Most people think that laundry really stinks. It doesn’t have to consume you though or be a chore that takes hours out of your day. We have a few tips to help laundry run smoother in your household. Give them a try!
Create a Laundry Haven
There is a trend in home decorating to create beautiful laundry spaces. We’ve seen some laundry rooms on Pinterest with trendy artwork, elaborate tile, extensive shelving, designer wallpaper, and other designer touches that would make anyone want to become a laundry maven. Though that might not be realistic, invest in a few things that you can add to your laundry space to make it cozier or more inviting. Think framed photos, canisters to store your detergents, baskets that make storage more inviting, or a cheery coat of paint. We spotted this one on Pinterest....
ID# 103906 | Houzz.com – Credit | © K and Q Interiors
Increase Frequency
How often you do laundry will depend on how many members are in your household and how often they change. For children in sports and after-school activities requiring uniforms or a change of clothes, the laundry can really pile up quickly. Your key to success is staying on top of your laundry! Don’t wait until you have many loads to do. In our family of six people, we keep 2 laundry baskets on the floor in the laundry room. One is for lights and the other is for darks. Our daughter uses this laundry bin in her room (and it seems to fill up quickly!)
It’s stylish and functional! We do at least one load per day, usually two, turning the washer / dryer on in the evening and folding in the morning. Sheets and towels are done separately and once per week. We don’t recommend waiting! Once the first basket is filled, put a load in. Others who have less children may choose to do laundry on certain days of the week.
Stock Up on Detergent
There is no shortage of options when it comes to detergent. We use Tide Pods, Oxi Clean, and Downy Unstoppable Scent Boosters. The Tide Pods do the job of cleaning the clothes, Oxi Clean is great for stains and to keep clothes looking fresh, and the scent boosters make your clothes smell amazing. Other things we can recommend:
- True Earth Reusable Wool Dryer Balls – these balls go in the dryer with the wet clothes and they shorten the drying time and soften clothes naturally without chemicals.
- Lysol Laundry Sanitizer – this works great on sports clothing (think hockey and football gear!) to remove odors. Also, it can be used as a disinfectant. To do so, pour 2 capfuls into 1 gallon of cold water and soak items for 15 minutes. Rinse thoroughly with clean water or machine wash as directed. This is great for bed sheets during and especially after anyone in your household gets sick.
- The Laundress Cashmere & Wool solution for handwashing is great if you don’t want to get to the drycleaners but you need a refresh. We also recommend their delicate wash for bras and other undergarments that should be air dried.
- Fels-Naptha bar – this bar is great for getting out the dirt stains especially in baseball pants!
Labeling
Labeling clothes is especially important if you have a large family like ours. If your kids are in sports, school, after-school activities, or attend camp, investing in these will surely pay off in the long run. We cannot tell you how many sweatshirts and outer layers have been resurrected from lost-and-found and how much money we’ve saved overall by labeling our clothes. Here are our labeling recommendations:
- A clothing marker stamp – This personalized clothing stamp is great for labeling socks and underwear, or things that are white. You can stamp directly on the fabric and the ink will usually outlast the garment.
- Peel & Stick Clothing Labels – These stick-on labels are super durable when placed on tags of clothing. (Wait 24 hours before washing to adhere properly and do not adhere to the clothing, just the tag.) As a bonus, they can be used on all sorts of things like toiletries, electronics, toys, and anything that needs labeling. They come in sheets of 30 and there are a variety of styles.
Folding
Satisfying for some, annoying for others – folding the laundry is sometimes what takes the longest. Have you ever tried a laundry folding board to assist with the folding of your pants, shirts, sweatshirts, and other garments? Check this one out! They are abundantly available on Amazon and we highly recommend giving it a try. Items stack up neat and tidy and are a game changer in closets!
Put Away
We’re guilty of leaving folded, clean clothes in baskets for days! Weeks? A long time!
Assign the chore to children in the household who can be “the laundry assistant” and be responsible for delivering piles of laundry where they belong. Ask everyone to put away their laundry each day. If done daily, this never becomes overwhelming, and you truly always have clean clothes.
Here are some interesting online laundry hacks….
- Store your dryer lint in an empty tissue box. When it gets full, compost it!
- Use shaving cream as a spot remover on the go
- Lift sticky stains with ice cubes
- Use vinegar and soak gym clothes for 30 minutes before washing to remove really tough odor
What are some of your favorite laundry hacks? Share them on our Facebook page or in comments below.
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