Month: April 2021

When it comes to doing laundry… there is a lot on the line. We continuously throw our most beloved garments into the spinning wheel of fate. Loads of things might go wrong if we are not well informed on which types of fabric can be taken for a ride. This article aims to clear your doubts around the most popular fibers, so you can care for your favorite clothes and extend their life. Read along and do not throw in the towel!

Cotton

This natural material is the most popular fabric in the world thanks to its accessible price, durability and easy manufacturing. It makes up a quarter of all fabric used in clothing and textiles. Found in sheets, clothes, shoes and accessories, it is absorbent and strong. You can wash white cottons in hot water and colors in warm or cool water, and you can safely iron the wrinkles out. Just remember that they usually shrink 5 to 10% during the first wash and it may happen again if over-dried.

The negative side of cotton is its mass production. The world’s favorite natural fiber is extremely wasteful and polluting. Regular cotton farming ruins biodiversity and soil fertility. It is advisable to choose organic cotton, which tends to use water from rainfalls and eradicates pesticides.

Denim is generally made from rugged, sturdy, twill weave woven cotton. There are conflicting opinions regarding the recommended frequency in which to wash jeans. Some people suggest they should never be washed at all. The truth is that dirty jeans will develop holes and rips much quicker. As denim is a tough fabric, there is no need to wash after every use. But surely they can be thrown into the washing machine every once in a while, for a cold water clean.

Leather

Leather is hard-wearing, tough and, above all, super classy. It is used in clothing as well as accessories such as bags, belts and shoes. A good quality leather garment never goes out of style, thus it is worth looking after it. Although durable and flexible, leather is vulnerable to dirt and dehydration. The agitation of a washing machine can cause leather to crack while water and detergent can ruin its finishing. Instead, wipe the leather with mild soap and warm water, then remove the film of soap with a clean cloth ensuring no residue is left to avoid it to dry out. Finally, let the item air dry but do not expose it to sunlight. Once or twice a year, you can use leather conditioner to restore its texture and extend its life, or take it to a professional for a conditioning routine.

As leather is made from the hide or skin of animals, it is linked to one of the most polluting industries in the world. Its environmental impact is a good reason for you to care for your leather apparel and make it last.

Wool

Wool is a natural textile fiber obtained from shearing off sheep. It is wrinkle and stain resistant, tough and durable. It absorbs moisture without feeling damp and it acts as an insulator making for great warm clothes. Wool garments should not be washed after every use, though it is advisable to air them out before putting away. Most wool fabrics are machine washable using Delicate or Wool cycles, and a gentle detergent.

Although wool micro-fibers are biodegradable, the industry produces a big carbon footprint. On the other hand, wool is more environmentally-friendly than polyester, a synthetic fabric also used in winter apparel. For those concerned with the impact of sheep farming, there is a more sustainable fabric alternative: linen.

Linen

Linen is a natural bast fiber made from a renewable resource: the flax plant. Biodegradable (when left undyed or naturally dyed) and recyclable, it uses the plant to its entirety, thus reducing waste from the outset. Linen is one of the most durable fabrics. It is breathable, durable, lightweight, absorbent, antimicrobial, naturally moth-resistant; it even partly protects from solar radiation. It becomes softer with use and, although some labels insist on dry cleaning only, it can be dropped into the washing machine. Use the Delicate cycle with cold water and keep in mind that linen absorbs more water than other fabrics, making it necessary to leave some extra room for it. It does wrinkle a lot – turn the garment inside out and use a hot iron with a steam setting to restore its crispness.

Silk

One of the most beautiful and luxurious fabrics, silk is a natural fiber obtained from silkworm cocoons. Thin and flexible, it has a high moisture absorbency rate, is resistant to abrasion and retains its shape well. Still, silk fibers are extremely delicate and prone to fading. If the label suggests dry clean only or if the silk is dark and bright colored, you should probably take it to the cleaners. Otherwise, you can perform a color fastness test by dabbing an inconspicuous area of the garment with a damp clean cloth. If the color does not bleed, you can wash your silk garment with a mild shampoo or detergent in a gentle wash cycle. Let silk air dry and never toss in the drier or hang in the sun (this accelerates fading).

Polyester

Polyester is the most used fabric for apparel and textile in the world because it is durable, flexible, inexpensive and wrinkle resistant. It is a synthetic fabric manufactured from crude oil. Quality polyester garments hold their shape well, but are not as breathable as other fabrics. They are generally washer friendly, ideally with a warm cycle. Polyester dries extremely quickly but if you use the drier, make sure you choose a low heat setting.

Polyester is responsible for global plastic waste and microfiber pollution. Recycled polyester, often manufactured from PET bottles, post-industrial polyester waste or used clothing, is a more eco-friendly alternative over virgin polyester. Still, it will eventually have the same environmental repercussions when it comes time for disposal. For that reason, you should care for your polyester garments to extend their life.

Now that you know how to care for some of your favorite garments, all you need is a good washer. Bring your load to Sudz on Mound and trust that our machines will do the hard work for you. Your most fashionable outfits will shine like new.

