Although doing laundry may seem like a straightforward task, there are a few smart tips that can significantly improve how clean, fresh, and long-lasting your clothes stay. These 15 brilliant laundry tips will revolutionize the way you wash clothes in your US home, whether you’re battling tough stains, dealing with shrinking shirts, or just looking to save time and effort.
Let’s get started and make your laundry routine even better!
📌 1️⃣ For softer, odor-free clothing, use white vinegar.
Why it functions: White vinegar naturally removes odors, softens fabrics, and even aids in the removal of detergent residue.
How to use: Fill the softener compartment or rinse cycle of your washer with ½ cup of distilled white vinegar. It works particularly well for pet bedding, workout attire, and towels.
📌 2️⃣ Put Ice Cubes in the Dryer to Get Rid of Wrinkles
Why it functions: In your dryer, the ice cubes transform into steam, which naturally smoothes out wrinkles in fabrics.
To use, put two or three ice cubes in the dryer with your wrinkled clothing. Your clothes will be smoother without ironing if you run them on high heat for five to ten minutes!
📌 3️⃣ Invert Clothes to Avoid Fading
Why it functions: Fading and pilling may result from washer and dryer friction.
How to use: To maintain color and fabric texture, always wash delicate clothing, printed t-shirts, and dark jeans inside out.
📌 4️⃣ Wash socks and underwear in a mesh laundry bag
Why it functions: It keeps small, fragile, or strappy objects from becoming tangled, stretched, or misplaced.
How to use: Before putting delicate underwear, bras, and socks in the washer, place them in a mesh laundry bag. No more socks going missing!
📌 5️⃣ Increase Detergent Power by Adding Baking Soda
Why it functions: Baking soda improves the deodorizing properties of detergents and balances the pH of water.
How to use: For cleaner, fresher-smelling laundry, add ½ cup of baking soda straight into the drum with your clothes.
📌 6️⃣ Freeze Gum Removal from Clothes
Why it functions: Gum becomes easier to scrape off without causing damage to fabric fibers when it is frozen.
To use, put the impacted garment in a plastic bag, freeze it for one to two hours, and then use a butter knife to carefully scrape the gum off.
📌 7️⃣ Every month, clean your washing machine.
Why it functions: Mold, mildew, and detergent accumulation that can result in odors and subpar washing outcomes are avoided with a clean washer.
How to use: To freshen your machine, run an empty hot cycle once a month with two cups of white vinegar and a half-cup of baking soda.
📌 8️⃣ Use a Dry Towel to Hasten Drying
Why it functions: By absorbing moisture from wet clothing, a dry towel speeds up the drying process and conserves energy.
To use, place a fresh, dry towel in the dryer with your clothes and take it out after 15 to 20 minutes.
📌 9️⃣ Use aluminum foil instead of dryer sheets.
Why it functions: Aluminum foil naturally softens clothing and lowers static electricity.
To use, roll a piece of aluminum foil into a ball and throw it in the dryer. It will run for 30 to 40 cycles.
📌 🔟Use dish soap to pre-treat stains.
Why it works: Dish soap is made to remove oil, grease, and other tough stains like makeup and food.
Use it by dabbing a small amount onto the stain, rubbing gently, letting it sit for five to ten minutes, and then washing as normal.
📌 1️⃣1️⃣ To maintain vibrant colors, use salt.
Why it functions: Salt stops color bleeding and helps seal in fabric dyes.
How to use: For the first few washes of new, brightly colored clothing, add ½ cup of table salt to the wash cycle.
📌 1️⃣2️⃣ Use Vinegar Soak to Refresh Workout Clothes
Why it functions: Even after frequent washing, body oils and odors can remain on exercise clothing.
Use: Before washing, soak your workout attire in a solution of one part white vinegar to four parts water for half an hour.
📌 1️⃣3️⃣ Unshrink clothes with hair conditioner
Why it functions: Fibers can return to their natural shape when they are relaxed by conditioner.
Use: Gently stretch the shrunken item out and lay it flat to dry after soaking it in lukewarm water with 1-2 tablespoons of hair conditioner for 20-30 minutes.
📌 1️⃣4️⃣ Use tennis balls to create fluffy bedding.
Why it functions: Clumps in jackets, pillows, and comforters are broken up by the tennis balls bouncing around inside the dryer.
How to use: For a fluffier, more even dry, place two to three clean tennis balls in the dryer with your bedding.
📌 1️⃣5️⃣ Use a laundry bag to avoid zipper snags
Why it functions: Open zippers have the potential to damage other fabrics.
How to use: Before washing, zip up your jackets and put them in a mesh bag or pillowcase.
📌 Extra Laundry Advice for American Families
Fabric care labels are there for a reason, so always abide by them.
Avoid overloading your washer as this lowers cleaning effectiveness.
Use warm water for white clothing and cold water for dark clothing for optimal results.
For contemporary washers, use high-efficiency (HE) detergent.
To speed up drying times and reduce the risk of fire, keep dryer lint traps clean.
Conclusion
Doing laundry doesn’t have to be a tedious or annoying chore. Every time you wash, you’ll get better, quicker, and more efficient results with these 15 brilliant laundry tips. These helpful hints will help you save time, money, and stress on everything from deodorizing gym clothes and fluffing pillows to removing tough stains and stopping color bleeding.
These tips will make laundry easier and keep your clothes looking newer for longer, whether you’re a professional, a busy parent, or a college student searching for useful home care advice.