Top Common Laundry Mistakes You’re Probably Making
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Whether you like it or not, laundry is a chore that we just have to do. Who wants to wear dirty clothes all the time? You might be the type of person who is quick to flip your shirt or pants inside out and give them a quick spray of Febreze, but that doesn’t always get the job done. Sometimes, you just have to do laundry. And here are common laundry mistakes. Sometimes these mistakes can affect the appearance, longevity, and cleanliness of your clothes.
Stacker, an expert analysis website, shared the top most common laundry mistakes and how to avoid them. So, what mistakes are you probably making with laundry?
Top Common Laundry Mistakes
At the top of their list is overloading the washing machine. Overloading the washer means your clothes may not get as clean as you want them to. Clothes need space to move around to get them clean. “Stuffing the machine full might lead to ineffective washing and rinsing,” they said. They also mentioned that overloading can also damage your machine and cause mechanical issues. As Southern Living points out, this can also cost you more money in the long run.
Some people may be guilty of doing this but neglecting to sort clothes made their top three. They suggest sorting your clothes at least by color like light or dark. Not following the care instructions for specific colors or fabrics can lead to damaging your clothes’ appearance. According to The Cleaning Authority, washing dark colors with light ones, the lighter colored clothes will lose their brightness over time.
Less is more when it comes to detergent. While some people believe that more detergent makes your clothes cleaner, it actually has the opposite effect according to their list. They said, “Using extra detergent can leave a soapy residue on your laundry, attract dirt, and irritate sensitive skin.”
This also applies to overusing fabric oftener. Sure, it smells great, but it can also lead to a waxy build-up on your clothes.
A big no-no on their list is skipping regular machine maintenance. So, yes, this means cleaning your washer and dryer. Not taking care of your machines can cause your clothes to smell weird, break down, or lessen their ability to do their job. As far as the lint filter, you should empty it every single time. A clogged lint filter lowers the ability of the dryer to do its job. Not to mention, it’s a massive fire hazard. The US Consumer Product Safety Commission reports that clogged dryer vents are responsible for more than 15,000 dryer fires each year. You should also periodically check the dryer vent to make sure it’s clear.
Take a look at the complete list of common laundry mistakes here.
Top Cleaning Hacks That People Swear By
Think about how easier cleaning would be if we had the help of Cinderella’s magical animal friends. Unfortunately, this is not our reality. Many of our realities include piles of dirty clothes, dirty dishes that “you’ll get to later,” and always-accumulating dust. But there is hope for maintaining a clean home. Sure, we all have our hacks and tips, but which ones are worth trying out?
Many people have been sharing how they keep their homes spotless or tidy home habits they developed. A good habit to develop is making sure everything has a place. This could be something you developed from your parents, a relative, or on your own. Making sure everything has its own spot can prevent clutter and get you in the habit of putting things back after using them. This also makes it easier to wipe down surface areas like your countertops without appliances constantly getting in the way.
You don’t want things to get to a point where you feel overwhelmed by cleaning. Here’s a bit of advice: don’t leave deep cleaning for cleaning day. Try coming up with a cleaning schedule or a routine. This could be cleaning the bathroom on Thursdays and washing bedding on Sundays. Just cleaning a little bit every day helps in managing keeping a clean home.
There are all kinds of ways and methods for cleaning anything. Of course, some are more effective than others. And some require a handful of steps and instructions. But let’s be real here: we all just want the best cleaning tips and hacks. Those that leave your place spotless with minimal effort.
Some of us may think we have it all together when it comes to cleaning around the home, but there’s always something new to try. For instance, when you have a stained or spotty plastic or vinyl shower curtain, you can just toss it into the washing machine with a little detergent to get it clean. Then there’s descaling your coffee maker. It just takes a mixture of half vinegar and half water brewed until the reservoir is empty. This can help get rid of calcium buildup and keep your coffee maker running a little longer.
Check out more cleaning hacks people swear by below.
Kayla is the midday host on Detroit’s 105.1 The Bounce. She started her career in radio back in 2016 as an intern at another Detroit station and worked her way here. She's made stops in Knoxville, TN, Omaha, Ne and other places before returning to Detroit. She’s done almost everything in radio from promotions to web, creating content on social media, you name it.
She’s a true Michigander, born and raised. So, you can catch her camping or vacationing up north to exploring the downtown Detroit or maybe even catching a sports game. During her free time, Kayla enjoys watching movies, roller-skating, crafting, and music festivals. She and her husband together dip into many of the great things Michigan has to offer. Together they also like to travel.
A few hobbies of hers include wine and beer tastings, crafting, hiking, roller skating, movies, home improvement projects, gardening, and festivals. She’s always looking to take on more local events happening in the community.
She loves connecting with the community. When writing, Kayla covers topics including lifestyle, pop culture, trending stories, hacks, and urban culture.