It is no wonder why many films and series have been set in the context of a laundromat. There is something poetic about them. All kinds of people convene in this pristine environment with the same purpose of cleansing every day’s dirt. Whilst the cycles are running inside the washing machines, the natural cycles of life also unfold outside of them. In this flow, there are things that we can control, and things we cannot. Some things come our way that we cannot predict, like a random encounter with a colleague who loves to talk in monologues at the laundromat. Conversely, there are certain measures we can take that will save us from inconveniences – like choosing a different time to do laundry to avoid running into them again. In any case, in life and at the laundromat, it all depends on our approach. We might leave the place not only with our clothes clean and fragrant but also with a great story to tell, perhaps resembling that of a blockbuster.

 

A very common tragedy in the laundry world is when clothes shrink. It is important to select the right water temperature recommended for the garments we are washing. Our favorite shirt could end up only fitting our chihuahua. In the movie Wayne’s World 2, directed by Stephen Surjik and released in 1993, one of the characters named Garth meets an attractive woman in the laundromat. After some conversation, she asks whether he would like to have dinner one night and he replies that he likes having dinner every night. Before laughing at him, please consider all the times you have missed a hint. It looks as though he will waste the opportunity, especially when he takes his clothes out of the washing machine and realizes that they have been reduced to extra extra extra small. Despite this embarrassing incident, he does manage to take the lady out on a date.

 

In the legendary show Friends, we meet the endearing characters Ross and Rachel who undergo an intermittent romance throughout the whole ten seasons. In the fifth episode of the first season they meet at a laundromat where Ross educates the inexperienced Rachel in laundry business. He explains the importance of sorting her clothes correctly to prevent colors from bleeding onto other fabrics. Great advise. However, there is always the risk of sneaky color pants mysteriously jumping into the load of white clothes and dying everything pink. The disappointed Rachel, as she contemplates her pinkish clothes, complains that they all look like pajamas. Remember, it all depends on your approach – in the optimistic eyes of her friend Phoebe, the accident was a blessing in disguise: now all her clothes are easier to combine!

 

Be mindful that not every garment can go into the washing machine. Some delicate fabrics require to be washed by hand with cold water. That way they will hold their shape and last longer, and their color will not fade too quickly. In Spider-Man 2 (2004), Peter Parker goes to a laundromat. Since he is very busy saving the city from evil villains, he cannot take the time to hand-wash his Spider-Man suit and thus drops it into the machine. He is so concerned with the risk of revealing his identity that he does not realize he is actually facing a major threat: the suit is not suitable for washing machines! The colors fade and the costume no longer looks so impressive. Although his alter ego’s strength does not rely on his outfit, it does add punch to have it in neat conditions.

 

it is important to acknowledge that the laundromat cannot be held responsible for any valuables left unattended in the premises or inside the laundry bag. The American sitcom television series created by Larry David and Jerry Seinfeld, called Seinfeld and aired for the first time in July 1989, teaches that lesson in its usual witty way. The titular character, in the episode “The Revenge” in the second season, accidentally leaves an envelope with money among his laundry. The manager, when interrogated, points out to the sign which clearly states Not responsible for valuables. Kramer, Seinfeld’s clownish neighbor, believes his friend has been wronged and thus deserves vengeance. In his classic exaggerated manners he takes revenge too far and fills up a washing machine with cement. In the end, it turns out that the money was in Kramer’s laundry bag. Though it is found, it is immediately lost again as it all goes towards repairing the washing machine they irresponsibly broke.

 

In the field of clowns the undisputed king is the British character Mr Bean. Rowan Atkinson impersonates a hilarious infantile man who confronts everyday tasks in very peculiar ways. Of course, he also goes to the launderette, and his experience presents us with many lessons in what not to do. He takes off his underwear in situ, mistakenly grabs a woman’s skirt instead of his own pants, he grates a hand soap into the detergent drawer in order to save money in laundry liquid. All big no-no’s in the laundry world. When it comes to selecting the right detergent, going for the cheapest option is not always the best strategy. Have in mind that powdered detergents not always dissolve correctly in cold water, liquid detergents usually work better for treating stains, and though eco-friendly alternatives might be more pricey, they have the added value of not damaging our environment. Whatever you do, do not follow Mr Bean’s example – he interchanges someone’s fabric softener with coffee!

 

Everything is possible in the world of launderettes. Stories unfold to the rhythm of the fluttering dryers. Clothes dancing in a purifying whirlwind are a metaphor of ourselves, or our favorite characters, swirling in the emotional roller-coaster that is life. We all do our best – the more conscious we are, the better our lives (and our washing) will turn out. We hope that our laundromat will be your chosen scenario for some of the stories that will mark your life. Perhaps you could buy someone a soft drink in the vending machine, as in one of the most romantic scenes on film: Brick, the sweetest character in the comedy Anchorman 2, takes the love of his life on a date to a launderette. While drinking sodas, they discover that they are soulmates in one of the funniest gags of the movie. Take your chances! See you at Sudz on Mound laundry.