Household appliances have greatly eased virtually all household chores. Now, social media is buzzing about the “secret button” on washing machines that helps remove stubborn stains. It’s a seemingly hidden feature, reminiscent of an old-fashioned trick, that combines washing technology with logic. It’s called pre-wash, or, in other words, soaking before washing. As explained below, it’s a washing machine feature that has the same effect as soaking and is within reach of every home.
The truth is that almost all washing machines have three compartments
With this in mind, the washing machine offers a feature that many people aren’t aware of or prefer not to even investigate. Washing machines have many buttons, and sometimes we go on autopilot. We put in the clothes, press the wash button, we always use the same wash time, the same temperature, and so we enter the wash cycle. But the fact is that almost all washing machines have three compartments: one for the detergent used for the main wash, another for the fabric softener, and another for the pre-wash, the one that’s usually never used. The latter allows you to pre-rinse heavily soiled clothes before washing them.
The ‘grandmother’s trick’ can be a botton
As we mentioned before, we often hear about the “grandmother’s trick,” because it has always been known that before washing machines existed, or before they reached every home, washing was done by hand. And for the deepest and most difficult-to-remove stains, grandmothers —the older people who took care of household chores— would soak clothes to loosen them and make them easier to wash later and remove.
This is how you can use the prewash function
Now, to use the prewash, people usually use a different detergent than the one we normally use to leave a refreshing scent on clothes. In this case, it’s another one, usually blue and specifically for the washing machine. This product should be placed in the prewash compartment. By using the prewash, people can avoid using bleach or more invasive products that ultimately damage the fabrics of their clothes. Considering that today, with mass production by low-cost clothing brands (the main ones used by the average citizen), product quality sometimes takes a backseat, taking care of your clothes to extend their useful life isn’t a bad idea.
Humans err in trying to simplify every task as much as possible
When it comes to new technologies, we’re learning almost as fast as they’re released. New iPhone features, smartwatches, smart cars, AI… But the fact is that it’s not just washing machines; there are certain items we use in our daily lives that still hold little “secrets” waiting to be discovered. Sometimes, humans err in trying to simplify every task as much as possible, and in doing so, they underestimate even a washing machine. So this can be a way of rethink and try to investigate the items we hace at home so we can so that we can get the most out of all our household appliances, starting with our washing machines.
Finally, using this washing machine function correctly can help keep clothes cleaner and thus extend their useful life in your wardrobe, as we mentioned earlier. It can be confirmed that soaking clothes, or in other words, washing them before the normal wash cycle, improves washing efficiency, especially when dealing with heavily soiled clothes or clothes with stains that are difficult to remove.
