If you have laundry, and I KNOW you do, you need to know these secrets that will change the way you are doing laundry. I am not sure how I lived the majority of my life without learning the right way to do laundry. Momma, if you are just tossing in detergent and fabric softener and letting it go you are in for a shock!

Laundry Consistency is Key

Monday is the day that I like to wash my sheets. I follow the FlyLady Cleaning System and during the Weekly Home Blessing Hour, one of the tasks is to wash the sheets. For years I did not wash my sheets weekly but now that I do my laundry regularly, I can feel how much better they feel.

If you just cannot do a load a day, having a dedicated laundry day every week will keep things from getting out of hand. In my younger years, I only did laundry when I ran out of undies. To avoid doing laundry, I bought more clothes. Sounded smart but then I had piles of dirty laundry and laundry that I could never 100% complete. It made doing laundry harder, folding and putting away harder, and the piles bigger!

Know You Washer

HE (high efficiency) washers use less water so it is very important to follow the instructions when doing laundry with these machines. First of all, be sure not to overload the washer. Laundry does not get clean if the machine does not have room for the clothes to move freely in less water. It is recommended to only fill the washer with 2/3 to 3/4 of dirtyundry.

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Using Too Much Detergent on Your Laundry

Another big mistake is using too much detergent in your laundry. More is not better which is what I always thought! More detergent simply leaves detergent residue on the laundry because it does not rinse completely out. Remember, washers are specifically designed for a certain load capacity and detergent ratio for lower water usage. Detergent pods are specifically balanced to work optimally in HE machines but you should not be using two or more.

I recently purchased the Laundry Handbook from GoCleanCo and it has changed my life. I have learned a ton of practical advice on mixing fabrics, load size, and more importantly removing stains. This has been a great investment in my home management and I truly think every mom needs some kind of manual in the laundry room to treat stains as they happen.

Know When to Use Fabric Softener & When NOT To

While reading and researching laundry tips, I found so many articles about fabric softener actually not being good for most laundry. What? I legit have used fabric softener in every load for thirty-five years (since I started doing laundry). Fabric softener should be used on bedding and sweaters but never on towels. Most articles do not recommend fabric softener on other clothing either as it dims the brightness and leaves a residue on fabrics.

What is Laundry Stripping?

Laundry stripping has swept the internet in recent years. Laundry that has become dull and feels greasy or dingy can be treated to release the excess dyes, fabric softeners, and dirt that has not fully come out of laundry.

Work Smarter & Not Harder

A huge tip from my heart is to wash your sheets and then put them straight back on the bed. Why? Because folding a fitted sheet is nearly impossible for my ADHD brain and always ends in frustration and a blob of sheets that I stuff in my linen closet. I have some backup sheets but I save my sanity by NOT rotating them. Once a set starts to wear out, I toss and pull out a spare set and replace a new pack in the linen closet. Working smarter and not harder on laundry works for me!

How to Keep Fluffy Towels Fluffy

Tuesdays are usually my towel days but I do not mix bath towels with cleaning towels. Keep a small bin in the linen closet to collect dirty microfiber clothes. I launder them as needed but not weekly. They say that you should NOT be using fabric softeners on towels. Instead, try adding white vinegar to the fabric softener slot. Surprisingly the laundry does not smell at all like vinegar and feels much softer! Fabric softener decreases the absorbency of a towel and can leave a film on the fabric. Dryer sheets should not be used on microfiber. Bleaching white towels is recommended to eliminate stains but if you notice them yellowing it could be a sign of too much bleach.

How to Deal with Hard Water in Laundry

Hard water is a real struggle for tons of us. It can turn laundry dingy. To combat the effects of hard water, use a water softener like Borax or Arm & Hammer Washing Soda. Powdered Tide has a water softener built in.

Separate and Read the Labels

As always, separating laundry is important. Darks and lights, delicates...to keep your laundry looking the best for as long as possible separating things is key. Sweaters should be washed inside out or placed in a delicates bag to reduce the risk of snags and fuzz balls. Bleach whites as needed to brighten them up. Check labels for washing instructions and wash accordingly. Don't forget to check the temperature recommendations!

#1 Laundry Mistake and How to Avoid It

Finally, never ever wash bright new clothes with anything else!!! We have all had a red shirt turn our socks pink. After several washings, it is less important. A color catcher can also help with released dyes.

As you can see, a little knowledge can go a long way. Since reading the manual and articles, I have reduced my fabric softener usage, switched to pods, and started washing my sweaters in a delicates bag. None of this adds a second more time to the laundry but is adding years to the investments I make in buying good quality clothing. I cannot afford to be ignorant, can you?