Photographer: Kristina Soljo
Most of us spend hours washing, drying and folding laundry every single week – often, doing one, two, or even three loads of laundry in addition to all the other cleaning tasks on our lists. While having clean clothes and linens is a must, there are ways to cut down on the time you spend doing (and sorting) laundry, so we can do more of the stuff we love (not laundry).
Here are some of our tried and tested tips for working smarter, not harder, when it comes to getting through the seemingly ever-growing washing pile.
Photographer: Martina Gemmola
1. Store sheets inside their matching pillowcases
Save time scrambling through the linen cupboard for your loose sheets. Bonus points for how much more organised it’ll look.
2. Get rid of sweat stains and save time on scrubbing
Use lemon juice, table salt (mixed with equal parts hot water), ammonia (mixed with equal parts hot water), aspirin (make it into a paste with water), white vinegar, baking soda or hydrogen peroxide (mixed with equal parts hot water) on the stains before washing.
3. Save time by sorting your clothes before you wash them
If you have the space, invest in four laundry baskets – one each for whites, darks, colours and any special items (for hand-washing or dry-cleaning).
Photographer: Jonathan VDK
4. To dry jumpers faster, lay them flat on a dry towel, then roll them up
Press gently to squeeze out excess water and then lay out to dry as normal. You can also throw a dry towel into the dryer to get your clothes to dry quicker.
5. Invest in a washing machine with a larger drum
Save on money, water and time by investing in a washing machine that can meet your laundry needs. Models with a larger drum size, with five kilos being the smallest and 14 being the biggest, are able to power through bigger loads with efficiency and ease.
6. For sticky stains (like chewing gum), put the whole garment in the freezer
Leave the stained clothing in the freezer, rather than wasting time trying to pick it off – it’ll peel off right away.
7. Quickly refresh your not-clean-yet-not-dirty clothes in between wash cycles with a steamer
If you’re under a time crunch, a handheld steamer is a perfect option for rejuvenating your daily pieces by efficiently deodorising and de-wrinkling.
Photographer: Alicia Taylor
8. Reduce your ironing time by hanging shirts and dresses on their hangers on the line
You can even integrate an internal hanging space into your laundry design.
9. Get your laundry in order
Save yourself the stress of trying to locate every wash, softener and soap by investing in effective laundry storage.
10. Get your chores done with a few quick taps on your smartphone
Nowadays, many washing machine models are packed with impressive techy features, with many now with a handy app that’ll allow you to control your washing machine while on the move. No more checking in every hour to see if your washing’s done!
Save time on laundry with these products
1. Heat Pump Dryer with Quick Dry and Wrinkle Prevent
$1,819 at Samsung
Kill two birds (or chores) with one stone. The quick dry setting on this dryer pairs with the wrinkle prevention technology to create a fast, minimal effort result that’s ready for you to grab and go! There’s no need for ironing or to wait around for your clothes to air dry.
Key features:
- 8kg capacity
- Quick Dry setting only takes 35 mins
- 9 star energy efficient
- Minimises wrinkles
- Reversible door
2. Tango Group Laundry Wash Sheets
$6 at Spotlight
These laundry sheets are the easiest alternative to detergents and fabric softeners money can buy. Simply throw one or two – depending on your load size – into the washing machine with your clothes and you’re away laughing.
Key features:
- 25 sheets in a pack
- Breakable into smaller sheets for hand washing or small loads
- Clean and spill-free
- Works in all washing machines
- Easy and portable for camping or travelling
3. Swiftdry Lifestyle Colonial Clothes Airer
$324 at Trade Tested
We all know heat rises, right? With that in mind, it only makes sense to hang your laundry overhead for a faster dry. Save money on power and let the air around you do all the work by simply hanging your freshly washed clothes on the rack and walking away.
Key features:
- Sleek, compact design
- Made from warp-resistant wood and metals
- 160mm between each rail
- Holds up to 20kgs of laundry at a time
- Easy DIY installation
4. Large Foldable Laundry Hamper with Three Sections
$39.95 at BestDeals
We’ve already discussed the difference it makes to divide your clothes into different colour/shade categories. Stand one of these hampers in the corner of your room and sort your clothes as you wear them throughout the week.
Key features:
- Large capacity
- 3 sections to divide your clothes into
- Handles for easy carrying
- Compactable design
- Multi-functional
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