14 great laundry tips to remember on wash day

Doing the laundry can sometimes be a rather tiring chore, especially when the family is large. Poor maintenance, incorrect use of detergents or errors in the types of detergent used, loading errors, long drying times or difficulty in removing wrinkles during ironing are just some examples of how doing the laundry could turn into a nightmare.

For this reason, it is important to keep in mind that there are some simple tips that allow you to reduce washing or drying times, avoid damage to the garments, guaranteeing them a longer life and how to use all the necessary products correctly. Let's check out 14 tips that will make your laundry time a bit more pleasant.

1. Detergents

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• Clean clothes: in order for the laundry to be cleaned properly, it is essential to make sure that the washing machine is always clean Do this by carrying out an empty wash at high temperatures at least once a month with a glass of bicarbonate or white vinegar placed directly into the drum.
• DIY detergent: making your own laundry detergent can be a way to both save money and to reduce the environmental impact. It will also ensure that your clothes are cleaned properly without being damaged by aggressive chemical components. You can make liquid or powder detergents using bicarbonate and soda ash, and also vinegar and Marseille soap.
• Bleach: to whiten white garments you can replace bleach with sodium percarbonate, which also makes laundry softer when washed with hard water.
• Fabric softener: a fabric softener can be replaced with natural ingredients such as citric acid, baking soda or white vinegar, which also remove bad odors from the laundry.

2. Drying

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• Anti-wrinkle spray: if you want to avoid ironing your clothes, you can make an anti-wrinkle spray using hair conditioner, vinegar and water and spray it on the clothes while they are drying.
• Balls of wool: to speed up drying times, you can insert balls of wool into the dryer; natural and hypoallergenic, these will help save time and money and can be reused for months. Alternatively, you could add a soft, dry towel to the load.
• Double spin cycle: another useful expedient to reduce drying times, especially if you don't have a dryer and you have to dry your laundry at home, is to do a double spin at the end of the wash. This way, the clothes will shed a lot more moisture before being taken out of the washing machine.

3. Recycling

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There are many recycling ideas for washing machine products. We list 3 here:

• Mismatched socks: how many times do you lose your socks in the washing machine? Instead of throwing them away, mismatched socks can be recycled. For example, you could wear them as gloves and use them to dust the furniture; or you could make hand puppets for your children.
• Empty bottles: Empty bottles of detergents can be reused as watering cans for your plants.
• Fabric softener: When you run out of fabric softener, there is usually some residue at the bottom of the empty container. To take advantage of this, you can cut out strips of a sponge and place them on the bottom of the empty bottle, so that they soak up the remaining fabric softener. Use the strips in the tumble dryer to ensure a lasting fragrance for your laundry.

4. Organization

• Static electricity: to reduce static electricity in the dryer, make a ball from aluminum foil and place it in the drum.
• Laundry baskets: if you have enough space, you can divide the laundry into several baskets to facilitate sorting. You can also place your washing machine on a stand, so that you have enough space underneath to fit the dirty laundry baskets.
• Clothesline: opt for a wall-mounted clothesline, which takes up less space and can be rolled up when not in use. It will help you keep your home tidier.
• Stains: every stain has its own method for removal. For stains from chocolate, food, ice cream and other organic fluids, you can use Marseille soap. Vinegar is recommended for grass stains, while baking soda and salt are the best remedies for grease and oil stains.

It's time to do the laundry!