No one would ever admit that doing housework is their favorite way to pass the time. In addition, doing the laundry is probably one of the three chores that people despise the most, right behind cleaning the bathrooms and doing the dishes. But we can’t get away from it no matter how much we detest it; it’s inevitable. Therefore, in order to make washing all of those clothes, towels, and sheets simpler and more efficient, we have compiled this list of tips and tricks. In addition to that, following these tips will make everything last longer and prevent it from getting stained. Therefore, continue scrolling if you are prepared to get the most out of your washing machine and dryer by utilizing hacks that are proven to be effective.
Are you concerned about your clothing getting wrinkled? Don’t worry about it; none of us are. Despite this, none of us are interested in bringing out the ironing board. It requires a ridiculous amount of time and effort, and it just doesn’t appear to be worth it. The good news is that ice cubes can be used to assist in finding a solution to this problem. If you throw a few ice cubes into the dryer with your clothes, the steam that is produced from the melting ice acts as a steamer just like an actual steamer would. With this hack, you won’t need to invest in a steamer or make use of an ironing board. Using merely a couple of ice cubes can help you save time, effort, and even money.
The Secret To Unshrink
The worst feeling in the world is remembering too late that you dried your favorite (and potentially shrunken) shirt in the dryer. You remove it and realize it is now too big for you and would be more suited for a doll or a toddler. Did you know, though, that garments can be unshrink if they are accidentally shrunken?
Taking the time to soak your hair in the sink with some conditioner is essential. The garment can be salvaged if you rinse it thoroughly and lay it flat to dry. Following this procedure, you can rewash the garment to remove any remaining conditioner. Don’t dry it again just to be safe!
Grease Stains Can Be Removed Using Shampoo Or Dish Soap
Grease stain is one of the most dreaded types of stains. Although oil and grease stains can be difficult to remove, no one wants to toss an entire garment over a small stain. Dish soap or shampoo could be used instead of regular laundry detergent to get rid of it.
Since their primary purpose is to get rid of oils, they can also effectively get rid of oil stains. Spot-treating with a different liquid is recommended since laundry detergent isn’t designed to eliminate oily messes.
Labeled Laundry Bins
Labeling your laundry bins may seem like a trivial and pointless task, but it can actually save you a lot of time and help you get your thoughts in order. It can also be useful for making sure items are washed together and that everyone in the family puts their laundry in the right place.
A portable label maker, or flashcards and a marker, are your only other requirements. It’s possible to use an alternate system of labeling as well. A small chalkboard with easily removable and interchangeable labels is one option, while a more permanent option is also available.
DIY Dryer Sheets
This tip is helpful whether your goal is to save money on dryer sheets or to reduce your impact on the environment. It will be a cost- and time-saver. Did you know that crumpled-up pieces of aluminum foil can be used in place of pricey dryer sheets?
This will help reduce static electricity in the dryer, making it easier to fluff textiles and garments. Aluminum foil scraps from recycling efforts also work. Because, after all, most people have no idea what to do with the leftover bits and pieces. Don’t just throw them away yet; you still have one more use for them!
Salad Spinner For Delicate Clothing
Washing delicate items can be a pain, and you may avoid wearing them because you don’t want to have to wash a separate load for them. The use of a salad spinner to clean delicates is one of those little-known hacks you’d never think would work. Putting on the spin cycle only requires the addition of detergent, water, and time.
It gets the job done quickly and efficiently despite its brevity and straightforwardness. Since salad spinners see so little action in the kitchen, it’s great to find a way to put them to good use beyond just washing and drying lettuce. Another one dedicated to doing laundry could be a good investment if you use yours frequently.
Buy A Lazy Susan!
Maintaining order is essential, but why not add some spice? Don’t confine yourself to standard containers like boxes or jars. Then why not use those rotating display trays? The addition of such items can make your laundry room more interesting and enjoyable. Multiple revolving trays allow you to neatly categorize and store a wide variety of items.
