Laundry day can be such a pain with those stubborn stains and wrinkled clothes that never seem to come out right. I’m sure you’ve been there—staring at a pile of laundry and wishing there was an easier way to deal with it all. These game-changing laundry tricks have been hiding in plain sight all along, waiting to transform your washing routine from total nightmare to absolute breeze.
These 13 hacks truly stand out from the rest. They’ll save you time and money and the headache of dealing with ruined clothes.
Tennis Ball Fluff Magic
Toss a couple of clean tennis balls into your dryer with bulky items like jackets and comforters. The balls bounce around during the cycle, breaking up clumps and fluffing the material better than any fancy dryer sheet. They also speed up drying time by creating more airflow between your clothes. Your puffy jackets will stay puffy, and your comforters will dry evenly without those annoying damp spots.
Vinegar as Fabric Softener
Replace your store-bought fabric softener with plain white vinegar. Add half a cup to your rinse cycle to break down detergent residue, soften fabrics, and eliminate lingering odors without any vinegar smell on your dried clothes. Vinegar also helps prevent static cling and keeps your washing machine cleaner by removing soap scum. Your clothes will feel naturally soft without coating them in chemicals.
Chalk on Grease Stains
Rub white chalk on grease stains before washing to absorb the oil before it sets in. The chalk powder draws out the grease from the fabric fibers, making it easier for your detergent to wash away. This works amazingly well on everything from cooking splatter to makeup smudges and even salad dressing drips. Simply brush off the chalk before tossing the item in your regular wash.
Aluminum Foil Balls Instead of Dryer Sheets
Make a few balls out of aluminum foil and toss them in the dryer to eliminate static and keep clothes from clumping together. These reusable alternatives to dryer sheets can last for months, saving you money and reducing waste. The metal conducts electricity and neutralizes the static charge that builds up as clothes tumble. They also help separate clothes for faster drying and even faster drying.
Freeze Jeans Instead of Washing
Put slightly worn jeans in a plastic bag and freeze them overnight to kill odor-causing bacteria without washing. This preserves the color and fit of your favorite jeans while extending the time between proper washes. The freezing temperature destroys most of the bacteria that cause unpleasant smells. Your jeans will stay darker longer and maintain their shape better with fewer trips through the washing machine.
Salad Spinner for Delicates
Use a salad spinner to remove excess water from hand-washed delicate items before hanging them to dry. This gentle spinning method prevents stretching and damage that can happen when you wring out wet clothes by hand. Your delicate items will dry faster and maintain their shape better. This trick works especially well for lingerie, bathing suits, and lightweight sweaters.
Hair Conditioner for Shrunken Sweaters
Soak accidentally shrunken wool or cotton items in lukewarm water with a tablespoon of hair conditioner for 30 minutes. The conditioner relaxes the fibers, allowing you to gently stretch the garment back to its original size. After soaking, rinse the item, lay it flat on a towel, and carefully pull it back into shape. Let it air dry completely before putting it away.
Aspirin for Yellow Stains
Crush six aspirin tablets and mix with warm water to create a paste that removes yellow underarm stains. Apply the paste directly to the stained area and let it sit for about an hour before washing normally. The salicylic acid in aspirin breaks down the protein and sweat compounds that cause those stubborn yellow marks. Your white shirts will look brand new again without harsh bleaching.
Mesh Laundry Bags for Small Items
Place small items like socks, tank top straps, and face masks in zippered mesh laundry bags before washing. This simple step prevents them from getting lost, tangled, or trapped inside larger items during the wash and dry cycles. The bags also provide extra protection for delicate items while still allowing soap and water to flow through. You’ll never have to hunt for missing socks again.
Coffee Filter for Lint Emergencies
Keep a coffee filter in your bag or desk drawer to quickly remove lint and pet hair from clothes when you’re in a hurry. The textured paper works better than your hands at grabbing and lifting fuzz from fabric surfaces. Gently rub the filter across your clothes in one direction to collect lint, then discard when finished. This trick works especially well on dark clothing that shows every speck.
Shaving Cream for Makeup Stains
Apply plain white shaving cream directly to makeup stains and gently rub it into the fabric. Let it sit for 10 minutes before rinsing with cold water and washing as usual. The foam contains ingredients similar to those in soap but in a form that clings to the stain longer for better penetration. Foundation, lipstick, and mascara stains that seemed permanent will fade away completely.
Ice Cubes for Wrinkle-Free Drying
Toss a couple of ice cubes into the dryer with wrinkled clothes on a high heat setting for 10 minutes. As the ice melts, it creates steam that naturally releases wrinkles from your clothes without ironing. This quick trick works best with just a few lightweight items at once rather than a full load. Your clothes come out looking freshly pressed with minimal effort.
Hairspray for Ink Stains
Spray alcohol-based hairspray directly onto ink stains, let it sit for 30 seconds, then blot with a clean cloth before washing. The alcohol in the hairspray breaks down the ink particles before they can set permanently into the fabric fibers. Continue blotting (don’t rub) until no more ink transfers to the cloth. This works on everything from pen marks to accidental highlighter streaks.
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