I’ve always been a sucker for a good laundry hack. I like them so much that I already wrote a post full of laundry hacks last year!
But you never have too many laundry tricks up your sleeve in my opinion. So that’s why today, I’ll be sharing a whole new collection of them with you!
These hacks address all kinds of laundry-related issues, from keeping your bedsheets soft to eliminating odor from smelly gym clothes. And as always, you’re invited to share your own brilliant laundry hacks by commenting at the bottom of this post! :-)
For more brilliant laundry hacks and how-to’s, be sure to check out my two eBooks, The Homemade Laundry Guide and How To Wash Everything! You can buy them in my shop, or download them for free if you’re an OGT Plus member!
Related: This Is The Most Effective Way To Whiten Whites Without Bleach
9 Of The Smartest Laundry Hacks Of All Time
1. Soften Sheets With Vinegar
Keep your bedsheets soft and clean by doing a simple vinegar wash! Just toss the sheets in your washing machine along with 1 cup of distilled white vinegar.
The vinegar will soften the fabric, remove dinginess, and eliminate any lingering odors or body oil. Do this treatment once a month or so, or as needed to keep your sheets soft and clean.
Related: This Is The Best Way To Remove One Of The Toughest Shirt Stains
2. Toss The Detergent Cap In The Wash
If you’re tired of detergent dripping everywhere after measuring it out into the cap, just toss the cap into the wash with your clothes! It will come out squeaky clean with zero drips to clean up. (Just make sure to take the cap out before you transfer your wash load to the dryer!)
Related: The One Laundry Hack You Need To Know If You Have An HE Washer
3. Collect Lint In A Tissue Box
If you’re short on space in your laundry room, try using an empty tissue box as a receptacle for your dryer lint. Once the box is full, you can either toss it out or add it to your compost pile!
Another way to put dryer lint to good use is to make fire starters. Just tuck some lint into a toilet paper tube, set it in your fire, and light it up!
Related: 11 Useful Things You Can Do With A Dryer Sheet
4. Prevent Creases With A Pool Noodle
Sick of those creases and lines that form in your clothes after drying them on your clothes rack? Try padding your rack with a pool noodle!
More Ideas You'll Love
Cut a piece of pool noodle to the length of the rods on your rack, then make a cut along the length of the noodle section to open it up. Slip the noodle onto one of the rods, then drape your damp clothing item over it.
The noodle acts as a cushion between the rod and your clothes to prevent those harsh creases and lines from forming.
Related: 8 Frugal Laundry Hacks That Will Save You A Fortune
5.Pre-Soak For Workout Clothes
When your workout clothes smell less than fresh after a particularly sweaty workout, doing a simple vinegar pre-soak can help eliminate odor and dissolve oily buildup.
Just put your workout clothes in a sink, add enough cold water to submerge them, then pour in 1/2 cup of white vinegar. Leave your clothes to soak for at least an hour, then wash them with a gentle detergent to restore them to their clean, fresh state!
Bonus Tip: Make sure to avoid using fabric softener when washing athletic fabrics. Fabric softener can make fabric less absorbent, which is definitely not something you want during a sweaty workout!
6. Make Folding More Fun
Many people dread the folding-and-putting-away phase of doing laundry (myself included!) Try raising the stakes with a little competition to make it more fun!
Use the stopwatch on your phone to time how long it takes you to fold a load and put it away. Then next time you do laundry, time yourself again and see if you can set a new record!
7. Dry Loads Back-To-Back
A warm dryer uses less energy than a cold one, so run your dryer loads back-to-back as often as possible. You’ll get more done and spend less on your energy bill at the same time!
8. Unbutton Shirts Before Washing
The easiest way to keep dress shirts and blouses nice? Take the time to unbutton all of the buttons before washing them.
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Washing a buttoned shirt puts a lot of unnecessary stress on the buttons. The stress can wear out the threads that hold the buttons in place, increasing the likelihood that you’ll start losing buttons at some point.
9. Sort By Fabric Weight
Color isn’t the only thing to consider when it comes to sorting your laundry. In fact, sorting your laundry out by fabric weight can help all your clothing last longer!
Imagine washing a pair of heavy denim jeans with a few lightweight cotton t-shirts. That heavy denim is going to rub against the lightweight cotton in the wash and cause unnecessary wear. Sorting by fabric weight can eliminate this issue and protect your clothes!
Do you have any quick and easy laundry hacks you use frequently?
Wildlife experts warn that dryer lint does not dry out well and can make birds sick if they have used it in their nests. This has been known for many years.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I save the dryer lint and put it in a grapevine ball. In the Spring, I put it outside for the birds to use for building nests.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I do not find folding laundry a chore I do it while I watch TV and my husband puts it all away. Matching socks is my Zen If I could make a business doing it for others I would!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I thought I knew a lot of laundry hacks, but the pool noodle on the dying rack bars is brilliant. Thanks.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Hi! Great tips, thank you!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Just one thought: I would not simply toss the dryer lint on the compost pile, as dryer lint also contains non-organic fibres such as polyester or nylon. And this is, essentially, micro plastic, which is becoming a big problem in for the environment and also humans. Please do dispose dryer lint in the residual waste bin. Thanks!
