Winter Laundry Tips and Hacks

Keeping our linens sparkling clean this Winter

Is it cold where you are? Or are you basking in a sunny climate? It's freezing here, and now that we're into January there's frequently a real chance of snow. I've stocked up on hot chocolate and flavored instant coffee to keep a toasty pick-me-up on hand. If I can't warm my frozen fingers, at least I can burn my tongue on something delicious.

Now that we’ve warmed up from the frigid outdoors and are cozied up inside, let’s get started on an indoor activity we all need to do: Laundry. It’s never going to end anyway, so we might as well get it done while we’re housebound. So put on your favorite winter-y movie in the background and let's get to it!

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Vinegar Method

My first tips on this subject are ways to freshen items in the wash and the washer itself.

Many of you will know this tip already, but for those who haven’t seen it before, it’s a must-know hack: Add white vinegar to a wash of particularly pungent items (straight into the washer drum itself), in addition to your regular detergent in its designated compartment. (for items that need this, think cleaning rags and reusable mop heads, as long as none of them have bleach on them!). This will sanitize the fabric and, once the vinegar dries, leave behind a clean scent of nothingness.

(This is your friendly neighborhood reminder to never mix bleach and vinegar! And never mix bleach and ammonia. Or bleach and anything, really. Don’t put them in the washing machine on the same cycle as it’s really dangerous.)

Everything in its place.

For those used to the pleasant smells of scented cleaners, the move to white vinegar may be a tough transition- but don’t be scared of the scent of vinegar. It seems weird if you’re not used to it, and it’s definitely pungent. But once you realize how well it works as a cleaner in most areas of the house, you may learn to love it as I have, because it’s the smell of things getting clean.

Counterintuitive, but there you have it, it works. Once the vinegar dries, the scent is gone and you’re left with both disinfected and cleansed laundry (and sinks, and showers, and- you get the point).

Washing machine not feeling so fresh? Try wiping down the drum with a rag soaked in vinegar, then run a wash cycle with vinegar in it.

Baking Soda Method

One particular time, I found this wasn’t enough for my machine to get back to its usual spic-and-span state. I upped the ante by scrubbing the drum walls with baking soda on a soft sponge, and adding baking soda to a long wash cycle. That really got the job done! Voila, odors gone!

The Fun (Organization) Stuff!

For organizing all my cleaning rags, soft mop covers, specialty detergents, and wool balls (which we store in our Laundry closet), I found these cute little bins on Amazon. I don’t have a label maker (kudos to those who make the effort to fiddle with them!) but you could do all kinds of creative things with this.

I find on my wire shelves it keeps things from slipping through, and just looks nicer in my opinion than simply folding and stacking my cloths. Personally I like a white bin as it gives a clean, uniform look to the space.

Caring for those Winter Woolies

One product you’ll see in our bins is Woolite Delicates Wash (link is for a pack of 3). If you haven’t run into this little gem before, let me introduce you. Have a wool sweater that is ready for a wash, but not sure how to care for its delicate little fibers?

Use Woolite in your delicate wash cycle, or in the tub, sink, or laundry basin for a handwash. Measure the amount in the cap, pour into the tub/sink as it’s filling, and follow the instructions.

You’ll gently massage the sweater in the soapy water and then let soak for the allotted time. Rinse and lay flat to dry. It’s gentle and specifically made to care for wool fibers, so you can have peace of mind that you’re preserving these nice, and sometimes heirloom, wardrobe items.

Another good use for this product is any delicate fabric items you have that can’t go in the wash for fear of shrinking or catching lace etc. on other items, such as lingerie. **The videos that play after mine are not endorsed by me! They are selected by Youtube.

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(Link is for a pack of three).

Just Dry Already!

Leave out the dryer sheets when putting towels in your clothes dryer. Dryer sheets keep the towels from absorbing water, leaving you uncomfortably damp.

Pick Your Appliances Carefully

Front load washers are very popular. The unique thing about them is the vertical centrifugal force that they generate: we all know traditional top-load washers spin in a horizontal circle, and front load washers spin vertically. But what you may not know is that, according to their own instructions, most of these front load washers are not suitable for upper-floor locations. They create a different kind of force on the beams below than a top-load washer. It is a force which the structural floor beams are not meant to handle in that part of the house. Many of their instructions will even say not suitable for such-and-such floor.

Our laundry closet is on the third floor of our house, and upon moving in we wondered why the entire house was shaking for a simple load of laundry. Some thinking, and Googling, later we learned that the previous owner made a less-than-ideal choice for the washer. So if your laundry space is upstairs and you’re looking to replace your machinery, do yourself (and your house) a favor and do some research on your selected appliances.

Last But Not Least….

Protect Your Home From Fires!

A common cause of house fires is from dryers! Empty your lint trap every time the dryer is used and have your dryer vent cleaned out at least once per year, more for larger families. You can do this yourself depending on your dryer vent configuration, or hire someone to do it professionally. Keep on a seasonal schedule so you don’t forget.

Ask your duct specialist or appliance installer what type of connector you should have between the dryer and the wall. Also consult your manual/warranty. Some are more high-end than others, and they can recommend the best to you.

Also, if your dryer vents to a ground level exit, make sure you are not blocking the airflow of the outside vent opening with equipment, outdoor tools, or snow.

The Traditional List

You may have seen it many times: a seven-day chore list for housewives from the 1940’s and 1950’s. This list goes further back in most cultures and looks different to each, but The Good Housekeeping Housekeeping Book from 1947 lists:

• Monday: Grocery and Kitchen.

• Tuesday: Laundry.

• Wednesday: Bedrooms and Bathrooms.

• Thursday: Linens and Living Room.

• Friday: Groceries, Defrost Fridge, Dining Rooms & Halls.

• Weekend: Free Day/Family Day.

Do you do all your laundry on one day? Or do you break it up for a few days throughout the week? Or do you jump on the task whenever you have a few spare minutes? Let us know in the comments how you tackle your piles!

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