Ever wondered why your favorite sweater shrinks or why that fresh laundry smell disappears after just one wash? According to Eileen Martínez, an expert in household tips, the culprit isn’t always your detergent—it’s how you wash your clothes. From overloaded machines to forgotten post-wash habits, these small mistakes can turn laundry day into a disaster. Let’s dive into the simple, grandmother-approved tips that can save your wardrobe.
Don’t dump everything in the machine at once
We’ve all been there: a mountain of laundry and the urge to get it all done in one shot. But overloading your washing machine is like trying to bake ten cakes in one oven—it just doesn’t work. When the drum is too full, water and detergent can’t circulate properly. Your clothes come out damp, barely cleaned, and sometimes even smellier than before.
Instead, split your laundry into smaller loads. Leave a fist-sized gap in the drum to let clothes move freely. This movement is what helps loosen dirt and stains naturally.
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Separate, then separate again
If you’ve ever pulled a white shirt out of the wash and found it mysteriously pink, you know this rule: colors and textures don’t mix. According to Eileen, the golden trio of sorting is simple—whites, colors, and jeans. But don’t stop there. Keep heavily soiled items apart, too. Dirt can transfer from one piece of clothing to another during the wash, leaving everything less clean.
Think of it like cooking: you wouldn’t chop raw chicken with the same knife you use for veggies. Treat your laundry with the same care, and those accidental color “accidents” will be history.
Less detergent is more
We’ve been sold the idea that more detergent equals cleaner clothes. In reality, it’s the opposite. Overdosing on detergent creates excess foam that traps dirt instead of rinsing it away. The result? Residue, funky odors, and a tired washing machine.
The fix is simple: measure your detergent. Use a spoon or cup—never just “eyeball it.” And if you’re unsure, use a little less than recommended. Your machine will rinse better, and your fabrics will feel softer without all that build-up.
Zip it, flip it, and button it up
Here’s a tiny trick that makes a big difference: before washing, close all zippers and buttons and turn your clothes inside out. This protects fabrics from unnecessary wear and tear and helps colors last longer. It’s one of those “old-school” habits that’s stood the test of time because it works.
Drying done right
Once the wash is done, don’t just toss everything on a drying rack and hope for the best. Sopping-wet clothes take forever to dry and can start to smell musty. Give them a gentle hand-press to remove extra water or run an extra spin cycle before hanging them up.
When hanging clothes, space them out. Crowding everything together traps moisture and slows down drying. Heavy items like jeans? Hang them on sturdy hangers. For shirts or delicate tops, a couple of clothespins do the trick.
And one more thing—flip those thick items halfway through drying. This keeps damp spots from turning into bad smells.
The vinegar trick for stubborn odors
If your laundry still smells less than fresh, here’s a grandmother-approved hack: white vinegar. Add a splash during the wash or hand-rinse your clothes with it. Once rinsed, the vinegar smell vanishes, taking stubborn odors with it.
For an extra touch, tuck a cotton ball with a few drops of essential oil (lavender, lemon, or eucalyptus) in your closet. Or go full vintage and hang a small sachet of cinnamon sticks and cloves.
