Washing and care myths put to the test


When doing laundry, there are questions upon questions. Can pantyhose go in the washing machine? Is laundry only hygienically clean at 90 degrees? Do I need a stain remover? In the TUBIE Shirt Ironing Blog we explain.

Do tights have to be washed by hand?

No, that's a myth. Nylon and perlon socks can be machine washed at 60 degrees without hesitation. However, they should be placed in a laundry bag so that they are not torn by zippers or other sharp objects.

Can you also use a shampoo to wash wool?

Yes, actually. If you don't have any mild detergent in the house, you are welcome to use shampoo. Wool is very similar to human hair and will not damage it. It is better not to use heavy-duty detergent, as this could destroy the fibers.

Do I need a different detergent for each type of fabric?

In principle, you need three different detergents. A heavy-duty detergent for white or light-colored laundry (contains bleach), a color detergent for colored clothing and a mild detergent, which you can also use for wool. By the way, washing powder washes better than liquid detergent and is also more environmentally friendly.

Do I need a stain remover?

If the stain is tackled as quickly as possible, a special stain remover is not really necessary. We shirt and blouse ironers therefore advise you to act quickly, soak the stain with a little gall soap or dissolved washing powder and put the affected garment in the washing machine straight away.  

Does it have to be 90 degrees for hygienic cleanliness?

Nowadays, modern detergents achieve hygienic cleanliness even at 30 or 40 degrees. This also saves money, as heating the water actually requires the most energy.

I really need a descaler for the washing machine

No, all detergents contain substances that soften the water. A special descaler is therefore superfluous.

The machine starts to smell if I only wash at low temperatures

Yes, that can happen. We from the TUBIE ironing mannequin team therefore advise you to wash at least every tenth wash at 60 degrees to prevent microorganisms from settling. You should also leave the door and detergent compartment open so that the remaining water can evaporate.

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