Now that you're a college student, your life changed a lot. Plus, there's this little detail; probably no one mentioned that laundry would be part of college. Maybe someone used to take care of your laundry, for you, but now you're on your own. That may seem like a big deal, or it may not, but if you take five minutes to read this little section, doing your laundry at school will go smoother, and maybe even a little cleaner. It's easy; here's how:

Now, for more details:

Sort It! Before you head for the laundry room, separate light and dark things. It also helps to keep heavy stuff like sweats and jeans separate from light-weight synthetics. Really delicate things, like stockings and underwear, should be washed separately. The same with red-colored articles of clothing - they tend to run, no matter what. You'll notice there's a special setting on your washer for delicates; use it to avoid your machine becoming jammed, unbalanced, or damaging your fine washables.

Load It! Your clothes should be completely covered with water and no higher than the top of the agitator vanes. There is no benefit to overloading a washer. Too big a load means your clothes don't get clean and you risk the possibility of damaging the machine, creating an inconvenience for your fellow students. Heavy things like towels and sweats can cause a machine to go off balance. In such a case, just lift the lid, redistribute your clothes, and then continue washing. The same goes for dryers. One wash load equals one dryer load. That's it.

The Complicated Stuff-Not! Pick the right wash cycle and water temperature following the "care instructions" label that's sewn into most pants, shirts, and sweaters. Because your school has chosen Speed Queen washers and dryers for your laundry room, you have three options each for wash cycle and water temperature. The touchpad on your Speed Queen washer tells the whole story. The "Normal" cycle plus "Hot" or "Warm" water is a good choice for soiled and heavier clothing or non delicate whites. The "Normal" cycle plus "Cold" water is best for dark clothes like the red-colored things we mentioned earlier that are quite soiled but also might "run" - a situation that arises when dye in one piece of clothing discolors another while in the wash.

The "Permanent Press" cycle and "Warm" in "Cold" is a good choice for pants, skirts, shirts, and 100% cotton clothing that is specially treated against wrinkling. Finally, "Delicates" are usually best washed at the "Warm" or "Cold" setting. Heavy towels and sweats should be washed on the "Normal" setting, with warm or cold water. The touchpad display on your Speed Queen washer makes it easy to select for fabric type and wash water temperature. And don't forget to distribute the load evenly!

Got a bad stain? Click here for a guide!

TRY THIS REFERENCE GUIDE FOR BASIC MACHINE SETTINGS

All right, Let's Work Up Some Suds! - Whichever selection you decide is right for you, press down firmly (but not too hard) on the panel area of your washing machine until you hear a "beep" and a small red light goes on beside your selection(s). Choosing your wash cycle and temperature in this way will help ensure your clothes get cleaner and look better. Also, remember to close the lid before you add the money -  your washer won't start unless you do.

The "Scoop" On Detergents And Fabric Softeners - Basically what you're doing when you add soap, bleach, and fabric, softener to wash water is standard Chem 101 stuff. Just like when you're in the lab, proper use leads to good results. Remember to use the volume-per-load recommended on the soap bottle on box (Yes, liquids do dissolve more easily than powder, so if you use the latter, let the machine fill with water for a while.). And just a word about fabric softener; it's cool, but it can stain and discolor fabric if not handled properly. Add on the rinse cycle (The L.E.D.) display on your washer will tell you when).

Your Laundry & The Environment - Your wash (and the wash being done by millions of other college students America) has an impact on the environment. Use soap in moderate amounts and you lessen the chemical volume in the waste water generated by laundry use. You also diminish the chances of a drain clogging and putting one or more machines out of action.

Before You Reach For The Bleach - Make sure to add it to the washer only when it's completely full of water. Also take care to not lot let it splash on you. Chlorine bleach is powerful stuff! Plus, nothing looks sillier (or is more frustrating) than a beautiful shirt with a big discolored bleach spot on the front. Even worse is what happens when bleach doesn't fully dissolve in the wash water. If you're into the grunge look, don't worry, but if you value your clothes, add bleach with care and make sure it's fully dissolved.

One other thing about bleach; chlorine bleach works best with white (and in a hot or warm wash), and "all purpose bleach" can perk-up darks when used sparingly (Like you're into being "perky", right?). But when you're doing darks, take it easy! Colored dyes and bleach do not easily go together.

How Dry Can You Get? - There are three rules of thumb here:

Dryer touchpad settings are easy to understand. "Normal" means hot and is the best all around setting for drying large loads, "Permanent Press" means moderate, and "Delicates" means low. "Fluff" is excellent for delicate fabrics and fine washables. Just as on your Speed Queen washing machine, you have fabric and temperature options that allow you the best possible results for all your different kinds of clothes. And don't forget to press the "Start" button whenever you open the dryer door and wish to restart the machine. Ready to go for it? Cool.

The Grand Finale! - Fold 'em; stack'em; and put 'em away! Do this once a week and your social life will improve, your grades will get better...well, maybe not completely...Anyway, now you've got a whole new spin on college!

Good Luck!

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