Laundry Hacks To Save You Time And Money

What It Does: Gets into the grooves of the lint tray
Estimated Cost: $2.25*

Cleaning the lint tray is one of the most neglected tasks when it comes to laundry. Every time it’s emptied, it seemingly just fills itself back up again. Instead of clawing out pieces of lint with your hands, a good alternative is to use a clothing hanger.

Use a Hanger To Remove Lint @freshfluer / Pinterest.com

The hook is excellent for pulling all the lint out in one go and small enough to pick up any bits stuck in corners or the edge of the filter. Keeping a hanger close by will help you remember this useful hack and save you a lot of time when it comes to maintaining your tumble dryer.

What It Does: Kills odor-creating bacteria
Estimated Cost: Free

This hack is a little “out there,” but there is definitely a method in the madness. Many of us can admit we don’t wash our jeans as much as we should, as they’re probably the most popular kind of pants in the whole world. This hack is said to make your jeans smell better and feel cleaner for longer.

Put Your Jeans In The Freezer Between Washes @buzzfeed / Pinterest.com

After cleaning and drying your jeans, simply fold and put them in your freezer overnight. It’s just that simple. The cold temperatures will kill off a large portion of bacteria that clings to the denim and causes them to start smelling bad over time. 

What It Does: Eco-friendly alternative to detergent
Estimated Cost: $12*

A laundry egg is a modern invention that saves money, space, and the environment all at the same time. Designed to reduce the amount of detergent we use, a laundry egg combines detergent and softener into a tablet or pod that can be placed in the drum of your machine inside an egg-shaped holder.

Clean Your Washer With Eggs And Salt @razafolklorica / Pinterest.com

For example, the Ecoegg can be used for up to 70 washes, reduces plastic use, and avoids harsh chemicals. They’re also great for beginners who don’t have much laundry experience, making them ideal for college students or those who don’t have the space to store multiple detergents and softeners.

What It Does: Stops the build-up of soap residue and maintains color
Estimated Cost: $2.59*

While it may not be immediately apparent, some detergents can do more harm than good to our clothes. This can include over-stripping fibers to fading fabric dye, but luckily there is a sure-fire way of preventing this: a teaspoon of black pepper.

Put Pepper In The Washing Machine @kdetera1257 / Pinterest.com

The abrasiveness of peppercorns is excellent for breaking down detergent soap that may become trapped in fibers and cause lasting damage to the fabric. Throwing a teaspoon of peppercorns into the machine on top of your laundry will safely exfoliate your clothes while maintaining the color.

What It Does: A portable drying method
Estimated Cost: $19.99*

Most of us know the dreaded feeling when you realize you’ve forgotten to pack a single pair of socks or underwear on a trip. Luckily, most of us know how to clean these items of clothing in a sink or a tub as an alternative, but what about drying? 

Use A Salad Spinner To Wash Small Things ©Gabrielle Schmidt / Shutterstock.com

After ringing out as much water as possible, you can place small clothing items into a salad spinner, and spinning them for about 30 minutes will significantly speed up the drying process. This hack obviously won’t work for larger laundry items, but it’s great in an emergency sock shortage.

What It Does: The gluten in the bread lifts stains from fabric 
Estimated Cost: $2.17 per loaf of WonderBread*

In addition to removing wrinkles, getting rid of stains is the name of the game, as far as laundry goes. Stains are annoying, and it’s even worse when they won’t come out. If you’re dealing with a stubborn stain, consider reaching not for bleach, but for white bread.

Use White Bread To Blot Stains ©forstbreath / Shutterstock.com

White bread has gluten in it, which helps absorb stains and dirt. Take a slice of white bread, roll it into a ball, and dab the stains. Don’t rub them, as you might make them worse. Blot the stains thoroughly with the bread and watch the grime lift from your clothing’s fabric.

What It Does: Lets you iron clothing with a hair straightener 
Estimated Cost: $30-$60*

If you’re caught in a pinch and don’t have an iron on hand, you can use a hair straightener to iron your clothes. Make sure the straightener is clean of any hair products, as that could stain your clothes irreparably.

Iron Clothes With A Flat Iron ©AlexLMX / Shutterstock.com

If you need to smooth a quick wrinkle with your straightener, just adjust the temperature to the fabric on which you’re using it. For example, if you’re ironing silk, put the flat iron on a very low setting. If you’re ironing sweaters, the setting can be higher. Start first with low heat applications and durable fabrics until you’re sure you can safely iron without burning the clothing.

