Laundry Tips

As any busy person knows, laundry is one of the most time-consuming tasks around the house - and one that you just can't avoid, unless you don't mind wearing smelly, stained or wrinkled clothing.

Even though the average person does between five and seven loads of laundry each week, this chore doesn't have to eat so many hours. Try implementing a few of these handy tips to cut down on your fabric care time.

 

Sort, sort, sort!

Spend more time sorting, and you'll spend less time washing, drying and folding.

As any parent of a teenager knows, often times clothing will end up in the hamper without ever being worn. If you can identify which garments got put into the laundry basket instead of ending up back on a hanger or in a drawer where they belong, you'll not only save time, but you'll save water, energy, and money, as well.

Instead of waiting until wash day to sort the laundry, do it as you take off your clothes. Have two baskets in the closet, bathroom, or laundry room for dirty clothes - one for whites, and one for darks and colors. This way, you can just grab a basket and throw it in the wash. . Back to top

Skirt the iron.

Ironing can be an extremely time-consuming project. Any activities that help prevent wrinkles will ensure that laundry day is a little shorter.

Always remove your clothes from the dryer while they're still warm. The longer they sit around in the drum of your machine, the more likely they will be to have wrinkles. Listening for the buzzer not only keeps the laundry process moving, but will prevent you further headaches after you fold.

Always read your care labels. Cotton clothing, as well as some blends, react better to certain temperatures or drying times. You can greatly reduce fabric damage that leads to wrinkling through correct care. Back to top

Accessible essentials!

Keep your necessaries handy. Proper organization of your laundry room can prevent wasted minutes digging through drawers and through cabinets searching for items you need.

A bulletin board on your laundry room wall can keep plastic bags full of needles, buttons, thread and other clothing-repair supplies handy.
Wall-mounted shelves or a laundry cart keep detergent and other supplies within reach, yet out of the way in crowded laundry rooms. Back to top

Closet crunching!

Take a look at your closet. The laundry process starts in the aisles of your favourite clothing store, and it doesn't end when you put your clothes away hot from the dryer - closets and bureau drawers are a big part of the life cycle of your wardrobe. A few organizational tweaks here and there can help you shave even more time off of your fabric care routine.

Think twice before buying a garment - don't buy anything just because it is on sale, or take your sister's hand-me-downs, even though you have nothing to match a lime-green jumpsuit. In the end, you'll be glad you have the extra space in your closet, and you won't spend time wondering whatever possessed you to buy so many things you'll never wear.

You can really cut down on the amount of time you spend every morning searching for that perfect outfit - if you know exactly where to find it. Divide your closet into sections, and you'll be able to look directly into the blouse section or the dress section to create a killer combo. You can even divide those sections up by color or by occasion - get creative, and keep your needs in mind as you do it.

If you have a closet full of suits or dresses you wear only on occasion, you may want to invest in some plastic shoulder covers to protect them. They help keep your garments dust-free. Back to top

Linen Closet

In the linen closet place cotton balls that have been sprayed with your favourite scent. Once they are dry place them in the corners and on the shelves. Back to top

Laundry Basket Freshener

Place a fabric softener sheet in the bottom of your laundry basket (remeber to change it weekly.) You can also simply sprinkle some baking soda in the bottom of your basket and that will help absorb the ordors as well. Back to top

Mothball Makeover

A better idea than using mothballs is to take your leftover soap slivers and put them in a vented plastic bag. Place the bag with seasonal clothes before packing them away. Not only will the scent prevent them from moth harm but they will also smell great when you pull them out. This is especially useful for sweaters, which can be difficult to remove the odor of mothballs from. Using soap you simply have a clean smell rather then the smell of an attic. Back to top

Travel Saver

Whenever you travel carry along a stain pretreatment stick. Taking the time to use it on stains before they set ensures that they will wash out when you get home. Back to top

Fading

Turn dark clothes inside out and wash in the coolest water possible; dry on the lowest heat. For all-black clothes, throw in a box of black Rit® dye every 8-10 washes or so to keep black clothes black. Fluffing down Comforters/Jackets: Put a couple of tennis balls in the dryer with them to reduce static. Back to top