How to easily do laundry in 11 simple steps
It may sound silly, but there’s a proper way to do laundry. Follow the tips below to get your clothes looking and smelling great!
Step 1: Keep it all together in a bin
Put all dirty laundry together so you know what needs washing and drying. If there are clothes on the floor, does it need washing? Who knows! Keeping it all together gives the benefit of knowing what needs cleaning.
Step 2: Read the tags
Did you know your tags tell you exactly how to wash your clothes? This short video tells you how to read those tags:
The main instructions are for:
- Washing
- Drying
- Bleaching
- Ironing
- Temperature (water and dryer)
Step 3: Sort clothing
Depending on your wash cycle and clothing color, you should sort your clothing. Delicates should be separate from jeans and other heavy clothing.
Lights and colors should be separate because colors can bleed into light colors — making a white short a different color. If the colored shirt has been washed a few times, this may not apply can the piece of clothing can be put in any cycle.
Heavily soiled clothing should be set aside and washed separately.
Learn more about Sorting Laundry and Why it is Important.
Step 4: Pick your detergent
All-purpose laundry detergent should do the trick.
Diluting the detergent will prevent large blobs in your washer. Consider mixing the proper amount with a cup of water before adding it to the laundry.
Step 5: Load the washer
Put clothing in the washer, but don’t overload it or underload it.
Too much clothing will hinder it from getting washed properly
Too little clothing won’t allow it to properly spin.
Step 6: Choose your water temperature
Room temperature (60-70 degrees) water will do the trick for normal day-to-day cycles.
Warmer water (70-80 degrees) can possibly sanitize and take out stubborn stains.
Any hotter and you run the risk of your detergent losing its effect. Also, water this hot is worse for the environment.
NOTE: Hot water has a higher chance of shrinking your clothing. Use caution when using warm or hot water.
Step 7: Start it!
Set it to go and walk away! For normal clothes, a regular wash will do just fine.
Step 8: After, put in the dryer
Promptly put in the dryer. If you let it sit for too long, it runs the risk of smelling. Avoid the smell of mold and mildew by transferring the laundry over to the dryer within an hour.
You may use a dryer sheet to reduce static and to make it smell better, but it’s not necessary.
Step 9: Use high heat (with caution!)
Set your dryer to high heat for maximum performance. Generally, high heat will dry clothing within 30 minutes to an hour.
NOTE: Too much heat may either damage or shrink your clothing, so read the tags before cranking up the heat.
Step 10: Pull out of dryer or leave for later
Time to fold! Pull clothing out of the dryer into a hamper or bin. Or, if you can’t get to it immediately, leave them in the dryer for later. You can always run it for a few minutes to get the wrinkles out.
Step 11: Fold or hang
While the clothes are still warm, fold them so there are no wrinkles. Shirts, pants, underwear, and other articles of clothing can be folded so it’s ready for another day of use!
Best Wash has the best washers and dryers (many free!) for your washing and drying needs. Quickly clean your clothes and laundry at any of our Illinois- or Missouri-based laundromats, or have it picked up and delivered! Read about us or look up locations.