What It Does: Treats sweat stains on clothing when you let the shampoo soak for half an hour
Estimated Cost: $3-$6 per bottle*

Sweat stains are inevitable. Whether you work out a lot or just live in a hot climate, there are always going to be sweat stains that pop up on clothing. These unsightly, discolored stains can be a real pain, but, luckily, they’re easy to get rid of if you have baby shampoo.

Use Baby Shampoo For Sweat Stains ©Raihana Asral / Shutterstock.com

Pre-treat sweat-stained clothing with baby shampoo. Add the shampoo to shirt collars, armpits, and wherever else you see sweat stains. Let the shampoo soak for half an hour before you throw the clothing into the wash on a regular cycle. When you pull out the clothes, the stains will be gone.

What It Does: Gets rid of odors in gym clothes 
Estimated Cost: $1-$3 per bottle*

Gym clothes take a beating. Between sweat and odors, they can become dilapidated over time, causing you no end of grief when you’re trying to get them clean in the wash. If you want to get your gym clothes odor-free and fresh, try soaking them in vinegar.

Soak Gym Clothes In Vinegar Before Washing ©Anetlanda / Shutterstock.com

Mix one part distilled, white vinegar with four parts cold water. Then, sink your workout clothes into the mixture. Soak the clothing for fifteen to thirty minutes before washing them in a regular cycle. Thanks to white vinegar’s natural deodorizing properties, you’ll be able to get rid of even the most stubborn of odors.

What It Does: Removes odors from clothing, thanks to the alcohol in vodka 
Estimated Cost: $25*

One publication jokingly called this a “Russian Life Hack.” If you want to deodorize clothing and don’t have any vinegar on hand, go to your liquor cabinet and pull out a bottle of vodka. Cheap vodka or expensive, it doesn’t matter. Either will do the trick.

Spray Clothes With Vodka @rumbo144vlc / Facebook.com

Empty some of the vodka into a spray bottle. Spray a thin coat over clothing, paying particular attention to smellier areas of the clothes. Wait for the vodka to evaporate. When it lifts, it’ll take odors with it, thanks to the alcohol. Don’t dilute the vodka with water—that will negate the alcohol’s odor-reducing effects.

What It Does: Can be used to start a fire 
Estimated Cost: $0*

This one isn’t about doing laundry, so much as it is about what you can use from laundry to save yourself in a jam. If you’re out in the wilderness and need a fire starter, use dryer lint. Dryer lint is very flammable—that’s why you’re always warned to frequently clean the lint from your dryer screen.

Use Dryer Lint For A Fire Starter ©steveheap / Depositphotos.com

If you want to make fire starters that are waterproof, you’ll need an egg carton, dryer lint, and melted wax. Stuff the wells of the carton with dryer lint, and then pour melted wax over the wells. Let them cool. When you’re done, you’ll have a waterproof fire starter that will last a long time. 

What It Does: Save clothes from permanent damage
Estimated Cost: $6*

We’ve all done it. Brought home a new, expensive sweater and thrown it in the dryer after that first post-shop clean, only to find it’s shrunk down to something that would barely fit a hamster. This simple yet effective hack is a great way to remind yourself and those in your household what is and isn’t going to survive the dryer. 

Write Notes on The Washer @family_handyman / Pinterest.com

Not only is this a great and cost-savvy way of protecting your clothes, but it’s also a great way to teach your kids how to get laundry right, so they don’t run into the same issues in the future. Plus, the lid to a dryer is very similar to a whiteboard, meaning you can clean off the marker whenever you’re ready.

What It Does: Stops creases
Estimated Cost: $19.95*

There’s nothing more frustrating than neatly hanging up a pair of pants only to have them creased by the hanger by the next day. By wrapping a pool noodle around your hangers, your clothes are protected from creasing by the smooth curve created by the foam cylinder. 

Use A Pool Noodle On Your Hanger @family_handyman / Pinterest.com

Although they may take up a little more closet space, this is a really effective way of keeping your laundry neat and ready to wear. Plus, it’s a great way to repurpose old pool noodles that would otherwise be dissolving in your garage until next summer. Pool noodles are easy to buy and cost-effective, at around $19 for a multipack.

What It Does: Absorbs grease from fabric
Estimated Cost: $0.99*

Even if you don’t have a pack of white chalk stuffed into the back of a cabinet somewhere, it’s pretty easy to pick up a pack of 12 for $0.99 at Target and save you a whole lot more on stained clothes. Grease is one of the worst kinds of stains because it can be very challenging to get rid of.

Get Rid Of Grease Stains With Chalk @buffy4moore / Pinterest.com

However, rubbing a grease stain with white chalk before putting it in the laundry can help considerably. The chalk absorbs the grease and makes it a hundred times easier to get rid of the stain and residue in the material. Don’t use colorful chalk, though, or that could result in a whole new problem.