Maytag

Sort, sort, sort!

Spend more time sorting, and you'll spend less time washing, drying and folding.

As any parent of a teenager knows, often times clothing will end up in the hamper without ever being worn. If you can identify which garments got put into the laundry basket instead of ending up back on a hanger or in a drawer where they belong, you'll not only save time, but you'll save water, energy, and money, as well.

Instead of waiting until wash day to sort the laundry, do it as you take off your clothes. Have two baskets in the closet, bathroom, or laundry room for dirty clothes - one for whites, and one for darks and colors. This way, you can just grab a basket and throw it in the wash. .

Skirt the iron.

Ironing can be an extremely time-consuming project. Any activities that help prevent wrinkles will ensure that laundry day is a little shorter.

Always remove your clothes from the dryer while they're still warm. The longer they sit around in the drum of your machine, the more likely they will be to have wrinkles. Listening for the buzzer not only keeps the laundry process moving, but will prevent you further headaches after you fold.

Always read your care labels. Cotton clothing, as well as some blends, react better to certain temperatures or drying times. You can greatly reduce fabric damage that leads to wrinkling through correct care.

Accessible essentials!

Keep your necessaries handy. Proper organization of your laundry room can prevent wasted minutes digging through drawers and through cabinets searching for items you need.

A bulletin board on your laundry room wall can keep plastic bags full of needles, buttons, thread and other clothing-repair supplies handy.

Wall-mounted shelves or a laundry cart keep detergent and other supplies within reach, yet out of the way in crowded laundry rooms.

Closet crunching!

Take a look at your closet. The laundry process starts in the aisles of your favorite clothing store, and it doesn't end when you put your clothes away hot from the dryer - closets and bureau drawers are a big part of the life cycle of your wardrobe. A few organizational tweaks here and there can help you shave even more time off of your fabric care routine.

Think twice before buying a garment - don't buy anything just because it is on sale, or take your sister's hand-me-downs, even though you have nothing to match a lime-green jumpsuit. In the end, you'll be glad you have the extra space in your closet, and you won't spend time wondering whatever possessed you to buy so many things you'll never wear.

You can really cut down on the amount of time you spend every morning searching for that perfect outfit - if you know exactly where to find it. Divide your closet into sections, and you'll be able to look directly into the blouse section or the dress section to create a killer combo. You can even divide those sections up by color or by occasion - get creative, and keep your needs in mind as you do it.

If you have a closet full of suits or dresses you wear only on occasion, you may want to invest in some plastic shoulder covers to protect them. They help keep your garments dust-free.

Linen Closet

In the linen closet place cotton balls that have been sprayed with your favourite scent. Once they are dry place them in the corners and on the shelves.

Laundry Basket Freshener

Place a fabric softener sheet in the bottom of your laundry basket (remember to change it weekly). You can also simply sprinkle some baking soda in the bottom of your basket and that will help absorb the ordors as well.

Mothball Makeover

A better idea than using mothballs is to take your leftover soap slivers and put them in a vented plastic bag. Place the bag with seasonal clothes before packing them away. Not only will the scent prevent them from moth harm but they will also smell great when you pull them out. This is especially useful for sweaters, which can be difficult to remove the odor of mothballs from. Using soap you simply have a clean smell rather then the smell of an attic.

Travel Saver

Whenever you travel carry along a stain pretreatment stick. Taking the time to use it on stains before they set ensures that they will wash out when you get home.

Fading

Turn dark clothes inside out and wash in the coolest water possible; dry on the lowest heat. For all-black clothes, throw in a box of black Rit® dye every 8-10 washes or so to keep black clothes black. Fluffing down Comforters/Jackets: Put a couple of tennis balls in the dryer with them to reduce static.

How much detergent do I need for each load?

This depends on the hardness of your water and the soil in your clothing. Softened water requires quite a bit less detergent than hard water — yet the more soiled the clothes, the more detergent you need to clean them. See the instructions on the detergent package for specific guidelines. If soap suds remain at the end of the cycle, you are probably using too much detergent — see "How can I get rid of residual soap suds at the end of a cycle?"

Where does the lint from my washer go?

If your washer doesn't have a lint filter that you manually clean, the lint goes down the drain. This is usually safe for both city sewers and septic systems.

The water in my washer's warm cycle isn't very warm. Why?

The warm water for your washer is simply a mixture of the hot and cold water available from your home. If the hot water entering the machine isn't very hot, the warm is actually cool. Also, in northern climates, during winter months, the cold water entering the unit may be significantly colder than in the summer, which causes the warm water to be cooler.

In some cases, the water inlet valve may be restricted, or there may be sediment on the screen, that blocks the input of the hot water. For more information, see the Troubleshooting Guide section of our Web site for washing machines.

What causes those fuzzy balls on some clothing?