Hi Jillee…on the sheets and vinegar tip…I have to use machines at a laundry mat….can I wash with detergent …then stop the machine as it’s filling for the rinse cycle and add the vinegar? Read your post everyday!!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Thanks for clearing that up. Auto correct is the killer — type once, check twice, as I have learned the hard way. As for vinegar, it also helps wash out the soap and is good for the machine and the environment.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Hi Vada! Yes, you could do it that way. However, I would give the sheets a special treatment by giving them a second wash with just vinegar (no detergent), once they are already washed. :-)
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I want my sheets crisp, not softer. What can I do??
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I button and zip everything. Less noise! I can’t stand all that clatter.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I love your helpful hints. I read them everyday and learn something new everyday. In my dryer I use the wool balls with a drop of my favorite essential oil. Nice!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Great ideas. I use gentle soap like Dove etc, on makeup stains before putting my clothes in the laundry. I sometimes will stick a towel in the dryer to help speed up drying of sweater or heavier items. Also if I’ve air dried an item I put the item back in the dryer for about 20 minutes on a low setting with a damp washcloth to help remove the wrinkles.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I’ve also added half a cup of white vinegar to a load of towels This is usually when I have a basket full of damp and wet towels. I’m usually not able to get them washed until the end of the week.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I collect the lint, when spring comes put it in a suet feeder for the birds to use for their nest. Never do this if you use fabric softner, which would harm the birds. I use a simple homemade powder laundry detergent, Dryer balls, and vinagar to soften my clothes.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Do Not use laundry lint for the birds! It will retain moisture after a rain which can harm the babies in the nest. Natural materials dry quicker and better. Help your birds by trashing the lint! FYI: Hummingbirds use cob webs in their nests. Helps the nest expand as the babies grow larger!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.As I am not interested in racing thru the folding, I listen to an audio book as I fold laundry and iron. (I still iron as I find it relaxing! Now Dusting is entirely different!)
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I do the same!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.LOL, that is good… I iron also, not my favorite chore, hate dusting even more, and don’t like to empty the dishwasher, my least favorite chore, but thankful for it as I don’t enjoy washing dishes. I detest drying them, was my job growing up. Sorry I got off the subject. Always look forward to your daily blog, Jillee. Keep up the good work, learn something new daily.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I would rather clean the toilet then to do the dishes in any capatcity.
I save my laundry in a basket and fold while I am watching the TV
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I don’t save it for a long time just the laundry day
How about instead of soaking the exercise clothes in vinegar, usung full strength; put the vinegar in a spray bottle. Spray the clothes let it soak, then wash.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I just started spraying clothes with stains using 1/2 of laundry soap and 1/2 of water
Did the trick for me. It’s also alot less messy thsn soaking. I think the vinegar full strength will really help with getting rid of the odor.
I have been ironing since my teens but ever since my husband was in the military he out irons me by far! Perfect creases and no creases where there should not be any. When he was in basic people would pay him to iron their clothes.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I use empty paper towel tubes to stuff the lint into and then use them as fire starters in our fire pit.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Where did you get those wool dryer balls?
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Online is one place. I got mine at World Market years ago.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I got mine from amazon. I like them.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Wool Dryer Balls 6 Pack Non-Toxic Reusable XL Dryer Balls Anti Static Natural Fabric Softener Made of Premium New Zealand Wool https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07N192BLX/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_tai_j1vvDbASVG8Q6
Jillee has a tutorial to make your own from wool yarn. I’m sure it’s in her Search Bar. Just a lot of winding!! LOL
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Jillee had a post a few days ago that tells you how to make your own, looked really simple to do.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.Birds love using dryer lint as nesting material. Once you’ve filled that tissue box transfer it to a suet cage – type feeder for easy access for your feathered friends.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I’ve heard of this tip but I understand that there are concerns over synthetic dyes in the lint. But I’ve tried something similar with pet hair.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I understand that dryer lint is not good for nesting material because it hardens and compacts after it gets wet. Little birds have made their nests long before there was dryer lint, so they probably don’t need it anyway.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I love the tip, using an empty tissue box, I’ve had a plastic bag hanging, this is so much better. I use white vinegar many ways, its perfect with baking soda(I buy in bulk), for keeping stainless steel sinks shiny, as well as a perfect toilet bowl cleaner, NO CHEMICALS!
Please log in or create a free account to comment.When you do a vinegar was for bedsheets do you also put in washing powder or is it just vinegar?
Please log in or create a free account to comment.I use the vinegar as the fabric softener.
Please log in or create a free account to comment.You don’t use your powdered homemade laundry soap that has fabric softener in it ?