Laundry Solutions

[Rouge]

I thought I'd start a thread, as there has been a lot of questions on Laundry organisation and smelly washing machines and smelly clothes etc.

So post here your Laundry Solutions, whether its how you sort or organise your laundry. What you use to keep your washing clean and smelling fresh. And don't forget stain solutions

[Rouge]

Ok this is how I have my laundry sorted:

I have a laundry sorter with 3 sections, 1 for darks 1 for whites and 1 for delicates. (you can sort yours how you see fit ie, colours, darks, whites etc this is just what works for us)
If you don't have a laundry sorter, the spotless chic uses 3 plastic laundry bins (the baskets with lids) and sorts them this way. At bathtime I go to all the hampers with a laundry basket and get everyone's clothes and sort into the sorter. If a sorter is full I put it in the washing machine ready for either the next day, or so I can put the timer on so it starts before I wake. I try to do a load each day, and then an extra load for towels/sheets/shower curtains etc.

Now this is a fabulous thing I have done for over a week... some of you earthies probably have been doing this for a while but I'm a bit slow to catch on. I've been adding vinegar to my wash (about 2 tbs in the fabric softner section) and then add another 2 tbs to the washing liquid slot. I only use 1/3 of the suggestion amount of washing liquid. And add 1/4 cup of bicarb to the drum (because I have a front loader I use this amount, if you have a top loader about 1/2 cup). I store the bicarb in a ice cream container. Its not only making clothes cleaner, smelling fresher, the washing machine doesn't smell and the clothes are softer and they don't crinkle. It also is a lot cheaper than using straight detergent. Bicarb being $3.40 for a kg and vinegar a couple of dollars for 2 litres.

What are your tricks?

[*charmalea*]

I sort the coulors too , i have about 5 laundry baskets , one for whites , darks , smalls , towells/sheets etc. and one for hanging out the clothes ..

i wait untill i have big load and then i wash .

For stain removal i use LOC by amway or just one from the supermarket .
I use MCN and just prewash and rinse every time .

I like vinegar and bi carb too but dont use vinegar much when i was nappies .

I also hang all my clothes on the line (as my line is screwd to a wall ) from the ones least likely to sunfade at the front to my delicate clothes toward the back , if its really hot i wait till the sun is on the other side of the house to hang the clothes out as they stay softer.

and i soak anything with the tiniest stain with LOC or napisan (just the cheap brand) as i am a stain nazi . i have to get rid of them or the item goes

[DoubleK]

Cailin do you use bicarb and vinegar instead of any washing powder??

does the vinegar make your clothes smell like vinegar? i havent tried that one yet!

[Rouge]

Nope I add it to the wash. But I only use about 1/3-1/2 of the recommended washing detergent. Clothes definitely do not smell like vinegar

[amberj]

Does anyone know what to do about little black flecks appearing on clothes after they are washed? Like some kind of grime build up somewhere in the machine. The water that comes out stinks too! (sorry if this has been posted elsewhere, in a total rush at work)

[Netix]

I think my machine is about ten years old, a top loader, and the lid is always closed.

I meant to put vinegar in the last two loads I did, but I forgot. It would help if I put the vinegar in the laundry I suppose . About two tablespoons, right? I'm glad I went back to read that, as I would have used waaay too much!

I watched Lush House on Lifestyle yesterday, and saw Shannon's list of about ten things you need to clean with. I'll have to watch it again and write them down! I'm not too bad with using cleaners, but I can be better! Vinegar and bicarb are on there.

Bath, I'm with you on the folding and putting away! I have about three loads worth to do!

I also do ALL my washing in cold water, including the Man's uber greasy workshop clothes. My Mum says she would love to have two washing machines, side by side. She has a method of washing that is all her own I reckon. My late, Great Aunt (a brilliant woman) said the way to wash is "to take the clothes out of the water, not the water out of the clothes". This means that there is no lint left on the clothes, etc.

Titti, that's an interesting thought, using drawers as laundry bins. Very tidy. Lol about the cold water only washing 'weird thing'.