Name a day when parents aren’t cramming to get things done. Between school drop-offs, grocery runs, soccer practice, and a dozen other to-dos, it can feel like there’s barely time to breathe, let alone tackle that ever-growing laundry pile.
But there’s always something you can do to become more efficient at managing it all, beginning with a few smart laundry hacks to streamline laundry day (or better yet, laundry week!). So, if you’re one of those hustling and bustling parents, keep track of these efficient practices and make laundry a manageable task!
Laundry Hack #1: Sort Your Laundry Ahead of Time
Time Saving Benefits
- By presorting your clothing, you eliminate the need to dig through piles on laundry day. Everything’s ready to toss straight into the washing machine.
- Separating whites from colors and delicates from heavy items helps avoid unwanted stains or damage to your favorite dress or shirt.
Recommended Approach
- Place several hampers in your laundry area labeled for whites, colors, delicates, and heavy fabrics like denim or towels. This way, everyone in the family knows exactly where to toss their clothes.
- Use baskets in different colors for each laundry category. Even the little ones can help out by matching their clothing to the correct basket.
- If space is tight, set aside a specific day each week for the family to sort laundry together.
Laundry Hack #2: Pretreat Stains Immediately
Time Saving Benefits
- Addressing stains immediately helps avoid a deep-set stain that may require multiple washes or even professional cleaning.
- Quickly treating stains helps prevent them from bonding with the fabric, which can lead to discoloration and weakened fibers over time.
Recommended Approach
- Place a stain remover spray or stick in the laundry area or even in your kitchen. This makes it easy to dab on a bit of treatment as soon as a stain happens.
- In a pinch, products like baking soda or white vinegar work wonders on stains such as coffee or juice. Dab a little on and let it sit for a few minutes before washing.
- If you can’t wash right away, rinse the stain with cold water before tossing the item into the hamper. This helps prevent the stain from setting until you’re ready to wash it.
Laundry Hack #3: Use the Correct Amount of Detergent
Time Saving Benefits
- Overusing detergent leads to extra suds that can stick to clothing, often requiring additional rinse cycles. The correct amount reduces rinsing time and gets clothes clean faster.
- Excess detergent can leave residue on clothes and inside your washing machine. This buildup can dull fabrics and create a less effective wash, meaning you may end up rewashing clothes more often.
Recommended Approach
- Check your detergent’s label for guidance based on load size and soil level. Most detergents include easy-to-read measurements that help you avoid over pouring.
- If you use a high-efficiency washing machine, go lighter on the detergent. These machines use less water, so they need less detergent for an effective clean.
- Use a measuring cup or the cap to portion out your detergent. Eyeballing often leads to using too much, which can lead to the extra rinsing and buildup you’re trying to avoid.
Laundry Hack #4: Don’t Overload the Washing Machine
Time Saving Benefits
- A well-balanced load allows water and detergent to reach every item, so your clothes are cleaned efficiently.
- By not overloading, you help clothes come out with fewer creases.
Recommended Approach
- Instead of cramming in everything at once, consider running smaller loads more often. This approach ensures a more thorough wash and faster drying times, making laundry less of a burden.
- When washing bulky items, reduce the number in each load to allow better movement and cleaning.
Laundry Hack #5: Use Quick Wash Cycles
Time Saving Benefits
- Quick wash cycles are designed to get the job done in a fraction of the time of a regular cycle.
- Shorter cycles use less water and electricity, which helps reduce your utility bills.
- Less exposure to water and detergent is gentler on fabrics, which means your clothing will look newer for longer.
Recommended Approach
- Quick wash is ideal for items that aren’t heavily soiled such as gym wear, T-shirts, or a favorite dress that was only worn for a short time.
- When using a quick wash, group together lightweight fabrics, as they clean thoroughly in less time.
- Use a smaller amount of detergent for quick cycles to avoid residue buildup, as less water is used.
Laundry Hack #6: Opt For a Clothesline or Drying Rack
Time Saving Benefits
- Air drying is a free, energy-efficient way to dry your clothes and it is also gentler on clothes.
