How to wash you and your family’s favourite things the right way

Most people are guilty of playing favourites with their garments, so when it comes to keeping them clean, there’s a lot at stake. Laundry tips and secrets can be super helpful, but also dangerous if they don’t provide the desired result. Read on as we debunk several popular myths—and show you how to wash your clothes the right way.

Myth: You can refresh unwashed jeans by freezing them.

Truth: The act of freezing a garment simply makes the bacteria on it lie dormant. So beware, once your jeans thaw out, they’ll be just as dirty (and smelly) as they were before.

The right way: To reduce fading and shrinking, wash jeans inside out in cold water with a detergent made for that cycle, like Ariel Automatic Power Gel Original or Ariel Automatic 3in1 PODS Original for coloured clothes, then line dry naturally. (Always check care labels first to confirm that a garment is machine washable.)

Myth: You can’t put bras or lacy lingerie in the washer.

Truth: If you throw undergarments into the washing machine, they’re likely to get tangled and stretched out, and lace detail can fray from rubbing against other clothes. But hand washing isn’t the only solution.

The right way: Use a mesh laundry bag to protect bras and delicate lingerie in the wash cycle, and hang dry after. Yes, it’s that easy.

Myth: Silk blouses are dry clean only.

Truth: Please test the detergent on the hem of the garment. As long as the label doesn’t say “dry clean only,” hand washing is safe for silks.

The right way: Fill a clean sink with lukewarm or cold water and a small amount of liquid detergent, like Ariel Automatic Power Gel Original. Lightly agitate for three to five minutes, rinse well, and dry flat.

Myth: You should only hand wash Abayas.

Truth: While hand washing is gentle on your Abaya, which may have the cording made from different materials, the delicate wash on your machine is just as good.

The right way: Wash your Abaya on your automatic machine’s delicate cycle with a liquid detergent, like Ariel Automatic Power Gel Original. When the wash is over, dry on a hanger.