1. SEPARATING LIGHTS AND DARKS IN ADVANCE WITH DEDICATED BINS
Sorting clothes for laundry is, by far, the most time-consuming part of doing laundry and is the biggest obstacle to getting a load of washing on quickly. I certainly used to struggle with this when I first moved out of my parent's home. It used to take me ages to split my clothing into lights, darks, and colors, and then further into pieces that needed fabric softener and those that didn’t.
2. USING AN ECOEGG TO SAVE TIME ON MEASURING DETERGENT AND SOFTENER
The ecoegg is, by far, my favorite time-saving laundry hack. I was skeptical that this little plastic egg-shaped ball would do much for my laundry, but it not only helps to wash my laundry quicker, saving me time on measuring out detergent and conditioner (and prevents me from using too much laundry detergent) but it also softens my clothes wonderfully without making them more flammable.
2. USING THE ‘DELAY’ FUNCTION
Using the delay function to make laundry quicker doesn't sound logical, I know, but this little set is a life-saver when I just have a few minutes to get chores done. The setting allows me to fully set up a load of laundry (which is super quick with my ecoegg, which is my next laundry hack) and set a delay timer so that the laundry will turn on and be ready in time for me to wake up in the morning so that it can be hung straight out to dry before breakfast, or the washing is done for when I finish the day at work and it isn't left sitting damp in the machine all day.
4. USING MESH BAGS TO KEEP SOCKS AND UNDERWEAR TOGETHER
If you have taken the time to read the laundry labels on your clothing and underwear, then you may have noticed some advice to wash smaller delicates together in a mesh bag to prevent damage. I never used to bother, but now I find that it makes sorting laundry after washing even easier as it holds all the pairs of socks together and stops smaller items from getting balled up inside larger ones.
5. PRETREATING STAINS BEFORE THEY DRY
Not removing stains is not only a mistake to avoid when washing whites. Any clothing can be plagued with a stain, even darker garments, and bed linens. As a result, I always try to treat a stain when it is still wet, rather than letting it dry and telling myself I will do it later.
6. TYING UP BEDDING TO PREVENT IT FROM BALLING UP
Washing bed sheets should be simple, but they often ball up in the washer, leaving all of your laundry somehow wrapped up inside. It got to a point where my powder laundry detergent was sticking to the clothes inside and not washing away properly – that is when I tried tying my bedding corners up to help prevent it.
7. LEAVING THE WASHER DOOR OPEN TO HELP THE DRUM DRY BETWEEN WASHES
Leaving a washing machine door open can be a bit bothersome if you have a front-loading washing machine like me, but it is a great tip I learned from my mom to help the drum dry out between washes. Not only does it help to prevent mold growth but stops musty odors from developing which can permeate your clothes and make you wash them more often, taking up more time.
8. USING A DEHUMIDIFIER TO HELP AIR DRY CLOTHES
I recently tried a heated airer instead of using a tumble dryer and now I don't dry my clothes any other way. Not only does it help me to save money at home, but it also helps to dry clothes quickly.