combination with other detergents.
- Color catchers + detergent . They not only absorb dye, but also have cleaning ability themselves. They can be used as a replacement for powder, or its proportions can be reduced by 2 times.
- Color catchers + bleaches . They are recommended for use on light-colored fabrics.
Before you start washing, you need to read the instructions for using color-catching napkins. Depending on their composition and the manufacturer, the instructions for use may differ slightly.
How to wash black and white together?
Every person knows from childhood that washing white and black is not recommended. Such experiments can lead to white items turning yellow or gray and fading.
Black items are always washed separately. However, sometimes they are washed with other colors: black, red or blue. For complete confidence in the quality of white and black washes, use color and dirt traps. Wipes are a reliable way to protect items from any dyes, dirt or wool.
Terms of use
Napkins are most often used in automatic washing machines, although the instructions do not prohibit using them for hand washing.
Procedure for machine processing of laundry:
Load laundry into the drum, along with the required number of napkins. They need to be placed on top of things.- Pour or pour detergent into the compartment (if color traps that do not contain nonionic surfactants are used).
- Select the desired program and start the wash cycle.
- Remove clean linen and napkins. Things are hung out to dry, and the color catcher is disposed of.
Procedure for manual processing:
- Place the color trap at the bottom of the washing container and add detergent if necessary.
- Pour water into a basin and ensure that the powder or gel is completely dissolved.
- Wash items as usual and rinse thoroughly.
Napkins should be thrown into the trash. You cannot flush them down the toilet, as they do not dissolve in water and can cause a sewer blockage.
Despite the fact that napkins allow you to avoid sorting fabrics by color, they do not affect other washing parameters. If one item can be washed at a temperature of 30 degrees, and another at a temperature of 70 degrees, stop at the lower limit.
When calculating detergent, you need to proceed from the following formula:
- 1 PC. = 1 cap of gel or concentrate;
- 1 PC. = 2 scoops of washing powder;
- 1 PC. = 1 tbsp. l. laundry soap, ground into shavings.
These measures only apply to color traps that have detergent properties.
Advantages of napkins for washing clothes:
- In addition, this innovation is very convenient to use. During use, nothing spills on the floor, does not spill past the detergent compartment, and you do not need to think about measuring cups. In addition, you won’t be dragging heavy bags of powders and gels from the store, and napkins take up minimal space. You can take them with you on a trip or to the country. Throw it in your bag and the laundry kit is always at hand. Complete amenities, especially for older people. This gift can make an old grandmother happy. She won’t have to worry about the dosage of the powder and clean up what’s spilled - she’ll just put the napkin along with the laundry and won’t worry about anything.
- If you use anti-staining wipes, you will no longer have to sort your clothes. And this will save time and effort, because you won’t have to wait until the required amount of black or red accumulates in order to wash them together. And the costs of electricity and water will also be more economical, because instead of 2-3 cycles, you will produce one.
Features of choice
When deciding to purchase napkins, you need to pay attention to the following parameters:
Price. Each housewife independently decides at what cost to purchase household chemicals. The more famous the manufacturer and the more functions the product combines, the more expensive it is.- Availability. There are brands that can only be purchased on the Internet or in specialized stores, but there are also products that are available in almost every department with household chemicals.
- Compound. If you need the shreds to have additional functions, buy products containing surfactants or a bleaching component.
- Density. The thicker the fabric, the less likely it is to tear.
- Smell. There are neutral napkins, and there are those that have a certain aroma. The manufacturer indicates this on the packaging.
If you are purchasing such a household item for the first time, then it would be a good idea to read the reviews left by people who have experience handling them.
What wet wipes are suitable?
There is a huge selection of them in stores now. But not any of them is suitable for washing. You will have to choose taking into account certain parameters. For washing machines, you can safely purchase antibacterial ones - they are always denser than usual.
If antibacterial products are not visible on the shelves, you should slightly open the protective tab of the package and carefully inspect the contents. Mainly, you need to look at the density of the material. If it is unsatisfactory, you should not buy them, as they will simply tear in the washing machine.
You also need to smell the aroma. Too strong odors from napkins will transfer to clothes. When purchasing, you need to check them for elasticity. That is, take one out of the package and try to pull it in different directions. If it doesn't stretch at all, it may be fabric. These are not suitable for washing; they will only add a new portion of lint to the laundry.
