25 Laundry Hacks that Will Change Your Life

Laundry is an essential aspect of clothing longevity, health, and sustainability. At Current Boutique, we believe in sustainable fashion, which means investing in quality clothes that can withstand the test of time. Taking care of your clothes is good for your closet, your wallet, and the planet. Help your clothes last (and make laundry day less of a hassle) with these 25 laundry hacks.

How to sort laundry

Sort as you go. 

You’ll save so much time if you separate your laundry before laundry day. Purchase a divided laundry hamper or use multiple hampers to sort as you go. I have a three-pocket hamper: one for underwear, one for darks, and one for whites. I also have two smaller bins – one for reds and one for towels. This makes it easier to throw on one load at a time throughout the week rather than dedicating a whole day to sorting and washing laundry.

Consider sorting unconventionally.

Most people sort by color, but this method may not work for everyone. For example, if you have a large family, you might want to sort by person, so you don’t have to sort again after washing. Or you might consider sorting by soil level, so you can do a quick wash for once-worn tees but a full-length, hot wash for sweaty gym clothes. You may also want to sort by water temperature, so you have a hot wash cycle and a cold wash cycle. Find what works best for your situation, clothes, and machine.

Hang your worn clothes back up.

If you’re like me, some things get worn more than once before they go in the laundry. Rather than creating a pile of clothes on the floor of your closet (that ends up wrinkly and stinky), hang up those once-worn clothes to be worn again. Use a different colored hanger or attach a small tag to differentiate which clothes you’ve already worn. This can help you remember the soil level of your clothes and determine when it’s time for washing. This is especially true for bras and jeans, which often get worn multiple times before they go in the hamper.

How to treat stains

Follow the stain guide.

Different stains require different treatment options. The University of Illinois came up with an extensive list of stain solutions that includes everything from mildew and olive oil to mucus and pine resin. I follow this list whenever I have a tough stain that needs treating.

Some good stain-removing products to have on hand include white vinegar, baking soda, rubbing alcohol, and dish soap (for grease). I am also a big fan of Grandma’s Secret Spot Remover for most stains.

Prevent yellow armpit stains.

Yellow armpit stains can be caused by aluminum in deodorant, so switching to natural deodorant may help prevent yellowing. However, you may still get yellow stains. Sometimes this is because of the thick, natural oils in your deodorant; try using only a few swipes of deodorant rather than lathering it on. If you’re still getting yellow stains, it may be from your body’s natural sweat composition; this can be hard to prevent, so it’s time to learn how to treat those pesky yellow stains.

Get rid of yellow stains with lemon juice and baking soda.

Squeeze lemon juice on the stain (fresh or bottled). Sprinkle baking soda on top of the lemon juice to create a paste. Let sit for 15 minutes; if possible, dry the paste in the sun. Then, wash in cool water. If the stain isn’t gone, repeat this process. Don’t use hot water or heat-drying, as heat can “set” yellow stains.

Don’t have lemon juice? Hydrogen peroxide works well too! Be careful with both, as these have a lightening effect, so you may not want to use them on dark or patterned garments.

Lift sticky residue with ice cubes.

Got gum on your shirt? Leave an ice cube on the sticky area for a few minutes. The cold ice will harden the gunk, so you can peel it off before washing.

Pre-soak your gym clothes in vinegar.

Before washing, soak particularly stinky gym clothes in cold water with half a cup of white vinegar. This will help break down stains, buildup, and odors. This means that when your clothes go in the wash, you don’t need multiple cycles to get your clothes clean.

How to wash laundry

Use suitable detergent.

Most conventional laundry detergents are filled with toxic chemicals and fragrances that are bad for your skin, health, and clothes. If you learn one thing from this article, let it be this: use natural laundry detergent! It’s the healthiest switch you can make for your family and clothes. There are many different natural laundry detergents on the market, or you can make your own.

You also want to ensure you rise the right detergent for your laundry machine. If you have a high-efficiency laundry machine, you’ll want to use an HE laundry detergent.

Use vinegar as a fabric softener.

Traditional fabric softeners are filled with icky chemicals, and they can wear away and degrade fabrics. So, ditch the fabric softeners and make one at home. All you need to make an effective fabric softener is vinegar and a few drops of your favorite essential oil. Vinegar helps remove stains and odors while protecting your clothes. And you don’t have to worry about the vinegar smell – it will dissipate during washing. You can add any essential oils you like to create a fresh, long-lasting scent that’s as beautiful as it is natural. 

Wash in cold water.

Most clothes don’t require hot water. In fact, most natural clothing materials and delicate fabrics do best with cold water. Plus, according to GE appliances, cold water helps reduce your energy bill, protect your clothes, reduce color running, remove stains, and reduce wrinkles. You only need to use hot water if you are trying to sanitize or if the material calls for it (like certain polyester or rayon blends). When in doubt, check the label of your clothes.

