Smart Hacks
for Laundry Day
Laundry rooms act as a drop zone in the home, collecting clothing, shoes, cleaning supplies, and other items, which can result in a headache-inducing mess. With these low-cost DIY hacks, you can transform your crowded chaos into an orderly workspace.
By BobVila.com
Fresher Towels
The secret to fresh-smelling towels straight from the wash? Vinegar. Add one to two cups to your hot cycle—and skip the soap. Then cycle through again as normal.
DIY Fabric Softener
Commercial fabric softener, which is available in stores as a liquid or in the form of dryer sheets, lives up to its name. What you may not realize is that vinegar, despite its lower cost, performs exactly as effective as those products. Pour the vinegar directly into your washing machine’s fabric softener dispenser, and if desired, add a few drops of your favorite essential oil (for aroma) and around a quarter-cup of rubbing alcohol (for disinfecting).
DIY Bleach Pen
Bleach pens are a great weapon in your laundry arsenal. And making your own is an easy way to save. Mix two tablespoons of cornstarch in a cup of water and stir on the stovetop until boiling. Once the mixture thickens, remove and allow to cool completely.
Save Lost Socks with a Clothespin
Rather than throwing lonely socks into a drawer until their companion returns, leave them on display as a visual reminder. Attach multiple clothespins to a plank of wood, each about 3 inches apart, to make a lost-and-found zone. Then, as you notice orphan socks coming out of the dryer, pin them up!
DIY Detergent
There are two reasons to go for homemade detergent over store-bought. First and foremost, DIY detergent is inexpensive, so there is a financial incentive. There’s also a health benefit: creating your own offers you complete control over the components. A simple method calls for only bar soap, washing soda (sodium carbonate), and borax, which fights mold and mildew.
Lay Out a Folding Station
When you’re working in a small laundry room or nook, every inch counts. Utilize the space above two front-loading washers and dryers by building a wood countertop; Bryn Alexandra purchased and cut plywood from Lowe’s to serve as a countertop for folding clean laundry.
Squeeze in More Storage
When you’re short on space in the laundry room, things can get chaotic quickly. But it might turn out the best storage space is hiding right under your feet—or under your machines, rather. Store-bought washer and dryer pedestals are expensive, though. So forget buying and start DIY-ing!
Add Fluff
Remember to bring the tennis balls inside for your dryer the next time you play doubles. Tennis balls are an excellent alternative to dryer sheets, and they also soften your fabric. Wrap them in an old white sock before adding them to your load to prevent color leakage. Tennis balls not only fluff heavy things like comforters, coats, and pillows, but they also help your clothing dry faster.
Write on the Machine
Keep a dry erase marker handy by your washer and dryer to leave laundry-related notes and reminders for each other. Any special instructions can now be easily communicated and you’ll avoid shrinking all those clothes that should have never gone in the dryer. For even better organization, use different colors for certain care labels—and remember to clean the marker off after each load.
