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Tougher On Stains But Gentler On Clothing

Posted: 8/5/2010

New high-efficiency washing machines are designed to work with less water and less detergent, saving you money and saving your clothes

(NAPSI) -If your inability to remove difficult stains from the wash has put a blot on your laundry reputation, you may want to consider a different kind of washing machine.

From grass to mud to wine, you can't always depend on detergents or stain removers to power out hard-to-reach stains. Your washing machine may not be efficient enough.

Today's high-efficiency (HE) washing machines offer more cleaning power, use about 70 percent less water and are actually gentler on fabrics.

Traditional washers use the friction of an agitator to remove soil. HE machines require low levels of water so clothes do not soak in gallons of water and diluted detergent, but rather are washed in a small amount of water, making the cleaning power of the detergent more concentrated. The clothes are moved through the concentrated solution and the solution is pulled through the fabrics to dislodge soil and stains.

The efficient new washers are available in top-loading and front-loading styles. Front-loading machines alternate the wash motion of the clothes back and forth in a repetitive motion, tumbling clothes clockwise and counterclockwise for a more efficient and gentle cleaning cycle.

Top-load and front-load HE washers are equipped with a wash plate at the bottom of the tub using low water with high concentrations. A look inside a top-load HE washer, such as the Maytag® Bravos®, can be surprising. There's no agitator in the tub. Instead, the tub looks much like the front-load washer tipped upright.

For the most powerful cleaning, HE laundry detergents should be used with these machines. These detergents are highly concentrated, keep suds levels low, have enhanced cleaning agents that help keep dyes from being released from garments, and suspend the soils to keep them from redepositing on the wash load.

According to the Whirlpool Institute of Fabric Science, it's a smart idea to read the directions on your detergent for proper dosage. Too much detergent can lead to extra suds that inhibit proper cleaning by holding on to soils and redepositing them on clothing.

For more information on stain removal and clothing care, visit www.instituteoffabricscience.org.

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