Managing laundry can be a challenging task, but with the right tips and tricks, it can become much easier. Here are 30 helpful tips and hacks to improve your laundry routine:
1. Soft, Fluffy Towels: To achieve soft and fluffy towels, add vinegar and baking soda to your laundry, along with half the recommended amount of detergent.
2. Wrinkle-Release Trick: Hang shirts and slacks in your bathroom while taking a hot shower; the steam helps release wrinkles.
3. Unshrinking Sweaters: If you’ve accidentally shrunk a sweater, soak it in a mixture of hair conditioner and warm water, then gently stretch it back to its original size.
4. Removing Rock Salt Stains: For rock salt stains on pants, use a soft hairbrush to remove dried salt, then sponge the area with a solution of 1 tablespoon white vinegar and 1 quart warm water. Let it air dry before laundering.
5. Protecting Leather Shoes: To prevent road salt from damaging leather shoes, clean them with a one-to-one solution of water and vinegar.
6. Towel Care: Skip fabric softeners and dryer sheets to maintain towel absorbency and longevity.
7. Reviving Old Towels: Use vinegar and baking soda instead of detergent to freshen up old towels.
8. Reducing Wrinkles in Bed Linens: Add tennis balls to the dryer to reduce wrinkles.
9. DIY Bleach Alternative: Use washing soda in place of bleach.
10. Preventing Color Fading: Add table salt to the wash and wash clothes inside out.
11. Sweater Drying: Lay sweaters flat to dry to maintain their shape.
12. Speeding Up Drying Time: Add a towel to the dryer to reduce drying time.
13. Deodorizing Jeans: Freeze jeans once a month to eliminate odor-causing bacteria.
14. Ironing Hack: Place aluminum foil under the ironing board cover to reduce ironing time.
15. Freshening Workout Clothes: Squeeze a large lemon into the wash with workout clothes to break down oils and leave a fresh scent.
16. Leather Shoe Care in Winter: Clean leather shoes with saddle soap and a wet sponge to keep them conditioned.
17. Natural Fabric Softener: Add 1/2 cup of white distilled vinegar to the rinse cycle.
18. Sanitizing the Washer: Run your washing machine on hot with vinegar and baking soda to sanitize and remove odors.
19. Collecting Spare Change: Keep a piggy bank in the laundry room for any spare change found in pockets.
20. Quick Wrinkle Release: Hang items in the bathroom while you shower to release wrinkles.
21. Caring for Swimsuits: Avoid wringing out swimsuits; instead, lay them flat between towels and roll to remove excess water.
22. Ring Around the Collar: Use dish soap, a toothbrush, and hot water to clean collar stains.
23. Blood Stain Removal: Use hydrogen peroxide to treat blood stains, and rinse well.
24. Resizing Shrunk Sweaters: Soak the sweater in lukewarm water and baby shampoo, then gently stretch it.
25. Speeding Up Air Drying: Use a salad spinner to remove excess water from air-dry items.
26. DIY Dryer Balls: Roll aluminum foil into balls and place them in the dryer.
27. Quick Ironing Fix: Use a flat iron designed for hair to remove minor wrinkles.
28. Protecting Dark Clothes: Wash dark clothes and jeans inside out and air dry to prevent fading.
29. Washing Machine Maintenance: Clean and sanitize your washing machine at least once a month.
30. Monthly Maintenance: Clean and sanitize your washing machine at least once per month to keep it running efficiently.
31. Space-Saving Tip: Roll your clothes instead of folding them traditionally to save drawer space.
32. Energy Efficiency: Save energy and time by adding a dry towel to the dryer with your wet laundry.
33. Stain Removal: Use a mixture of lemon juice and baking soda to remove stubborn armpit stains.
34. Water Temperature: Use hot water for white loads, warm water for average loads, and cold water for bright colors to preserve fabric quality.
35. Denim Care: Wash jeans every 3-5 wears to maintain their original size and integrity.
35. Towel Softness: Use half the recommended amount of detergent to keep towels fluffy and avoid stiffness.
36. Sock Organization: Wash socks in lingerie bags to prevent them from losing their match.
37. Grease Stains: Use chalk to eliminate grease or oily stains.
38. Whitening Agent: Add Borax to each wash to keep whites bright and colors vibrant.
39. Detergent Choice: Use cold water formulated detergent for cold water loads, as standard detergents work best in warm/hot water.
40. Garment Sanitization: Sanitize garments using very hot water and bleach.
41. Static Prevention: Avoid over-drying clothes to prevent static cling; follow recommended dryer settings.
42. Dryer Maintenance: Regularly clean your dryer filter to prevent fires and reduce drying time.
43. Bulk Drying: Dry towels, comforters, sheets, and other bulky items separately from lightweight items.
44. Bleach Alternative: Brighten whites with 1 cup of white vinegar, oxygen booster, or lemon juice, and air-dry in the sun.
45. Lint Filter Care: Clean the dryer’s lint filter after every load.
46. Dryer Capacity: Avoid overfilling the dryer to prevent wrinkling and extended dry time; keep loads to about 2/3 of the drum’s capacity.
