How to do laundry

Session 1: Explained to Teresa that washing and drying her clothes properly will make them look better and last longer. Demonstrated how to sort laundry by color, weight, and care instructions. Explained that sorting helps her decide on the right temperature and cycle type to use. Dark colors, bright colors, and whites should all be washed separately. Showed her how to select the right water level, explaining that clothing will wear out faster if washed in too little water, and may not get as clean if washed in too much. Suggested she use cold water for everything except whites, as hot water is harder on most fabrics. Demonstrated when and how to add detergent. Advised her not to use bleach until she has more experience, but if she chooses to do so, use it only with whites and never pour it directly on clothes. Showed her the correct way to add bleach to a load.

Session 2: Reviewed the skills involved in washing clothes that we covered last week. This week we focused on drying clothes and putting them away. Teresa had washed a load of clothes as directed before I came. Advised her never to leave wet clothing sitting for extended periods of time, as mold and mildew can grow on clothing and create stains that are impossible to remove, even with repeated washings. Took her through the 5 steps involved in drying: Shaking and detangling items, sorting the pieces by the kind of drying they need, putting them in the dryer along with a static sheet, setting the time and heat to the lowest amounts necessary to completely dry her clothes, and turning the dryer on. Explained that leaving clothes in the dryer too long or using too much heat can damage some fabric types, discolor clothing, melt elastic and other heat-sensitive parts of her laundry, and make items wear out faster than they normally would. I modeled the 5 steps for Teresa, then had her try doing them while I provided coaching and feedback. Advised her to pay close attention to the dryer and remove her clothing as soon as it stops, folding or hanging items as quickly as possible to prevent them from becoming wrinkled.