1   Sort it Out:

Proper laundry sorting is important to prevent laundry problems like dye transfers and shrinking clothes. Read and follow care labels.

Sort by Color:

Whites, light colors, similar bright colors, and dark colors.

Fabric Type:

Delicate fabric, laces, lingerie, washable silk, etc. require gentle care and need to be washed separately.

Lint-giving fabrics (chenille, terry, etc.) should not be washed with lint-attracting items, such as corduroy, permanent press, dark socks, etc.

 Soil Content:

Heavily soiled work or play clothes should be washed separately from lightly soiled clothes.

2   Water Temperature:

Wash in hottest water fabric will allow. For white cottons, use hot water. Bright colors in cold. Follow directions on care label.

3   Colorfastness:

If uncertain whether the garment dyes are colorfast, find a hidden area of the garment and apply a "Pre-treatment concentration" of detergent with a cotton swab or small paint brush. Allow to sit for 30 minutes and rinse. If color remains fast, proceed on whole garment.

4   Pre-treatments:

Treat stains early. Fresh stains are easier to remove than old ones.

Pre-treat:

Use for small, local spot treatments. Check for colorfastness first.

Dampen stain with cold water. Apply a paste of powdered detergent (2 parts powder to 1 part water), or liquid detergent at full strength with a brush or cotton swab and gently work into garment. Rinse immediately or add directly to wash.

Some stains may require a commercial stain remover product.

Pre-soak:

Use for large stained areas or deep set soils.

Soak garment in a bucket using 1/2 scoop of powder or 1/2 capful of liquid in 4 gallons of warm water for up to 30 minutes. Rinse and wash according to care label.

Pre-wash:

For heavily soiled garments, run through pre-wash cycle before laundering.

5   Laundry Additives:

1. ARM & HAMMER® Baking Soda Additive:

Liquid Laundry Detergent Booster: ARM & HAMMER® Baking Soda helps your liquid laundry detergent work harder for you, because it helps maintain the optimal pH balance necessary for detergents to work well.  Add 1/2 cup of Baking Soda to your wash with the usual amount of liquid detergent.

Deodorizing Your Wash: To remove the stubborn smells in your clothes while you wash, add 1/2 cup of ARM & HAMMER Baking Soda to the rinse cycle. It neutralizes the odors, leaving your clothes smelling fresh and clean.

Chlorine Bleach Booster: Use ARM & HAMMER Baking Soda to help your liquid chlorine bleach work harder.  Add 1/2 cup of Baking Soda (1/4 cup for front-loading machines) with your usual amount of liquid bleach.  Your whites will be whiter and your clothes will be cleaner and fresher.

2. ARM & HAMMER® Super Washing Soda: The all natural laundry detergent booster that adds extra cleaning and freshening power!

3. Bleach Additive: Color-safe bleach is the bleach choice for colored garments. Chlorine bleach for whites and other color-safe fabrics. Test garment for colorfastness by dipping a hidden portion of garment in bleach product for a few minutes.  Use with hottest water that fabric will allow.

6   Drying:

Do not put garments with a stain in dryer. The dryer heat will set stains and make them permanent.  Repeat pre-treatment/washing techniques above.  If this doesn't work, send garment to cleaners. Some stains, however, may be permanent.

Try ARM & HAMMER® Fresh 'n Soft® fabric softener dryer sheets: Fresh ’n Soft controls static cling and gives you the long lasting freshness you'd expect from ARM & HAMMER!

 Stain Removal Tips