Simply rotate the tray forward when you need to access a specific compartment, and there it will be. This easy fix will help you save time and effort around the house. Since doing laundry is probably no one’s favorite activity, any effort to make it more pleasurable and less laborious is welcome.
DIY Folding Board
Do you know how to fold laundry like Sheldon from The Big Bang Theory? He uses these handy gadgets to ensure that each item is folded neatly and uniformly. He may have gone too far with his obsession, but the truth is that gadgets like these can make the tedious task of folding clothes much more enjoyable and quicker.
Moreover, your garments will always be neatly folded. It’s great because you can either buy a clothes folder online or make your own out of cardboard or some other sturdy material.
The Role Of A Chalk In Laundry
Let’s face it, we could use all the help we can get rid of grease stains, so here’s another hack for you to try. First, get out some chalk and rub it on the stain before you try to remove it with liquids like soap or water. It will absorb the oil and help get rid of the stain.
What’s even better is that both the chalk and the oil can be easily removed from the washing machine. Instead of chalk, you can use baby powder. Both are effective, and you’ll be astounded at how quickly the stains vanish.
Coffee Or Tea?
When your black clothes start to fade, you might feel like there’s no point in trying anymore. It’s possible you won’t want to wash them too often so they can maintain their deep, inky hue. It’s not hopeless once fading has set in, so stop stressing about it! It’s possible to restore the original black hue.
Just grab a cup of a hot tea or coffee and you’re set. You can see an immediate effect on the color of your laundry by using fresh tea or coffee in the wash. Only put black clothing in there, or you might end up with some dyed items.
A Dry Towel Dries The Laundry Faster
Sometimes you just can’t wait for the drying cycle to finish. Having clothes dry quickly is a necessity. Don’t freak out; there’s an easy fix for that. Toss a dry towel into the dryer with your wet clothes. Not only will it speed up the drying process for the entire load, but it will also help absorb any excess moisture from the other clothes.
If you ever find yourself in a pinch and need to dry some clothes quickly, this can be a lifesaver. All the garments were already clean, so there was no need to wash the towel either.
Don’t Forget To Mark The Stain
Clothespins are handy for more than just holding things together while you wait for laundry to dry. However, have you considered using them to make a mark on an article of clothing? Doing an entire load of laundry and then remembering you forgot to treat those stains is extremely annoying.
You can easily find them when it’s time to take care of them if you mark them in advance with a clothespin. Having lost a small stain on a huge garment and not being able to locate it or totally forgetting about it until you’ve completed all your hard work is the worst possible scenario. Clothespins are the answer to that problem!
Another Use For Pool Noodle
What made you think you’d need to bring a pool noodle into the laundry room? They can be very helpful and convenient at times. If you’re tired of seeing creases in your clothes after they’ve been dried, a pool noodle might be the answer.
You can hang your clothes over the top after slicing them in half, attaching them to a hanger, and seeing incredible results. You can finally say goodbye to creases in your clothing and linens forever. If you hang your clothes to dry, you won’t have to worry about bringing out the ironing board after each item is removed.
Maximize The Space Available
In a laundry room, more hanging space is always welcome. You can declutter and save room with this clever trick. Adding a rod above your washers and dryers is an easy way to gain a lot of extra closet space. Alternatively, install a rod and some hooks behind a door or inside a closet so you can always have a place to dry your laundry.
You can use this area to hang almost anything, and it will free up a ton of counter and floor space elsewhere in the laundry room. In confined quarters, this is a fantastic ingenuity.
Creating The Perfect Scent For Your Laundry
Sometimes the artificial fragrances of laundry detergents can be overpowering, even though fabrics can benefit from a little extra scent when washed in the laundry. If you’re having trouble finding a detergent with a pleasant scent, consider purchasing one without a scent and then adding your preferred essential oils to the wash.
You have complete freedom to modify and employ however much or little you like. Also, unscented detergents are typically more affordable. And everyone will compliment you on how nice your clothes smell.
