Top 20 Laundry Hacks to Make Cleaning a Breeze

Stains are annoying as is – that's not news to anyone. They can ruin your favourite shirt and they can be extremely stubborn when it comes to washing them out. However, they usually don't happen too often. And therefore, we wouldn't blame anyone for not having a stain remover on hand.

However, you don't necessarily need one! Just put a pinch of baking soda on the stain and top it off with a few drops of white vinegar. Let that sit for a few minutes and then throw it into the washing machine as usual. While we can't guarantee that this method will always be as effective as a traditional stain remover, it can get you out of a bind.

Unlike in the previous tips, we're sure everyone has an iron on hand. However, it takes a lot of time to iron clothes – especially if you have to do a full laundry load. Luckily, however, there's a different way to go about it.

Most people know that steam is a wrinkle's worst enemy. However, not many would immediately think of this next tip. Just toss a few ice cubes into the dryer along with your wrinkled clothes. As the ice melts, it will create steam and hopefully get rid of all those nasty wrinkles!

When washing your blanket or your duvet, you usually have to wash the covers separately. Otherwise, the filling gets all jumbled and lumpy! However, it doesn't have to go that way.

All you have to do is take some string and sow the covers to the insert at the corners. You can use easily visible coloured thread (such as red) in case you want to remove the thread later. Not only will this keep your duvet from getting lumpy in the washing machine but it will save you a lot of frustration during the night as well.

Dryer sheets are incredibly handy. However, you can't be expected to always be on top of your game and have them handy! But fear not, as there's something else you can use in their stead – aluminium foil.

Not only is this something you're likely to already have lying around but it's quite the economical substitution as well. After all, you don't need too much of it and it can be reused quite a few times. Plus, whether you call it aluminium or “aluminum” foil, you can't deny the fact that it seems to have quite a few uses outside of what you'd expect.

While having laundry detergent is essential – no one's thrilled when they see those nasty detergent residue marks on their favourite clothes! However, vinegar makes a second appearance and saves the day.

Just throw in a cup of distilled white vinegar during the final washing cycles. That's all there is to it! However, don't use up all the vinegar just yet, as it's bound to reappear sooner or later on this list.

When you hang your wet clothes out to dry, it's not uncommon for them to form a crease right down the middle. After all, wet clothes are heavy and they're usually hung on a very thin line or the drying rack.

However, with the help of a pool noodle, that issue can stay in the past. Just cut it down the middle and put the pool noodle over your clotheslines. This way, the clothes can be draped over and you no longer have to worry about any creases forming.

Of all the stains, sweat stains can be particularly annoying. That's because they're often very difficult to get out and they can form under the armpits without you even noticing! However, just like in the previous example, there's a DIY remedy.

All you have to do is to mix baking soda with water so that you create a paste. Scrub said paste into the affected clothes (and do it thoroughly). After that, rinse all the paste out with cold water, let the clothes dry and then toss it in the washing machine for a regular clean.

This one is very simple and even obvious to some but it's still worth pointing out. If you keep going to the laundry room to check on the dryer and your clothes are still damp, here's all you need to do.

Just clean out the dryer's lint trap and ventilation. After all, dryers rely on air coming through, so, if there's any obstruction, the process will slow down. And if you haven't cleaned the dyer in the past 6 months, the dryer lint has probably accumulated by now.

Losing one of your socks basically feels like part of the laundry routine – as we've all been there. However, keeping them in check is rather simple when you think about it.

All you have to do is use a laundry mesh bag for all of your socks. That way, it's virtually impossible for one to slip away without some dark sorceries being at play. Plus, you should have a mesh laundry bag anyway – so, it shouldn't come at an extra cost.

While we all want clean clothes, what's the point if they no longer fit? And if you have a favourite wool sweater, you've definitely been in a situation where it shrunk in the wash quite significantly.

However, there's a pretty easy way to solve your shrunken sweater problem. All you have to do is sink the sweater in a tub with water and baby shampoo for about 12-24 hours. After that's done, just stretch it out a bit while it's drying and you should be good!

While it's not really sustainable to only wash your clothes with a DIY fabric softener forever, it can be a lifesaver! Especially since it's rather easy to do. And, you guessed it, you need some more vinegar. Alternatively, you can buy some of the best fabric softeners we've found as well.

All you have to do is create a solution that's six parts water, two parts hair conditioner six parts water, three parts distilled white vinegar, and two parts hair conditioner. The hair conditioner will give it a fresh smell and we've already seen how much white vinegar can do on its own! If you suffer from allergies, double check if you want to use a fabric softener on your clothes.

Although dry-erase marker stains are a joke when applied to a hard, flat surface, they're a nightmare when it comes to clothes. And if you have a child who's especially creative, you'll probably encounter these stains more frequently than even grass stains!

So, here's what you need to do. Place some paper towels on a table and then place the affected item of clothing on top, making sure that the stain lands face-first on the towels. Then, dab rubbing alcohol into the fabric from behind, changing the towels as they get wet. And, that's it! It might take a while and the clothes still need to be washed but the stain is gone.

When putting your shoes in the dryer, it can be both annoying and unsettling to hear them banging around the entire time. However, the solution is simpler than you'd probably guess.

All you have to do is close the door with the laces still out. This way the shoes remain secured and you can have your peace of mind back. Just make sure that the door is in fact closed.

Laundry can be hectic even when doing a single load. However, if the dirty clothes from the entire family suddenly need to get washed, it can get much worse. So, you need a way to stay organised and keep track of all the items that need special attention.

And the solution is quite simple. First off, use separate hampers in order to pick out which clothes need special attention. Secondly, either by using a sticky note or by writing it down on the tiles above the hamper, set a reminder of which clothes go in which hamper.

Unless you have truly mastered folding laundry, making sure that every T-shirt remains in tip-top condition can be an uphill battle. However, with a shirt folding board, life gets a lot easier.

Not only does it speed up the process but you don't even have to think about it anymore. Plus, this is the easiest way to teach your children to fold their own laundry as well! And the best part is, you can make one right now by just using some cardboard.

If you have a pet, your lint roller is likely getting quite the workout. However, lint rollers are typically very small and de-linting an entire couch can take some time.

So, why not just get a paint roller and use some double-sided tape in order to create the ultimate lint roller? This way, even the mightiest of mattresses will be lint-free in a snap. At least, for about 5 minutes.

One of the best parts about jeans is that they don't have to be washed as often as most other pants. However, that doesn't mean you can wear them indefinitely! And once you do wash them, expect them to fade out a bit.

Or, at least so we've all thought. As it turns out, you can simply fold your jeans and put them in the freezer overnight. Come morning, most of the odour will be gone and they'll feel crisp and clean! However, this is a short-term solution and you'll have to wash them eventually.

When ironing your shirt, it can be very difficult to get in between the button and smooth over all the nooks and crannies. However, you likely already have a much better alternative lying around – a hair iron.

As long as you make sure that the hair iron is completely clean, it can easily get any and all wrinkles out in a pinch. And since it's a lot smaller, it's also infinitely easier to manoeuvre around.

If you're in a fancy restaurant and suddenly stain your pants while eating some delicious meatballs, the night could seem ruined. After all, you'll have to walk around with a massive stain all night and it will probably have set by the time you get home.

However, you can minimise the damage! Just take some white bread and lightly dab it over the stain in order to absorb as much of it as you can. That way, it won't be as obvious and it will be a lot easier to get out later on.