Let's face it, laundry can be a real chore! Sorting, washing, drying, folding – the process is long and seemingly never-ending. So, to lessen the laundry load, we've scoured the internet for the best tips, tricks and shortcuts that will make all future laundry days a breeze.
From money-saving washing gadgets to clothes-drying hacks we wish we'd thought of sooner, click or scroll through and check out the hacks that will transform laundry day...
We've all been there – you remove your favourite jumper from the machine, only to find it has shrunk. Well, before you get rid of it, try this ingenious (and proven to work) hack. "Hair conditioner not only tames your frizz, but it also helps relax fibres in wool, cashmere and cotton sweaters enough for you to reshape them back to their original size," explains TODAY.
Simply fill a large bowl with lukewarm water and squeeze a tablespoon of hair conditioner into it. Once the conditioner has dissolved, place your shrunken item into the water and soak for 30 minutes. Gently wring out the item and lay it flat on top of a dry towel, slowly and gently stretching it back to its former shape. Allow to dry.
You might be more used to using vinegar to create salad dressings, but this acidic solution is fantastic for many other things. Not only can white vinegar remove damp odours from your machine during the wash, but it will also dissolve soap residues in your clothing for a better clean.
"Vinegar can be used to brighten dull clothes," The Spruce explains. It also "acts as a natural fabric softener" and can "help prevent pet hair and lint from clinging to clothes". Vinegar also removes bad odours from clothes – making it ideal for your gym kit – and will also lift stains. Simply dilute half a cup (around 118ml) of vinegar and add it to your load.
Ok, we know what you're thinking, but this is one tip that will save you a lot of time and effort. Hand-washing clothes can be a real pain – and getting them dry enough is always a challenge. However, buy yourself a salad spinner, throw in a bit of laundry detergent and suddenly, you'll have an easy but gentle way of cleaning delicates.
You can also use the spinner to dry them afterwards. It's probably best to invest in a separate one so that your next salad doesn't taste like soap!
A fantastic way to ensure your clothes dry quicker in the tumble dryer is by popping in a few clean, dry towels with your load.
"A dry towel will absorb moisture and the added bulk could help fluff and separate your clothes, helping them dry more efficiently," explains the Laundry Evangelist, Patric Richardson, author of Laundry Love: Finding Joy In a Common Chore.
Another top tip for speeding up drying times and cutting energy bills, is giving your garments or bedding an extra spin in the washing machine, to ensure as much moisture is removed from them as possible.
This will help reduce drying times when using the tumble dryer or, speed up line or indoor drying if a tumble dryer is not an option.
Separating laundry into different bins – say one for whites and one for darks – will save lots of time and will cut out the not-so-pleasant task of rooting through other people's laundry when it comes to wash day.
It also helps keep clothes looking newer for longer, since dark colours won't bleed into lighter colours.
A dehumidifier can be a laundry saviour, especially during winter. The early noisy, heavy and energy-zapping models have now been replaced with quieter, sleeker and energy-efficient designs.
They cleverly remove moisture from the air, created by indoor laundry, cutting drying times and lowering the chances of mould and mildew forming in your home.
Don't leave your delicates crumpled at the bottom of your laundry basket, treat them with the care they deserve by washing them with a kind, hand-wash detergent.
If they can handle a machine wash, be sure to put them inside a net laundry bag (or a cotton pillowcase works, too). This will protect them and keep any pairs or sets from getting lost (no more missing socks!). Wash them on a cold cycle and low spin and, if possible, lay them flat to dry.
The high running costs of a tumble dryer mean many are doing their bit to avoid using one. When drying outside isn't possible, turn to a heated airer instead. According to MoneyWeek, a two-tier heated airer costs $0.08 to run per hour, while a tumble dryer can set you back anywhere from $0.91, to $2.28 per use.
Heated dryers come in all shapes and sizes and are a speedy indoor drying solution when conditions are not ideal for outdoor drying.
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These little money-saving, egg-shaped gadgets are filled with detergent pellets that clean with a reportedly more environmentally and skin-friendly wash. EcoEgg claims that if you switch to a laundry egg you could save up to 40 bottles of plastic detergent bottles per year.
And if you think that's 'egg-cellent', EcoEgg dryer balls can reportedly cut a tumble dry cycle by 28%. Cleaning influencer, Lynsey Crombie, AKA @lynsey_queenofclean, is a fan of similar Boss It Rapid-Dryer Balls, which can reduce drying times by 40%.
If you are lucky enough to own a utility room, make sure a built-in drying rail set above the sink is included in the design. Any excess water will drip down into the sink and you'll also give yourself a place for smaller items to dry.
Open a window to make sure the room is well-ventilated while drying.
