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What Are the Best Laundry Tips?

DM Gutierrez
DM Gutierrez

The best laundry tips can help even seasoned homemakers get articles of clothing cleaner by removing stains, eliminating static cling, and brightening and softening laundered items. Other laundry tips deal with decisions like whether to use a laundromat or a home washer and dryer system. Doing laundry with an eye toward energy and cost efficiency can also become much easier with the use of laundry tips.

In order to achieve the best cleansing for a load of laundry, make sure to pack the washer to just capacity: an overloaded washer often won't clean clothes properly, while an underloaded washer tends to waste water, power, and detergent. Laundering clothes in the warmest water the fabric can tolerate is a good tip for getting fabrics as clean and hygienic as possible. Washing delicate clothes in cold water on a gentle cycle, however, can be a great tip for extending the life of the items. A stain-removing spray or stick can often lift stains, but attending to them as soon as they occur is best. For specific stains, try searching for customized tips; for example, soaking a blood stain in cold water can prevent it from setting, while club soda, salt, and even white wine are sometimes recommended for removing wine stains.

A bottle and cup of laundry detergent.
A bottle and cup of laundry detergent.

Unlike those designed to improve cleansing, some laundry tips are designed to save money or household resources. These may include purchasing washers and dryers that are energy efficient, and searching for sales or deals that allow you to purchase them at reasonable cost. Most front-loading washers use less water and energy than top-loading machines do. They also require less detergent and fabric softener, so they are typically much more cost-effective to run than top-loading machines are.

Shirts on a clothes line.
Shirts on a clothes line.

If your home is on a self-contained septic system, limiting the number of loads of laundry you do in a 24-hour period is generally an important tip for extending the life of your septic system. Septic tanks usually have difficulty processing high volumes of waste water in short periods of time, especially if the solids in the septic tank are too near the top. Doing a few loads of laundry each day instead of many at once will allow the septic system to operate more efficiently.

Light colored clothing should be washed separately from darker colors.
Light colored clothing should be washed separately from darker colors.

When doing laundry in a public laundromat, vigilance and courtesy are generally considered useful laundry tips. Inspecting a washer or dryer before using it is important since the previous customer may have used dyes or bleaches that could damage your clothing. In some areas where oil rig workers or mechanics are employed, crude oil or automotive grease residue might be left behind in a commercial washing machine. Soiled machines should be reported to laundromat staff, as should damaged or nonfunctional machines.

Laundry detergent.
Laundry detergent.

In adopting the best laundry practices, the choice of detergent is crucial. The best laundry detergent sheets will cater to the fabric care needs of your clothes, ensuring color preservation and effective stain removal. Additionally, opting for eco-friendly detergents aligns with the growing awareness towards sustainable living. Therefore, investing in the best laundry detergent is not merely about cleanliness but also about making environmentally conscious choices, contributing towards a greener planet while ensuring your clothes stay fresh and vibrant.

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    • A bottle and cup of laundry detergent.
      By: Kitch Bain
      A bottle and cup of laundry detergent.
    • Shirts on a clothes line.
      By: Michael Flippo
      Shirts on a clothes line.
    • Light colored clothing should be washed separately from darker colors.
      By: Kayros Studio
      Light colored clothing should be washed separately from darker colors.
    • Laundry detergent.
      By: elena korn
      Laundry detergent.
    • A laundromat patron should be courteous and make sure a machine is cleaned after use.
      By: dutourdumonde
      A laundromat patron should be courteous and make sure a machine is cleaned after use.
    • Using fabric softener eliminates static cling and, if scented, gives clothing a fresh smell.
      By: sassyphotos
      Using fabric softener eliminates static cling and, if scented, gives clothing a fresh smell.
    • Front-loading washing machines typically need less detergent and fabric softener.
      By: Unclesam
      Front-loading washing machines typically need less detergent and fabric softener.
    • Top-loading washers usually use more water and energy than front-loading machines.
      By: tab62
      Top-loading washers usually use more water and energy than front-loading machines.
    • Front-loading washing machines use less water and are more energy efficient.
      By: g215
      Front-loading washing machines use less water and are more energy efficient.
    • Doing a separate load of white clothes allows you to bleach whites, if you desire.
      By: design56
      Doing a separate load of white clothes allows you to bleach whites, if you desire.
    • Homes on self-contained septic systems could benefit from limiting the number of loads of laundry done in a 24-hour period.
      By: gozzoli
      Homes on self-contained septic systems could benefit from limiting the number of loads of laundry done in a 24-hour period.
    • Laundry should be stored in a hamper until being washed.
      By: Monika Wisniewska
      Laundry should be stored in a hamper until being washed.
    • Washing delicate items with cold water and on a gentle cycle can help extend the life of the clothing.
      By: Rasulov
      Washing delicate items with cold water and on a gentle cycle can help extend the life of the clothing.
    • Overloading the washer will keep clothes from getting their cleanest.
      By: Microstock Man
      Overloading the washer will keep clothes from getting their cleanest.