14 Laundry Tips & Tricks

Laundry might seem straightforward, but using the right techniques can make a big difference in keeping your clothes clean, fresh, and long-lasting.

Whether you're trying to avoid shrinking your favourite sweater, remove stubborn odours, or prevent fading, knowing a few key tips can transform your laundry routine.

From sorting clothes correctly to choosing the right wash cycle, these simple tricks will help you care for your garments more effectively and save time. Read below for Droplet’s 14 essential laundry tips!

1) Sort Your Clothes before Washing
One of the most basic, yet important steps in laundry is sorting your clothes. Separate your

laundry into different categories such as whites, darks, colours, athletic clothes and delicates.

Sorting your clothes helps prevent colour bleeding and ensures that each fabric type gets the appropriate care.

2) Use Different Temperatures For Different Colours
Using the right water temperature is crucial for laundry. Cold water works well for darks and bright colours to prevent fading, while warm or hot water is ideal for heavily soiled items, such as towels or bedding, to remove dirt and bacteria.

Always check the garment label to see the recommended temperature.

3) Wash Whites Separately
To keep your whites bright, always wash them separately from coloured clothes. Even the smallest amount of colour from another garment can tint whites over time.

For an extra brightening boost, add a whitening agent, baking soda or vinegar to the load.

4) Hand Wash Your Delicates
Items like lace, silk, and lingerie are best hand-washed or dry-cleaned to prevent damage. Use cold water and a gentle detergent designed for delicate fabrics. Let them soak for a few minutes, gently agitate them, and then rinse thoroughly before air drying.

Alternatively, bring your delicates into Droplet and our dry-cleaning experts will handle the rest.

5) Learn What Clothes Need Dry Cleaning
Some fabrics require dry cleaning to preserve their quality. Materials like wool, silk, suede, and velvet often benefit from the delicate, water-free process of dry cleaning. Always check the label to avoid accidentally washing a garment that needs professional care.

6) Learn The Correct Wash Cycle
Choosing the right wash cycle can extend the life of your clothes. Use a gentle cycle for delicates, a normal cycle for everyday items, and a heavy-duty cycle for items like towels and bedding.

Learning the right setting helps avoid unnecessary damage to your clothes while also ensuring they are properly cleaned.

7) Learn The Correct Dry Settings
Just like with washing, using the correct dry settings can make a big difference. Lower heat settings are better for delicate items and fabrics that are prone to shrinkage, while higher heat is ideal for towels and thicker materials. Air drying is another great option for delicate items.

8) Maintain Your Washer and Dryer
Regular maintenance of your washer and dryer can improve their performance and extend their lifespan. Run an empty cycle with white vinegar or a washing machine cleaner every month to remove detergent buildup and odours. Clean your washing machine filter ever 1-3 months

For the dryer, clear out any lint buildup in the ducts for better airflow.

9) Clean The Lint Trap
Always clean the lint trap in your dryer after every load. A clogged lint trap can reduce drying efficiency and even pose a fire hazard. Keeping the trap clear ensures your dryer works more efficiently and reduces drying time.

10) Run Smaller Loads
Overloading the washer or dryer can cause your clothes to not clean or dry properly. Smaller loads allow the clothes to move around more freely, ensuring that water, detergent, and heat are distributed evenly. It also helps to prevent damage to fabrics from excessive friction.

11) Don’t Let Clothes Sit For Too Long
Once your laundry cycle is finished, don’t leave your clothes sitting in the washer or dryer. Letting wet clothes sit in the washer can lead to mildew and long-lasting bad odours. Clothes left in the dryer can develop deep wrinkles that are hard to remove.

Take advantage of your washer and dryer’s timer features to avoid fresh laundry sitting in the washer and dryer for too long.

12) Use A Mesh Bag To Keep Socks Together
Using a mesh laundry bag can help make sure you never lose a sock ever again! Simply place all your socks in the bag before tossing them in the washer.

Mesh laundry bags are also great for protecting delicate items like lingerie in the wash. Avoid bags with hooks or fastenings as they can snag clothing.

13) Baking Soda Can Help With Clothes Odour
For stubborn odours, add a half cup of baking soda to your wash cycle. Baking soda is a natural deodoriser that neutralises smells and helps freshen up your clothes, especially items like gym clothes or towels that tend to retain odours.

14) Use Ice Cubes to De-wrinkle Clothes
A simple trick to remove wrinkles without ironing is to toss a couple of ice cubes into the dryer with your wrinkled clothes. As the dryer heats up, the ice will melt, creating steam that helps to smooth out wrinkles.

Summary
By following Droplet’s laundry guide, you can make laundry day easier and keep your clothes looking and feeling cleaner. Always remember to read your garment’s care label before washing.

If you’re ever unsure of how to clean a garment or would like professional assistance, reach out to Droplet and our dry-cleaning experts will happily assist you.