Do you want laundry that always smells clean? Try these 8 easy DIY tips
Laundry that smells good is one of those things that make us feel good, and which immediately takes us back to our childhoods. However, often our laundry does not smell fresh and clean at all, coming out of our washing machine or dryer without any smell at all, or even worse, smelling damp and musty.
The use of soaps, fabric softeners and other scented additives may not be the ideal solution for your laundry, not only because they contain chemical substances that could damage the environment and irritate the skin, but also because they can create a barrier preventing the proper cleaning of fabrics and fibers.
So, what can we do about this potential problem?
Well, here are 8 easy DIY tips you can try out. Keep reading:
1. Do not overload the washing machine
Overloading your washing machine will be harmful for the appliance, which could wear out prematurely, but also for your laundry, which will not be cleaned/washed properly. It is true that using the washing machine with a full load allows you to reduce waste and expense, but an excessive load could force you to rewash again to get the desired laundering results.
Divide the laundry by type and don't overload the machine to get better results.
2. Pay attention to doses
The dosage of detergents used is also important for the success of proper cleaning; in fact, an excessive quantity of detergent or fabric softener will stick to the fabrics, preventing the water from getting to the fibers. When doing the laundry, then, it is important to use the right dosage for each load - which can also damage the machine.
Also pay attention to the type of detergents you use: chose ecological products with natural scents, which will be more delicate on fabrics and also on your skin.
3. Wash the washing machine
Marco Verch Professional Photographer/Flickr
When was the last time you washed and cleaned your washing machine? Soap residue and dirt can be deposited on the various components of the appliance and in the long run, this also leads to a reduction in its performance. If your laundry smells damp or musty when you remove it from the washing machine, do an empty wash at high temperature and put 150 grams of citric acid or 50 grams of bicarbonate directly into the drum. In this way, your washing machine will always be clean and sanitized and your laundry will be fresher and more fragrant.
4. Essential oils and lavender water
Stephanie (strph) from Oklahoma City/Wikimedia Commons
You can perfume your laundry in a natural way using essential oils and lavender water:
- Before putting your laundry in the washing machine, spray it with lavender water so that it maintains a pleasant scent, even after the wash;
- Replace the fabric softener with 100 ml of a solution of 150 grams of citric acid in 1 liter of water scented with your favorite essential oil;
- In the dryer, insert a disk or a cotton ball or a sheet of toilet paper onto which you have put a few drops of essential oil - it will leave a pleasant aroma on your laundry.
5. Woolen dryer balls
In the dryer, use woolen dryer balls - they will leave your laundry even softer and more fragrant; if you also add a few drops of your favorite essential oil to them, it will be even more so!
6. Air dry your laundry
When possible, hang your laundry outdoors, so that the passage of air gets to it. The sun also helps, not only to speed up drying, but to sanitize and deodorize your fabrics. Be careful of direct, strong sunlight as it could fade colored garments and can damage the fibres.
7. Pre-treat stains
Stains on fabrics are the main causes of persistent unpleasant odors on laundry and for this reason, they should be pre-treated promptly (to remove them too, of course). Put your dirtiest items into the washing machine only after pre-treating the stains - you will save time and effort and your laundry will smell better at the end of the wash.
8. In the closet
Even when putting your clothes away, you can ensure that the scent of your laundry lasts longer: when possible, keep the items you use less in plastic bags for clothes, in order to protect them from picking uo odors. Place clothes in closets along with scented bags and bars of soap (which will leave their pleasant aromas in the environment and on your clothes).
The use of baking soda will also help you to stop an annoying musty smell from forming inside of closets.
How do you do your laundry?