Doing laundry away from home for the first time is intimidating. This is especially true if you’ve never done your own laundry before! While laundry can be time-consuming and annoying, it doesn’t have to be difficult. Here, we’ll review our top ten laundry tips for college students to make laundry day a breeze.
1. Zip, Clasp, Empty
Before you wash anything, close all the zippers, snaps, velcro, etc. This will help prevent any snagging or tearing in the washing machine. While you’re at it, check your pockets and make sure they’re empty. An Airpod casualty will definitely ruin your day. Then, unbunch your socks so they wash and dry properly.
2. Sort Out Darks and Lights/Whites
Look, we know you’re probably not going to sort out all your clothes into three different machines. But you should at least sort out white and light-colored clothing and wash it in a separate machine from your darks. This will prevent bleeding from ruining your light clothes.
3. Wash on Cold
Unless your clothes are absolutely filthy, you can wash everything on cold. This will prevent your clothes from shrinking or fading. Whites, towels, and anything extra dirty might need a hot water wash cycle.
4. Get Your Supplies Together
You’ll need a basket or some sort of bag to transport your laundry in. You’ll also need some type of detergent, a stain remover, and dryer sheets or wool dryer balls. If you choose to use bleach or fabric softener, grab those too. Just try not to use them too much. Both can damage your clothes if used too often or improperly.
5. Pick a Day and Stick To It
Pick a set laundry day and stick to the schedule. Doing your laundry once a week will keep it from piling up too much. It’ll also make sure things don’t get too smelly.
6. Set a Timer
Doing laundry at an apartment complex or laundry mat means you need to be considerate of the other people using the machines. Use your phone to set an alarm for when your laundry will be done so you don’t forget or lose track of time. Otherwise, someone might get irritated and dump your clean clothes on the floor.
7. Check the Lint Trap
You need to empty the lint trap EVERY SINGLE TIME. Your clothes will dry better and faster, plus you won’t risk burning your apartment building to the ground.
8. Don’t Overload the Machine
This one is an often overlooked item on a list of laundry tips for college students. When you’re loading machines, don’t stuff them full. The clothes need space to roll around in order to wash and dry properly.
9. Use Mesh Laundry Bags
If you don’t want to use a separate machine for clothes that need a delicate cycle, you can use mesh laundry bags. This can include your work clothes, bras, or underwear. These are also good for sweaters or anything else that needs a more gentle wash.
10. Pretreat Your Stains
If you have any stains on your clothes, it’s important to treat them before they go into the wash. Just spray them with your favorite laundry stain remover as soon as possible after they get dirty. Always check the stain before you dry the item. If you dry the clothes before the stain is completely gone, it gets a lot harder to get them out.
Between work, classes, friends, and dates, nobody wants to spend extra time doing laundry. Following these easy tips will help you stay on top of your laundry and keep you looking great all semester! If you need more help, check out our complete guide to laundry for beginners!
