50+ Amazing Laundry Tips

Laundry is one of those things that never seems to go away. As soon as you finish a few loads, more begins to pile up. This is particularly true if you have a big family, teenagers, or a baby at home. There are some ways to make doing laundry a little easier and less expensive, although there’s not much help for doing it any faster unless you add an extra washer and dryer. As long as we wear clothes, there will always be laundry.

Using vinegar as part of your laundry process has quite a few benefits. Adding a half cup or so to the washer keeps your white clothes bright and your colors from running. It is an excellent way to remove unpleasant odors like mildew, smoke, and underarm smells. Also, vinegar serves as a natural fabric softener, so you don’t have to purchase dryer sheets or liquid softeners.

If you accidentally washed and dried your favorite cashmere sweater and it has shrunk, you, fortunately, do have options. It is possible to “unshrink” clothing. Actually, however, what you are really doing is stretching out the fabric, but the process is simple. With a little baby shampoo, hair conditioner, and a little time, your sweater and other clothing will fit again.

On the other hand, oil stains on clothes are a common laundry problem. If you treat them right away, it is more likely that you can get rid of them. Blotting the stain first is important to get rid of any excess oil. Sprinkling some baking soda, cornstarch, or baby powder on the stain and then using a toothbrush to work at the stain often aids in removal. A hot water wash is usually recommended after stain treatment.

There is just something about having to bring clothing to the dry cleaner that really makes people unhappy. Often, there is no choice with some delicate fabrics. However, many items that are labeled “dry clean only” can be safely laundered at home. Washing the item by hand or putting the clothing in a laundry bag before machine washing are both appropriate. After washing, lay the clothes on a flat surface to air dry and press on a light setting if needed.