A great way to prove your independence when you go off to college is to show up wherever you go in fresh, clean clothes instead of rumpled togs that look they've spent a week at the bottom of the hamper. Staying on top of your
laundry situation isn't very difficult and doesn't require a whole lot of expensive supplies.
Forget all those fancy laundry balls, ionizers, and other gadgets. All you need is a plastic laundry basket, some inexpensive detergent, a stain pre-treater, and some hangers. With the right tools and a few good habits, laundry day can be a snap.
When you take your clothes off at the end of the day, take a minute to turn your clothes right side out. If you notice any stains or spots, rub on a pre-treatment formula like Shout or Spray n' Wash so the stain can sit for a day or two without permanently setting into your clothes.
On laundry day, give your clothes a final stain inspection and also set aside anything white to be washed separately. Set the wash water temperature to cold, select the correct load size, and turn on the machine. Measure out the right amount of laundry detergent according to the manufacturer's recommendation and add it to the washing machine as it fills with water. Dump in enough clothes to loosely fill the washer to the top but not so full that the garments are crammed together and all bunched up.
Close the lid, kick back, and get some studying done while you wait for the cycle to finish.
Before putting your clothes in the dryer, take a minute to shake out each item so they'll dry quicker and with fewer wrinkles. Set the dryer temperature to medium, and save the highest setting for towels, blankets, and other hard-to-dry items.
Don't give wrinkles a chance to set -- take your clothes out of the dryer as soon as the cycle ends. Fold or hang them right away, stick them back in the closet or dresser, and you're done!
Some important points to remember:
- It's tempting to throw your whites in with the rest of your clothes but don't do it. After a few washings, your whites will be dingy and gray
- Fabric softener liquid (for the washer) or sheets (for the dryer), are nice to have but not necessary. If you're pinching pennies, that's a good place to cut back
- Even after you've pre-treated a stained item, check to make sure the spot is gone before tossing the it in the dryer. Once stained clothing is exposed to the high heat of a dryer, spots are nearly impossible to get out
- To save energy always use cold water, except when you're washing items that may have bacteria on them like kitchen dishtowels or cleaning rags
- Instead of buying hangers, check with your local dry cleaner to see if they'll give you some for free
- Be sure to check out some other DIY Life tips on how to keep your washer clean and some neat ways to use vinegar on laundry day
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