“Who says an old dog can’t learn new tricks?”
I’ve always found wisdom in this sentiment because there are so many ways we can continue to learn in our day-to-day. Whether it’s a better way to organize your refrigerator or a time-saving trick to making school lunches… there are endless ways we can make tiny improvements in our life!
Laundry day is no exception. While you probably already have a pretty solid regime in place, I’ve discovered a few tricks that have made my laundry days so much easier. Want me to let you in on the secrets? Below, you can find a few of my laundry room tips and hacks that are sure to lighten your load!
Sorting Your Laundry
Sorting laundry can be a hassle, especially if there are multiple people in the house.
Separating Your Load
Going back to the basics, you’re supposed to sort your laundry into a few categories—whites, darks, colors, towels, and delicates.
Having a divided laundry hamper may help.
I have a hamper like this in my home. I love that it has designated spots for each category of clothing… it truly makes the process more manageable!
Using Mesh Bags
My family is always losing track of their socks. Sound familiar?
I found that mesh bags are perfect for getting items clean AND keeping them together!
Not only do they protect delicate fabrics, but mesh bags also prevents those mystery “where did the sock go” cases. They also keep lingerie from getting all tangled up, too.
Cleaning Tricky Laundry Items
Unfortunately, not everything is as easy as cleaning a white T-shirt. But fear not! Here are a few ways to clean those tricky items.
The How-To’s of Washing Shoes
Cleaning shoes is a noisy affair. But this is where mesh bags (once again!) come in handy.
Similar to the bags above, these ones easily allow water and detergent to run through.
But what’s neat about this laundry machine bag is that it actually hangs on the door!
This is ideal for shoes so you don’t get them banging around the inside of the machine when it’s running.
But if you’d like something that’s a little more traditional, these mesh laundry bags are specifically made for shoes. As you can see, they hold sneakers perfectly! Plus they’re great for travel.
Washing Your Hats Laundry room tips
Whether we’re at the ball field or running to get fresh groceries, chances are that my son and husband will ALWAYS be wearing a baseball hat. Do you know what that means?
Lots and LOTS of sweaty, smelly hats.
Instead of simply throwing them in the washer, you should try to put them in a hat holder instead. This keeps them from losing their shape so that you don’t have to replace them over and over again.
Drying Delicates laundry room tips
Ahh. The delicates.
I see the little button on my washer but more often than not, I just toss them in with everything else (even though I know I’m not supposed to).
But whether I hand wash them or put them in the machine, I almost never put them in the dryer.
Instead, I use a salad spinner! Like a dryer, it spins away the moisture, allowing the outer bowl to collect the water. If you don’t own a salad spinner, a clothespin drying hanger works great as well.
The 2-Step Folding Tip
A couple of years ago, I joined Hoda and Jenna on the TODAY Show to share some simple laundry room hacks. And that’s when I showed them this easy folding trick!
Below, you can find the steps for this 2-step folding trick. But if you’d like more instruction you can find the video HERE.
- Lay the shirt flat and smooth it to remove the wrinkles. Always put the collar of the shirt on your right side. Imagine two lines. One that goes bottom to top, in between the left sleeve and collar. The second line goes across the middle of the shirt.
- Point A is the top of the shirt. Point B is where the lines intersect in the middle. Point C is located at the bottom.
- Starting by pinching point B. While still pinching, grab the top and bottom, points A and C, and connect them. Pull the hand holding point B out and shake it out a little.
- Lay the shirt face down. From there, you can fold it once or twice depending on your preference.
Sensible, Sensitive Alternatives
Are you sensitive to dryer sheets or laundry detergent?
If so, there are multiple options on the market that serve as alternatives to your regular dryer sheets.
Wool balls are a sustainable and eco-friendly substitute to your go-to dryer sheets. Not only do they dry your clothes, but they also reduce static and naturally soften fabric!
If you’d rather go a DIY route, aluminum foil is the way to go. Just grab a sheet of foil and mold it into a compact ball. These also reduce static while keeping clothes crisp.
And don’t worry, they’re more eco-friendly than dryer sheets as well!
Missing the fragrance you get from your classic dryer sheets? Simply add one or two drops of essential oils into an old sock.
Turn it inside out and toss it into your dryer. (Just don’t go too heavy on the drops!)
Other Laundry Room Tips
I have more than enough laundry room tips to share… but for now, I’ll leave you with these:
- From the oven to the sink, vinegar and baking soda seem to be that secret cleaning duo that can be used for everything. Luckily, that includes the laundry as well!
- Not only does the combo kill mildew buildup, but it also brightens your clothes. Don’t worry, it won’t leave behind a lingering scent either.
- Does it ever feel like it takes forever for your clothes to dry? Throw a dry towel in the machine with the rest of your items. It absorbs the extra moisture—allowing you to get the results you want sooner rather than later.
- Tennis balls are a huge help when it comes to trying larger linens like comforters. While the cloth is tumbling around, it’s getting fluffed up at the same time. Who doesn’t like a two-for-one deal?
Hopefully, some of these tips and tricks will make doing your laundry a little less stressful. I know it helped me!
From my home to yours,
Jill
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