Many synthetic clothes shed small fibers that ball up and cling to the clothes. Remove these "pills," if you like, with a fuzz-removing device that you can get from your local clothing materials supplier. Overloading your washer can make this condition worse.

Why do some clothing dealers suggest washing clothes inside out?

In the washer, the clothes often turn inside out during the agitation cycle. Turning the clothes inside out first may be easier on the clothing. It helps limit abrasion on the "good" side of the fabric, reducing "pilling" and extending the life of some fabrics such as corduroy. In addition, any embroidery, decals, and so on are better preserved. It should not affect the performance of the cleaning action to have the clothes inside out during wash.

How can I stop dark clothes from fading when I wash them?

You may be able to extend the look of the blacks and brightly coloured garments by following these instruction:

1. Use a laundry detergent that is made to minize fading of dark colours. If only mildly dirty, wash in small washer load, or     wash separately on delicate, or hand wash.

2. Turn the garments inside out to wash. This reduces the amount of abrasion the clothes experience during washing.

3. Use mild detergent and avoid using too much detergent. Harsh detergents are hard on dyes.

4. Do not leave in the dryer too long. Take out when still slightly damp. The heat in the dryer ages fabrics.

5. Dyes are also affected by sunlight, and from abrasive wear.

How can I keep my whites white and the bright colors bright?

There are several reasons why clothes loose their brightness. Some of these are touched on in our Fabric Stain Guide under "Dinginess, Yellowing, Graying". Common reasons include the use of too much/too little detergent, use of too large of washer loads, inadequate rinsing, and using the wrong water temperature. Read the detergent package for the correct amount of detergent for your type of washer.

If the washer is too full, there's more rubbing/abrasion on the clothes, which dulls the fabric/colors. So, don't overload, and use the right amount of water for the load. Regarding the temperature, follow the care instructions on the garment label. Periodic use of appropriate fabric bleach (all fabric or chlorine, as appropriate) and/or laundry boasters will help keep clothes bright. Sometimes changing detergents may help.

Many clothes have optical brighteners or fluorescent whitening agents (FWAs) applied, which help brighten colors. Unfortunately, if the FWA are damaged by sunlight, bleach, or simply age, there is nothing you can do.

What are enzyme cleaners?

Enzymes are a type of protein found in living matter. Used in laundry products, they have the ability to breakdown protein type stains, such as blood, meat juice, dairy products, baby formula, and vegetable proteins. Enzymes contain amylase (for starch), protease (for protein), and lipase (for fats).

Be sure to check detergent ingredients, because some do contain enzymes. Enzyme presoak products include Axion and Biz Bleach.

Are fabric softeners always OK to use?

Take a walk through a display of high tech apparel and you´ll find a number of care labels that say "no fabric softeners." Many high performance fabrics and finishes, including microfibers, allow the fabric to breathe and transport moisture away from the skin to the outer surface of the fabric, where it can evaporate. This keeps the wearer dry and comfortable. The "fatty" material in a fabric softener attaches directly to the fabric and makes the fabric feel softer. However, fabric softeners can build up over time, and can reduce the ability of the fabric to manage moisture and breathe. Frequent use of fabric softeners can also reduce the absorbency of cotton towels. The web site of Cotton Inc. provides the following tip for consumers: "Use fabric softeners occasionally. Overuse will cause your towels to stiffen and become less absorbent."

How delicate is the delicate cycle?

The systems used for delicate cycles vary widely. Units with at least a two-speed motor — one-speed for regular and another for delicate — are usually more gentle than units with only one speed.

How do I remove the odour that persists in my washing machine?

Both odour-causing residues have the potential to accumulate where moisture is present. The odour can form in machines when too much or the wrong type of detergent is used.

Help eliminate odour by using an affresh® Washer Cleaner tablet once a month to keep your machine smelling fresh and clean. affresh® Washer Cleaner is a formulated, slow-dissolve, foaming tablet that gets under residue, breaks it up and washes away, leaving the washer smelling clean and fresh.

How to Use: Simply place one tablet in the wash basket, without clothes, and run a Normal Cycle (with the hot water option) or ‘Clean Washer’ Cycle. Learn more at www.affresh.ca

If you need Assistance

If you have questions about operating, cleaning or maintaining your washer:

Refer to the Use and Care Guide.
Call the Customer Interaction Center. Check your Use and Care Guide for a toll-free number to call or call the dealer from whom you purchased this appliance.

If you need Service

Maintain the quality built into your washer by:

Contacting the dealer from whom you purchased your washer; or
Calling the Customer Loyalty Centre at 1 (800) 807-6777.

When you call, you will need:

The washer model number.
The washer serial number.

NOTE: Both numbers are listed on the model/serial rating plate located beneath the washer lid, on the tub rim.
Try the solutions suggested here first in order to avoid the cost of an unnecessary service call.