- Clothes dried on a line or rack often come out with fewer wrinkles, especially if they’re smoothed out before hanging.
Recommended Approach
- For indoor drying, a foldable drying rack is a convenient solution that fits in small spaces.
- If you have a backyard or balcony, a clothesline is perfect for sunny days. Sunlight naturally disinfects and refreshes clothes, which is a bonus for items like sheets or towels.
- Place heavier items at one end of the line or rack and lighter fabrics on the other. This setup helps maximize drying efficiency and prevents overcrowding, which can slow drying time.
Laundry Hack #7: Hang or Fold Your Garments Promptly Once Dry
Time Saving Benefits
- Promptly hanging or folding items keeps them looking fresh and often removes the need for ironing altogether.
- When clothes are folded and put away right away, your laundry area stays clutter free, making it easier to manage future loads.
- By folding and organizing laundry as soon as it’s dry, you’ll know exactly where everything is located, reducing the time spent hunting for items when you’re in a rush.
Recommended Approach
- Set up a small area near your laundry station or a counter as a folding zone. This way, as you take items out of the dryer or off the drying rack, you can fold them right there, minimizing extra steps.
- For garments like dress shirts or trousers, have hangers handy and hang them up as soon as they’re dry. This helps preserve their shape and avoids the need for touch-ups with an iron.
- Place folded clothes in baskets designated for each person. This makes it easy for each family member to put away their own laundry, giving you one less thing to manage.
Laundry Hack #8: Use Vinegar As a Fabric Softener
Time Saving Benefits
- Unlike commercial softeners, vinegar doesn’t leave any residue on clothes or inside the washing machine.
- Vinegar neutralizes odors, making it ideal for workout clothes, linens, and other items that may retain smells.
- Vinegar naturally softens fabrics without the heavy chemicals found in traditional fabric softeners.
Recommended Approach
- Pour about half a cup of white vinegar into the fabric softener compartment of your washing machine. It will be dispensed automatically during the rinse cycle, softening clothes and neutralizing odors without leaving a vinegary scent.
- Stick to white vinegar, as other types (like apple cider vinegar) can stain fabrics. White vinegar is colorless, safe for all fabrics, and won’t leave any smell after drying.
- If you like a scented finish, add a few drops of your favorite essential oil like lavender or lemon to the vinegar. This gives clothes a light, fresh scent without the need for synthetic fragrances.
Laundry Hack #9: Make a Laundry Schedule
Time Saving Benefits
- A regular schedule stops laundry from piling up, so you don’t have to spend an entire day catching up.
- When you have set days for laundry, you know exactly when you’ll have clean clothes and linens, reducing last-minute rushes.
- A schedule lets you space out different types of loads (like delicates, heavy fabrics, or linens), preventing overloading.
Recommended Approach
- You can designate specific days for each type of laundry.
- Keep your laundry consistent and convenient with a schedule aligned to your household needs.
- Set reminders on your phone or use a family calendar to avoid last-minute rushes.
Laundry Hack #10: Involve Everyone in the Family
Time Saving Benefits
- Small contributions from each family member go a long way to cut down your laundry time.
- Assigning laundry tasks to children and teens teaches them valuable life skills, helping them become more independent. They learn to care for their clothing and develop good habits.
- When everyone manages their own laundry, you avoid piles of clothes lying around. This keeps your home tidier and saves you from feeling overwhelmed by endless laundry tasks.
Recommended Approach
- Young children can help with sorting clothes, while older children and teens can fold or even handle simple loads. Give each family member a job that matches their age and skill level to make the process efficient.
- Give each person their own laundry basket. Once clothes are washed and folded, place them in individual baskets for each family member to put away. This keeps things organized and helps them take ownership.
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Laundry is one of those never-ending chores that always seems to take a backseat when you’re busy with the demands of parenting. With Fox Cleaners, you don’t have to let the laundry pile take over your schedule.
Trust Fox Cleaners for a seamless, professional laundry service that brings convenience to your life. Plus we offer free pickup and delivery service straight to your doorstep, making it easy to stay on top of laundry without sacrificing your time.
For more inquiries, feel free to call our customer service team!
