Doing your laundry seems to be a never-ending task. You sort, wash, dry, iron, and fold it, then the process is repeated in a few days. Whether you already have your ideal routine down or you’re dreading the task, you can always use some more tips on how to get a perfectly clean load each time.

Here are some tips on always having fresh and clean laundry:

1.   Always sort your laundry

There are a few ways you can sort your laundry. The first is sorting by color. You always want to separate black from white and bright colors from darker ones to avoid color transfer. Besides sorting colors, you should separate different types of fabrics. You don’t want your delicate materials ruined by buttons or zippers from your other garments.

Be careful not to overload your machine’s capacity when putting in your load. Make sure that the clothes are evenly distributed. Another tip when loading your laundry is to turn your clothing inside out to avoid pulling.

2.   Read the labels carefully

Learn how to read labels correctly because those will contain important information on properly cleaning clothes and making their lifespan longer. If you don’t pay proper attention to them, that can result in fabric stretching, shrinking, or ripping. Additionally, you don’t want to make the mistake of putting your delicate items in the washer when they may require professional care, such as dry cleaning.

3.   Dry clean your items

To prevent damage, some fabrics, particularly fragile ones like 100% cotton, silk, or wool, should always be sent to be dry cleaned. Although dry cleaning is readily available across the US, you should still be careful where you send your clothes.

Dry cleaning is becoming more readily available today, especially with pick-up and delivery services that will make the task stress-free and easy. For example, this business for dry cleaning in NJ allows you to schedule a pick-up and take all the work off your hands.

Dry cleaning should still be used sparingly, only once every three months.

4.   Use the right temperature

Sometimes, the temperature you should wash your clothes is written on the label, but in case you don’t have it, here is a quick guide:

Use cold water for delicate fabrics and fabrics that can bleed color out or have a tendency to shrink.

Use hot water for white cotton, towels, bed sheets, and items that have heavy stains.

5.   Use the right amount of detergent

Contrary to what you may believe, your clothes won’t be cleaner if you add more detergent. While adding additional detergent to filthy loads may be tempting, doing so can cause the extra detergent to linger on clothes and lead to buildup. You don’t want to end up washing your clothes twice, so to avoid this problem, follow the instructions on the detergent box.

6.   Don’t let your clothes sit for too long

Once your load is done washing, immediately transfer the clothes to a dryer for two reasons: to avoid unpleasant smells and prevent wrinkles from setting in.

Like when washing, you should pay attention to the label to check the heat level you should use to dry your clothes. Some items will be suitable for air drying only, so set those aside before turning on your machine.

An excellent hack for avoiding static in the machine is tossing in a couple of balls of aluminum foil with your clothes. They are reusable and will prevent clothing from sticking together, therefore preventing static buildup.

7.   Maintain your machine

Every time you use your washing machine, wipe it down. Remember to leave the door open when your machine is not in use so it can air dry. Doing so will prevent the growth of mold and mildew that can cause odors.

From time to time, you can run a cycle with hot water and add white vinegar. This will get rid of the mildew or mold smell that may appear.