When it comes to doing laundry, the inevitable chore that every single one of us has to deal with in some capacity at some point—there’s typically a method to the madness. Whether you’ve learned tips and tricks passed down for generations or made your own life hacks, chances are, you do laundry a certain way. But here’s the kicker—experts say our laundry habits are actually disgusting – eeek! That’s why our cash for houses company in Fort Worth has compiled the best laundry tips for everyone to use, helping you organize your laundry, avoid laundry mistakes, and stay on top of laundry day!
What Does the Research Say About Our Laundry Mistakes?
And, according to recent research, we may be a little worse off than we thought. In a 2020 poll conducted by RushOrderTees, one in four men shared that they do not wash underwear after a single use. And only 39% of women wash yoga pants after wearing them once.
Whether you think those statistics are gross or not, here’s the undeniable truth: We don’t all see eye-to-eye on laundry habits. So, perhaps there’s a bit more to learn about laundry (and each other) than we thought! Here’s what the experts have to say about how we’re doing it wrong—and how to fix it.
Not Washing Yoga Pants, Undies & Socks After Each Wear
The (Gross) Scientific Reason
Sweat creates a breeding ground for bacteria. Even mixing your soggy socks in the hamper with your other clothes can be a no-no because it creates dampness and ideal conditions for bacteria overgrowth.
Tips for Preventing Bacterial Growth
Rather than tossing damp or sweaty clothes into a hamper, hang them in a bathroom, bedroom, or ideally, outside. Air drying can help to reduce the dampness (of course), but it can also prevent bacteria overgrowth.
A vinegar pre-soak (one part vinegar for every five parts water in a bowl or sink) will help remove both odor and unwanted bacteria or to simply follow label instructions to make sure you’re cleaning your clothes the proper way.
You want to launder your workout clothes in the hottest water that the fabrics will allow and the care label is your best friend, especially considering how some garments actually require cold water washes. Also, do NOT use fabric softener for this job—it will leave a residue and you don’t want that when you’re sweating all over these clothes all the time
Not Taking the Time to Dry Items Fully
We’ve all fallen victim to the soggy sheets, rolled-up socks, underwear-caught-in-sweater-pocket, or thick blankets that felt a little damp but probably fine enough to take out of the dryer.
Introducing Wad-Free
Instead of repeatedly adding time to the cycle to finish that sheet that just won’t dry, a product can help. Cyndi Bray created Wad-Free, a product that keeps sheets and blankets from tangling, twisting, and ultimately not getting washed. It’s a small plastic square with opening slots where you can attach the sheet at opposite ends. When connected, the sheet will have resistance and won’t spin together in a wad.
Sheets often ball-up into a ‘burrito wad,’ or small items get trapped inside the corners of the fitted sheet in a ‘hostage-taker’ wad, which means things are still wet inside at the end of the dry cycle.
There are people who put the load in the dryer, run it, and leave it overnight (or even a couple days.) By the time they open the dryer, the whole thing has started to smell and mold since it was wound up in a wet ball. Then they have to run the whole load again (often adding extra products like bleach or scents) to try to get rid of the smell, which can even linger inside the appliance itself. That whole process is really wasteful and damaging to your sheets.
Still Using Dryer Sheets
Although dryer sheets have been the go-to for years, experts are saying that they may be doing more harm than good.
Dryer sheets leave a waxy film on your lint screen that can lead to extended drying times and excessive wear and tear on your machine and clothing, so it’s worth it to use wool dryer balls instead.
If you enjoy the smell of dryer sheets, you can add essential oils to give your clothes a nice scent without the residue!
Not Sun-Drying Your Laundry
Sun-drying your laundry isn’t just a nostalgic nod to the past; it’s a laundry tip that comes with a multitude of benefits. Firstly, the sun’s natural disinfecting properties act as a powerful antibacterial agent, helping to eliminate germs and odors from your clothes. Additionally, sun exposure serves as a natural bleach, gently fading stains and brightening whites without the need for harsh chemicals. Choosing to air-dry your laundry under the sun is an eco-friendly alternative that reduces energy consumption, lowering your carbon footprint. The fresh, outdoor scent that sun-dried clothes carry is an added bonus, providing a crisp and invigorating fragrance that commercial fabric softeners often fail to replicate. Embracing sun-drying not only contributes to environmental sustainability but also enhances the longevity and cleanliness of your garments, offering a holistic and refreshing approach to laundry care.
