Do you know what actually happens to your clothes during a cycle in your washing machine? If you’re like most people, there’s a good chance you simply put the clothes in, close the door, select a cycle, and then come back later.
First, the washing machine will spin a few times to determine the load size. This dictates the amount of water that will be added. Less is better! Then the washing partially fills with water.
The water entering the machine comes through the mixing chamber where it mixes with the detergent you’ve added. Of course, not all detergents are created equal, many rely on harsh chemicals to clean your clothes despite the fact that they can do harm to your skin.
That’s why it’s worth looking for a specialist fabric care compound that looks after your clothes, your skin, and the environment.
Once the water mixes with the detergent, it flows around the clothes. The right detergent is made up of specialized molecules that attract oils at one end and water on the other. This effectively draws the dirt and grease out of your clothes and onto the washing molecules.
To help this process, the washing machine drum will spin one way and then the other. This agitates the clothes, forcing them to rub against each other and push the dirt out.
After the dirt has been removed the washer will drain the water in the tub, getting rid of the dirty water and gets your washing machine ready for the clean water to come in. This is the rinse cycle where the machine makes sure that the soap molecules are off your clothes. Any left on your clothes will contain dirt and grease, they will also wear the fabric out prematurely.
Your washing machine is capable of rinsing your clothes with cold water or warm water (cold is certainly more energy-efficient and is often the most effective, depending on the stain and fabric). Again the clothes are tossed around the machine, this time it’s to make sure any remaining soap molecules are attracted to the freshwater and drawn away from your clothes. As soon as this is finished the washer drains and it will spin, forcing any extra water out of your clothes.
This helps shorten the drying process.
The Rinse
Many machines will rinse just once which should be effective. However, your machine may have the option to rinse more than once and it’s worth considering doing it a second time.
A second rinse will help to ensure all the soap suds are gone and your clothes are clean and fresh. You may want to do more rinses than this but two should be enough to ensure your clothes are as clean and fresh as they can be. That’s it, the bottom line, and the short answer, you should always have two rinses, but more won’t do any harm. Of course, the more rinses you do the more water you’ll use, and that costs money.
Nickida
Nickida is a first-generation Trinidadian American wife and mother of four. She enjoys sharing recipes from her childhood growing up in Trinidad with her readers. Nickida has a son with Autism and shares posts around traveling with a child with special needs to help other families like her own. She loves television, movies and is a true 80's baby.
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