Spend less time doing laundry and getting out stains with these genius laundry hacks! These tried and true tips have been tested and they work well.
Let’s face it – no one loves doing laundry. I grew up in a family of seven (with four brothers!) and it was my main chore growing up. I spent a lot of time in the laundry room!
It was the early 90s, and I remember distinctly washing all the laundry after school and then watching Oprah as I folded it. It look about an hour to fold it all, so I’d be close to the end of the show when it was done!
I learned a lot over the years of doing laundry, especially with four little ones in the house. I know what it’s like to deal with it on a daily basis, especially when lots of stains are involved.
However, getting the family’s clothing clean doesn’t have to be a nightmare. I’ve got help for you! Scroll down to get some awesome tips for your laundry rountine.
Some of them you might know about, but hopefully I can add something new to your repertoire. Please let me know in the comments.
PS – you’re going to love our recipe for homemade liquid laundry detergent. It costs pennies per load!
Laundry Hacks
These are my tried and true pointers from over 30 years of doing laundry, and they are budget friendly too. Read on to learn 20 of the most helpful laundry tips you need to know!
Dry Towels Help Dry
If you want to dry your laundry more quickly, throw a big, dry towel in there. It cuts the time, and if you're smart about timing you'll have a warm towel for your shower!
Chalk Removes Grease
Rub a piece of chalk on any grease stains you are battling. Leave to sit there to "soak." The powder will remove the stain in the wash, and then it easy comes out as well. Plus chalk doesn't mess up your pipes.
Ice Cubes and Wrinkles
If you need to get rid of some wrinkles but don't have an iron, you can steam the garment with your dryer and a handful of ice cubes. Toss in on high for at least 10 minutes.
When the clothes come out, hand smooth and hang.
Pre Soak for Super Cleaning
This might seem like an infomercial, but I promise you - Rockin' Green is your new best friend. I learned about this product about six months ago and it's changed my laundry habits!
I use it as a pre-soak (you can use warm or cold water) and you wouldn't believe the grime that comes out of clothing. I swear by this stuff (this is not sponsored; trust me - try this!!).
Bread Removes Lipstick
White bread can take out a lipstick stain. Remove the crust and wad up the bread, rubbing it against the lipstick. This should lighten the stain enough for the washer to take care of the rest.
Get Rid of Sweat Stains
Sweat stains can be removed with a mixture of ½ cup baking soda and 1 tablespoon hydrogen peroxide. Combine the two to make a paste and apply to the stained areas. Allow to sit for 20 minutes and then wash as normal. Soak the shirt in white vinegar prior to coating the stains for even more stain fighting.
Cut Down on Sorting Time
Toss your clothing into designated laundry hampers or baskets as you take it off. Whites, colors, and towels should each have their own baskets. This cuts down on sorting time on laundry day.
Use Dry Erase to Label
Use a dry-erase marker to note any items that you shouldn’t put in the dryer. Write directly on the dryer top, then erase once you’ve finished the load!
Don't Lose Socks
Put socks in a mesh laundry bag before washing. The mesh bags will keep you from losing any from the washer, to the dryer, then to your sock drawer. Plus you can use the bags for lingerie!
Use Aluminum Foil in the Dryer
Replace your dryer sheets with aluminum foil! Wad a piece of foil into a ball for static free clothing. You can reuse the same ball of aluminum foil for up to six months!
Tip: smooth out the ball as much as possible so it doesn't snag any delicates.
Remove Mildew Smells with Vinegar
Eliminate musty or mildew smells from your towels by washing them with two cups of vinegar every three months. The vinegar cuts the smell and keeps them fresh!
Hand Sanitizer Removes Ink
Hand sanitizer removes ink stains on your garments. Simply pour the sanitizer on the spot and let sit for 10 minutes before tossing into the wash.
Unshrink Clothing with Conditioner
Shrunken clothes can be returned to normal by soaking them in one cup of hair conditioner poured into a bucket of ice water.
Aspirin Brightens Whites
Toss in a couple of Aspirin when washing white clothes. The medication will brighten them so they last longer.
Protect Graphic Tees
Always turn t-shirts with a graphic design inside out before cleaning. Doing so will prevent the design from cracking or peeling.
Contain Dryer Lint
If you make a habit of removing your dryer lint every single time you do a load of laundry, this ensures that your dryer works most efficiently. Dryer lint can also be a fire hazard if it accumulates. Put a box on top of the dryer (a used Kleenex box works well) for an accessible trash bin.
Dry Clothing Quickly with Towels
If you need to dry a garment quickly, toss it in the dryer with a dry bath towel. The towel will help to absorb the moisture to decrease drying time.
Pool Noodle on a Drying Rack
Drying racks and hangers can tend to put dents in clothing, especially sweaters. Want to prevent those bends in your garments? Use pool noodles (cut) to cover the bars for dentless clothing.
Fold Right Away
Rather than piling the dried clothing into a basket to fold in another room of your home, fold your clothes as you remove them from the dryer. This will prevent wrinkles and keep you from having a stockpile of folding to do days from now!
Use or Make a Folding Board
Buy or make a folding board out of cardboard for quick and efficient folding. With a folder, you can fold items to a uniform size in seconds! Makes it easier to store in drawers, and perfect if you want the kids to help. Plus - laundry folders are flat, so they're easy to store.
Wash Your Detergent Cap
Laundry detergent caps can get gross, especially with the big bottles. If you want to rinse the crud off, throw the cap in the laundry.
Now that you’ve read my favorite laundry hacks, I’d love to know yours in the comments. Also please take a look at these other post ideas: