Laundry is a chore that follows us our whole lives. As one grows up the nuances of what at first appears to be a simple task can become more apparent. This is also when preferences begin to develop.
The more experience that one gains with laundering their clothes then the more tricks are learned. By the time full-fledged adulthood is reached laundry cleaning and drying are simple.
If you are looking for hacks that can help you skip past the years of laundry learning, check out these 14 tips that most people wish they knew from the very beginning.
Do A Scent Test
People wash clothes regularly because they become soiled after you wear them. This may seem obvious, but it is important to understand what cleaning your clothes is trying to accomplish.
One part of the reason you have to wash dirty clothes is the smell that they may acquire. Whether it is the type of food that was cooked or body odor after exercising, clothing tends to pick up the scents that surround it.
The main purpose of cleaning clothes is to remove unpleasant smells and leave a fresh, clean scent in its place.
Not all detergents leave behind the same smell, however, and what is pleasing to you may not be pleasing to someone else. The first tip for cleaning your laundry is to spend time figuring out your favorite smell available as a detergent. Some detergents can contain harsh chemicals. Always look for the safest laundry detergent.
There are a wide variety of detergents available on the market. The trick is to find a detergent that is not only suitable for your clothes and garments, but one with a fresh scent. The scent should be strong enough to tackle even the most intense odors, but it should also be something that is enjoyable to you and your nose.
When looking for your perfect laundry detergent, make sure you do a scent test to ensure you’re choosing the detergent that’s right for you. Some may prefer a spring flavor, while others like a more relaxed lavender fragrance.
How Do The Fabrics Feel?
Once you have found a detergent that is pleasant enough, it is time to determine how that detergent treats the physical conditions of your clothes.
Clothes generally need to be soft and supple after washing. Some detergents are prone to leaving clothes stiff, almost cardboard-like, after a cycle in the washing machine. Even if your clothes smell nice, they will not appear well kept if they don’t move with your body.
If you notice that your clothes are not coming out as soft and supple as you would like, it may be time to switch to a new detergent. Try and find a laundry detergent that is notable for providing a soft texture after the wash.
If you’ve tried different detergents but are still getting clothes that don’t feel as soft as they should, it may be time to investigate your wash cycle. Different washing machines interact with the clothing differently and the type of settings or cycle that you choose will make a huge impact on how your clothes feel after a wash.
Durability Considerations
One thing that isn’t so obvious when someone starts doing their laundry for the first time is the effects that going through a washer and dryer have on an article of clothing.
Washing machines operate by agitating fabrics. This means that each time you wash something it is going to be stressed as part of the cleaning. Usually, this means that clothing will wear out not just from actual use, but also from the cleaning process.
Knowing this may change the frequency that certain articles are washed at all. If you have a lightly constructed jacket or shirt that you particularly enjoy, it may be a good idea to limit how often it goes through the wash.
Pay close attention while doing your laundry. You may find that some garments do not need to be washed as soon as others. Ensuring you don’t over-wash your garments will allow them to last longer.
Sterility Considerations
Everyone wants their clothes to be clean, but how does one define “clean”? Beyond just looking bright and smelling like lavender or some other scent, it is important to think about the bacteria situation.
Detergents are great for working on stained fabrics and imbuing a certain fragrance, but they do not usually specialize in the anti-bacterial department. Bacteria occur on clothing from normal use and can potentially pose a health hazard.
The best way to combat this aspect of dirty clothes is by using hot water. Hot water and steam are the easiest ways to kill bacteria. Many washers will have a setting that is designed for use with the hottest water temperatures. Consider using this feature, especially on clothing used for exercise or yard work, to help get them clean and bacteria free.
Will It Shrink?
Certain kinds of clothing will shrink when made wet and then quickly dried with high heat. If you are not careful your favorite jeans can become a few sizes too small just by putting them directly from the washing machine to the tumble dryer.
Certain types of fabric (such as denim) are prone to shrinking. One easy way to make sure you don’t end up with shrunken clothing is to check the tag. That tag will clearly state how the garment should be washed so it is not damaged.
Check all of the clothing that you wash regularly to see if it recommends air drying. Air drying via clothesline or something like it can reduce the risk of shrinkage due to fast drying. For instance, some shirts may only be able to be washed in cold water, while some pants may only be able to be hung dry.
If you don’t have a tag, the best thing to do is wash in cold and air dry. You will be able to tell if something shouldn’t be dried with high heat after the cycle is finished, as it will be slightly smaller than it is supposed to be.
Colorfast
Sitcoms have made a joke of the oblivious launderer putting the clothing through a wash cycle that mixed with different colors. This usually results in the star of the show having to wear pink underwear that is the product of the originally white undergarment being washed with a red towel. You won’t be the butt of this joke you if you are aware of what articles of clothing are colorfast.
