9 Simple Tips to Improve the Way You Do Your Laundry

1. Prep Beforehand

One of the best ways to improve the way you do your laundry is to take the time to prep your garments before throwing them in the washer. Make sure that you unbutton buttons, zip zippers, check all pockets, and unroll any sleeves, pants, or socks.

2. Pre-treat Stains

It may be tempting to just get everything into the washing machine and hope that the soap will take care of any stains, but pre-treating can be a real lifesaver. For greasy stains, try painting a line of shampoo or dish soap over the stain before washing. For blood stains, treat the area with hydrogen peroxide and rinse in cold water. For other dirt and grime, soak the pieces in a tub of water overnight to help loosen problem stains.

3. Hand Wash Lingerie

Sure, this may be an extra step, but bras, underwear, and silk pieces are much better served being washed by hand than tossed in with the regular cycle. Hang-dry all delicate pieces when you're done and know that you're really doing your most delicate garments a favor.

4. Don't Stuff the Washer

We understand that it's tempting to fill the washing machine with as many clothes as possible to avoid having to do another load, especially if you pay to do your laundry at laundromats, but filling the washer to the brim is actually hindering the effectiveness of doing the wash. Instead, fill the washing machine up to 3/4 of the way full so that there's more area for movement and distribution of soap and water.

5. Preserve Your Brights

Turn your colors inside-out to help keep them their brightest and wash in a cold rinse cycle. Temperature settings really do matter when doing the wash, so read labels and pay attention to the cycle setting. If you want to expand your clothing care routine, check out our helpful DIY care guides for more home tips.

6. Line Dry

One of the best ways to preserve your denim is to hang-dry them instead of putting them in the dryer. The same is true for sweaters, lace, and even cotton shirts that are prone to pilling. In all honesty, the only items to actually put in the dryer are towels, sweats, socks, and hang-around-in clothes. Everything else should be hung or draped on a drying rack. You can learn more about proper fabric care from the American Cleaning Institute.

7. Freshen-up

To help get rid of musty, stale odors, add a scoop of baking soda to your wash to help deodorize and leave your clothing smelling much more fresh. For pure deodorizing products, consider trusted household brands like Arm & Hammer.

8. Nice N' Soft

Did you know that vinegar is a natural fabric softener? A cup of vinegar in the wash will help soften clothes, and even helps keep clothes from being too soapy when hand washing. Make sure to give extra care to your delicates when laundering.

9. Wash the Washer

Your washing machine still needs to be cleaned by hand even though it runs a soapy cycle every week (or sometimes every day). Front-loading washers are especially prone to mildew, so make sure that you give your machine a good scrub, especially around the door frame. Also, leave the door open after each cycle to air out and avoid odor. For appliance maintenance standards, see the Energy Star guide.

Laundry may seem like a tedious task, but it's good practice to keep your clothes looking their best, which in turn will help you look your best! Try out some of these tips and watch as your clothing starts holding its shape better and looking top-notch. Explore more ideas on AllWomensTalk. Do you have any tips for improving your laundry routine?