Laundry is the kind of perennial chore I always try to make more efficient. I have four children and line-dry all our clothes, so you can imagine I always have a load either to hang, fold, or put away. Still, with a few handy hacks, I keep my laundry basket from overflowing.
1. Baby wipes for small stains.
Many stains will disappear miraculously if you treat them quickly by rubbing a baby wipe over them. I know there are wipes made specifically for this purpose, but I have found baby wipes to be quite efficient – and much cheaper.
2. Air rather than wash.
At the end of the day, if the clothes I’m wearing are not exactly dirty but could use freshening up, I will often hang them up on the line (not over the back of a chair). Often, a bit of time in the sunshine and breeze will leave the clothes crisp and fresh as if they had actually been washed.
3. Use vinegar.
In lieu of fabric softener, combined with water to soak particularly smelly clothes, or with baking soda to clean your washing machine.
4. Pre-treat sweat stains with shampoo.
Works a treat on those pesky underarm areas and soiled collars. A paste made of baking soda and vinegar is another treatment option.
5. Pre-sort the laundry by having two different hampers.
I thought everybody does that, but was surprised to find out that some people have one big hamper for everything and sort right before washing. It’s a lot less hassle to keep darks and lights separated in the first place.
Domestic Felicity 
Nice hints…thanks! I have for many years kept several containers for dirty clothes…when we had all the kids at home, I kept 3 clean plastic garbage cans in the basement by the washer and dryer…one was for towels, one for lights, one for darks. Sure made life SOME easier!! Today I keep a small laundry basket for our towels (always put in dry of course) and the bigger container for our clothes which I sort as I go, but there is just us 2 now and we rarely go places, so don’t use as many clothes either. We keep our containers in the guest bathtub unless company comes…then they go in our bedroom walkin closet. I keep a bottle of stain remover by the washer as well as a spray bottle of Simple Green…which is the main one I use as it takes away most stains. And a small tiny bottle of Grandma’s stain remover for the really tough ones…I have got hubby fairly trained now to put on his bib before eating anything that might stain clothes. There has been a few times when he refused to be careful and ruined some perfectly good clothes…at which time I went out to buy myself something I wanted to wear. There is absolutely no reason to not be careful…and why should I only wear thrift shop clothes or ones I made, if he was using my thrift to be careless? Some people do not “GET IT” unless seeing money leaving the house…argh!! I did a MUCH BETTER job frankly, of raising our son…his wife and mother-in-law tell me he is a perfect husband…yep!! So be sure to teach your son well, my dear!! 🙂
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Oh my! Would sure be embarrassing if my future daughter-in-law criticizes my parenting! 😁
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I never considered using shampoo on sweat stains. The Squire does put some around his shirt collars when he puts his clothes in the hamper, and I try to presoak the pillow cases in shampoo and HOT water.
I was brought up to wear my things twice; when I take off an item I hang it up inside out. This gives things a chance to air out and alerts me that this is the second go-round on a blouse. It is a big help when I start to pack things away at the change of seasons, so I don’t store a dirty dress or something.
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Yes, I fold or hang some of my things inside out as well. ☺
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Oh thanks for these tips, hadn’t heard of the shampoo one, I’ll have to try it 😊
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You’re welcome ☺ Hope you find it effective!
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