How to wash whites

Washing whites is always a bit of a challenge, as garments in this colour often get stained and don't come out spotless. And in many cases it's because you don't know certain tricks and habits for keeping your whites as white as possible. Here at the self-service launderette in Adeje we'd like to share a few tips.

First of all, at the Adeje launderette you'll enjoy plenty of advantages, which we'll come to shortly. It's located in the Canary Islands, specifically in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, in the municipality of Adeje.

In such a touristy spot, one of Europe's leading destinations, a business like a self-service launderette is undoubtedly a very good option, because it offers a far more affordable way to wash your clothes than a hotel does. But even if you're a resident, the advantages are considerable.

Below, we explain what the Adeje launderette has to offer that makes it so appealing to tourists and residents alike, from various points of view.

Advantages of the self-service launderette in Adeje

The Adeje launderette is open to the public from 6:30 in the morning until 22:30, every day. So whether you're a tourist passing through or a resident of the island, you can wash your clothes whenever you want and need to.

The industrial machines at the self-service launderette in Adeje can wash 8 times more laundry than a home machine, and in half the time too. The wash cycles last 22 minutes, which will help you save time.

It also has 4 wash cycles, all designed to treat your clothes in the best possible way: the cold wash (with a water temperature of 20°C), the medium at 30°C, the delicate at 15°C and the hot, at 50°C (for towels and sheets, for example).

Your whites will come out as good as new on any of these cycles, as long as you check the label on each garment.

We know how much a washer and dryer cost. Of course, once we have them at home we don't think about those details, but we do notice how much detergents, whiteners and softeners cost.

Not everyone has a dryer, though, so you have to dry your clothes as best you can in whatever space you have in the flat. That's without mentioning that these appliances wear out and need servicing every six months or year (the filters, for example) to keep them in good order.

All of that costs money. And the electricity bill goes up.

At the self-service launderette in Adeje you won't have these problems: bearing in mind that the wash cycles take just 22 minutes and include detergent and softener, the costs are actually rather low.

This is undoubtedly one of its best advantages. The washing products used at the Adeje launderette are completely eco-friendly and kind to the environment. But they're effective too, since they contain no chlorine, bleach or abrasive products, so your whites won't suffer.

What's more, the industrial machines are 20% more efficient than home ones when it comes to energy and water use.

In the industrial machines at the self-service launderette in Adeje you can wash all your clothes, from the most delicate whites to large items such as feather-filled duvets and sofa covers, which often won't fit in a home machine.

Tips for washing whites at the self-service launderette in Adeje

First, check whether your whites have any stains. If they do, you can tackle them with a little bicarbonate of soda mixed with water to make a paste (bear in mind you need very little water). Apply it to the stain and rub.

Ideally, treat stains as soon as possible, as the longer they're left, the harder they are to remove.

Never wash whites with clothes of another colour. So it's very important to sort your clothes first, dividing them into whites, lights, and blacks and darks. But you should also wash your sheets and towels separately, along with your table linen.

Don't wash towels together with sheets, as the sheets will end up covered in fluff shed by the towels. Sheets full of fluff make for an uncomfortable night's sleep. And, of course, whites with whites.

One of the advantages of the Adeje launderette is that it uses no chlorine or chemical whiteners. Remember that over time chlorine and bleach turn whites yellow, so avoid using them where you can.

To wash whites, it's better to use the cold and medium cycles (unless they're towels, sheets and tea towels, in which case the hot wash at 50°C is recommended, as it kills off bacteria completely). Cold water helps your clothes last longer.

Check the washing instructions on each garment; this also extends the life of your clothes. Washing a cashmere item isn't the same as washing wool, cotton or silk. And washing underwear, which tends to be more delicate, isn't the same either.

Remember that at the self-service launderette in Adeje there are different wash cycles at different temperatures, which you can choose according to the whites you're going to wash. The best wash is the one that comes out perfectly clean.

The cold cycle works for all kinds of garments. The medium or warm cycle is right for washing white or coloured clothes with moderate stains (just check that these garments can take a water temperature of 30°C).

The hot cycle is used for clothes with deep-set stains that can withstand temperatures above 45°; with this cycle you can wash bedding, tablecloths and towels, jeans and tougher garments.

The delicate programme is designed for fine garments made of delicate fabrics that can't take very high temperatures. On this cycle, cold water is added midway through the wash and the spin is much gentler than on the others.

The dryers have times of between 5 and 25 minutes, which you can choose according to the quality of the clothes you're washing for a much more efficient and effective use.

In this way, the self-service launderette in Adeje helps your whites come out much better and last longer.