Dial it Up Archives: Smart Home

By MELISSA NANN BURKE for Smart

Decoding your washing-machine dial

Cottons and linen (maximum setting)
• This lengthy hot-water wash uses vigorous action and high-speed spin. Recommended for white cottons, towels, sheets, socks, dungarees and linen without special finishes.
• If you have allergic asthma, the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America suggests washing bedding once a week in hot water (at least 130-140 degrees) to kill dust mites.

Synthetics (medium setting)
• This shorter, less vigorous, cool-water cycle has a slower spin speed for nylons, polyester, polyester/cotton blends, viscose, acrylic blends, linen and acetate.

Delicates and wool (minimum setting)
• This is usually the shortest fabric cycle with a low-spin speed and cool water for machine-washable wool, wool blends, machine-washable silks, some synthetics and delicate items.
• Use small quantities of a gentle, mild detergent instead of the strong stuff you use for sturdier items.

Hand washing
• The garment label should give you a water temperature recommendation for hand wash.
• Never wring out delicate items because you might weaken or damage the fabric.

Decoding your dryer dial
Generally, fabric items that are suitable for washing together are OK to tumble dry together. Check clothing labels and the dryer manufacturer’s guidelines.
• Sturdy cottons and linen can usually withstand a hot temperature. Synthetics and delicates need a lower temperature.
• Set it to permanent press to avoid wrinkles.
In older dryers, the permanent-press setting has a cool-down cycle that’s now customary after most drying cycles.
The normal setting traps heat and sets wrinkles.

Sources: Lynn Romberger of Romberger’s Appliance Inc. in York Township and “How to Satisfy Your Woman Every Time: The Straight Guy’s Guide to Housework and Good Grooming,” by Jane Moseley and Nigel Browning

Leveling the machine An unlevel machine can throw off the inner balancing ring and make the washing basket tilt. That can make your washing machine stop. Severely unbalanced machines might even “walk” across the room.
Is your machine level? To check:
1. Place a carpenter’s level from side to side on the top of the machine.
2. Then, place the level from back to front on top of the machine. The bubble should be centered between the black lines on the carpenter’s level.
If it isn’t, unplug the machine or turn off the power at the main service panel.
3. Place the level facing you and, using an adjustable wrench, turn the screw of the washing machine’s feet clockwise to lower the front feet. Turn the feet counter-clockwise to raise the front feet.
Check the bubble again. Repeat this process until the bubble is centered.
4. Turn the level so it’s perpendicular to you. If the bubble is off-center, you need to adjust the back feet. (The back feet adjust themselves when you slightly lift up the back of the machine.)

Source: “Dare to Repair,” by Julie Sussman and Stephanie Glakas-Tenet

Load it up
• Don’t overload your washing machine or your clothes might not get clean - or the machine will become unbalanced.
• Most handbooks to washers recommend max loads of 9 to 11 pounds for cottons and 4.5 to 5.5 pounds for delicates.
The difference in weight has to do with the sturdier cottons, which will rub up against each other and get cleaner with more in a load.
• Top-loading machines generally hold fewer clothes but allow for washing as small a load as you’d like.
• Front-loading machines hold more clothes but require you always wash medium to heavy loads. They also require high-efficiency soap that doesn’t foam and is specially formulated to work with low-water wash systems.
Source: Maytag.com and Lynn Romberger of Romberger’s Appliance Inc. in York Township

Hold the fabric softener
Don’t use fabric softener with silks, sheets and towels because it will leave a waxy coating.
Do use fabric-softener sheets with synthetic fabrics to cut down on static.

Source: “How to Satisfy Your Woman Every Time: The Straight Guy’s Guide to Housework and Good Grooming,” by Jane Moseley and Nigel Browning