Laundry can feel like a never-ending task, especially when piles of clothes start to take over your space. You probably want a way to manage it without spending all your time sorting, washing, and folding.
These laundry hacks will help you prevent those overwhelming clothing pileups and keep your laundry routine manageable. They’re designed to save you time and effort, making laundry less of a chore in your daily life.
Swap laundry days for full ‘completion days’ to finish all washing, drying, and folding in one go
Try setting aside one full day to handle all your laundry tasks at once. This means washing, drying, folding, and putting away everything in one focused session.
By doing this, you avoid leaving piles of clean laundry waiting to be sorted later. It helps keep your space clear and reduces the chance of laundry piling up again. Give it a try and see how it simplifies your routine.
Add 1 cup of vinegar to the rinse cycle to eliminate mildew and odors
You can add 1 cup of white distilled vinegar to the rinse cycle to help remove mildew smells from your clothes. It works well to freshen fabrics without using harsh chemicals.
Vinegar also softens your clothes and reduces static. Just pour it into the fabric softener dispenser or add it manually before the final rinse. This simple step can make your laundry feel cleaner and fresher.
Treat stains immediately before washing to prevent setting
When you spot a stain, act quickly. Pretreating it right away keeps it from setting into the fabric.
Dab the stain gently with a clean, damp cloth to remove excess before applying a stain remover. You can use detergent, vinegar, or baking soda depending on the stain type.
Giving your garment this quick attention makes washing more effective and helps your clothes stay looking fresh longer.
Use a hanging basket made from a plastic cup to keep small laundry items organized
You can easily create a small hanging basket using a plastic cup and some fishing wire. Simply poke holes on opposite sides of the cup and thread the wire through to hang it under a shelf or near your washing machine.
This basket is perfect for storing small items like socks, dryer sheets, or laundry pods. Keeping these tiny essentials in one spot helps reduce clutter and makes your laundry routine smoother.
Fold clothes with a plastic folding board for neat, uniform stacks
Using a plastic folding board helps you fold clothes quickly and evenly. Lay your shirt face-down, then use the board to fold sleeves and sides with clean, straight lines.
This method keeps your clothes looking tidy and makes stacking easier. It also saves time by giving you consistent folds every time you use it.
Skip sorting by color when in a rush; wash similar fabrics together instead
If you’re short on time, focus on sorting by fabric type instead of color. Grouping similar fabrics helps protect delicate items and keeps heavy fabrics from damaging lighter ones during the wash.
Washing similar materials together also lets you choose the best water temperature and wash cycle for those fabrics. This way, you can skip the detailed color sorting without risking damage or color transfer. Just keep an eye on any items that might bleed color, and you’ll be good to go.
Stretch shrunken clothes by soaking in a mix of conditioner and warm water
If your clothes have shrunk, try soaking them in warm water mixed with a bit of hair conditioner. This softens the fibers, making them more flexible.
After soaking for about 30 minutes, gently stretch the garment back to its original size. Avoid wringing it out to keep it from getting misshapen.
Lay your clothes flat or hang them to dry. This simple hack works best on natural fibers like wool or cotton.
Make your own laundry detergent to save money
You can save money by making your own laundry detergent at home. It’s simple and uses common ingredients like washing soda, borax, and a scent you like.
Mix these ingredients in a large bowl and store them in an airtight container. This homemade detergent cleans well and often smells better than store-bought options.
Trying this can reduce your laundry costs while letting you customize the scent and ingredients to your liking.
Soften hard water to prevent stiff clothes and undissolved detergent
If your clothes feel stiff or look dull after washing, hard water might be the cause. The minerals in hard water can leave deposits on your fabrics and prevent detergent from dissolving properly.
You can add vinegar to your laundry to help soften the water and your clothes. Installing a water softener or using a water conditioner can also reduce mineral buildup and improve washing results.
Use mesh laundry bags for delicate items to reduce damage
You can protect delicate clothes like silk, lace, or wool by placing them inside mesh laundry bags before washing.
These bags let water and detergent flow through while preventing the fabric from rubbing against other garments.
This simple step reduces stretching, tearing, and snagging during the wash cycle.
Using mesh bags also means you don’t have to wash delicate items separately, saving you time and effort.
Choose wrinkle-resistant clothing to minimize ironing and laundry time
You can save time by opting for wrinkle-resistant fabrics. These materials resist creases and keep your clothes looking neat without much effort.
Look for blends with synthetic fibers or specially treated natural fabrics. They generally need little to no ironing.
When washing, use cold water and low heat for drying to maintain these properties. Hang clothes promptly after drying to avoid new wrinkles forming.
Set a timer for each laundry step to avoid piles building up
Set a timer to keep track of washing, drying, and folding times. This helps you move quickly from one step to the next without forgetting loads in the machine.
When the timer goes off, take action right away. Starting the next step on time prevents clothes from piling up and becoming overwhelming.
Using timers makes laundry feel more manageable and keeps your routine on track. It’s a simple trick that can save you stress.