Queen of Clean: 10 Laundry Hacks Your Life Needs Now

Not only does laundry seem like a never-ending chore for most of us, the supplies can get pretty expensive when you add up the cost of detergent, fabric softener, bleach, stain fighter, dryer sheets, etc. It turns out there are quite a few tricks and tips to make washing clothes a tad less painful, a bit more budget-friendly, a little more planet-friendly and a lot more chemical-free. You’ll wonder how you ever managed without these 10 life-changing laundry hacks!

1. Sweat Stains

Pit stains are the worst! Luckily, there are several easy ways to refresh your yellowed underarms. Spot treat by rubbing equal parts of lemon juice and water on the stains before washing or dampen and sprinkle on some meat tenderizer. Another trick is to crush two aspirins and mix them with warm water; apply the mixture to stains and let sit for two or three hours.

2. Vinegar

Vinegar fixes just about everything. Add a cup of white vinegar at the beginning of your wash cycle to banish stubborn odors. It also acts as a fabric softener and you can even clean your washing machine with it.

3. Lipstick Stains

Since dark lip color is totally in right now, you need a fool-proof way to get out lipstick stains. Believe it or not, all it takes is a slice of white bread. Just cut off the crust, roll the bread into a ball and blot the stain. Who knew?

4. Oil Stains

If you work on machinery in the garage or always wind up with a vestige of your meal somewhere on your ensemble, white chalk is your new best friend. Just rub it on any grease stain before washing. You can also use artificial sweetener to soak up the grease on the spot.

5. Jeans

According to Levi Strauss, the first laundry hack you should know for jeans is don’t wash them so much. That’s easy! If you want to keep a dark rinse dark, add a cup of vinegar and a quarter cup of salt to the wash cycle.

6. Brighten Brights

Washing clothes often washes out clothes too. Keep your colors bright by adding ½ cup of baking soda or a few teaspoons of black pepper to the wash cycle.

7. Undo Shrinkage

Never lose a piece of beloved clothing to shrinkage again. When something comes out two sizes smaller than when it went in, simply soak it in baby shampoo and water. Then roll the garment up in a towel and squeeze to remove all of the excess water. Lay it flat and gently pull it back out to its original size and shape.

8. Static Free

Forget dryer sheets — instead, toss a tennis ball wrapped in tin foil into the dryer to get rid of static.

9. DIY Detergent

Laundry detergent ain’t cheap these days. Cut costs and go totally all-natural and non-toxic by making your own with this easy recipe from The DIY Village.

10. DIY Dryer Sheets & Balls

It’s silly to make your own detergent and then use store-bought dryer sheets and balls. Make easy scented dryer sheets with squares of cotton fabric, vinegar and essential oil. For all-natural dryer balls to speed drying and save energy, all you need are wool yarn and a pair of old pantyhose.

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