Wash me, but don't break me
Clothes really wear out when they are washed incorrectly and dried too hot. For example, by using detergents containing bleach or overfilling the washing machine. Please pay particular attention to the line under the washing symbol. It stands for gentle wash cycle, which means that the machine should only be half loaded. This protects the laundry and makes it easier to rinse out dirt.
The number in the centre of the wash symbol indicates the maximum temperature at which the item may be washed. However, thirty degrees or less is often sufficient for light soiling, as modern detergents are already active at very low temperatures. This is good for the environment and for the life of the laundry. Washing at 30°C instead of 60°C, for example, saves up to 40% electricity. That's why HAKRO supports the "THINK GREEN - WASH AT 30°C" initiative. Join in!
Birds of a feather flock together. Before washing, sort your laundry according to material, texture and separately for light and dark colours. It's better to wash twice correctly than once incorrectly. It doesn't matter if the machine doesn't get completely full. Loose loading protects your laundry, extends the life of the textiles and is therefore very sustainable.
Yes, it takes a bit more work. Nevertheless, you should turn all items of clothing inside out before washing. This will keep the surfaces of your textiles looking like new for much longer and protect delicate finishes. Please check the pockets and close all buttons and zips, then the washing process can begin.
Educational facts about detergents
They are called compact, universal or heavy-duty detergents and almost always contain bleaching agents or optical brighteners, which make light-coloured and white laundry made of pure cotton brightly clean, but are harmful to all coloured textiles (and also white textiles made of fibre blends or synthetics). You should therefore only use colour detergents for coloured textiles. Delicate fabrics are cleaned gently with mild detergents or wool or silk detergents. For the sake of your laundry, we recommend that you always use liquid detergents.
For the sake of your laundry, you should follow the detergent manufacturer's dosage recommendations. Depending on the hardness of your tap water, exactly the right amount of detergent is recommended for light, medium and very heavily soiled textiles. Follow them exactly. Particularly difficult stains require additional treatment, as the strength of a detergent cannot be increased by overdosing. This only harms the textiles and the environment.
Tricky drying
Take the laundry out of the machine as soon as possible after the spin cycle, shake out each item vigorously, pull it gently into shape and hang it on a line or clothes horse. T-shirts are best hung upside down with clips at the end of the side seams. Light shirts and blouses can be dried directly on hangers.
If you use a tumble dryer, please ensure that you only dry similar textiles together and that the laundry is spun beforehand according to the care labelling. The tumble dryer drum must never be overloaded. To protect your textiles, we recommend using the "iron dry" setting. This prevents your laundry from being overdried and also protects it from creasing. After drying, leave to steam briefly on the line.
The thing with stains
One thing is certain: rubbing, rubbing and spreading does not remove the stain. On the contrary. Rubbing destroys the surface of the textiles and you work the substance that caused the stain deep into the fibres. The stain may be gone after the next wash, but the damage remains.
Try to carefully dab the substance that caused the stain out of the garment. To do this, place a soft cloth under the affected area and press against the stain from above with a second soft cloth. Caution - do not rub! Both cloths gently absorb the stain substance. You can then repeat the procedure with a damp cloth. For stubborn stains on your favourite items, the professionals at your dry cleaner can also help.
Before you treat the stain with home remedies or stain removers, we strongly recommend that you carry out a hem test, i.e. test the effects of the product on an inconspicuous area. Only then can you be sure that there will be no nasty surprises when you use the product. Always apply the product exactly according to the instructions on the packaging and do not allow it to dry out afterwards, but wash the item immediately.
It is best to wash heavily soiled laundry immediately. Dried-in stains are much more difficult to wash out. Please remove coarse dirt such as soil and building materials beforehand. Damp laundry, such as sportswear, should also be put in the machine straight away, otherwise mould stains can form. The same applies to stains, carefully dab them out and put them in the washing machine so that red wine, gravy and carrot juice don't have time to set permanently on your clothes.
Stain removal for advanced users
Durability is our strength, but even the best quality textiles are no match for alkaline or acidic solutions. Sweat, especially in combination with intensive UV radiation, can be really corrosive and damage or even dissolve the colour pigments in textiles, which can quickly lead to unsightly stains and discolouration. It is therefore best to always wash heavily sweaty clothing immediately. It should also go without saying that you should not wear the same work shirt for several days in a row.
Most greasy stains on cotton or synthetic fabrics can be easily removed with cornflour or potato flour. Simply sprinkle evenly over the stain, leave to work, brush off and then wash as normal. Heavy machine oil can be removed by carefully rubbing the stain with soft butter before washing. Alternatively, you can use the special stain removers available on the market.
Antiperspirant deodorants cause unsightly stains, especially on white textiles. It helps to soak the affected areas in water with lemon juice or in water with denture cleaner and then wash as normal.
Here you cannot avoid special stain removers. Please use exactly according to the manufacturer's instructions. Older stains on cotton fabrics can be dabbed with nail varnish remover and then washed according to the washing instructions on the label. The same applies here: test the nail varnish remover on an inconspicuous area first.
First remove the hardened wax from the fabric surface, then place the fabric between two double layers of kitchen paper. Now press a warm (not hot) iron onto the back of the fabric. The wax heats up, melts and is absorbed by the paper towel. Then wash the item in the washing machine.
Water-soluble stains are no problem for today's detergents at low temperatures. However, some types of fruit and drinks contain colouring and tanning agents that can leave stubborn stains. Treat these with pure vinegar or lemon juice after testing the application on an inconspicuous area. Immediate soaking in cold water and carefully working in liquid gall soap have also proved very effective on fruit stains.
