Fun And Interesting Facts To Know About Laundry And Ironing
If you run a busy household and have the added demands that taking care of a family can bring, and these compounding if you work, then you’ll be all too aware that laundry and ironing are two regular staples on your to-do list. With all of this taking up your time, effort, and energy, it’s unlikely and understandable that the thought will unlikely have occurred to you about the origins of these tasks and how they evolved over the years!
LAUNDRY OVER TIME
Did you know that the first ‘washing machine’ used by our ancestors came in the form of a combination of a river and their labour. Let’s explain this. Our ancestors would take their soiled clothing and other items to the river’s edge and hand scrub these items vigorously over rocks, rinse and flay them against rocks, and then lay them on rocks to dry in the sun. Laundry was, indeed, a labourious task, carried out as a communal and group effort, also serving to provide cohesion within a community.
Nowadays, thanks to the advancement of science, technology, and design, the laundry task is easier and is processed quickly and relatively effortlessly by electric washing machines and tumble drying facilities.
IRONING OVER TIME
Laundry methods and techniques are not the only tasks that have advanced and changed over time. The task of ironing and the actual ironing tool itself have seen some rather dramatic advancement, too, bringing them on a long way from what our ancestors had to contend with.
The concept of using metal to iron was introduced in China over 1000 years ago. Although, preceeding this is what archaeologists have since found that our ancestors used heated rocks to smooth out animal hides, dating back to around 40,000 years ago.
The Middle Ages brought about the emergence of the flat iron, invented by the Blacksmiths of the day. The flat iron is the predecessor of the electric iron that we are familiar with today in the embryonic stage of its development.
Today, developments in ironing have brought about the most advanced designs in ironing technology that means we are able to benefit from, and enjoy the best of its performance in providing steam generator irons. This has made the ironing task easier than ever before as compared with what our ancestors plight was all those years ago.
EVERYDAY HOUSEHOLD LAUNDRY AND IRONING ROUTINES
Not everyone cares to stop and think about laundry and ironing tasks. Yet, when looked into, there is a lot more to consider about these processes that meet the eye.
THE LAUNDRY PROCESS
Doing the laundry may seem complicated if not familiar with the process. Seeing all those strange symbols, temperature symbols, temperature settings, wash cycles, and all the different types of detergents and conditioners there are to choose from, which can understandly appear confusing. Below, we provide a simple guide to making this process easier:
KNOWING YOUR SYMBOLS
It’s important to know your laundry symbols. They are there to help, not confuse, by providing instructions on how to care for fabrics and to keep clothing looking their best for longer.
SORTING OUT LAUNDRY PILES
Sorting clothing into piles before washing should never be an underestimated task. This will safeguard against potentially falling into a common mistake of using incorrect detergents on certain fabrics and materials, or wrongly setting wash cycles and temperature settings. The most common mistake of all, and to be aware of, is to avoid colour transference between clothing and other items. The golden rule here is to ensure you separate whites and lighter coloured wash items from darker and non- colour safe items.
AVOID THE OVER USE OF DETERGENTS
Selecting the correct detergent dosage for your wash load can be tricky. This task can be made more difficult and confusing because of the sheer amount of different types of detergents on the market. Try to familiarise yourself with the different types out there, such as washing powder, liquid, tablets, and gel types. Remember, all types are not equal in volume, strength, and efficacy. Close attention will be required to get the dosage correct per wash to ensure the correct formula is used to meet your laundry needs.
LOAD WASHING MACHINES CORRECTLY
A common faux par when doing laundry is to incorrectly over load your washing machine. This can lead to white patches of detergent or undissolved tablets of gel pod residue left behind after the wash cycle is complete. This can typically occur when a washing machine drum has been overfilled, leaving no or limited room to dissolve the detergent. A simple guide below illustrates how full your washing machine should be used in accordance with what items you are washing:
- i) Quick Cycle- Fill washing machine to one-third capacity to drum size.
- ii) Delicates/ Synthetics – Fill washing machine to half capacity to drum size.
iii) Cottons/ Linens – Fill washing machine to three-quarters capacity to drum size.
SELECT CORRECT WASH CYCLE SETTING
Attempting to understand what wash setting to choose when doing a wash cycle can be confusing. Look towards the panel on your washing machine is a good guide to this to avoid the mistake of either over or under washing your items. Always aim to match the fabric and material you are washing to the most appropriate temperature setting.
THE IRONING PROCESS
Before setting about the ironing task, it is important to check what you are ironing and then separate into piles, the same as you would do when separating your laundry piles. In relation to the ironing task, always check all care label instructions to identify what can be and what can not be ironed. Items that are delicate require a low temperature and, as such, should be ironed first. Items that require a high temperature should be tackled last. Following this method will safeguard against any damage caused to items.
SELECT THE MOST APPROPRIATE IRONING TECHNIQUES
For the best ironing results, choosing the correct technique is crucial to the process and for best ironing outcomes. Be mindful that some items may need to be ironed on the reverse side to avoid scorching or ‘shine’ and any other problems. Don’t be afraid to make use of the steam facility option on your iron as you may have to get rid of stubborn wrinkles and creases. Decide which techniques you want to use in accordance with what fabrics and materials you are ironing to achieve optimal results.
ALWAYS MAINTAIN YOUR IRON
Maintaining an iron is an often overlooked task, often seen as an unimportant chore. Yet, if this is a neglected task, it may also impact on the ironing quality and overall outcomes. It’s important to clean the iron plate itself on a regular basis and always empty the water tank after each use to prevent debris and limescale build up.
INVEST IN A STEAM IRON
Because steam generator irons have the most up to date and advanced technology and design, they have extra capacity for water, which produces high-powered steam. This is the perfect solution for tackling larger household ironing demands and for those that require more effort to remove wrinkles and creases. It is always important to clean a steam generator iron on a regular basis to ensure maximum performance to give fantastic ironing results every time!
Life can be demanding, particularly when spinning different plates, given time is a scarce commodity. Why not hand over these tasks and let us take care of them for you to free your precious time up and to allow you to get ahead in life.
Our free delivery service, in and around Chester-le-Street and surrounding areas, ensures safe pick-ups of your laundry and ironing from your doorstep and returns within a quick turnaround, saving you even more time and effort!