Top 5 color traps for stain protection
The most popular color catchers are those that have been on the household chemicals market for quite some time. Among them:
- Paclan. These are inexpensive wipes that can protect white fabric from staining. They are produced in China. One package contains 20 units. The cost of a pack is 110 rubles. One wash takes from 1 to 3 napkins. The more intensely the fabric is dyed, the more you will need.
Home Collection (Fixed price) .
These products are intended solely to prevent shedding. For classic washing, use 1-3 napkins. The cost of 15 pieces is 55 rubles. The manufacturer does not recommend using them for washing new items that are subject to intense color fading, as there is no guarantee of their effectiveness.- Paterra. The manufacturer calls them laundry magnets.
For every 2.5-3 kg of laundry you will need 1 napkin. The manufacturer allows them to be used for washing new things, but at least 2 rags are required for such treatment. They cannot be used to care for fabrics dyed with natural dyes. The cost of a package of 8 pieces is 180 rubles. - Heitmann. For one wash you will need 2 napkins (for mixed colors and whites) or 3 napkins (for highly faded clothes). The cost of 20 pieces is about 220 rubles.
- Topper Chameleon . If the drum is half loaded, then one color catcher is enough; when the drum is fully loaded, take 2 pieces. There is no need to reduce the dosage of the powder or gel. The cost of 20 pieces is about 200 rubles.
The range of color traps for washing is quite wide, so every housewife will be able to choose the right product for herself.
Video review of Color Expert washing napkins from Paclan:
Review of popular brands
Let's look at which brands of household chemicals offer wipes to protect the color of your laundry.
Tech Handy Sheet from LG Household & Healthcare
Wipes are made from hypoallergenic materials, foam well and are economical to use. The price tag is above average, but Korean quality speaks for itself.
Heitmann
Two types of products: for washing white and maintaining whiteness, as well as for protecting fabrics from shedding.
Home collection from Fix Price
The most economical option for anti-shedding wipes, suitable for machine wash. Can be combined with powders and gels. Despite the budget segment, they operate effectively.
User reviews
Most people who have used laundry wipes have been pleased with the results. The products fully cope with their function, do not fall apart or tear when washed in a machine.
After using them, there are no lints or pellets left on the fabric, and the color catcher itself becomes grayish . People leave positive reviews about both expensive and budget products.
Reviews can be found here, on this review site and on this forum.
Laundry baskets
Dirty laundry does not have to wait long to be washed. Fresh dirt can be washed off more easily, but mold may appear on old dirty items. But it is not always possible to organize laundry immediately. In this case, a laundry basket is simply irreplaceable. Modern baskets fold easily and allow air to pass through. You can purchase a basket with several compartments to sort your laundry by color, washing order, and degree of soiling. The variety of types allows you to choose a laundry basket for a specific bathroom interior.
Photo: Depositphotos
Important Tips
Information that may be useful to people who are washing clothes for the first time using anti-shedding wipes:
- For every 3 kg of things, use 1 napkin. If you plan to wash a small number of items, for example, 2-3 kitchen towels, you can divide it into 2 parts. This recommendation is only suitable for fabrics that are not heavily colored. This way you can save on buying new packaging.
- Before the first use, you need to independently evaluate the properties of the napkins by washing them with light-colored items that are not too expensive, for example, washing colored jeans and an old white towel. This will allow you to independently verify the effectiveness of the chosen product.
- Before washing, you need to study the information provided by the manufacturer. Despite the general instructions, there are points that require attention.
You will find maximum useful information about washing clothes and various fabric products here.
Why put a napkin in the machine?
When washing clothes, various holes in the washing machine become clogged with hair, wool and pellets. This may cause an unpleasant odor. And the resulting stagnation in the pipes will prevent the removal of unpleasant odors, because of this they will have to be cleaned.
A napkin helps prevent such troubles from occurring. Due to its unique structure, the napkin will wrap hair when washed. Due to its softness, it will always rise with the flow of water. Hair and fur also rise. The fibrous structure of the napkin helps to attract all the excess particles that end up in the washing machine drum with other things.
