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Image Credit: Cyano66/Getty ImagesAn undeniable fact of modern housekeeping: Laundry is a never-ending task. And adding to the load (pun intended), some garments require special treatment, additional care, and maybe even a unique washer setting. If it feels like you’re always grappling with your laundry as if your clothes were drying on a clothesline (which they kind of are), this all-encompassing guide will show you how to lighten the load.
Understand Clothing Care Labels
Always check the care labels! While some are written in words, many global brands now use icons, explains Frances Kozen, senior lecturer in fiber science at Cornell University. Here's a guide to help you decode these symbols (though some variations exist).
Organize Your Laundry Properly
At a minimum, separate whites, lights, and darks. Even if colors don’t bleed drastically, mixing them can dull lighter clothes, says Melissa Maker, founder of Clean My Space in Toronto. For extra care, try not to combine fabric types, as this may lead to pilling. Here’s a bit more guidance on sorting:
- Ideally, wash all denim separately.
- Activewear should be washed with other light items since it dries quickly.
- Bedding and towels can be washed together. Use wool dryer balls and untangle before drying if needed.
- Sort striped clothing by the lighter color—so a black-and-white shirt should go with whites.
- Gray is a bit tricky: It can go with lights if it’s a lighter shade, but it’s generally okay if it ends up in the dark load by mistake.
How to Handle Stains Like a Pro
Tackle stains as soon as they appear, and never machine dry an item until the stain is completely gone—heat can set it permanently! Zach Pozniak, vice president of Jeeves of Belgravia, a renowned dry-cleaning service in New York City, shares solutions for three common stains.
- Makeup: Skip the DIY hacks, Pozniak advises. A high-quality stain remover and some patience—ideally overnight—are key. ‘Keep a stain remover next to your hamper so you can treat stains right away,’ he suggests. This gives the solution time to work before laundry day. This approach works for most stains!
- Oil Spots: Apply a small amount of dish soap directly to the stain and let it sit. After washing, check the garment under different lighting. If the stain persists, apply more dish soap and rewash.
- Underarm Stains: Pozniak offers two remedies: Spray the area with hydrogen peroxide and let it air-dry before washing, or soak the garment overnight in hot water with powdered oxygen bleach.
To freshen up sweaty activewear, fill a bucket with cool water, then add a cup of white vinegar and a cup of baking soda. Let the clothes soak overnight. To prevent odors, add vinegar or a similar acidic product (such as Downy Rinse & Refresh) to the fabric softener compartment of your machine.
If you tend to sweat a lot during workouts—no shame!—spray the underarms and groin area with stain remover before tossing your aired-out activewear into the hamper.
Stock Up on Essential Laundry Products
Choosing the Right Detergent
What’s the best detergent for you? We’ve got some info that might help you make the right choice.
- Liquid detergents provide dosage instructions on the bottle, but typically, you only need about two tablespoons. Using too much can cause residue buildup on clothes and excess suds in the machine.
- Pods are perfect for families with large, frequent loads. If your pods aren’t dissolving, your loads are probably too full, preventing water from fully reaching the pod. (Find that sweet spot!) Also, toss the pod into the drum before adding clothes to avoid it getting stuck in the door. By the way, those colorful swirls? They’re detergent, stain remover, and whitening agents inside Tide Pods, confirms Procter & Gamble.
- Powdered detergents are an eco-friendly choice, usually packaged in recyclable cardboard. However, powder doesn’t always dissolve completely, so you may need to bump up the water temperature a little.
- Dissolving sheets, the latest trend, check multiple eco-friendly boxes. Plus, you can tear them in half for smaller loads.
Oxygen Bleach Powder
This is your go-to product for brightening clothes, eliminating odors, and removing stains. Made with powdered hydrogen peroxide, it’s gentler on fabrics than chlorine bleach and can be used on both whites and colors. Dissolve the powder in warm water (follow the instructions on the package) and let your garments soak for at least four hours, or overnight for deeper cleaning.
If you'd prefer to add the powder during the cycle, just increase the water temperature to warm. And if you've already used chlorine bleach on your whites—unfortunately, the yellowing damage is already done.
The Power of Stain Removers
While liquid detergent can work as a pre-treatment for stains, stain removers come in specially designed packaging for easy application, such as sprays or tubes. (Our favorites are Shout and Puracy.) Apply the remover as soon as possible and give it time to work. As Pozniak says, 'The longer you leave it on a stain, the more effective it will be. Spraying it right before washing doesn’t give it enough time to work.'
Wool Dryer Balls
These handy tools bounce between your clothes, helping to separate them and improve air circulation, which leads to faster drying. Ever pulled sheets from the dryer only to find them in a soggy knot? Wool dryer balls can prevent that, according to fabric care expert Mary Marlowe Leverette from Columbia, South Carolina. Keep four to six of them in your dryer at all times.
Mesh Laundry Bags
Stock up on these! They’re perfect for delicates, socks, hats, and even headbands and hair ties. Bonus points if you choose ones that filter microplastics—those tiny bits of plastic that come off synthetic fabrics (like yoga pants and fleece) during washing and end up polluting waterways.
Extra Cleaning Hacks
Dish soap is a go-to for removing grease stains, while shampoo works wonders for spot-treating wool (it’s basically hair!). Apply each in small amounts and gently rub in. Let them sit until the garment is ready for a wash. Patric Richardson, author of Laundry Love, spritzes vodka on lightly worn clothes to refresh them between washes.
