Laundry Tips

General Laundry Room Tips

Similar to operating a hotel shower, working some commercial laundry machines can be intimidating. Remember to check the instruction signs posted inside your laundry room and on the machines for specific information. BDS Laundry Management is not responsible for loss or damage to clothing due to foreign objects or improper operation of machines.

CHECK MACHINES

Before loading clothes, inspect the inside of the washer and dryer drum to look for any clothes left behind or foreign objects.

CHECK POCKETS

Nothing is more frustrating than washing a load only to discover an ink pen or tube of lipstick was left in your pocket.

DO NOT OVERLOAD

For best results, please do NOT overload the machines. Clothes need ample space for proper washing and drying action.

USE LESS SOAP

Today's high-efficiency washers require significantly less detergent. Use less soap to prevent over-sudsing of the load.

BE RESPECTFUL

As soon as your cycle is finished, please remove clothes promptly so other residents can access the machines.

KEEP IT CLEAN

We strive to provide first-class laundry facilities for residents. Please do your part to help us keep the area neat and tidy.

Stain Removal Tips

Cleaning Lipstick Stains

After grandma gives all the kids a kiss, a lipstick stain is often left on clothes but all you need to remove it is a quick rub with detergent until the outline disappears and a regular wash with warm water.

Cleaning Ketchup & Mustard Stains

Classic cookout and ballgame condiments are commonly used together but require different cleaning methods. For mustard, use glycerine or sponge the stain with rubbing alcohol before washing. For ketchup, soak the clothes in cold water, rub with detergent in the cold water and wash.

Cleaning Chocolate Stains

Indulge with as much chocolate as you want, we won’t judge. When you find a chocolate stain either soak your clothes in cold water or sponge the stained area with hydrogen peroxide before washing.

Cleaning Mud Stains

What kid hasn’t played in and then tracked mud throughout your home? We can’t help you with the floors but washing mud is simple, let the stain dry, brush the dried mud off and let the clothes soak before rubbing the stain with rubbing alcohol before washing.

Cleaning Ink Stains

First apply hairspray directly to the stain, rub gently with a dry cloth, then blot with rubbing alcohol before washing.

Cleaning Wax Stains

Whether candle wax somehow found its way to your clothes or you stood too close to a wax sculpture, the best way to remove a wax stain is to use a brown paper bag to cover the stained area, then gently press down using a warm iron on the stain before washing.

Cleaning Grease Stains

Grease stains are extremely common for people in the restaurant business, thankfully most restaurants have the perfect cleaning solution: club soda. Soak the clothes in club soda for at least a half hour before washing.

Cleaning Rust Stains

Cover the stain with lemon juice and salt and place the clothes in the sun. Once dry, brush off the salt and wash.

Cleaning Grass Stains

Grass stains are a childhood rite of passage but also affect dads and moms reliving the glory days on the field and everyday people enjoying a picnic. Treat grass stains by rubbing detergent on the affected area and then wash using a bleach designed for the specific fabric.

Cleaning Fruit Juice Stains

From oranges and grapefruits shooting citrus every which way to strawberry juice being wiped on clothes, fruit is a top culprit of stained shirts and table clothes. The easiest way to get rid of fruit juice stains is to pour boiling water through the stain from several feet above the garment. Be extremely careful handling boiling water and make sure to be out of the splash zone. Pro Tip: Pour water into a deep sink to avoid splashes.

Cleaning Blood Stains

It’s important to treat blood stains as quick as possible but if the blood has dried, brush off what you can before soaking in a mixture of cold water and detergent before washing. If you are able to treat quickly, submerge the clothing in cold water and let it sit for 30 minutes, then blot the stain using hydrogen peroxide before washing. Pro Tip: Never use hot water to treat a blood stain, this may set the stain for life.

Cleaning Coffee Stains

There’s no worse way to start a morning than spilling hot coffee all over yourself, well, maybe not having coffee is worse but you understand. There are several ways to combat a coffee stain, soak clothes in warm or cold water, brush the stain with a mixture of detergent and hot water or use a sponge and blot the stain with borax or vinegar.

Cleaning Deodorant Stains

Don’t let a deodorant stain ruin a nice shirt. Instead, apply distilled white vinegar and let the shirt sit for a half hour. Rinse and apply prewash stain remover before washing with hot water.

Cleaning Wine Stains

Don’t let wine stains set you into a panic. The best way to treat the stain is to immediately soak the stained area in a mixture of detergent and cool water, then pour boiling water after roughly 20 minutes, just like cleaning a fruit stain. If the clothes are cotton treat the stain with distilled vinegar before washing.