Ultimate laundry tips and tricks to save time | NoScrubs Laundry Hacks

Laundry is the third most time consuming chore, the average American spends 240 hours every year on laundry. Whether you’re a stressed professional or a busy homemaker with a million other chores on your plate, these laundry tips and tricks will help you reclaim your time for what really matters. 

From our years of experience, this collection of laundry hacks and washing tips will extend your garments’ lives. These washing tips start from pre-wash to post-wash to make sure you’re optimizing every single step.

Why smart laundry hacks matter

There are a lot of laundry tips and tricks out there that can save you time in the short run but damage your garments in the long run. These could cause damage to your clothes which is why it is important to be smart about the laundry hacks you choose. 

With proper laundry hacks you can:

• Extend garment life: Proper techniques will never cause fading or shrinking to your garments. 
• Save time, energy and money: This is always the ultimate goal for any of our laundry tips and tricks
• Reduce stress and boost efficiency: By streamlining your laundry process with these washing tips you can take the stress away from laundry days.

Pre-wash laundry tips and tricks

Good laundry begins even before you turn on the washing machine. It all starts with:

• Sort carefully. Whites and creams are not the same and washing them together will yellow your white clothes over time.
• Use baskets for sorting so that you don’t have to separate clothes again before washing. This way you also reduce the chances of any colored clothes mixing with the whites.
• Pre-treat stains. If you have any stained clothing, one of the best washing tips is to pre-treat the stain before you toss it in to wash. It also prevents the stain from setting.

Washing tips that actually work

• Choose the right temperature. Cold water is best for most everyday washing and reserve warm or hot water only for sanitizing towels, bedding or soiled items. 
• Don’t overload the machine. You might think that you’re reducing loads but this lowers cleaning quality and leaves your clothes with detergent and buildup residue.
• Invest in laundry tools. Dryer balls can reduce dry time and mesh laundry bags keep delicates and socks together in the wash.

Clever and sneaky laundry hacks for everyday

Turn clothes inside out if you want to protect color or prints

The friction during washing can cause fading and pilling which degrades printed graphics and embroidery. When you flip clothing the logos, prints and embellishments last longer and surface fibers remain more intact.

This works for dark jeans, graphic tees and delicate fabrics. If you’re really looking for maximum fade protection then combine this tip with cold water cycles to preserve color.

Add white vinegar to break down residue

White vinegar is one of the most practical and safe laundry hacks when used properly. Vinegar is mildly acidic and helps dissolve detergent residue. It breaks down deposits from hard water too and can brighten whites too. 

Add baking soda to get rid of odors and boost detergents

Baking soda is one of the most effective and low-cost odor neutralizers while also enhancing detergent performance. Baking soda is great for:

• Gym clothes and athletic wear
• Kids clothing
• Work uniforms
• Bedding and curtains

Air dry your towels whenever possible to remove mildew smells

Towels have dense loops making them hold onto moisture for much longer. When that moisture is trapped it creates the mildew musty odor we all hate.

• Air dry allows evaporation to fully remove moisture
• Machine dry can bake the odor into towels if residue exists
• Air dry reduces bacterial growth and boosts hygiene
• Machine dry breaks down towel fibers over time and reduces towel life
• Air dry prevents sour smell or musty odor
• Machine dry reduces the absorbency of your towel

Add ice cubes to the dryer to get rid of wrinkles without having to iron them.

• Throwing 2-3 ice cubes into the dryer with wrinkled clothes on high heat removes wrinkles in 10 minutes. The ice melts and creates steam which relaxes your fabric’s fibers. The wrinkles naturally release from your clothes. 
• This works for cotton shirts, blouses, light weight pants and only if a couple of items are in the dryer. 
• For linen, dress shirts or deep creases this hack might not work for you. 

Throw a dry towel in with wet clothes in the dryer to shave at least 5-10 minutes off your drying time.

This sounds wild but the dry towel actually absorbs excess moisture and causes faster drying. This shorter exposure to heat also means less fabric wear. After the first few minutes of drying just remove the towel and let the clothes finish drying as usual. This can lower energy consumption and fabric degradation.

After each laundry load leave your machine door ajar for a bit to dry and prevent mold

Washing machines are prone to trap moisture in rubber door seals and gaskets causing mold to grow and musty odor to buildup and transfer to your laundry. Wipe the rubber gasket every week to remove any trapped moisture. 

Post wash laundry hacks

The laundry process doesn’t end once clothes are out of the dryer either. In fact, treating your clothes properly after they come out of the dryer is what makes the biggest difference in garment preservation.

Air dry always

Air dry is gentle on fabrics while dryers can damage fibers. Air dry also reduces shrinkage so your clothes stay the same size. If you’ll be machine drying, look into the appropriate setting for each load.

Set up a folding station

Clear out a table or counter and fold as soon as clothes are out of the dryer instead of letting them sit in a heap to wrinkle up. 

Remove laundry ASAP

Leaving wet laundry in the drum is an instant recipe for mildew and musty smells. Unfortunately, that smell can be difficult to remove once it plagues your clothes so act fast.

Long term laundry tips and tricks

While these aren’t quick 5 minute laundry hacks for everyday, doing these once a month will save you loads of time in the long run.

Clean your washing machine

This is such an important step that is overlooked. When you put all your clothes into the machine to get them clean, it is important for the machine to be clean in the first place.

• Run a hot water cycle with 2 cups of white vinegar to remove detergent and buildup.
• Leave the machine door ajar to let it dry out and prevent mold between laundry loads,
• Clean in and around the door with wipes and cleaning liquid.
• If the dispensers are removable, pull them out, let them soak in a cleaning solution and then dry them off before putting them back in.
• If the dispensers are not removable, wipe them clean with wipes and cleaning liquid whenever you clean your washing machine.

Use a laundry service

The best laundry hack that will make you spend the least amount of time on laundry is a laundry service that makes you spend zero time on laundry. NoScrubs is a laundry delivery service that handles all your laundry needs from pick up to drop off in as little as 4 hours. All you have to do is bag your clothes and schedule a pickup, we’ll handle the rest. Choose a plan that works for you or create a customized laundry schedule with us.