Once your clothes are freshly laundered and folded, ensure they stay that way until needed with suitable linen storage. If you don't own an airing cupboard, here's an idea to transform your old furniture into something useful.
This glass display cabinet is now super practical, with a smart lick of dark paint and frosted window film.
The ceiling dryer has been a tried and tested practical laundry aid used for centuries. Usually designed with four wooden laths suspended between cast iron rack ends, the clothes rack can be raised to the ceiling to dry clothes out of the way and then lowered with a pulley system.
Of course, there are plenty of modern alternatives, too, such as fold-out wall dryers. Just ensure clothes are thoroughly rung before hanging them up.
Owning just one laundry bin is an organising mistake that could make your home messier. Make laundry day smooth by adding a bin to bedrooms (especially teenage bedrooms) and, if possible, bathrooms and utility rooms, too.
That rail your shower curtain is hanging from can serve more than one purpose. Hang clothes on it and any water will drip down into the bath.
Alternatively, you could buy an extra narrow airer that will fit inside your tub or shower cubicle – just ensure it's fitted with soft grip feet, so it won't scratch any surfaces. Remember to open a window to ventilate the bathroom while drying laundry.
Decanting laundry detergent into labelled glass storage bottles is a brilliant utility room idea, as not only will it make your laundry room or cupboard look streamlined and orderly, it also means you can swap plastic bottles for more environmentally friendly and money-saving refill pouches.
Rather than decant shop-bought detergent into environmentally friendly storage bottles, why not have a go at making your own laundry detergent? Store cupboard essentials are ideal for this. In The Wash has a great 'recipe.' Pour 200g of soda crystals into a bowl and slowly add 500ml of boiling water.
Stir the mixture until all the crystals have dissolved. While stirring, add 50g of bicarbonate of soda, a little at a time. Add 120ml of liquid soap, 1.5 litres of boiling water and up to 10 drops of essential oils (if using). Stir until well distributed and then leave to cool. Whisk the detergent until it is smooth and then pour it into a storage container. Store it in a cool place, with no direct sunlight.
Missing socks are a laundry conundrum that beats the best of us. Here are a few tricks that might stop the search for the missing socks forever.
Safety pin them together during washes, use a laundry mesh bag, or simply just put on a wash of socks so you can keep track of them. Alternatively, dry them on a small clothes airer and fold them together as soon as they are dry.
Giving your washing machine a clean is a task that should be added to your seasonal deep clean list. Cleaning your machine regularly will lengthen its life and improve the cleanliness of your clothes, too.
Clean inside by pouring 230ml of white vinegar into the drum and running an empty cycle at 60ºC (140ºF). Don't forget to wipe any mould from the door seal and tackle that slimy detergent drawer. There are anti-bacterial washing machine cleaners you can run through your machine to remove hidden dirt and any build-up, as well.
White vinegar is as tough as any shop-bought cleaner when added to the detergent and softener drawer, while bicarbonate of soda will unclog whilst being non-toxic. Always do your research first, but many essential cupboard staples, such as lemons, are natural alternatives to cleaning products.
Did you know that dishwasher tablets work just as well on stains as they do on dishes? The salt in dishwasher tablets works hard to remove marks from laundry when applied directly to the stain only.
However, dishwasher tablets contain phosphates, enzymes and bleach so it is wise to patch-test and dilute the tablet first. Also, this method is not advised if your family are prone to skin allergies.
Knowing your garment wash label symbols will make wash day a breeze. They may at first seem confusing, however, the illustrations are quite simple to understand.
A tub filled with water means the garment is suitable for machine washing, while the numbers inside the tub refer to the temperature required. One line under the tub means clothes need a synthetic cycle. Two lines equal a gentle wool wash. A hand in the tub means hand washing is recommended. Red symbols mean do not wash or do not ring out. To review a full label care guide visit Ariel.
Folding clothes right after they have been laundered will not only keep them fresher and crease-free for longer but will make the most of your storage solutions, too.
Folding clothes as soon as the dryer cycle is finished has many advantages. Warmth makes the fabric softer and more flexible, making it easier to fold neatly without having to remove wrinkles, meaning less ironing. Cleanfluencer Mrs Hinch took to her Instagram @mrshinchhome feed to share a top laundry storage tip: pop a dryer sheet in your drawers to keep clothes smelling fresh after washes.
If you do happen to find creases in your newly dried clothes, then don't fear, because ice can help! Arm & Hammer suggests tossing a handful of cubes in with dry, wrinkled clothes.
“Set the dryer’s timer for 5 minutes or use the “wrinkle release” or “quick fluff” setting,” they suggest. Remove the items promptly and hang them up to dry. “Alternatively, take a hand towel, run it under the sink to get it damp but not soaking, and add to the dryer with the clothes.”
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