Posted on Monday, November 18, 2024

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by AMAC, D.J. Wilson

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Having to do laundry can become a never-ending and dislikeable task. To ease the burden, and to make washing, drying, and folding a tad bit more pleasant, try these 10 terrific must-try laundry hacks to “lighten your load!”

1. Let products work for you! Instead of scrubbing stubborn stains on fabrics, save time and energy by using helpful multipurpose cleaning products like Lestoil. Follow the manufacturer’s directions and apply minimal amounts directly to the soiled area. Let the product sit on the stain for a brief period before rinsing, washing, and drying. Out of stain removing products? Spot clean with Dawn dish soap. Let the product sit briefly on the soiled area to work its magic. Then rinse off the soap before washing. (Tip: For delicate fabrics, heed the cleaning instructions on the clothing label.)
2. Say goodbye to stink! Body odors, mold, and mildew can make clothes look and smell bad – and even destroy them. Simply add one cup of white distilled vinegar to your wash load to freshen up clothes and remove unwanted smells. Be sure to run laundry through an extra rinse cycle. Or soak white clothes in ¼ cup bleach to one gallon of water for about 10 minutes before washing.
3. Make your whites even brighter. Did you know that baking soda can boost whitening power when added to the laundry along with bleach? Simply add equal parts (up to ½ cup each) of baking soda and bleach to a load of white clothes. Note that the baking soda will also help mask some of the bleach scent. Be sure to run laundry through an extra rinse cycle.
4. Don’t lose that sock! Use fabric laundry bags for washing delicate clothes (like bras and panties) and for socks to prevent them from being tangled, lost, or damaged in the machine. Hang delicate clothes to dry or use a mesh laundry bag that can go in both the washer and dryer. Air or tumble-dry clothes on low heat.
5. Dry with ease! When using your dryer, clean the lint trap between each load. It will improve air flow and help clothes dry faster. This little tip can go a long way to maximize efficiency.
6. Air drying clothes? To make the process go faster, turn on the humidifier. This helps to remove moisture from the air that can prevent fabrics from drying. It also keeps clothes from becoming musty. Alternatively, turn on a portable fan to help circulate the air.
7. In a hurry to dry a load? When machine-drying clothes, add a dry towel to the dryer load to help absorb some of the moisture and to speed up drying time!
8. Fold clothes immediately following the drying cycle while they are still warm. Not only does this get the laundry done promptly, but it prevents wrinkles and saves you time by not having to iron later!
9. Doing laundry for the family? Have less chaos! As you fold, sort immediately. If needed, use individual laundry baskets for each family member. (Tip: Use different colors to differentiate family members.) To speed up the job, get family members to help fold and put their own clothes away!
10. Use the “fold upward into thirds method”. Many experts ascribe to this methodical way of folding clothes. Simply start at the bottom and fold garments upward into thirds. This leaves you with neat rectangular folds that can be easily stored. For directions, click here.

Like these 10 terrific must-try laundry hacks? Check out our other articles here!