20 Laundry Tips to Make Your Life Easier
Doing laundry is a constant chore that most of us have to face on a regular basis. It can be time-consuming and sometimes frustrating, but with a few simple tips and tricks, you can make the process much easier and more efficient. Here are 20 laundry tips to make your life easier. Homemade Laundry Supplies
1. Sort Your Laundry Before Washing
Sorting your laundry before washing is essential to ensure that your clothes are cleaned properly. Separate your clothes into different piles based on color, fabric type, and level of dirtiness. Sure, this takes some time, but it saves on challenges later if you happen to damage an item because it wasn’t treated as directed on the label.
Our laundry hamper, which we keep in our bedroom, has two main sections. We use one for whites and the other section for the darks. On our Friday laundry day, we usually end up with two or three batches of darks and one batch of whites, depending on the activities for the week. Having a number of delicate items would add another load of laundry.
On heavy laundry days, we’ll use the floor of the laundry room to fine-tune the sorting of the clothes. My DIY Laundry Detergent Recipe.
2. Treat Stains Immediately
Dealing with stains promptly can save you a lot of time and effort in the long run. Keep stain removal products handy and treat stains as soon as you notice them. Some of the tougher stains are grease stains, some fruit juice stains, sweat stains in the airpits, and blood stains. It pays to treat the stains and then wash the item as soon as possible so the stain doesn’t have time to set into the fabric.
Most stain removers come as a spry so you don’t have to worry about getting the solution on your hands or having to mix it first. I’ve found that spraying the spot, rubbing the fabric to help loosen the stain, and letting the spray set in for a few minutes usually helps.
Double-check the item after it’s washed and before putting it in the dryer. If the stain is still present treat it again, wash it, and hope it hasn’t become a permanent stain. Once through the dryer, it’s probably there for good.
3. Use the Right Amount of Detergent
Using too much detergent can leave residue on your clothes while using too little might not provide thorough cleaning. Follow the instructions on the detergent packaging to determine the correct amount to use.
We’ve had good luck with liquid detergent. With our front loader washer, it doesn’t take as much to be efficient and there isn’t the issue of the detergent needing to dissolve.
4. Don’t Overload the Washing Machine
Overloading your washing machine can prevent clothes from getting properly cleaned. Leave enough space for water and detergent to circulate freely. If you have to wash the clothes a second time you waste your time, excess water, and detergent. Many newer washer and dryer models are made to handle a larger load, but there are limits!
5. Wash Delicate Items Separately
Fabrics considered delicates could be silk, lace, and cashmere and will require special care. Always wash them separately in a gentle cycle or hand wash them to prevent damage. Again, read the label and make sure the water temperature matches the label directions.
6. Use Cold Water When Possible
Washing clothes in cold water not only saves energy but also helps preserve the colors and shape of your garments. Reserve hot water for heavily soiled items. The new detergents are as effective with cold water as with hot.
7. Turn Clothes Inside Out
Turning your clothes inside out before washing can help protect the colors and prints. This is especially important for dark-colored clothes. This may not be necessary if your clothes are lightly soiled and manufactured as permanent press and/or color-safe.
8. Use Mesh Laundry Bags for Small Items
Avoid losing socks or damaging delicate underwear by washing them in mesh laundry bags. This will keep them together and prevent tangling. To further protect some of the items, I’ll pull them out after the wash and air dry them on a drying rack. Some items really aren’t designed to be subject to the heat from the dryer.
9. Clean the Washing Machine Regularly
To ensure your washing machine functions properly, clean it regularly. Run an empty cycle with hot water and white vinegar to remove any buildup or residue. If your washer brand has a set of directions for the cleaning process, follow those as directed for proper care.
10. Dry Clothes Correctly
Read the labels on your clothes to determine the appropriate drying method. Air-drying is ideal for delicate items, while a low-heat setting is suitable for most other garments. Clothesline: Why You Need One
Mark and I take our clothes out of the dryer during the drying process and hang them up. We’ve found that slightly damp clothes tend to hold their shape better and the clothes last longer. Of course, the type of fabric determines how well the clothes maintain their shape. We’ve done this for years with my outfits and his golf shirts and shorts with great results.