Rethink These Laundry Essentials
Your clothes will be grateful, says Richardson.
Fabric Softener
Using too much detergent can make clothes feel stiff, so if you reduce the amount, you won’t need fabric softener at all. Still can’t give it up? Just avoid using it on activewear or towels, as it can leave a residue that traps odors and reduces absorption.
Dryer Sheets
They’re effective at reducing static cling, but they can leave behind a waxy buildup. Instead, lower the heat setting on your dryer and remove clothes while they’re still slightly damp. The remaining moisture helps prevent static as the clothes finish drying.
Scent Boosters
Scented laundry boosters, like fragrance balls, can fill your clothes with a lasting fresh scent for months. They’re an excellent choice for those who enjoy an intense fragrance, though some may find them overpowering and unnecessary.
Chlorine Bleach
Cotton doesn't naturally appear bright white; that color comes from dyeing. Bleach removes this dye and can damage the fabric if misused. Many of us dilute bleach incorrectly, and too much of it can weaken clothes over time. Still, bleach is useful for sanitizing laundry, particularly after illness like norovirus, as long as it’s used within a year of opening.
Learn the Washer Settings
Experts from leading appliance brands—GE, LG, and Whirlpool—shared insights into some of the most perplexing washer cycles.
| Delicate | For your fancy undies! And lacy camis and tights! This option (sometimes called “hand wash”) typically uses cold water with slow spin speeds and extended soaking periods—making it gentler on fabrics. Some items with “hand wash” on the care label can be cleaned on delicate, but garments with sequins or other embellishments could be quick to snag in these conditions. When in doubt, use a mesh bag. |
| Drain and Spin | Not to be confused with “rinse and spin,” which uses cold water, this cycle doesn’t use any water. It’s good if you’ve handwashed something, or if clothes are still sopping wet at the end of a cycle. |
| Eco | The eco-friendly button calls up cold water. This cycle is usually a little longer—70 minutes versus the standard 50—but it can still help reduce energy use by at least 35 percent, because the machine doesn’t have to do any of that water heating. |
| Permanent Press | Some machines now call this the “casual” cycle, which is not much clearer! It helps reduce creasing in certain fabrics, like ones made of synthetic or blended materials (think polyester-cotton dress shirts and pants). |
| Quick (or Express) | This uses warm water and a high spin speed, just like normal loads, but runs for less time. It’s best for washing only a few items, as full loads may not get entirely cleaned. Use about half the detergent you typically would—there’s usually one less rinse cycle, and you don’t want any lingering suds. |
| Spin Speeds | You can reduce drying time by upping the spin speed. Just keep in mind: Higher speeds will extract more water, but all the twisting can lead to more wrinkles and be rougher on fabrics. |
Adjust the temperature settings accordingly.
Opt for cold water whenever possible. It’s energy-efficient and helps prevent colors from fading, which hot water tends to accelerate. Warm water is fine occasionally, such as when using oxygen bleach, as heat enhances its effectiveness. The hot and extra-hot sanitizing cycles are usually not needed.
If you’re worried about germs, Jennifer Ahoni, a scientist at Procter & Gamble, assures you that cold water, combined with a good detergent, will typically kill most everyday germs, including the common cold. The sanitizing cycle should only be considered if someone in your household has a serious stomach virus.
Understand your dryer settings.
Now, let’s dive into those dryer buttons and what each one really does!
| Air Fluff | A no-heat choice! The dryer will draw in room-temperature air as the drum tosses your clothes. It’s best for fluffing up comforters, pillow inserts, and down jackets. |
| Delicates | Turn to this low-heat option for thin or lacy fabrics, loosely woven pieces, items with embellishments, and anything dryer-safe and labeled, you guessed it, delicate. Also use it for activewear if you can’t hang-dry those items. (High temps can degrade stretchy or elastic fabric.) |
| Permanent Press | You may remember this one from your washing machine. Select this setting and, at the end of the cycle, it’ll cool down blended fabrics while they’re still wrinkle-free and prevent new crinkles from happening. |
| Steam | This cycle uses a bit of water and heat to refresh clothes, gently releasing wrinkles and removing odors. If you have a crumpled blouse or lightly worn pants that aren’t exactly dirty, this is your cycle. |
Try these dryer tricks.
Speed things up, smooth out wrinkles, and add a pleasant scent to your loads.
- Throw in a dry towel to cut down on drying time.
- Add a damp towel, a few ice cubes, or lightly mist your clothes with water to help release wrinkles.
- Place a few drops of your favorite essential oil on wool dryer balls for a subtle, natural fragrance in your laundry.
Master the art of hang-drying.
The dryer uses a lot of energy! Melissa Breyer, editorial director at Treehugger, a sustainability site, suggests that hanging clothes is a simple way to be more eco-friendly. Plus, it can protect your clothes from shrinking and wear-and-tear.
Not keen on airing your laundry out in the open? Try drying indoors! Just hang clothes near a boiler when it’s chilly (but not too close!). Depending on your climate, a dehumidifier can help speed up the process too.
Learn when (and how) to fold your laundry.
Folding clothes right after the dryer stops can dramatically cut down on wrinkles. When unloading, remove anything that needs to be hung, and don’t worry about folding underwear—does anyone even notice wrinkles there? Group socks in mesh bags for quicker pairing (see 'Find Those Missing Socks'). For towels, roll them instead of folding to save space and get that spa-like feel when you grab one.
