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Immediately take care of stains. Separate whites from other colors. After a pre-treatment with a detergent or stain spray, soak your whites in hot water. Sort according to fabric.
If you are out and about, blot the stain carefully, but do not rub. If you have a laundry pen with you, you can dab the stain with that. If not, immediately remove the stained article of clothing upon coming home and use either a stain remover or a toothbrush and your standard detergent to pre-treat the stain. When pre-treating, always use a white cloth to dab away the stain, as a colored cloth may leave behind some dye. You can even go so far as to have a pile of more dingy whites, such as underclothes and socks, and a pile of crisp whites, such as dress shirts, or work attire. Whatever you decide, this is a step that cannot be skipped under any circumstances.  While it may be tempting to throw really light colors in with your whites, or even light grays, stick to white alone. Keeping your whites separate may mean washing whites in small loads. If this is the case, adjust your washer’s settings accordingly; using too much water could interfere with the laundry soap’s ability to clean properly. After each spot treatment, rinse and soak them for 30-60 minutes in hot water. This will help lift any lingering stains, and will give the treatment a chance to dissolve.  If you used a lot of soap, you may need to repeat this step twice, gently squeezing the garment in between soaks. If your laundry is sensitive to hot water, a warm or cold soak will achieve the same effect, though to a lesser degree. The type of fabric will determine the ideal wash cycle; some fabrics can withstand extremely hot water, while others will shrink or become disheveled. Sort your white laundry according to color, as well as fabric, to avoid discoloration and disrepair. Cotton is a tough fabric, while wool and linen are both prone to shrinking. While cotton can withstand high temperatures, wool and linen should be washed in cold or warm water. Synthetic fibers vary from manufacturer to manufacturer.