How to Soak Clothes in a GE Washer: A Guide for Cleaning Tough Stains
If you find yourself with tough stains on your clothes, soaking them can be a great way to prepare them for a thorough cleaning. Whether you have a front loader or a top loader, you can use a GE Washer to help extract these tough stains effectively.
Understanding the Soaking Process
Before we dive into the steps, it's important to understand why soaking your clothes can be effective. Soaking loosens up grime and dirt that has settled into your fabric, making it easier to remove during the wash cycle. By soaking, you're essentially giving the fabric a pre-treatment, which can be especially helpful for items with resistant stains like blood, grass, or wine.
A Step-by-Step Guide
Top Loaders
Begin by loading a little less than the maximum amount of clothes into your GE Washer. Adding too much could disrupt the soaking process and isn't as effective.
Fill your washing machine with cool or warm water, ensuring it’s enough to fully cover the clothes you're going to soak. If the water level isn’t sufficient, you can add more water from a bucket, ensuring not to overflow.
Add half the amount of detergent you normally use for a regular wash. This amount is crucial as it will help the water to clean the clothes more effectively during the soaking process.
Start your washer and let it agitate for about 2 to 3 minutes. Agitation helps to distribute the detergent and prepare the solution for soaking.
Without stopping the machine, lift the lid and carefully remove the clothes from the machine. Be cautious as the water is likely to be hot. If you have a front loader, you may need to pause the cycle briefly to lift the lid.
Place the clothes in a clean basin or basin filled with water for about 10 to 15 minutes, or until the stains start to lift. Check the clothes at this point to see if more soaking is needed.
Return the clothes to the GE Washer, make sure they are fully submerged, and close the lid. Then, let the machine continue its cycle, finishing with a regular wash cycle.
Front Loaders
Start by loading the clothes into the drum. Unlike top loaders, you can use the full amount of water needed to ensure all clothes are fully submerged. However, avoid adding too many clothes in one cycle.
Add your detergent as usual, possibly even a bit more for tough stains.
Pick a cycle that has a pause option. This is a great feature for soaking clothes. It will allow you to pause the machine after you’ve added the clothes and water, then stop the cycle, and soak the clothes for up to an hour or more, depending on the stain resistance.
Close the lid, and let the machine agitate to distribute the detergent and the soaking solution. Leave it to soak for as long as needed, checking the clothes periodically to see the results.
Resume the cycle and let it continue until the wash cycle is complete. Remember, the pause option can be used multiple times if the stain is resistant.
Tips for Soaking Clothes
Check the Care Instructions: Before soaking, always check the care label on the garment to ensure it's safe to soak in water.
Use Cold Water: Hot water can set stains and cause damage to delicate fabrics, so always use cold water for soaking.
Test for Colorfastness: If you're unsure if the color is safe, test a small, inconspicuous area of the fabric before applying it.
Neutralize Bleach: To avoid damaging fabrics, always neutralize any chlorine-based bleach with a dilution of white vinegar before soaking.
By following these steps and tips, you can achieve better results in removing tough stains, ensuring your clothes look and feel like new. Remember, regular maintenance and attention to fabric care can go a long way in preventing tough stains from becoming permanent.