Speed Through Laundry Day With These 4 Organization Tips

You love the fresh, clean feeling of having all of your laundry done, but getting there is a whole different story. Laundry day may be time-consuming, but there are ways to make it easier. Here are a few tips to help you organize your laundry and get it done in half the time.

  1. Sort laundry without even trying. It takes a lot of time to sort through your mountain of dirty clothes and separate the lights from the darks. Invest in a three-compartment hamper to do the sorting for you.
  2. Bleach more effectively. Bleaching seems like a fool-proof way to remove stains from white clothing, but it doesn’t always work as effectively as you’d like. The proper way to bleach clothes is by first letting the clothing soak in a pool of water. Add one cup of bleach and one cup of dishwashing detergent and let it soak for about half an hour. Finally, dump the whole thing into the washing machine and wash as you normally would.
  3. Prevent damage. To reduce fading, turn dark colored items inside out before washing. Use the cold water setting to prevent clothes from shrinking, and then hang them to dry instead of using the dryer. Also, only wash delicates, like bras and underwear, in a lingerie bag on the delicate cycle.
  4. Invest in a drying rack. Rather than tossing delicate items over the shower curtain rod or rigging some other kind of makeshift drying rack, invest in the real deal. They're usually inexpensive, and they fold into a flat shape to tuck away when not in use.

10 Tips and Tricks for Easier Laundry Days [Yahoo!]
Easy Laundry Tips [The Nest]
How to Do Laundry More Effectively [Babble]
13 Ways to Make Laundry Day Easier [BHG]

Did You Know That You Can Safely Wash These Dry-Clean Items at Home?

That pesky “Dry Clean Only” label on your new favorite sweater or dress may seem ominous, and it might even make you less likely to wear these hard-to-clean pieces. However, there are a number of smart ways to cheat the system and wash fabrics like washable silk, solid-colored cotton, wool and linen at home. These tips will show you how.

  1. Check the label. The best way to tell if you can wash a garment at home is to read the label. If it recommends dry cleaning, it’s safe to proceed at home. If it says the dreaded “Dry Clean Only,” however, it’s probably smarter to take it to the pros.
  2. Gently wash. Once you’ve decided that your item is safe to wash at home, fill the sink with lukewarm water and a few drops of gentle detergent. Gingerly swish the item around for around 5 minutes, and be sure to avoid scrubbing or rubbing together.
  3. Rinse (equally gently). Next, rinse the garment completely with more lukewarm water, making sure to get all of the detergent out. Squeeze the water out before drying, but avoid harshly wringing the fabric.
  4. Dry with a towel. Lay the garment flat on a clean towel, then roll it up and squeeze out the extra moisture. Spread it out again on another clean towel and let it sit until completely dry.

Do I Really Have to Dry Clean This? [Real Simple]
Do You Need to Dry Clean? [Reader’s Digest]
What You Should (And Shouldn’t) Dry Clean [Care2]

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