This life hack will help you save money on repairing your washing machine and replacing pipes, and it won’t give off a musty smell.
How to use cloths for washing faded clothes
Napkins can be used both for hand washing and for washing using a machine. Thanks to them, you no longer have to spend a long time collecting and sorting clothes into different colors (light, red, black, etc.). The main thing is to adhere to all the rules for using this miracle product written on the packaging and not deviate from them.
When washing in an automatic machine:
- place the required number of napkins into the drum;
- load the laundry you plan to wash on top of them;
- if rags are used exclusively with the function of protection against staining, then fill in the gel or fill in the powder;
- set the desired mode and start the wash;
- Upon completion of the program, discard the used product.
If you wash by hand, then the sequence of actions is as follows:
- place a washing piece of cloth at the bottom of the basin and fill it with water;
- Dip your clothes into a highly concentrated foam solution;
- Wash and rinse the laundry as usual, according to the requirements of the material.
What kind of napkin do you need?
When people talk about napkins, the first thing that comes to mind is table napkins made of the thinnest paper. But such options will not work, because when wet, this same napkin will turn into something other than a simple piece of an ugly and incomprehensible mass.
Cloth napkins won't work either. Moreover, it does not matter at all what kind of fabric they are made from. The very fact that the fabric will be perfectly even and smooth is already embarrassing. But what to do then and what napkin to use?
Everything here is extremely simple. An ordinary wet wipe will do just fine. Moreover, these can be either the most expensive options from specialized cosmetics stores, or the simplest napkins for 10 rubles, which are scattered in the checkout area of any supermarket.
The thing is that the structure of such a napkin is very soft, but if it is torn or wrinkled, it will form some folded areas. All this allows you to get that very effective result that every housewife is chasing.
How else can you improve the quality of your wash?
In addition to washing with a damp cloth, housewives have many more tricks and tricks hidden. Every day new secrets are being discovered, if followed, you can perfectly whiten or, on the contrary, restore lost color. Among the most popular life hacks are the following methods:
- put 2 dishwasher tablets into the drum and run an “idle” high-temperature cycle, which will help disinfect the machine and remove all scale;
- when washing white clothes, add 2 aspirin tablets to the powder receptacle, which will enhance the bleaching effect;
- When washing down jackets, jackets and blankets, it is necessary to place tennis balls with the clothes, which will prevent the stuffing from crumpling;
- to maintain the intensity of the black color, it is recommended to pour half a liter of freshly brewed coffee into the drum while rinsing;
- 3-4 ice cubes in the washing machine will remove wrinkles and creases from clothes;
- if you throw crumpled aluminum foil into the machine, the clothes will stop electrifying;
- By adding 2-3 balls of light woolen threads to the washing machine and starting automatic drying, you can soften the laundry several times.
In skillful hands, a wet wipe will become not only a means of hygiene, but also an assistant when washing in a machine. The main thing is to use the shred correctly.
Interesting:
- What happens if you put balls in the washing machine...
- Washing a down jacket made from bio-down in a washing machine
- Washing powder for newborns - which one is better?
- Reviews of children's washing powders
- DIY homemade fabric softener
- Washing knitted items in the washing machine
Reader comments
Share your opinion - leave a comment
Types of laundry detergents
Detergents can be divided into the following types:
- By composition: environmentally friendly or with synthetic components;
- By content: gel or powder products;
- By type of packaging: plastic bag, cardboard box, plastic bottle;
- By type of washing: for hand washing or for machine washing;
- By purpose: universal, for children's things, for colored things, for white, for black;
In terms of package volume, products can be designed for one wash or 50 or more washes.
When purchasing detergent, consider the following points:
- The larger the packaging, the more economical it is;
- For children's things, it is worth buying special products that do not contain aggressive chemicals; After washing, it is worth rinsing children’s clothes several times in clean water;
- Allergy sufferers may also have a reaction to environmental powders, so choose the product carefully;
- Carefully read the manufacturer's instructions, since the powder is poured into a special compartment for it in the washing machine, but the capsule is thrown directly into the drum itself before washing;
- When purchasing a large package of powder, check the expiration date so that it does not expire before the end of the detergent itself;
- Store laundry detergents out of the reach of children and animals.
Read full description
