Adulting is hard and it generally sucks. But when your hamper is overflowing with dirty clothes and spilling all over the floor, it’s time to pull up your big boy pants and do the laundry.
But here’s the thing: Not too many people know how to do their laundry properly, and the fact is, it causes millions of dollars in damaged and stained clothes every year in America (that’s a totally true scientific fact). Save yourself from shrunken and pink-dyed clothes. Here’s how to properly do your laundry, like a real adult.
Those symbols are actually important
You know, those symbols on the inside of your clothes that tell you exactly how to treat them in the way they need to be treated. This is apparently so important that the Canadian government even created an incredibly helpful list on their website! If you treat your clothes they way they need to be treated, then you’ll reap the rewards: your clothes will actually last a long time, so you’ll be able to wear your favourite shirt for a long time. Freestyle laundry isn’t the best idea – just stick to the guidelines!
Dry knitted items and heavy fabrics on a towel on the floor
This can be anywhere from a no-brainer to the most important advice you’ll get about keeping those sweaters in a great condition. If you hang up a heavy sweater to try, it’ll stretch and get ruined (and also take forever) so instead, lay down a large towel and flatten the wet sweater on top of it. It’ll dry fast and be in perfect condition for the next time you want to wear it!
Wash your clothes inside out
Why? Not only does this allow the dirty side to get better cleaned, it also saves the dyes and designs on the outer side from getting worn through repeat washes. An easy and simple tip to increase the longevity of your clothes!
Use a pillowcase or mesh bag for socks
If you’re sick of losing socks, this is a great way to mitigate all those dollars spent on losing socks. The soapy water still penetrates the pillowcase or bag just fine, and you never lose anything out from them! This also works with underwear and any other small item that needs to be machine-washed.