Doing laundry is not always the most exciting household task, but with the right tips, it can be a breeze. Here are five laundry tips that will not only make your clothes look better but also save you time and effort.

1. Pre-Treat Stains Immediately

Stains on your clothing are best dealt with immediately to prevent them from setting. Keep a small spray bottle filled with a mixture of water and a few drops of liquid dish soap. Spray the stained area and gently rub it in before throwing the item in the wash. Or use a soap stain remover stick, suitable for removing fruit, coffee, tea, ink, grass, blood, and wine stains. For tougher stains, consider making a paste of 1 part liquid dish soap, 2 part hydrogen peroxide and 1 part baking soda. Let it sit for 1 hour before throwing in the laundry machine.

2. Select the correct temperature

Washing textiles and clothing with the correct temperature is essential to prevent their colors from fading. The best temperature depends on the color, fabric and how dirty your clothes are. For items with stains, warm water is usually the best option.

• Cold water: Best for washing delicate fabrics likely to shrink such wool, silk, bright or dark-colored fabrics, linens, shoes, and mixed loads. Cold water is also great for saving energy and sustainable. Make sure to pre-treat or pre-soak for heavy stains
• Warm water: Use for fabrics like nylon and poly-blends, blouses, dresses, jeans, knits and fabrics that shouldn’t be ironed.
• Hot water (Above 50 Celsius): Typically for whites, towels, sheets, heavily soiled items and pre-shrunk fabrics with hot water. Hot water can help remove stains like sweat, germs, makeup, and other heavy stains.  However, hot water can shrink, fade and damage some fabrics, so be sure to read your clothing labels before selecting the hot option.

3. Use Vinegar for Brighter Whites

White clothes can become dull over time, but a simple hack with vinegar can help. Add half a cup of white vinegar in your of fabric softener drawer. Vinegar acts as a natural fabric softener and helps to break down detergent residues that can cause yellowing. Not only is it much better choice for you clothes, but better for the environment since your not using any harmful ingredients. Your whites will come out looking brighter and feeling softer. Or use natural bleach to boost your white clothes. For an extra brightening boost, hang laundry in the sun for natural bleaching.

4. Mesh Bags for Delicates

To keep your delicate items like lingerie, bras and lace in good condition, wash them in a mesh laundry bag for extra protection. This prevents tangling and stretching, ensuring your delicates stay intact. It’s also great for washing socks to avoid any mysterious disappearing. Most mesh laundry bags are made from polyester so we recommend choosing one made from cotton to prevent from any microplastics being released.

5. Wool Dryer Balls for Fluffier Clothing

For soft clothing, throw a couple of wool dryer balls into the dryer. The balls help to aerate the clothing, breaking up clumps and preventing stiffness, in sense they work as a fabric softener. Dryer balls also help to reduce the drying time so you'll be saving more energy in the end.

With these 5 laundry tips, you can ensure that your clothes stay looking fresh, clean, and well-cared for. Happy laundering!