Laundry hacks you need to know

Laundry hacks you need to know
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It’s laundry time again! It might not be your favourite chore, but these hacks will definitely make it a whole lot easier!

Wash bright colours with salt

Wash bright colours with salt
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You can use salt to prevent colours from fading. Just toss a teaspoon of salt in with your dark clothes to help make the colour last longer. Washing coloured clothing inside out can also help maintain colour.

Here are more expert laundry tricks you’ll wish you knew sooner. 

Say goodbye to wrinkles

Say goodbye to wrinkles
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Ditch the time-consuming iron or handheld steamer to get wrinkles out of a shirt or trousers. Throw a few ice cubes or a wet washcloth in the dryer with your wrinkled clothes. As the ice melts and the water turns to steam, it will remove the wrinkles. This trick isn’t as effective with heavier clothing but is a miracle for lighter fabrics. The best part is that you don’t have to set the dryer for longer than 10 minutes for it to work.

Write notes on the washer

Write notes on the washer
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Stop shrinking your woollens! When you put a load of clothes into your washing machine, use a dry-erase marker to note on the lid which items should not go into the dryer. That way, whoever switches the load from the washing machine to the dryer will know which items to leave out for line drying. The enamel finish on most washing machine lids is similar to a whiteboard, and dry-erase markers can be removed easily with a dry paper towel.

On the other hand, here are 12 things you shouldn’t be cleaning with paper towels.

Pool noodle hanger hack

Pool noodle hanger hack
The Family Handyman

Add a crease-eliminating pad to your hanger with a pool noodle! (We found that smaller-size noodles work better than larger ones for this handy hint.) Use a utility knife to cut the noodle to size and then slice it open lengthwise. Then slip the noodle onto the bottom bar of the hanger. The extra padding is perfect for hanging dress pants in your closet. It prevents that dreaded crease, saving you time because you won’t have to iron it out before you can wear the pants!

Paint stick to clean lint build-up

Paint stick to clean lint build-up
The Family Handyman

Even if you empty your dryer’s lint trap before each load, chances are there is still lint build-up around the area that could potentially cause a fire. So it’s important to deep clean the area once in a while, and this handy hint will get the job done. Wrap a clean rag around one end of a paint stir stick. Remove the lint trap and clean out the area with the rag-covered stick. To help the lint stick to the rag, dampen it with water first.

Follow these tips for household chores made easy. 

Freeze your jeans

Freeze your jeans
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If you like to wear your jeans more than once between washings, stick them in the freezer between wears. The cold air will kill bacteria that can cause odour.

One wash cycle away from a new shirt

One wash cycle away from a new shirt
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Being a self-confessed klutz, I’ve needed to learn how to treat clothing stains. For a grease stain, I turn to white chalk. Just rub the chalk on the stain and the chalk powder absorbs and lifts out the grease, so it’ll come out in the wash. — Jean Reeves

Use a salad spinner

Use a salad spinner
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If you have some articles of clothing you don’t want to put in the dryer, use a salad spinner to remove excess water. Then hang them on a rack to dry.

Here are 42 more extraordinary uses for household staples you already own. 

Use aluminium foil

Use aluminium foil
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If you’re out of dryer sheets, throw a ball of aluminium foil in your dyer. The aluminium will fight static build-up and help keep your clothing separated.

Don’t miss these clever household uses for aluminium foil.

Stop losing socks

Stop losing socks
The Family Handyman

Stuff a strip of foam pipe insulation into the space between your washer and dryer or along the wall. That way, socks can’t slip into the abyss.

If you have too many unmatched socks, try these clever uses for old socks!

Don't throw away that lint

Don't throw away that lint
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To properly build a fire, you need to have tinder (easy-lighting material), kindling (finger-size sticks) and fuel (logs). To make fire starters, stuff empty toilet paper tubes with dryer lint. These dryer lint “logs” light quickly and will easily burn long enough to light up the kindling.

Here are more clever ways to use dryer lint around the house. 

Quick drying laundry hack

Quick drying laundry hack
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Waiting for clothes to dry is annoying. Especially if you’re in a hurry. A solution is to throw in a dry towel with the rest of your  wet laundry to speed up the process and get on with your day.

Clean your machine

Clean your machine
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Your washing machine does need to be cleaned regularly. Every couple of months, set your washer to the largest load setting and hottest water temperature. Add a quart of white vinegar and a cup of baking soda and let the washer agitate for a minute. Then open the lid or pause the cycle and let the mixture sit for an hour. Scrub any parts, such as the lid, with a toothbrush to remove build-up. After an hour, let the cycle complete and run a second cycle on hot to remove any residue left behind. Your clothes will thank you.

Watch out for these 13 silent signs that your home is an unhealthy place to live. 

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Source: Reader’s Digest Canada

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