Laundry is something we can easily do on autopilot. After all, once we are used to doing something, we tend to do it again and again without much thought. Have you ever considered that there are more efficient and cheaper ways to do laundry? Here are 16 tips to become a laundry pro!
16. Leave yourself laundry notes
Reading those tiny laundry tags on your clothes can be hard, even for people with 20/20 vision. If you write a note on your washing appliance, you will save youself from an irreversible error. Use a dry erase marker (not a permanent marker!) to write notes on the top of your washer.
15. Avoid creases
Hangers are one of the smartest clothes storage invention but they can create pesky wrinkles on your clothes. Use a serrated knife to cut a pool noodle (lengthwise) and slide it on the hanger. Your clothes will never crease on your hanger again!
14. Get rid of armpit stains
Armpit stains are super embarrassing, especially if someone notices! Here is the recipe to make them disappear: in a small bowl, mix one teaspoon of liquid soap, three tablespoons hydrogen peroxide and two tablespoons baking soda. Scrub this mix on the stain with a brush (like a toothbrush) and you will be astonished by the results!
13. Use a hair straightener to iron your clothes
We all know ironing eliminates irritating folds on clothes. Did you know that using a hair iron will have the same effect as a normal iron? It is the best travel companion to have. Not only is this object practical for styling your hair, but it is also small enough to transport with you anywhere.
12. Keep old tennis balls around
Before throwing out your old and moldy shower curtain, try this tennis ball trick. Put the curtain in the washing machine with a cup of white vinegar and the tennis ball. The vinegar will act as a disinfectant, releasing the accumulated mold, while the tennis ball helps scrub the curtain.
11. A cleaning kit
Stains on your clothes are part of everyday life and need to be cleaned weekly! Give these stains a “special treatment” by creating a personalised cleaning kit! Cover the bottom of a plastic bin with a paper containing instructions to clean off different kinds of stains. After, add cleaning essentials to your bin, like hydrogen peroxide, some baking soda, a vinegar spray, a stain remover pen, chalk and different size brushes.
10. Try the ice trick
You won’t need to leave your house with wrikled clothes anymore! Put your clothes in the dryer with a few ice cubes. The humidity will fix the wrinkles on your clothes in 10 minutes.
9. No more noise!
Shoes in the dryer tend to make a lot of noise. To stop them from making any noise, place the laces in the exterior of the dryer so your shoes will stay in one place while they dry. You can also put your shoes in a mesh bag and trap them in the door like with the laces so they move even less.
8. Keep a bit of chalk at home
Chalk is the perfect solution to get rid of grease stains. It’s even better than a stain removing pen! Wait a few hours after adding chalk to the stains, then wash your clothes normally.
7. Get your shirt back to its original shape
Most people have known the misfortune of clothing that have shrunk. To reverse this tragedy, fill your bathroom sink with lukewarm water and add conditionner. Let your clothes soak for 15-20 minutes, wring your clothes, then gently stretch them out on a towel and let them dry.
6. Shave off fuzz on clothes
If you notice fuzz on your clothes when you take them out of the dryer, there is a simple solution: a razor! All you have to do is shave off the fuzz from your clothes.
5. Use a soap dispenser
Clear soap dispensers are a great way to store liquid detergent. By simply pressing on a button, you get the perfect quantity of detergent for your clothes. Make sure to install it where your children can’t reach it!
4. Use aluminum foil as softener
Darn! You forgot to buy some softener at the grocery store! Wrap a ball of aluminum foil and put it in the dryer with your wet clothes. You can use the same ball for up to 6 months! This will also help your clothes dry faster.
3. Save space
If your ironing equipment takes too much space, hang it so it’s out of the way! Fix two hooks on a wall and place your iron vertically to create more space in your house.
2. Whiten your pillows
It’s not only your blouses that have sweat stains. This can also happen to your pillows, but don’t throw them out before trying this trick! Wash them in very hot water with one cup laundry detergent, one cup powder dishwasher detergent, one cup bleach and half a cup borax.
1. Rejuvenate your towels
Bring your towels back to life with two natural ingredients. If your towels smell moldy even after taking them out of the washer, try washing them in hot water with a cup of vinegar, and then washing them again with a half cup of baking soda. When they finally come out of the dryer they should smell nice!