Not Laundry Stripping
According to the latest TikTok trend, laundry stripping is the latest and greatest in laundry tips, and experts agree.
It remove excess minerals from hard water, body oils/odor, and detergent or fabric softener residue from seemingly-clean clothes, towels and sheets that have already gone through the washing machine. The process of laundry stripping is fairly cheap and easy but time-consuming. Simply fill your bathtub with hot water and add half a cup of borax, baking soda, and the laundry detergent of your choice. Stir to be sure all are dissolved and add the items you wish to soak.
It is recommended that you soak these items for a few hours or however long it takes for the water to completely cool. You should then run the items through the washing machine on a rinse only setting.
Although stripping is effective, only use this process on certain items. Or, if you suspect a problem with your water, you can invest in a water softener. This will keep costs low and, of course, help you conserve water.
Using Too Much Laundry Detergent
The more soap, the cleaner the clothes… right? Nope!
Adding extra detergent in the hopes of relieving strong odors can actually make matters worse. If too much soap is added and then not thoroughly washed out, it ends up creating a damp environment that is ideal for the growth of mold and mildew. With this increased amount of bacteria continuing to spread, bad odors will only get stronger.
Although it may be tempting to add more soap for a deeper clean, it’s actually counterproductive. And the same goes for fabric softener, too.
And bonus laundry tips? While fabric softener is great for certain materials, you’ll want to avoid it completely with apparel like athleticwear. When fabric softener gets into the pores of your workout gear, it will trap the dirt and sweat, leaving your clothes with that gross ‘gym clothes’ odor.
Not Having a Set Schedule
When it comes to any household chore, the best results come from the best routines, making it one of the top laundry tips from the experts. Yet, an overwhelming majority of us would probably admit that we have no real structure when it comes to laundry. We don’t mean just “Laundry Days”—we’re talking about a regular schedule with specific dates/times for when you’re washing things like sheets, bedding, pillow cases, and other I’ll-clean-them-when-I-remember items. Maybe you think you’ve been washing on a schedule, but if your bedding only makes it into the washer when you happen to remember (AKA: any less than weekly), that’s less than ideal.
Never Cleaning Your Washer
Another reason your laundry habits are actually disgusting is because you haven’t cleaned your machine… ever. Let’s be real for a moment. When was the last time you deep-cleaned the washer? I mean, really got in there and scraped out the gunk, goo, soap residue, hair, fur, or any other unwanted, ahem, materials? And that’s just the inside! According to the experts, one of the best laundry tips is to clean your washer twice a year – minimum! You can (and should) consider an occasional clean out of your air vents/ducts that lead to the outside, too. Dust gets trapped in there over time, and if you’re not careful, it can potentially start a fire.
Our Best Laundry Tips and Hacks
Follow the One-Touch Rule
How many times have you picked up a pair of jeans or a shirt and wondered if it is clean? Most of us have a habit of trying something on, deciding not to wear it and dropping it on the floor or laying it over a chair. Learning to institute the one-touch rule will help you conquer the laundry pile more quickly than any other laundry tips. When you remove a piece of clothing from a drawer or hanger and you decide not to wear it, return it immediately to the original location. If you wear something and think it could be worn again, designate a spot in your closet for that item.If you wear something and it needs to go in the hamper, put it there immediately. No piece of clothing ever rises from the floor or a chair unless a hurricane blows through!
Shop for Clothes With Laundry in Mind
Shopping wisely is an important step in making laundry easier and reducing the number of laundry loads. Take time to read labels, study garment construction, and select fabrics that will make laundry easier. It is also important to teach everyone in your family that many clothes can be worn more than once between washings, especially if you follow the one-touch rule.
