Water usage guide
Water
temperature
rWASH
RINSE
USE FOR
HOT
COLD
l
Heavy soils
130°F (54°C)
l
Work clothes
COMMENTS
l
Gives best cleaning
for heavy
soils.
or above
l
Sturdy whites and
l
Removes
oils, perspiration,
greasy
colorfast
oastels
soils and stains.
WARM
90"-110°F
(32"-44%)
l
Diapers
l
Prevents
graying and yellowing.
COLD
l
Light and moderate
soils
l
Safe for most fabric finishes.
l
Dark or non-colorfast
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Less fading and dye bleeding.
colors
l
Reduces wrinkling.
l
Moderately
soiled perma-
nent press
l
Nylons, polyesters,
acrylics, silks, woolens
l
Knits and delicate fabrics
l
Prewash,
soak
COLD
70"-90°F
(21"-32°C)
COLD
. Very lightly soiled items
l
Moderately
soiled items if
extra detergent
is added
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Extra sensitive
colors
(non-colorfast)
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Rinsing, for all fabrics
l
Saves hot water.
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Less effective cleaning
than hot or
warm water.
l
Use longest wash time in cycle
selected.
l
Use liquid detergent,
or dissolve
powdered
detergent
in warm water
before adding to cold wash water.
l
Pretreat spots, stains and heavy or
greasy soils.
To check your hot water temperature
with a
candy or cooking thermometer:
1. Fill a pan with the hottest water available
from the faucet that will fill your washer.
2. Place a candy or cooking thermometer
in
water to check the temperature.
If you do not have a faucet at your wash site,
collect water from the faucet closest to your
washer.
NOTE: In wash water temperatures
colder
than 70°F (21 "C):
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Detergents
do not dissolve
well.
l
Soils are difficult to remove.
l
Some fabrics will retain wear wrinkles and
may have increased
pilling.
Water
hardness
Many poor washing
results can be traced to
wash water hardness.
To check your water
hardness:
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City water-ask
your city water company.
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Well water-call
your Cooperative
Extension
Service.
Ask for the mineral content in grains-per-gallon
or parts-per-million.
If your water is 9 or more grains-per-gallon
or more than 153 parts-per-million:
. Consider
installing
a water softener.
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Use more detergent.
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Use a packaged
water conditioner.
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Do not use soap.
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