Prevent color fading with salt.

Throw a teaspoon of table salt right into the washer with your clothes. The chloride can help seal in colors, which can boost your brights and help prevent color bleeding. You can also get an all-natural oxygen boost like this non-toxic and biodegradable option from Branch Basics.

Wash darks inside out.

To further prevent fading, turn your darks and colors inside out.

Use a mesh laundry bag.

Use a mesh laundry bag to protect your delicates like underwear and lingerie. These bags will also help prevent the sock monster from stealing your left socks. I also use mesh laundry bags for sweaters and other items that could pull or get torn in the wash. They’re also great for washing shoes without banging around in the machine. Don’t worry, your clothes will still get clean in a mesh bag.

Get a laundry guide.

Print a laundry guide to hang in your laundry room. This will help you quickly read the tags on your garments to know how to properly wash and dry them. Plus, you can find a cute guide to fit your laundry room’s aesthetic. Always check an item’s care tag before throwing it in the washer or dryer.

Clean your washing machine.

Just because your washing machine is cleaning your clothes does not mean the machine itself stays clean. Moisture and gunk can accumulate in your machine and then transfer to your “clean” clothes. If your washing machine or clothes are starting to stink even after washing, your washer is probably overdue for a cleaning. You should be cleaning your washer at least once a month. Learn how to clean different types of washing machines here.

Psst… Keep your washer door open between loads to prevent moisture and mildew buildup. You may also want to swipe a clean paper towel over the seal and door to get rid of any excess water after laundry day.

Hand-wash with a salad spinner.

For hand-wash-only pieces, consider using a salad spinner. Add a little water and laundry detergent or castile soap to the spinner. Then spin away! This is more powerful than hand massaging your clothes (and it will take less time and energy), but it’s gentler than the laundry machine. Then, take the clothes out, dry the spinner, and put the clothes back in the salad spinner to spin out the excess water! 

How to dry laundry

Dry clothes faster with a towel.

Place a clean, dry towel in the dryer with a wet load. This will dry your wet clothes faster.

Use static balls instead of dryer sheets.

Dryer sheets are filled with toxic chemicals that could damage your clothes and health. Instead, opt for reusable dryer balls like these adorable wool bees, these PVC hedgehogs, or a few clean tennis balls. These reusable static balls are more eco-friendly, economical, effective, and healthier than traditional dryer sheets.

Unshrink your clothes with baby shampoo.

Uh-oh! Did you put something in the dryer that wasn’t supposed to go there? Now you’ve got a tiny sweater on your hands? Fear not – all you need is baby shampoo! Fill a sink or bucket with lukewarm water and add a capful of baby shampoo or regular conditioner. (Add more for wool items.) Let soak for 10 minutes and then drain the water. Carefully squeeze the garment to remove excess water. Place a towel on a flat surface and put your sweater on top. Roll the towel to absorb more water. While damp, gently stretch the sweater or shirt back to its regular size. Let it dry flat on the towel. Repeat if it is still too small.

How to air-dry laundry

Keep a list of air-dry clothes.

Prevent shrinkage or ruined clothes by air drying clothes that can’t go in the dryer. The easiest way to track which clothes can’t go in the dryer is by creating an “air-dry only” list in your laundry room. Add this list to your laundry guide, or use a dry-erase marker right on the dryer door. When in doubt, air-dry the garment rather than throwing it in the dryer.

Dry sweaters flat.

Most sweaters shouldn’t go in the dryer. But don’t air-dry sweaters on a hanger because the weight of the water can pull and stretch the sweater out. To prevent stretching, lay your sweaters on a flat surface to dry.  

Use a salad spinner to dry clothes.

Here’s that trusty salad spinner again! Use a salad spinner to remove excess water from air-dry only pieces before air drying. This works especially well for lingerie or wool items you don’t want to wring out.

How to get rid of wrinkles and odors

Use ice cubes to de-wrinkle.

Don’t feel like dragging out the iron to get rid of wrinkles? Throw your wrinkled shirt in the dryer with a few ice cubes. The steam from the melting ice cubes will function as a natural wrinkle releaser. You can also use a wet hand towel.

Spray vodka on stinky clothes.

Do your clothes smell between washes? Try vodka! Vodka is a natural deodorizer. Just add some cheap vodka to a spray bottle and spritz it lightly over your clothes, especially the skinky parts (like the armpits). Wait a few minutes for the vodka smell to dissipate, and voila! The stink will be gone. (Make sure you leave time for the odor to disappear, so you don’t smell like vodka when you walk outside.)

What are YOUR favorite laundry hacks that keep your clothes fresh and clean? DM us your tips @currentboutique for a chance for your tip to be featured on our Instagram page!