Make life easier by limiting the time you spend doing laundry
How Often Do You Need to Do Laundry for One Person?
Laundry is very subjective, but it is recommended that you should be doing at least one load of laundry a week, depending on how often you re-wear clothes and what kind of daily lifestyle you have.
Even in normal times, no one wants to do more laundry than they have to. But when you get older and have less energy, doing even a weekly load of laundry can be a challenge. Especially if it’s in the basement.
Here are 10 tips to keep your laundry hampers and baskets emptier for longer.
TIP 1: Don’t Wash It After a Single Wear
We know, we know. Some things should only be worn once: Underwear, for instance, or a close-fitting blouse. But the vast majority of clothing shouldn’t be pitched in the hamper after the first wear. Good Housekeeping recommends washing everything from pajamas to bras to jeans once every two-three wears, a tactic that will not only cut down on laundry but keep your clothes in good shape for longer by reducing wear and tear.
- Wash after 2-3 wears: Sweaters, bras, shirts, blouses, and sleepwear
- Wash after 4-5, wears: Jeans and suits/blazers
Towels should also be washed after around three uses to ensure that bacteria are not accumulating on the fabric.
tIP 2: Stock Up On Underwear
Stock up on those must-wash items so that they don’t send you down to the laundry room every few days. Underwear is an obvious choice, and it’s easy enough to in bulk. But don’t forget undershirts and camisoles, as well as plenty of socks. Also, consider sticking to one color and type of fabric to simplify laundry days and reduce the amount of delicates that need special treatment.
TIP 3: Hang It Up and Air It Out
To remove a slite odor from wear-it-more-than-once stuff. Hang up your clothing after you take it off. Ona hook over the door, a special section in your closet, on a chair, or outside for an hour. The goal is to keep air circulating around your garments and keeps them from getting too rumpled.
TIP 4: Opt For Natural Fibers
There’s a lot to be said for polyester and acrylic fibers: They’re often durable, wrinkle-resistant, and inexpensive. But they also tend to trap moisture more than natural fibers. Fabrics that do a good job of keeping odor at bay include cotton, rayon, linen, wool, silk, and bamboo.
TIP 5: Try Out Some Travel Clothing
If you’d rather not pore over labels to figure out which clothes are least likely to get rumpled and stinky, try shopping for specially designed-travel clothing. Pieces are typically made from quick-drying materials that are wrinkle- and odor-resistant. I LOVE, LOVE UniGLo HEATTECH line.
TIP 6: Unstink Your Clothing
So you’ve worn a particular garment and it looks fine, but the smell is another story? It may not have to go in the hamper quite yet. There are plenty of ways to absorb the odor, including putting balled-up newspapers under the arms, hanging them outside in the sun for an hour, or sprinkling baking soda over smelly spots. You can also try a commercial deodorizer like Febreze.
TIP 7: Shower Before Bed
The only thing worse than dragging a full load of clothing to the laundry room is dragging an additional load of bedding. Keep your sheets smelling fresh a bit longer by taking your shower right before you go to sleep. That will help your body get rid of the dead skin cells that flake off at night.
TIP 8: Declutter Your Wardrobe
It might seem counterintuitive, but the more clothing you have, the more laundry you’ll likely generate — after all, the need to wear something more than once won’t be as pressing.
TIP 9: Spray First, Dress Later
Spray on your favorite fragrance before getting dressed, not after. Perfume can discolor delicate fabrics. If you do notice a stain, treat it with cold water as soon as possible.
TIP 10: Change Your Deodorant
Pit stains are common but avoidable. Use aluminum-free deodorant, make sure you don’t overapply, and let it dry completely before putting on your shirt.
These tips can help stop your laundry hamper from getting too full too often.
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