9 Laundry Tips, Tricks & Hacks

The feeling of wearing your favorite clothes is unmatched; especially when they are brand new. Fast forward a few months, and the excitement seems to have faded away. But, why? One of the biggest challenges we face when buying new clothes is our efforts to keep them looking and feeling new. As clothes get worn and washed multiple times, the life span of them can shorten.

The material of the clothes play a crucial role in how fresh they will look after some time. Surprisingly, your dry cleaning provider may also be responsible for shortening the lifespan of your garments. It’s important to pay attention to how your clothes are dry cleaned. Nobody wants their expensive designer garments to be ruined due to improper care!

So how do you keep clothes looking new and fresh? Here are 9 laundry tips and tricks that can help:

1. Washing Machine Settings

If you insist on taking on the challenge of laundering at home, then making sure you’re using the correct washer settings is important. Whether it’s a $10 t-shirt or a $200 shirt, most of your garments should be washed on your machines gentlest cycle. Depending on the washer, these could be labeled as hand wash, gentle or delicate. It’s always a good idea to read the labels on the garment to get a better idea of how it should be washed.

Professional dry cleaners, like Jack’s Cleaners, know exactly how each type of cloth and fabric needs to be handled. Washing a delicate dress on incorrect settings on a home washer can permanently damage the dress. To be safe, using a local dry cleaner is always recommended.

2. Use Cold Water

In our opinion, this is one of the most important laundry tips! Using hot or warm water to wash clothes made from cotton, wool and linen often leads to shrinkage. In addition to shrinking in the wash, hot water settings accelerate the fading process and shorten the lifespan of garments.

That said, make sure to always use the coldest water setting the washer offers, unless otherwise stated on the labels. Using cold water can help extend the life of your clothing and prevent accelerate fading due to heat. Using cold water is also better for the environment, and we love that at Jack’s Cleaners.

3. Air-Drying

Using a dryer to dry clothes that have already shrunk or are extremely durable is not a problem. However, using the dryer on articles of clothing that are delicate, is bad news. The same way hot water can cause shrinkage, fading and damage; heat from the dryer can too!

Your best bet is so use a clothesline; if you have the space. If space is a concern, then opting for a foldable or collapsible drying rack works wonders. Ideally, you want to keep clothes from being dried by the sun, and if you can, shape wet shirts and jeans and dry them flat.

If you absolutely have to use the dryer, it’s highly recommended that you use a gentle setting. Most modern dryers have either air-dry or air-fluff settings. Remember to always test these settings before throwing in a full load.

4. Using The Right Detergent

It’s easy to walk into a store and just pick up the cheapest detergent and call it a day. But not all detergents are equal! Certain detergents can keep colors from fading, prevent shrinkage, and work well on delicate fabrics. Avoid using powdered detergents as they can be harsh on clothing, so go for a liquid one.

If you’re unsure about which detergent to use, Woolite and The Laundress offer excellent formulas that can keep your clothes looking and feeling new for much longer. It’s always a good idea to read online reviews and do your own research to pick out the detergent that works best for you.

5. Wash Clothes Inside Out

When it comes to laundry tips and tricks, this is one that we cant recommend enough! Be sure to turn all of garments inside-out before throwing them into the washer. That goes for shirts, dresses, jeans, and whatever you want to preserve for longer.

Turning clothes inside-out, especially shirts with screen printed graphics, can prevent damage. It makes sense, by using this trick, if by chance your clothes were to get damaged, then the inside would take the beating, not the outside.

6. Check The Labels

As mentioned in laundry tip number one, always check the labels! And not just on your garments, but on the detergent too. Carefully following label instructions can save your clothes in the long run, and is highly recommended.

If you’re not sure, it’s always best to take your clothes to a professional dry cleaner. Here at Jack’s Cleaners, we meticulously care for your garments as if they were our own. Keep clothes fresh and new guaranteed by utilizing a professional dry cleaning service.

7. Don’t Over-Wash

This laundry tip seems to always be overlooked. Naturally, we have habit of wearing something once and immediately tossing it in the hamper. Contrary to popular belief, clothes can be worn more than once! In fact, most high-end denim manufacturers advise against washing denim regularly. By over-washing your clothes, they can lose fabric strength over time. Only wash clothes when you know they are dirty or there is a noticeable odor.

8. Use Mesh Laundry Bags

Mesh laundry bags provide a protective layer between the clothes and harshness of the washer. These bags are made from polyester mesh which is incredibly resilient and porous. The mesh is permeable enough to let soap and water in without allowing other particles in. By using a mesh bag, you can totally avoid accidents like rips and snags in the harsh washing conditions. This bag along with the laundry tips and tricks above is a winner laundry game plan!

9. Shop Smarter

This tip doesn’t directly correlate with laundry and washing, but is the first step in ensuring long-lasting clothes. Even if you’re not washing at home and plan on using a professional dry cleaning service, this trick can save you time and money. The next time you go shopping for new clothes, keep an eye out for the fabrics it’s made out of. Sticking with fabrics that are durable and less prone to damage is a game-changer.

Conclusion

There you have it! Nine of the best laundry tips and tricks to keep your clothes feeling fresh and looking new. Remember, if you’re ever unsure about how to wash a specific garment, always reach out to a professional dry cleaner.

If you have any questions, please feel free to give us a call at 626-797-7323, or stop by our store at 2465 E Washington Blvd, Pasadena, CA 91104 and we would be more than happy to answer any and all questions you may have!