Be sure to clean out your lint filter or lint trap after every batch. Mark will actually clean the filter halfway through a batch if the items being dried put out a lot of lint, like towels. It allows for more air flow and the dryer doesn’t have to work as long or hard. It’s nice to actually have a dry towel right out of the dryer.
11. Use Dryer Balls Instead of Fabric Softener
Dryer balls can help reduce drying time, soften clothes, and eliminate static electricity. They are a more eco-friendly alternative to fabric softeners.
We used to use the dryer sheet approach to softeners. We’ve shifted to liquid softeners and actually stretched the amount used by adding some water to the dispenser bottle. Between the dryer balls and liquid softeners, we’ve saved money and feel the clothes are better cared for.
12. Fold Clothes as Soon as They’re Dry
Folding your clothes that go into drawers as soon as they’re dry can prevent wrinkles and save you time from ironing. Plus, it helps keep your closet organized. Most of our clothes end up in the closet with hangers, but we do have a few drawers with things like t-shirts.
13. Hang Clothes Properly
Hang clothes that tend to wrinkle easily or have delicate fabrics, such as dresses and blouses, on proper hangers. This will help maintain their shape and appearance. What To Do With Old Clothing Hangers Don’t get oversized hangers that require you to stretch the neck of the item to get it on the hanger.
We put Mark’s dress pants on thicker pant hangers so he doesn’t get a crease where they hang from the hanger.
14. Use a Lint Roller for Pet Hair
If you have pets, you know how their hair can cling to your clothes. Use a lint roller to quickly remove pet hair before putting your clothes in the washing machine. 30 Uses for Dryer Lint in Emergency Preparedness
15. Wash Bedding Regularly
Sheets, pillowcases, and duvet covers should be washed weekly to keep them fresh and hygienic. Follow the care instructions provided by the manufacturer. 6 Reasons To Store Blankets For Any Emergency
When we get sick it’s even more important to wash the bedding. You want to kill and wash away the bacteria so you don’t reinfect family members again.
16. Remove Excess Moisture from Wet Clothes
Before transferring wet clothes from the washing machine to the dryer, give them a good shake to remove excess moisture. This will help reduce drying time. An even better approach may be to have the spin cycle run longer with each batch to remove the excess moisture. This isn’t hard on the clothes and makes the drying time much shorter.
17. Don’t Ignore the Care Labels
Always check the care labels on your clothes to ensure you are washing and drying them appropriately. Following the instructions will help prolong the life of your garments. This is particularly true when it comes to using bleach. Chlorine bleach use is a real no-no for many fabrics. We use bleach very sparingly these days.
18. Use Vinegar for Odor Removal
If your clothes have a lingering odor, add half a cup of vinegar to the wash cycle. Vinegar helps neutralize odors and leaves your clothes smelling fresh. Does Vinegar Really Go Bad?
19. Use Baking Soda to Brighten Whites
Add half a cup of baking soda to the wash cycle to keep your white clothes looking bright. It acts as a natural whitener and helps remove stains. Baking Soda: Everything You Need to Know
20. Keep a Laundry Schedule
Having a laundry schedule can help you stay on top of your laundry tasks and avoid overwhelming piles of dirty clothes. Set specific days for washing, folding, and putting away your laundry. Laundry tips to make your life easier include this one!
More Laundry Tips
- 9 New Ways for Using Laundry Baskets
- DIY Laundry Detergent
- How To Clean Your Laundry After A Disaster
Final Word
I’m hoping these laundry tips to make your life easier really help you! Using these laundry tips, you can streamline your laundry routine and make the process much easier and more efficient. Say goodbye to laundry woes and enjoy fresh, clean clothes every time! May God Bless this World, Linda
Copyright Images: Laundry Basket with Clothes Depositphotos_77436084_S by Iamnao, Basket Full Of Towels Depositphotos_146172641_S by Belchonock
Grape or other berry stains – Drape the stained section of the clothing over a heatproof bowl. Boil some hot water (I use my tea kettle) and pour slowly over the stain and watch it disappear! This usually only works if the stained item has not been laundered (dryer will have set the stain).
HI Jane, oh I love this tip, I will try this one for sure! I love learning new tricks to get stains out!! Linda
I have found that just drying my shirts for about 15-20 minutes and hanging them immediately to air dry I don’t need to iron them. The drying takes out the wrinkles and it is cheaper at the laundromat or your household utilities. This is also a great way to do your towels they fluff up and not spend more drying time.