47. Prevent Wrinkles: Remove clothes from the dryer immediately after the cycle ends.
48. Sorting Laundry: Sort clothes by color and fabric type to ensure optimal washing and drying.
49. Dry Clean Labels: Some “dry clean recommended” clothes can be hand-washed, but “dry clean only” tags mean just that.
50. Bleach Caution: Chlorine bleach is more aggressive than non-chlorine bleach; use the least aggressive option first.
51. Pant Hanging: Hang pants by the cuff for better airflow and to keep them wrinkle-free.
52. Closet Care: Use a fan to circulate air through your closet to keep clothes from becoming dusty.
53. New Clothes: Wash new clothes before wearing them to remove pre-treated anti-mold/antibacterial chemicals.
54. Blood Stains: Use cold water and hand soap to wash out blood stains.
55. Paint Stains: Remove acrylic paint stains with rubbing alcohol.
56. Color Brightness: Add a tablespoon of ground pepper to your wash to help keep clothes bright.
57. Sheet Storage: Store folded sheets inside matching pillowcases for easy access to matching sets.
58. Sorting Hampers: Use a three-hamper sorter to keep clothes pre-sorted and ready to wash.
59. Natural Whitening: Use lemon juice and sunshine to naturally whiten clothes.
60. Dark Clothes: Keep black clothes dark by adding 2 cups of brewed coffee or tea to the rinse cycle.
61. Machine Disinfection: Add 1/2 cup of mouthwash to your washer and run a cycle to disinfect the machine.
62. Grass Stains: Remove grass stains with vinegar.
63. Swimwear Care: Rinse swimsuits in tap water by hand to remove chemicals without damaging the spandex.
64. Drying Swimwear: Air dry swimwear flat on a mesh drying rack or in a ventilated area.
65. Easier Ironing: Start ironing with a damp garment for easier smoothing.
66. Makeup Stains: Remove makeup stains from clothing using shaving cream.
67. Swimwear Drying: Do not use a dryer for swimwear, as high heat can damage the spandex.
68. Oil Stains: Remove oil or lotion stains from swimwear with baking soda or vinegar applied directly to the stain.
69. Swimsuit Care: Avoid wringing out swimsuits to prevent stretching the material.
70. Removing Mud from Clothing: Allow mud to dry completely before washing the garment.
71. Red Wine Stain Removal: Combat red wine stains with white wine.
72. Handling Dried Mud: Once mud has dried, shake off any excess dirt.
73. Spot Treatment for Dirt Stains: Use a brush and dish soap on both sides of the fabric to treat set-in dirt stains.
74. Blotting Dirt: Use rubbing alcohol and a sponge to blot dirt-covered garments.
75. Complete Stain Removal Process: Remove all loose dirt, treat any set-in stains, and wash the item according to the care label.
76. Organizing Laundry: Use a dry erase marker on your washer to keep items organized.
77. White Vinegar Uses: Distilled white vinegar acts as a softener, wrinkle releaser, and odor reducer in every wash load.
78. Sorting Laundry: For optimal washing, sort laundry by color (lights, whites, brights, darks) and then by fabric type (synthetics, cotton, linen, other natural fibers).
79. Air-Drying Fabrics: Air-dry synthetics like polyester and lycra, as well as loose-knit garments, wool, swimsuits, bras, and pantyhose.
80. Laundry Scent Preferences: Gain Flings are popular for a fresh laundry scent, while Persil Sensitive Skin is recommended for a light, hypoallergenic scent.
81. Sanitizing Garments: The best way to sanitize garments at home is using hot water, steam, and chlorine-based bleach.
82. Preventing Lost Socks: Place dirty socks in a mesh laundry bag to prevent losing them in the wash.
83. Dealing with Damp Towels: If towels are left damp in the washer, wash them on a hot cycle with half a cup of distilled vinegar and baking soda to remove mildew.
84. Stain Treatment Tip: Treat stains as soon as possible. Keep a Tide-To-Go Stain Remover handy for quick action.
85. Laundry Area Organization: Hang a dry erase board in your laundry area to note special care instructions for items.
86. Freshening Drawers: Place old dryer sheets in drawers to keep clothes smelling fresh.
87. Sweater Care: Lay sweaters flat to dry instead of using hangers to maintain their shape.
88. Preventing Noise with Shoes: Prevent shoes from banging in the dryer by placing the laces in the door or using a sneaker dryer bag.
89. Removing Excess Water: Use a salad spinner to remove excess water from hand-washed and air-dried items.
90. Gum Removal: Freeze clothing with gum on it to make removal easier.
91. Grease Stain Removal: Rub chalk over grease stains before washing to help absorb the grease.
92. Ink Stain Removal: Use hairspray or hand sanitizer to remove ink stains.
93. Care for School Uniforms: Wash darks inside out on the gentle cycle with cold water to protect patches or embroidered letters.
94. Soaking Dirt-Covered Items: Soak in warm water, detergent, and white vinegar before rinsing.
95. Lint Removal: Periodically use a vacuum cleaner with a long nozzle tip to remove lint from the lint screen slot of your dryer.
96. Line Drying: Line drying clothes saves energy and money. To avoid stiffness, toss clothes in the dryer for a few minutes before hanging them to dry.
97. Energy-Efficient Drying: Reduce drying time and energy use by setting the timer carefully to avoid over-drying.
98. Using Less Detergent: Use less detergent to save money and make each bottle last longer.
99. Loosening a Stuck Zipper: Rub a bar of soap over the teeth of a stuck zipper to loosen it.