The Wonder Of A Tennis Ball
Don’t be alarmed if you pass a laundry room and hear an unsettling banging sound. Likely neither a human nor anything else so ludicrously huge as to defy logic could be housed inside. There are probably just some tennis balls there.
Using tennis balls is a common method for preventing large, fluffy items from becoming a lumpy mess after being dried. While drying, the tennis balls help smooth out any uneven areas by flattening and spreading out any clumps of stuffing.
Shaving Cream As Stain Remover
Realizing that you’ve just ruined your favorite white shirt by spilling tomato sauce on it can be a devastating experience. It can seem impossible to remove the stain at times. But that’s where the shave gel comes in handy. It might not be the most rational move.
However, a small amount of shaving cream can remove many unsightly stains. The stain is easier to remove and the fabric is unwrinkled. Oil, coffee, and wine stains are no match for this method, so give it a shot the next time you need to remove a stain. That ought to solve things.
Home-Made Anti-Wrinkle Solution
It’s pretty obvious that dirt is the enemy of clean clothes. But wrinkles are a close second place. There are a ton of commercial sprays out there that claim to keep your clothes wrinkle-free, but you can make your own for a fraction of the price and with fewer harmful chemicals.
It takes only one cup of water or vinegar and one tablespoon of fabric softener to get the job done. You can spray it on your clothes and watch the wrinkles vanish. The spray can be made to smell much more pleasant by adding some essential oils, particularly if vinegar was used.
Do You Clean Your Washing Machine?
You should clean your washing machine regularly, even though doing so may not seem like it’s worth the extra time in your day. Since the concept involves perpetually washing clothes, it may seem absurd at first, but the benefits will become clear over time.
The effectiveness with which your washer cleans clothes will increase as it adjusts to its new setting. In addition, it can help the machine last longer. Although it is not necessary to clean your washing machine after each use, doing so on a regular basis is essential for its upkeep.
The Use Of Pure White Vinegar
Towels present a unique set of difficulties (in terms of washing them, at least) because you purchase them fresh and full of fluff and energy. However, it appears that they undergo a complete transformation after only a few washes. As much as you try, it seems like you’ll never be able to return them to their soft, supple state once they’ve hardened and roughened up.
Don’t be disheartened, though; a tiny amount of vinegar will do the trick! To ensure that your towels are always soft and smell great, add a small amount of white vinegar to the fabric softener dispenser in your washing machine. The fact that it can also eliminate bacteria makes it an even better buy.
Ink Stains Can Be Removed Using Hair Spray
Most people who put pens in their pockets know it’s a bad idea and make sure it never happens again. For the simple reason that the thought of a leaking pen leaving behind an ugly ink stain is enough to give anyone the willies. Who, after all, has figured out a way to get rid of pen marks on clothes?
Fortunately, there is one, and it’s not hard to come by: hair spray! The chemicals in hairspray have a magical effect on ink stains, removing them completely and leaving no residue behind. It’s like the kryptonite for ink stains or a miracle cure.
Buy Jars For Detergent And Other Cleaning Solutions
It’s not necessary to keep everything in its original packaging if doing so would cause unnecessary clutter or damage to the environment. Why not transfer your laundry detergent from its plastic containers into more convenient glass jars? And if you use a jar with a spout, pouring is a breeze.
Plus, it looks great and makes your room look great (less of a mess). Cleaning up after a soap or detergent spill is a chore no one enjoys. This spout makes it easy to dispense precisely the right amount.
Mini Iron
You know as well as I do that ironing is not everyone’s favorite chore. Most people would rather spend their time doing something more enjoyable than pulling out an ironing board and laboriously pressing out creases in their garments.
This is the best tip ever in the event that you need to quickly repair a small section of your wardrobe. A hair straightener can be used to press small areas of clothing, such as the collar and sleeves. You’ll save a ton of time and look more put together for your next interview if you do this. There will be no more embarrassing appearances due to a creased collar.
