On Laundry

Avoiding Extra Washing

My dad had a great system for his closet.

Because he worked a physical job all day, he would come home in the afternoons, shower, and put on clean home clothes. But he only wore those clothes for a few hours before he went to bed.

So, he would hang them back up with the hanger hook facing out (backwards from normal). Then he would know that he could wear them again one more time before they needed to be washed.

Ironing

My Grandpa A. worked for a laundromat in his youth, and he taught my grandmother (and thus, my mother) the proper way to iron a shirt or a suit.

The only tips I have gleaned (remembered) are that, when ironing a shirt, you do the sleeves first, because they will be less likely to wrinkle while you do the rest of the shirt. And then do the collar last.

Washing Machine

Mom always told me to put the soap in the washing machine first, before the clothes and when you start the water, because it will get more evenly distributed in the wash. She learned that from a man who owned a laundromat she visited. 

Organizing Your Closet

I am not very good at laundry (understatement of the year?) but I am pretty good at organizing my closet. 

If you want to see which of your clothes you're actually wearing (and which items aren't getting worn) tie a ribbon around the rack in your closet down at the right end. When you wear something, wash it, and return it to the closet, put it on the right side of the ribbon, while all the clothes that have not yet been worn stay on the left side.

You can challenge yourself to wear only the clothes on the left side of the ribbon (until you run out of clothes) or see after a period of time which clothes are not being worn, and therefore ought to be donated. 

General Laundry Tips

• You don't need nearly as much soap as you think you do. Experiment and find the smallest amount that still gets the clothes clean.
• Vinegar is a good fabric softener. Add a few drops of essential oil if you're worried about the smell.
• You don't need dryer sheets.  Fill the toe of an old sock with beans, then tie it off and roll it into a ball.  Throw one or two of these in the dryer to fluff clothes.  You can also add a few drops of essential oil to the sock to make the clothes smell nice.  Or toss some dried lavender in with the beans inside the sock.
• Wash everything possible on cold and on the gentle cycle; it will make your clothes last longer. Dry them as little as possible.
• Wash jeans inside out to preserve the color.
• Find a better system for folding and putting away clothes than I have — and then teach it to me!