Laundry & Clothing Care

Essential words and phrases for washing, drying, folding, and caring for children's clothes.

Useful phrases

This is dirty.: this iz DUR-tee; spanish: Esto está sucio.; tagalog: Ito ay marumi.; hindi: यह गंदा है।; arabic: هذا وسخ.; french: C'est sale.; This shirt is dirty. I need to wash it.
This is clean.: this iz kleen; spanish: Esto está limpio.; tagalog: Ito ay malinis.; hindi: यह साफ है।; arabic: هذا نظيف.; french: C'est propre.; The clothes are clean. I can put them away now.
Please sort the clothes.: pleez sort thuh klohz; spanish: Por favor, separa la ropa.; tagalog: Pakibukod-bukod ang mga damit.; hindi: कृपया कपड़े छांट दें।; arabic: من فضلك افرز الملابس.; french: S'il vous plaît, triez les vêtements.; Please sort the clothes into lights and darks before washing.
Use cold water.: yooz kohld WAW-ter; spanish: Usa agua fría.; tagalog: Gumamit ng malamig na tubig.; hindi: ठंडे पानी का उपयोग करें।; arabic: استخدم الماء البارد.; french: Utilisez de l'eau froide.; Dark colours may run. Use cold water for this load.
The washing machine: thuh WAH-shing muh-SHEEN; spanish: La lavadora; tagalog: Ang washing machine; hindi: वॉशिंग मशीन; arabic: الغسالة; french: La machine à laver; Please put the dirty clothes in the washing machine.
Hang it to dry.: hang it too dry; spanish: Cuélgalo para que se seque.; tagalog: Isabit ito para matuyo.; hindi: इसे सूखने के लिए टांग दें।; arabic: علقه ليجف.; french: Accrochez-le pour le faire sécher.; Do not use the dryer for this item. Hang it to dry.
Can you iron this?: kan yoo EYE-ern this; spanish: ¿Puedes planchar esto?; tagalog: Maaari mo bang plantsa ito?; hindi: क्या आप इसे इस्त्री कर सकते हैं?; arabic: هل يمكنك كي هذا؟; french: Pouvez-vous repasser ceci?; The shirt is very wrinkled. Can you iron this, please?
Please fold the laundry.: pleez fohld thuh LAW-ndree; spanish: Por favor, dobla la ropa.; tagalog: Pakitupi ang labada.; hindi: कृपया कपड़े तह कर दें।; arabic: من فضلك طوِّ الغسيل.; french: S'il vous plaît, pliez le linge.; The laundry is dry. Please fold the laundry and put it away.
Where is the detergent?: wair iz thuh dee-TUR-jent; spanish: ¿Dónde está el detergente?; tagalog: Nasaan ang sabon sa labada?; hindi: डिटर्जेंट कहाँ है?; arabic: أين المنظف؟; french: Où est le détergent?; I need to start a wash. Where is the detergent?
This shrinks in hot water.: this shrinks in hot WAW-ter; spanish: Esto encoge con agua caliente.; tagalog: Ito ay nasisira sa mainit na tubig.; hindi: यह गर्म पानी में सिकुड़ता है।; arabic: هذا يتقلص في الماء الساخن.; french: Ceci rétrécit dans l'eau chaude.; Be careful with this jumper. It shrinks in hot water.
Use a low temperature: YOOZ uh LOH TEM-pruh-chur; spanish: Usa una temperatura baja; tagalog: Gumamit ng mababang temperatura; hindi: कम तापमान का उपयोग करें; arabic: استخدم درجة حرارة منخفضة; french: Utiliser une température basse; Use a low temperature for delicate fabrics.
Use a high temperature: YOOZ uh HY TEM-pruh-chur; spanish: Usa una temperatura alta; tagalog: Gumamit ng mataas na temperatura; hindi: उच्च तापमान का उपयोग करें; arabic: استخدم درجة حرارة عالية; french: Utiliser une température élevée; Use a high temperature to remove tough stains.