Buy Some Matching Bins
Let’s be frank, your laundry room is a disaster due to all the mismatched packaging. Furthermore, the variety of containers and labels detracts from the overall aesthetic quality of the presentation. The good news is that there is a simple way to avoid this problem altogether.
You can easily find anything if you just go out and buy some matching containers, sort your belongings, and label them. You can completely transform the look of your laundry room with very little work. Doing so will give the impression of a much more polished and put-together room. And plain white storage boxes will do just fine as garbage cans.
Don’t Forget To Use A Color Catcher
The thought of doing a white load of laundry and then realizing you might have forgotten to remove a red or colored item from the wash is terrifying. Every white garment you wash will turn out pink, and that’s a nightmare you don’t want to face.
But did you know there’s an easy way to avoid this happening in the first place? You can prevent your clothes from fading by using a “Color Catcher,” a small sheet designed for this purpose. If you do happen to throw in something colored, the color catcher will soak up the dye so it doesn’t permeate the rest of your laundry.
Don’t Waste Soap!
Have you ever been irritated by the way laundry detergent trickles down the container’s sides? The only thing more annoying than having detergent spill out of its container is having to clean the floor and walls around it.
When doing laundry, why not just throw it in without rinsing to save on detergent? It will prevent the bottle from getting dirty and provide extra fluid. Even if the plastic lid’s quality suffers, it probably won’t last long anyway, and the bottle will be empty by the time it’s completely destroyed.
Hang Them All!
There is nothing more annoying than having to avoid stepping on a broom or mop that has been carelessly left on the floor or has fallen over and is now in the way. Rather than perpetually sifting through this clutter, there is a simple solution.
A few nails or screws to secure the hook to the wall are all that’s needed. There’s plenty of room to store mops, buckets, and other cleaning tools. All of them will be neatly tucked away out of the way like this, allowing you more room to move around or store other items.
Stucked Gum On Clothes
The eternal conundrum. If you get gum on your clothes, what do you do? Whether you accidentally sat in it or brushed up against it, the gum is a sticky substance that can be annoying to get rid of. At first, it may look like there’s no way out, but there is.
Fortunately, there is a straightforward method for getting rid of the gum without damaging the fabric. An ice cube is all that’s needed to make the gum harden, making it easier to peel off. The versatility of a simple ice cube is astounding. The list of potential uses is practically endless, from combating wrinkles to removing gum from fabric.
Avoid Wrinkles On Clothes By Removing Them From The Dryer Right Away
Keeping your garments wrinkle-free can be difficult. This is a fantastic hack to ensure wrinkle-free clothing every time you do laundry, as no one wants to drag out the ironing board each time. Without realizing it, you’re probably wrinkling your clothes by leaving them in the dryer for too long.
See if the outcome improves if you take them out while they’re still hot. As clothing cools, creases and wrinkles form. For this reason, timing the removal of clothes from the dryer is crucial. You won’t believe how much of a change there is.
Colander And Handwash Clothes
While no one enjoys the chore, there are times when hand washing is the only option. Some articles of clothing, due to their extreme softness or fragility, should never be washed. They are easily negated. It might be helpful to get out a colander to use while washing these by hand.
While you carefully rinse and wash the garments, this will help keep them contained in a sanitary space. In contrast to a bucket, the soiled water can simply be discarded after being washed away. That way, you can rest assured that your clothes won’t get drenched in the same filthy water for too long.
Do Not Overstuff Your Washer
Do not overstuff your washing machine, as this can prevent the water from reaching the bottom of the drum and reduce the effectiveness of the wash cycle. It’s tempting to fill it up to the top so that every last bit of laundry gets done, but doing so is counterproductive.
It’s best to only fill the washer about three-quarters of the way to allow for free movement of the garments during the cleaning process. Overstuffing the washer prevents the clothes from moving around and ensures that everything gets washed in the same amount of time. It also has the potential to crash the machine.
The Use Of Wool Dryer Balls
These cute little balls are common sights in the supermarket’s laundry aisle. You might not have understood their function or even if they served any purpose. But now you know the truth: these wool dryer balls will change your life forever.