Hi Donna, I do the same thing with my husbands shirts, I do not want to iron them. Thank goodness for wrinkle free fabrics. The trick really is to take them out before they are totally dry. Thanks for the tip on drying the towels a shorter time and hanging them. I love this, Linda
I’m glad you do the same! I have made the mistake to fully dry them and even with the cool down if I don’t remove them they can get so wrinkled! At times I don’t remember to bring my hangers but if I fold them nicely they stay unwrinkled. ☺️
Hi Donna, LOL! Ironing is not my favorite thing to do either! Thank goodness we know to remove them before they are totally dry. LOL! I love it! Linda
I have trouble deciphering the washing instructions on some of the clothing we wear, usually because it’s only symbols with no writing,IE triangle with a dot or waves etc. I don’t know if this will help anyone but I got a magnet from a mail order catalog, LTD Commodities, that has the symbols one finds on the clothing labels for washing instructions.It’s about a 4×4 flat magnet and it has helped me immensely figure out what temperature, whether or not you should use fabric softener, etc. when you wash your clothes Don’t know if they still have it available. It sticks on your washer or in my case the door(Steel) to my laundry”room”. The hubs decided he didn’t want to lug laundry up and down stairs so he had a small room built in an unused corner of our attached garage that was just a catch all for junk. We do have small heater in the room for the winter that only turns on when it gets below a certain temperature so the pipes don’t freeze.That’s one thing I don’t like in the “newer” homes, NO laundry chutes.
Hi Kathy, oh my gosh, I forgot about the laundry chutes! We had one in one of our houses!! Now we just have a one level so it’s not needed but those laundry chutes were the best idea EVER! I will look for that magnet, that’s a great idea. Thank you for sharing, Linda
I checked the catalog site and it looks like the magnet is still available. It’s actually an 8×10 magnet and it’s about $7.00. They sometimes have deals if you have more than one thing you want to order.
HI Kathy, I saw some on Amazon, I will have to look at the 8 by 10’s. Thank you, Linda
Hello Linda, I was “gifted” a scrub board with a glass insert, some of the newer ones had a metal insert. My son and his girlfriend were clearing out the basement of her mother’s home and found 2 of them. She asked me if I wanted it, I thanked her and brought it home. My mother had the exact same one. I think my sister may have it, I’ll have to ask her. We can’t have washing machines in our apartments because the pipes are old, the shaking of the machines loosen them and then we have leaks. Ask me how I know (up stairs neighbor) HAD one and management made her take it out, because water leaked in my kitchen through the light fixture. She doesn’t speak to me because of what happened, but the lease says NO WASHING MACHINES AND DRYERS! People don’t read the lease before they sign because they need somewhere to live. Have a great Thanksgiving!
Hi Mildred, oh goodness, a leak from upstairs!! Yikes! I agree, people need to read the lease or they may get into trouble with fines or whatever! Happy Thanksgiving to you my sweet friend, Linda
A laundry tip my sister shared with me is to use the Dawn Powerwash spray on food stains…. did wonders on my granddaughter’s white shirt the night we had spaghetti. I cut my elbow and during dinner bled through the bandaid and got blood on the tablecloth, the powerwash spray took both the bood stains and the chili my graddaughter spilt on the tablecloth.
When we moved into this house and got the bedroom set up, I realized I had the perfect space for one of the 3 sectioned laundry sorters. We sort laundry as we take off our clothing and that makes it so easy on laundry day. We have lights, whites and dark.
Hi Topaz, oh I love hearing that Dawn Powerwash works on stains!! I love this! I love having a laundry sorter, my has two sections but three sections would be even better! I love this! Linda
I was gonna comment earlier about Dawn, except I use just straight Dawn Dish detergent on stains. Works very well on greasy stains!
Hoping someone knows how to get Tide powder stains out of white overalls. Tried several Googled tips and dry cleaners also had no luck. Daughter’s front loader
Hi Marilynne, I wonder if the product Topaz mentioned would work. She uses Dawn Powerwash spray. I have front loaders, I use the Dawn dish soap but I’m going to try the Dawn Powerwash! Sometimes a FelsNaptha bars works, fingers crossed you find something that works. Linda
Thank you! I will try these. I’m usually the go to person for stains but this one..,,