Many people put doing the laundry at the bottom of their household chores because it is time-consuming and tedious. And with little to no variation in the activity, it can feel like a boring task. However, if you want fresh clean clothes available all the time, you need to regularly do the laundry.
To make the chore easier, getting a washing machine that can handle your household’s weekly laundry load is the first step. The next thing to do is find efficient ways you can breeze through the work without compromising the result. Here are some quick and easy hacks you can try for cleaner and fresher laundry.
Improve Your Sorting System
Sorting clothes is a vital step in the laundry process. It helps make washing clothes more efficient. The most popular sorting method is to separate white clothes from colored ones. Many households do this so they can keep dyed clothes from staining lighter-colored or white garments. But there are also other ways to sort laundry. Sometimes it is more important to sort clothes according to fabric type so that more delicate garments are hand washed or get a lighter wash cycle.
Another laundry tip is to set aside clothes that need more thorough washing. For example, you can split up the laundry load according to how soiled they are. This means used cloth diapers and muddy outside clothes are washed separately from lightly-worn shirts and pajamas. By segregating your load this way, you can use appropriate amounts of detergent and the right wash cycle for each load—helping you do the chore more efficiently.
Use Distilled Vinegar for Extra Smelly Clothes
If you want to remove nasty odor from your clothes, adding a cup of distilled vinegar in the rinse cycle can be very effective. The reason behind this is vinegar contains acetic acid, which can kill odor-causing bacteria. Compared to fabric softeners that often just mask the foul smell, vinegar targets the real culprit behind the odor.
In case you have an especially funky smelling load, like used gym clothes, soak them in a basin filled with half a cup of white vinegar mixed with cold water for at least an hour before putting them in the washing machine. It can help remove the unpleasant odor completely.
Brighten and Whiten Clothes with Common Household Items
Vinegar is not just helpful in deodorizing your clothes; it can also restore white garments to their former glory. The acetic acid in distilled white vinegar can dissolve any residue left by soaps and detergents. By adding half a cup of vinegar to your laundry’s final rinse, it can make the white color more vibrant.
To remove yellow stains in white clothing, soak them in a large pot of hot water with a cup of vinegar overnight. Then, proceed with washing them as you usually do. However, take note that this method can only be used on clothes made from 100 percent cotton.
Apart from distilled white vinegar, you can use baking soda to brighten your white clothes. When using chlorine or bleach to whiten clothes, add a cup of baking soda to the wash water. The baking soda acts as a performance booster to such laundry items.
Switch to Baking Soda as a Natural Fabric Softener
If you are searching for a natural alternative to commercial fabric softeners, baking soda works well. It regulates the rinse water’s pH level so it is not too acidic or alkaline. When you put one-half cup of baking soda into every rinse cycle, the detergent and mineral deposits in the water are balanced. This keeps any soap residue from sticking to the clothes being laundered, which can cause stiffness in the fabrics.
Retain the Color of Dark Clothing
Over time, dark and black clothes will eventually fade. To keep the color vibrant for longer, make sure to turn them inside out before loading them into the washing machine. This will prevent the fibers from getting damaged, which can make the color dull. It can also make frayed ends more apparent and attract lint.
When washing dark garments, use the coolest water temperature setting as much as possible. Hot water causes dyes to fade and bleed faster compared to washing in cold water. At the same time, make sure to use a cold water rinse cycle.
Treat Grease Stains with Chalk
Most of the time, grease stains linger even after washing your clothes because water and oil don’t mix. Before washing the stained clothing, lay it flat and remove excess grease or oil on the surface using a paper towel. Then, rub a bit of chalk on the oily patch. It will help absorb the grease and enable water to penetrate through the stain and wash it properly. So the next time you eat something oily like pizza and the oil from the food splatters on your shirt, try this hack.
Having a washing machine can help you manage your household’s dirty laundry with a lot less effort compared to handwashing. To ensure you have clean and fresh clothes every time, you can try any of the easy laundry tips mentioned above. If you find the task boring, you can listen to some music or a podcast. It will make the activity more enjoyable and you’ll be done with the chore in no time.
References:
https://www.thespruce.com/laundry-hacks-4684443
https://www.apartmenttherapy.com/laundry-hacks-36600368
https://www.thespruce.com/tips-keep-black-clothes-from-fading-2146157