You can expect your laundry to dry more rapidly, and the dryer’s warm air circulation will be enhanced as a result. They do their job undetected and in silence. One more way they can be put to use is as a softener for laundry. These have three uses in one and are highly recommended. They can completely transform the laundry process and even make it fun.
Getting The Right Temperature
When it comes to choosing a cycle for washing clothes, many people wonder if they really need to put in as much time and thought as the machine suggests. Many types of fabrics are available, including those that are particularly delicate, as well as bedding, towels, acrylics, and wool.
What difference does it make if the water is cold or warm? That would be a resounding YES. Make sure the water temperature is optimal if you want your clothing and fabric to last as long as possible in pristine condition. It’s important to read the care label before blindly throwing an item into the washing machine, as different fabrics have different needs.
All In One Place
It’s not always easy to stay organized. Nothing, however, is more stressful than trying to accomplish a great deal in a short amount of time while being completely unprepared. If you have to rummage around for the detergent, fabric softener, or ironing board every time you do laundry, it might be time to get your laundry room in order.
Put everything you need on a shelf in the closet or basement so it’s handy whenever you need it. Having everything in one place where you can easily find it will save you a ton of time in the long run. You won’t have to spend time searching for things that should be simple to find.
Lint Bag
Unfortunately, not all homes feature a laundry area with sufficient space for a separate trash can. You may be troubled by the question of what to do with the lint you remove from your dryer on a regular basis. Leaving the lint in the dryer isn’t an option, but there’s no convenient trash can nearby.
A lint trap is necessary for this reason. It’s possible for it to be miniature and space-efficient. Making dog or cat toys out of the lint you collect is a great way to put that collection to good use.
Buy A Folding Dryer Rack
Even though most modern households have both a washing machine and a dryer, a folding drying rack is still a very useful accessory to have on hand. If an item of clothing is too large to fit in the dryer, you may have to resort to hanging it up on chairs or shelves.
Buy a cheap, foldable drying rack instead of struggling every time you need to dry something. They don’t cost much and don’t hog much space. It’s a winning combination that will prevent any drying problems from occurring.
Clothespin Organizer
If you don’t have a dryer, clothespins are an essential laundry room accessory. But they’re tiny and hidden away when you really need them. It makes sense to consolidate your possessions and keep them in one convenient location.
Put all of your clothespins in one place instead of having them lying around the laundry room: invest in a few glass jars. As a result, you’ll never be without one when you actually need it. You can categorize the clothespins according to their sizes, saving you time and effort the next time you need to hang up a damp garment.
Shelves For Everything
Unfortunately, not all laundry rooms have sufficient shelving and cabinets for all of your laundry supplies. It’s possible that you don’t want to invest in an entire shelving unit, or that there simply isn’t enough room for one.
When this occurs, a do-it-yourself shelving unit can be mounted to the wall and used to store and display all of your tools and materials. You can get by with just a few containers and hooks. There is a wide variety of shelf designs to choose from. It’s adaptable to your specific needs and can be styled to complement the decor of your laundry room and home.
Remove Formula Stains By Using This
Almost everyone has had to save a favorite shirt or pair of jeans by removing an unsightly stain at some point in their lives. But they probably won’t always be sure of what to do. Parents often find it difficult to remove stains caused by baby formula. This, however, can be easily scrubbed away with some dish soap, cold water, and dry cloth.
To make matters worse, beverages often present their own unique set of challenges when attempting to extract them. On the other hand, a combination of hot water, dish soap, and a touch of white vinegar can work wonders there, too.
Use Tape Instead!
The lint roller is one of the most useful tools despite its seemingly pointless and silly appearance. In many cases, this handy little tool is the only option for removing hair and other particles from certain articles of clothing.
But what happens when the rolls finally run out? Instead of being depressed, you can make your own lint roller out of duct tape. If you’re out of town and forgot your lint roller, this will get the job done almost as well.