10 ways to make you loathe laundry less!
By Cassie (
cynefin)
Laundry - you either grin and bear it, or you bear it with the absence of a grin. Some find the fresh, clean laundry smell and the folding of clothes to be calming, but others do not! Here are a few things that might make your laundry, whether at home or in a laundromat, more tolerable.
Air dry your clothes when possible. Air drying your clothes makes them smell fresh, especially because excess heat in the dryer can take away the scents of detergent or fabric softener. Air drying clothes when you have a stain you're trying to loosen is particularly useful, as the dryer heat can "seal" stains in and make them difficult, if not impossible, to remove. Lastly, some clothes last longer when they are air dried; dryers can be tough on clothes.
If you're trying to remove a stain, presoak your garment in a bucket or a tub in cool water. Use a little detergent and put it into the water or apply it directly on the stain. Gently scrub the stain with your fingers or a toothbrush, depending on the type of fabric. Then put the garment in the washer on cold and air dry. Repeat as necessary until you fade the stain to your liking.
Some clothes require hand washing, while others can be hand washed to care for the fabric and other decals. Many people wring their items out, but you can also get excess water out another way: grab a large towel, and lay it flat. Put your item on the towel, and slowly wrap/roll it. Each time you roll, push your hands and arms into the towel. It should absorb a good amount of excess water.
Sometimes, clothes, towels, and shoes can have a strong odor. Stronger detergents and laundry sanitizers can be expensive. As an alternative, use some baking soda and vinegar with warm or hot water. The fizzy reaction of the baking soda and vinegar along with the water can help reduce the smell.
Speaking of shoes, try washing yours! Some shoes can be put into the washer with some baking soda and vinegar, and then dried with shoe dryers (there is a selection of shoe dryers on Amazon). If your shoes are more expensive, make sure you can wash them before doing so. Some shoes float in the washer, so try throwing them in under a load of towels. In addition to shoes, some purses and backpacks can also be put in the washer - just be sure to check if they can be before washing them.
Consider using a scent booster. Towels and other garments, depending on their composition, are suggested to be washed without fabric softener. Purchase some scent boosters to get the benefits without the fabric softener. If these are too expensive, try going to a dollar store. Many have off brand laundry items or name brand items packaged in a smaller amount.
Dilute your fabric softener. Fabric softener is sometimes concentrated and expensive. Fill the fabric softener slot a little bit, and then fill the rest of the slot with water. This will dilute its concentration and keep you from having to purchase it too often.
Some people like to use dryer balls to keep the laundry separated and to prevent static. Instead of using them, try using a pack of tennis balls instead. They're a similar material, the same concept, and likely more inexpensive. You might already have tennis balls laying around your home!
If you are doing your laundry in your home, do things while you're waiting on loads to finish and check back often. Going back often will make the process faster, and folding your clothes quickly after they're done drying prevents wrinkles. If your clothes are wrinkled, try popping them in the dryer with a single ice cube to steam them. You may want to forgo this if you have an expensive dryer or if you're feeling unsure.
If, in contrast, you're doing the laundry in an apartment building or a laundromat and aren't leaving, try bringing a book or some homework to work on while you wait.
Try choosing a time or a schedule for your laundry. Laundry can build up easily and choosing a schedule or a particular day to do your laundry can help combat this. Some people choose to do a day in on weekends, and do their laundry on that day while others might do it on a specific night. When choosing a time to stick to, think about how long your laundry takes, how much you have, and how often you want to do this. This schedule often helps if it coincides with other ones (e.g. you clean the bathroom, mop, or vacuum another schedule). This may not be feasible for everyone, however; everyone's schedules and time is different.
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