I know this may sound a bit strange, but I love doing the laundry! I have made it my mission to find the best tips and tricks that would help keep my laundry looking and feeling like new. I also wanted to find ways to save money and natural products that actually worked.
After researching and experimenting with different laundry hacks, I feel like I have finally gotten my laundry game down. These laundry tips not only help keep our clothes looking clean, but they also save me time and money!
If you are like me and are looking for ways to preserve your clothes while being less toxic AND save yourself some time and money too, then feel free to stick around and check out these 13 laundry hacks!
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links which means that as an Amazon Associate, I make a small commission off a sale if an item is purchased (at no extra cost to you). This does not affect what items I recommend, and I am only listing items that I truly believe are the best.
1. Wash Similar Materials Together Rather Than Colors
We often hear of washing dark and light clothing separately. However, what’s more important is actually washing similar materials or textures together instead.
This means washing heavier fabrics such as denim, corduroy, canvas, and polyester separately from things like cotton shirts, satin, and viscose fabrics.
When washing very different materials together, the friction between the heavy and light fabrics will cause the light fabrics to degrade more quickly.
2. Use a Stain Catching Sheet
This goes with the laundry tip mentioned above. You may think, “Well what about the dark colors bleeding onto the light-colored clothing?”
The answer to this is using a stain-catching sheet. I use this one that I get from Amazon. It catches any loose dyes in the washer and traps them in the sheet. This way I am able to mix the light and dark colors together while still preserving the original color of the fabrics.
3. Skip the Softener
While using a softener does make your laundry feel softer initially, over time it deposits a buildup that will leave your clothes feeling stiff and rough.
I have noticed this to be especially true with my towels. After using a softener for a while, they eventually began feeling rough. To get them to feel softer, I needed to strip them in my bathtub with baking soda and vinegar.
4. Close Zippers
Have you ever taken your laundry out of the dryer, only to notice that your favorite shirt has a small hole in it? This has definitely happened to me, and I realized that the zippers from my jeans, and sweaters were the culprit.
To avoid the risk of making small tears in your clothing, make sure to close all zippers as you are loading your washer.
5. Avoid Hot Cycles (unless washing heavily soiled items)
Washing your laundry in hot water will cause certain materials to shrink and fade. It can also cause certain stains such as blood or sweat to set it, making it nearly impossible to take out after.
Most clothes that are mildly soiled should actually be washed in cold water. This will help maintain the quality of the fabrics, making your clothing last longer. Your energy bill will thank you too!
If something is more soiled a warm cycle can be used. Hot water should be saved for heavily soiled items such as dirty rags or your white sheets and pillowcases.
6. Less Is More When It Comes To Detergent
It is a common misconception that using more detergent will make your clothes cleaner. What actually happens is that not all of the detergent gets rinsed out, leaving your laundry feeling rough and still looking dirty.
Test this out for yourself by using half the amount of detergent you normally do. You might notice that your clothes feel a bit softer.
This will save you money on your detergent too!
7. Clean Your Washer
If your washer is dirty, your laundry is not getting as clean as it could be.
Cleaning your washer is super simple. Wipe away any dirt or debris that you may find. Then just pour in a cup of vinegar and run your washing machine on the hottest setting.
Some washer machines have a setting for this.
8. Don’t Overload the Laundry
Overfilling your washer machine is another way to prevent your laundry from getting washed thoroughly.
I like to make sure my washer machine is no more than two-thirds full with laundry. This ensures that every item is getting fully washed and rinsed out.
9. Turn Dark, Bright, and Delicate Fabrics Inside-Out
Turn your bright and dark clothing inside out to prevent them from fading.
Do this with delicate clothes like leggings or soft sweaters too. It will help keep them from pilling on the outside.
10. Use Wool Dryer Balls Instead of Dryer Sheets
Dryer sheets may help eliminate static, leave your clothes feeling soft and smelling nice…BUT did you know that they leave behind a waxy buildup as well? Not only is this buildup full of toxins (that are in contact with your body almost 24/7) but it also leaves your clothes feeling rough over time.
Another downside to using dryer sheets is that they reduce the absorption efficacy of certain materials such as microfibers, towels, and athletic wear.
Try using wool balls instead. For a larger load, I use 6 wool balls and place a couple drops of essential oil on each one. It leaves my laundry smelling nice without any harsh chemicals or toxins.
Additional benefits of using wool balls are:
- Reduced drying time (by separating the articles).
- They soften clothes naturally.
- The absorbency of certain fabrics won’t be affected.
11. Wash On “Off-Hours”
Did you know that there are certain parts of the day when the energy rates are lower? Check your energy company to see when those “off-hours” are. Usually, it is before 4 pm, or after 7 pm, and during the summer, it’s usually in the morning.
As energy rates are increasing, this tip could save you quite a bit over time!
12. Place Socks in Mesh Bag
Keep a mesh bag in your laundry hamper, and instead of just throwing your socks into the hamper with the rest of the laundry, place them inside the mesh bag. Then as you are ready to wash a load, just throw the mesh bag with the rest of the clothes.
This timesaver hack will help keep all the socks in one place, and you won’t have to search for missing socks!
13. Remove Stains Before Washing
This may sound like extra work, but it will help save your clothes! There have been many times when I have missed a stain and once it came out of the dryer, no matter what I used, the stain would not leave.
Once stains go through the dryer, it is nearly impossible to take them out.
Here is a guide you can follow for removing common stains:
BONUS TIP: Use the Sun to naturally bleach out any stubborn stains that may have still remained after going through the washer.
