Laundry is not a task that most of us enjoy. However, the heap of unclean towels that require washing never seems to go away. Even though doing laundry is a necessary task, there are a few easy tips and tactics that can help ease the burden. For laundry day, our editors have a lengthy, unique list of tips, recommended goods, and clever organizing ideas.
We asked them for their go-to laundry tricks and advice on how to simplify this home job. Little changes can have a major impact, whether you want to use a pool noodle to remove wrinkles or dry-erase reminders on what needs to be air-dried. Use the suggestions from our editors to address the problem areas in your washing regimen.
Read also: Reasons Your Dishwasher Is Not Cleaning Dishes Properly
Laundry Hacks That Make Washing Easy
Eliminate Creases with a Pool Noodle
When the intense heat of a dryer is not an option, air-drying garments on a rack is a terrific solution. However, it can be annoying to see the ugly lines your drying rack creates. This is a cheap and simple laundry hack. Cut a little length of a basic pool noodle, then slip it onto your rack. Crease, bye-bye!
Make a DIY Spot Treater
Your kitchen cupboards most likely include the ingredients for this do-it-yourself spot treatment. Just get some white vinegar and baking soda.”I pretreat grease and makeup marks by first sprinkling on baking soda and then adding a few drops of white vinegar. After letting it sit for a while, wash it as usual.
Defeat Grass Stains
Grass stains are common when children are involved, but they can be removed. The only thing that could remove grass stains was the Fels-Naptha laundry bar ($8, Amazon), which has been around for a hundred years, literally. I’ve never tried it for poison ivy, but it’s also meant to assist with that.” The next time you come across a grass stain that simply won’t go away, give this stain remover a try.
Use a Dry-Erase Marker to Remember Items
Keep fragile goods safe with a gentle reminder. Make a list of the clothes that need to be taken off so they may air dry by using a dry-erase marker right on your washing machine. When done, just wipe away. If you are concerned about smearing your notes, you can also hang a dry-erase board next to your washer.
Make a Do-Not-Dry Notice
To prevent clothing from shrinking, a simple laundry tip is to wash items inside a sweater bag. When I put something in the hamper, I put it in a zipped sweater bag if it needs to be line-dried so that whoever moves the laundry knows it can’t go in the dryer. I don’t have to worry about an essential item shrinking when someone else does the washing because the bags are obvious.
Place Soap in Dispensers for Mess-Free Storage
Wall-mounted soap dispensers provide a safe means of keeping laundry detergent out of children’s reach. They keep the clutter off your countertops and are simple to refill. To clean up any drips from the dispenser’s spout, keep a hand towel close by. To aid with drainage, place a little tray or dish underneath the spout.
Prevent Color Runs
Try this trick to stop your colors from running together if you’re not the type to sort clothes by hue. These small papers, called Shout Color Catchers ($9, Amazon), work like magic to prevent dye transfers. When the wash is finished, the color it absorbs is truly visible.
Use a Mesh Bag to Organize Socks
Try this laundry tip if you frequently lose socks in your house, especially tiny children’s socks: place the socks in a mesh bag. Not just for delicate items, socks can also be kept safe by being placed inside these bags before being washed. Just clip a mesh bag onto each person’s hamper so that when socks come off, they can be gathered right away.
Consider a Countertop Hamper
Laundry collection options extend beyond hampers. Totes laundry to the washing in one go, thanks to a little hamper made out of dish towels and cloth napkins that I keep in a container on a shelf on my kitchen island.
Read also: How To Use Dryer Balls To Perfectly Dry Clothes