Please empty the pockets: pleez EMP-tee thuh POK-itz; spanish: Por favor, vacía los bolsillos; tagalog: Pakiwalang-laman ang mga bulsa; hindi: कृपया जेबें खाली करें; arabic: من فضلك أفرغ الجيوب; french: Veuillez vider les poches; Please empty the pockets before putting clothes in the wash.
Tumble dryer: TUM-bul DRY-ur; spanish: Secadora; tagalog: Tumble dryer; hindi: टम्बल ड्रायर; arabic: مجفف الملابس; french: Sèche-linge; Put the clothes in the tumble dryer on a low heat.
Do not tumble dry: doh NOT TUM-bul dry; spanish: No secar en secadora; tagalog: Huwag gamitin ang tumble dryer; hindi: टम्बल ड्राय न करें; arabic: لا تجفف في المجفف; french: Ne pas mettre au sèche-linge; Do not tumble dry this item — hang it to dry instead.
Please iron on a low heat: pleez EYE-urn on uh LOH heet; spanish: Por favor, plancha a baja temperatura; tagalog: Pakiplantsahin sa mababang init; hindi: कृपया कम गर्मी पर आयरन करें; arabic: من فضلك اكوِ على حرارة منخفضة; french: Veuillez repasser à basse température; Please iron on a low heat to avoid damaging the fabric.
Do not use a regular wash on wool: doh NOT yooz uh REG-yuh-lur wosh on wool; spanish: No lavar la lana en ciclo normal; tagalog: Huwag gamitin ang regular na labada sa lana; hindi: ऊन पर सामान्य धुलाई का उपयोग न करें; arabic: لا تستخدم الغسيل العادي للصوف; french: Ne pas laver la laine en cycle normal; Do not use a regular wash on wool or it will shrink.
Please use fabric softener: pleez yooz FAB-rik SOF-tuh-nur; spanish: Por favor, usa suavizante; tagalog: Pakigamit ng fabric softener; hindi: कृपया फैब्रिक सॉफ्टनर का उपयोग करें; arabic: من فضلك استخدم منعم الأقمشة; french: Veuillez utiliser de l'assouplissant; Please use fabric softener to keep the clothes feeling soft.
Empty the lint trap regularly: EMP-tee thuh lint trap REG-yuh-ler-lee; spanish: Vacía el filtro de pelusa con regularidad; tagalog: Regular na linisin ang lint trap; hindi: लिंट ट्रैप को नियमित रूप से खाली करें; arabic: أفرغ فلتر الوبر بانتظام; french: Videz régulièrement le filtre à peluches; Empty the lint trap regularly to keep the dryer working safely.
Please change the sheets: pleez chaynj thuh sheets; spanish: Por favor, cambia las sábanas; tagalog: Pakipalitan ang mga bedsheet; hindi: कृपया चादरें बदलें; arabic: من فضلك غير الملاءات; french: Veuillez changer les draps; Please change the sheets every week.
Use a gentle cycle: YOOZ uh JEN-tul SY-kul; spanish: Usa el ciclo delicado; tagalog: Gumamit ng mahinang siklo; hindi: नाज़ुक चक्र का उपयोग करें; arabic: استخدم دورة لطيفة; french: Utiliser un cycle délicat; Use a gentle cycle for blouses and thin fabrics.
Delicates: DEL-ih-kuts; spanish: Ropa delicada; tagalog: Mahinang tela; hindi: नाज़ुक कपड़े; arabic: الملابس الرقيقة; french: Vêtements délicats; Always wash delicates in a mesh laundry bag.
Woollens: WOOL-unz; spanish: Prendas de lana; tagalog: Mga damit na lana; hindi: ऊनी कपड़े; arabic: الملابس الصوفية; french: Lainages; Woollens should be washed on a cool, gentle cycle.