Split the Laundry Responsibilities
Both you and your family will benefit from knowing how to correctly do laundry. The best time to start teaching is when kids are toddlers and want to do everything you are doing. A toddler can bring clothes to the laundry room and even begin to sort clothes by colors. By the time a child is in elementary school, they can learn to use a washer and dryer. Every teenager should know how to do laundry, and it is a skill they will need in college or when they head out on their own. We love these laundry tips because it teaches great life skills and means parents get a helping hand!
Create Convenient Drop Zones
We all want everything in life to be easier—including a convenient spot to put dirty laundry. It is much easier to complete a task if the tools are right at hand. Laundry hampers are more likely to be used if they are placed in spots where dirty clothes are removed—bathrooms, bedroom closets, mudrooms, and entryways. Another one of our great laundry tips? Enforce a few rules for the hampers:
- All pockets must be empty
- Zip all zippers
- Separate items: No shirts inside sweaters or underwear and socks inside pants
- To make treating laundry stains easier, teach each person to attach a clothespin to the stained area that will need extra attention
Multiple Laundry Hampers
By having multiple hampers, each family member can be responsible for bringing their hamper to the laundry room filled with soiled clothes and returning it to the proper spot filled with clean laundry. If you have children, especially preteens and teenagers, there always seems to be an emergency that requires a certain clothing item or uniform that’s needed on very short notice.
One of our great laundry tips? Create an “Emergency Zone” hamper in the laundry room or kitchen for those items. The rule for using the Emergency Zone is that you must also notify the adult who will handle the “emergency” or do it yourself.
Sorting Your Washing
Whether you choose to purchase several laundry baskets and add labels or use a sorting hamper, presorting laundry into whites, lights, and colored clothing will cut hours from your weekly laundry routine. Look for sorting hampers on wheels so the entire thing can be rolled to the laundry room. Or keep a large sorting hamper in the laundry room so that family members can bring their laundry baskets to a central spot and do the sorting there.
Designate a Hamper to Dry Cleaning
It is essential to have a hamper that is labeled “Dry Clean Only.” Nothing is worse than a garment getting thrown into the washer and ruined by mistake. If you have lots of dry cleaning needs or like professionally starched shirts, look for a dry cleaner that has a pickup and delivery service. Or select a dry cleaner that is easily accessible on the way or home from work. By establishing a routine, you won’t be caught empty-handed or shirtless. Always remember that a dry cleaner is a professional, but you play a part in getting the best final results.
Use Mesh Bags
Mesh laundry bags that can be tossed in the washer for delicate items and small items like socks and baby clothes will save time and sanity. No more lost socks, having to use sock clips, or searching for mates. Simply return the bag of socks to the original wearer. Teach children to place their socks in the bag after each wearing, and then the entire thing can be tossed in the washer. Placing delicate undergarments in the bag protects them during the gentle cycle eliminates the need for more time-consuming handwashing.
Use a Calendar or App
There are apps for everything, so use one to remind you when the washer or dryer cycle is finished or when to pick up dry cleaning. For a busy family, a chore chart might just be the answer to a better laundry routine. Have a day designated for each child to change the bed sheets, gather the towels and bring their laundry to the laundry room.It is much less daunting to do one or two smaller loads each day than to face a mountain of laundry on the weekend. Toss in a load first thing in the morning and then finish up after work or throughout the day.
Color Code Clothes and Linens
To make folding and returning clean laundry to the proper spot easier, assign each family member or bedroom a specific color of towels and sheets. This laundry hack is particularly helpful when beds are different sizes, and matching sheets to the right bed is difficult.For families with several children, use a permanent clothing marker to add a colored dot to clothing labels. Use one dot for the oldest child, two for the second, etc. This system works even if clothes are handed down and helps get the clothes to the right bedroom drawers.
Mastering the art of laundry requires a combination of science, diligence, and a touch of organization. As we debunk some common laundry myths and highlight expert-recommended practices, it’s clear that our laundry habits can impact both our clothes and our overall well-being. From washing frequency to drying techniques and even the choice of products, small changes in our laundry routine can lead to fresher, cleaner clothes and a more efficient laundry process. So, the next time you find yourself in front of the washing machine, consider these insights, and transform your laundry routine into a more effective and enjoyable experience.
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