Laundry

Fabric Softener

• Fabric softener and dryer sheets basically add a coating of some material to the fabric

• That’s what makes it feel “soft”

• This has the downside of ruining some clothing

  • DriFit

  • Some materials (merino wool, for example, says don’t use fabric softener)

• Basically, so long as you’re doing big general loads, don’t do it

• If you get to the point where you’re doing specialized loads, you could look into this again

  • But right now it’s not really worth the trouble

Socks

• Wash inside out if it’s sweaty and nasty in there

  • Washing inside out helps wash the dirtiest, sweatiest parts better

  • But, I’ve seen it possibly tear some threads loose

  • And, sometimes the outside is the dirtiest (dirt from the floor, etc.)

  • So only do it if you really feel like the inside needs cleaning

• Hang dry if possible for soft socks you want to preserve

  • Helps preserve material

  • Friction and heat of the dryer break down the cotton/material

• For socks that aren’t a big deal (athletic socks), just tumble dry low

• Cold water

• Gentle/delicate loads

  • Prevents rubbing against other clothes

• No fabric softener

  • Reduces the sock's moisture wicking

• Use mild soap/detergent

• Don't fold

  • Helps them lose shape

• Buy high quality socks

Jeans

• Wash infrequently — washing breaks down the material and fades the dye

• When you do wash, use delicate detergent

• If you need to use detergent, use bleach-free for dark colors (like Woolite Dark)

• Best option is to hand wash them

  • Soak in cold water and vinegar

  • If necessary, hand wash cycle with vinegar

  • Or, instead of vinegar, delicate detergent mentioned above

• No how water or heated dry

• Tumbling in dryer leads to wear and tear

• Otherwise, do it inside-out with like colors

  • Q: Should it be washed with other things?

• Q: Tumble dry low or hang dry? (probably hang dry)

• Can use Mr. Black’s spray to “freshen” them up without washing them completely

• Wearing a lot without washing them starts to stretch out the fabric

  • When you wash them next, they’ll probably be a bit more snug (waist, calves) for a few wears

• To help prevent fading, stay out of sunlight …😂

Athletic clothes / dry fit

• Don't use fabric softener (kills the moisture wicking surface)

Default routine

If no tag and not sure what to do:

• Wash on cold

• If socks, nicer material, delicate or in anyway, underwear, or especially dirty, jeans, wash inside-out

• Try not to overload washing machine (if overloaded, clothes tend to get more wrinkly)

• Drying

  • Air dry if nicer material, socks, delicate in anyway

  • Otherwise, put in drier on lowest heat setting

  • Some nicer materials like superfine merino recommend laying flat to dry

    • Never had a problem with them not being flat FWIW

• Don't iron logos that are e.g. plastic

• Iron on lower heat settings when in doubt. But follow material settings / guidelines

Notes

• Underwear and socks need to be washed every time

  • But socks can go another round if you really didn’t sweat or anything — per-case basis

  • Underwear just go through a lot during the day — sweat and dead skin

  • Underwear also get stretched out throughout the day

  • Q: With new, nicer Mack Weldon underwear material, could we go two wears, or no?

• Merino wool

  • Wash after the first 2-3 wears

  • Q: How often to wash after that?

  • Don’t tumble dry

• In general, don’t tumble dry things you really want to preserve

  • Clothing breaks down from heat and friction in the dryer (that’s where lint comes from)

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