Korean Job Discussion Forums

Yaya · Joined: 25 Feb 2003 Location: Seoul

Anyone have some good laundry tips to share? Mine are:

1) Buy a front-loading washer. The prices for top-loading washers are falling rapidly because of the popularity of the new drum machines. Consumer Reports claims drum washers use less water but do not necessarily get clothes cleaner, but I've noticed a cleaner batch with the drum machines.

2) Use an Oxide supplement to your wash. It's pretty effective in getting clothes extra clean.

3). Wash colors in warm, not cold, water.

I'll add more as this thread grows.

krats1976 · Joined: 14 May 2003

My tip is pretty simple... go to Costco. My skin doesn't like Korea detergents and Korean fabric softeners are crap. I buy liquid Tide and Downy and my skin is much, much happier.

Badmojo · Posted: Sat Jul 16, 2005 4:51 am Post subject:

Take them into the cleaner and let the ajumma TCB.

the eye · Joined: 29 Jan 2004

i agree with krats, liquid detergent is best to keep fabrics from deteriorating. Walmart has their own brand for 0-chun-won.

another thing... don't put clothes in first. let the washer fill up and add the detergent first, then add the clothes.

mysteriousdeltarays · Posted: Sat Jul 16, 2005 5:26 am Post subject:

I usually use urine, my own but mink urine is better.

Qinella · Joined: 25 Feb 2005 Location: the crib

I have three questions:

1. What is oxide supplement? What does it do, what is it called in Korean, and do you toss it directly in the wash?

2. Where should I put my fabric softener? I've been putting it in the water with the detergent, but I've got this feeling it should go in one of the three container areas.

3. Wouldn't the use of warm water be more likely to shrink your clothes? I always used cold back home and never had a problem.

Good thread. Washing clothes without the luxury of a dryer changes the ballgame, and when everything is illegible to me, it's a bit of a challenge.

tzechuk · Joined: 20 Dec 2004

quiksilver · Joined: 11 Sep 2004

[quote="tzechuk"][quote="Yaya"]

What does TCB mean?

[quote]

TCB = Take Care of Business

As for me I just dump in all my clothes (color isn't a factor), put in some detergent, then press buttons until it starts filling with water and making noise. In 10 months I haven't had any major mishaps yet. Knock on wood.

Yaya · Joined: 25 Feb 2003 Location: Seoul

Another thing is to use less detergent. I've seen how people just pour the detergent into a load and how much they waste. In a book on money-saving tips, the author said you probably need less detergent than you put in now.

I've also never used baking soda but my Oxide works pretty well. You should add it before putting in clothes.

As for fabric softener, you should wait until the final rinse stage.

tzechuk · Joined: 20 Dec 2004

schwa · Joined: 18 Jan 2003 Location: Yap

I dump my clothes in the hamper & a couple days later I find them ironed & hanging in my closet.
Just one of the joys of having a housekeeper.

peony · Joined: 30 Mar 2005

use white vinegar in place of fabric softener or mix a bit of vinegar in with softener and use less softener, your clothes wont smell like vinegar and it will wash out all residual detergent

Qinella · Joined: 25 Feb 2005 Location: the crib

peony · Joined: 30 Mar 2005

peppermint · Posted: Sat Jul 16, 2005 4:57 pm Post subject:

I've never seen downy balls here, but you could easily get someone to send one over. it's a little hollow ball with a lid that pops open during the spin cycle. You just put the fabric softener in,close it and toss it in when you throw the laundry in. - pretty much idiot proof.

Oh, adding those spongy ball things to the wash also helps your clothes from getting damaged. I find Korean style washers (without the central agitator) to be much harder on clothes.