Colorfast refers to the fabric manufacturer utilizing a process that ensures that the coloration of the fabrics do not run when water is applied.
If the towel or other article were colorfast the sitcom character would have avoided their incident altogether. If you are unsure about whether something is colorfast then dividing your laundry into loads of similar colors is the best way to keep clothes looking bright and the right color.
What’s It Made Of?
Different types of materials are better suited for different types of activities. Wool socks can be great for hiking, technical cotton can work nicely for going on a run, and a silk necktie can help sharpen your image. Each of these types of fabric has different characteristics to take into consideration before you put them through the wash.
Take the necktie for instance: silk and water do not play well together and even the dirtiest silk tie should never be run through a washing machine or dryer. Doing so would cause the silk to become soaking wet which would absolutely ruin its natural sheen and texture.
Determine what you are trying to wash is made of, and follow cleaning guidelines for that material.
You Get What You Pay For
Laundry can be a hassle. If you don’t have regular access to a washing machine you will have to go to a laundromat. This can be both a time and money consuming event.
On top of the fees associated with the use of the machines, there are the costs of detergents and dryer sheets. All of this expense may tempt you to go as low as you can with your cleaning budget. This will undoubtedly save you some money, but it will just as surely decrease how clean your clothes will be.
Find a balance between cost and effectiveness by testing out some of the name brand detergents and by frequenting a laundromat with a good reputation.
Allergies
Animals, plants, and dust can all cause allergies. People will often become frustrated when their allergy symptoms flare despite there being no allergen readily apparent. This frustration can reach its climax as someone is trying to sleep but cannot because of a headache or stuffy nose.
When this happens it is often because the bedspread has allergens within its fibers. Allergens can embed themselves in almost any type of fabric and this means that you may have unwittingly brought the animal dander, plant spore, or dust mites home with you.
Utilize the ever more common washer and dryer allergen settings with a detergent that is advertised to help with this situation.
The Time Involved
Sadly, there is no hack that will get you out of doing laundry altogether, but there are a few tips on how to reduce how often you do it and how long it takes.
Most of this time saving can be achieved through a simple planning session:
- Determine how much laundry you accrue over a given period of time.
- Determine what laundry cannot be washed in a normal load.
- Separate your laundry into two categories, everything that can be washed together and those things that need to be washed separately either due to coloration or material type.
- Set a limit for both categories that will indicate when it is time to wash that category.
- By making two short attempts at washing you can reduce what is usually several loads into just the two.
Old and New Clothes
Another hack to save you time and a headache when it comes to cleaning and drying is separating older clothing from newer clothing. Older clothing is going to be brittle and delicate while newer clothing has a different set of concerns such as its tendency to be more likely to have colors bleed.
Separate the clothes to be washed into two categories: things you have purchased recently and those things that you have had a long time. Then treat them according to their needs.
High-Efficiency Machines
Depending on when and where you started doing your own laundry you may or may not be aware of high-efficiency machines and their special detergents. The newest forms of machines are usually designated as HE or high efficiency.
This has reference to the amount of energy used as well as the way the spin cycles work. They are designed to work with only similarly designated HE detergents. Using the wrong kind of detergent could damage your washing machine.
Wrinkle Considerations
It is too easy to throw a load of laundry in and forget about it. If you throw a recently washed load of laundry into the dryer and forget about it you could find yourself dealing with major wrinkling of your garments.
To avoid needing to iron a large amount of your laundry, stay nearby when running clothing through a dryer. By taking it out and folding or hanging it right away wrinkles will be reduced or eliminated.
Washing Schedule
The most simple hack is to wash and dry your clothes at the most efficient time. If you are using a laundromat this means that you need to experiment to determine when the periods of lowest traffic occur. Once you find that out then be sure to wash during those times.
If you have your own machines, try to find times that where you could be doing something else productive while you wait for your clothes to be washed and dried.
Conclusion
When it comes to doing laundry, there is no easy way to go about it. If you’re not careful, you could end up with clothes that have shrunk dramatically or lost their color. If you don’t pay attention to what detergent you use then you might end up with good smelling garments that are stiff as a rock.
Be sure to read the tag on each and every article of clothing you own to make sure it’s receiving the proper wash. By doing so, you will reduce the risk of ruining your favorite pair of jeans or the top you’ve loved for so long.
Check your washer and dryer often to make sure it is maintaining a good cycle for your clothing, and switch detergents if you notice an odd smell or clothes losing their shape and fading. With these tips, you can guarantee a lifetime of beautiful clothing that stay looking like they’re right off the shelves!
