Busy households and working individuals have little left on the weekends for chores like laundry. However, laundry is not something to be skipped if you want fresh clothes for your next work week.
Clean clothes are a must, whether you have a busy workweek ahead or a leisurely one. To achieve this, most plan to do their laundry on the weekend when they have some downtime by visiting one of New York’s 4,240 laundromats or using the washing machine at home. In doing all of these, people face the common challenges of sorting, time management, stains, folding, and storage.
Here we list 10 simple, actionable, and beginner-friendly tips to make your weekly laundry chores effortless.
1. Sort Clothes Before Laundry Day
If you don’t want to face the mishap of one of the clothes bleeding color and affecting others, sorting is a must. Use divided hampers for whites, darks, and delicates. While you might think the process is tedious, using divided hampers from the get-go simplifies the process, cuts laundry time in half, and saves you from the hassle of discolored clothes.
2. Pre-Treat Stains Immediately
Food, grease, oil, ink, and dirt stains on your clothes are not out of the norm. To prevent permanent spots on your favorite garments, pre-treat all stains using the right methods, which include quick stain-removal wipes or sprays. Pre-treating stains helps you save time rewashing the garment multiple times to get the stain out.
3. Wash Larger Loads Less Frequently
Larger loads not only take a lot of time but also consume excessive amounts of water and energy. Plus, when you place too large a load in the washing machine can lead to inefficient washing. Place the laundry loads as specified on the washing machine for efficient cleaning.
4. Use Mesh Bags for Delicates
To extend fabric life, place all your delicates made of silk and lace in separate mesh bags. You can also do this with fine knits and garnets with hooks and wires. Placing items in a mesh bag before washing prevents tangling, snagging, stretching, piling, and other forms of damage.
5. Choose the Right Detergent for Each Type of Fabric
Not every detergent is right for every type of garment. Cotton and linen are designed to handle strong, alkaline detergents, while delicates like silk and lace need liquid detergents with a preferably neutral pH. Similarly, dark and colored clothes need bleach-free detergents with color-protecting agents.
Plus, people with sensitive skin require hypoallergenic cleaning agents to avoid skin irritation. Based on all of these, choose an appropriate detergent for your laundry load.
Certain laundry services in Manhattan, NY, offer all of these and more to ensure customer satisfaction.
6. Master the Art of Quick Folding
Once you take your clothes out of the dryer, it’s best to fold them fresh. This prevents wrinkles from setting in, reduces the need for ironing, and keeps the clothes fresh and tidy.
Use simple folding hacks for T-shirts, jeans, and towels like folding in thirds, folding the sleeves in, or using a folding board. This keeps your clothes organized and saves you time later.
7. Streamline Drying With Proper Ventilation
Not every laundry item needs to go in the dryer. Further, some clothes come with care instructions that prevent you from placing them in the dryer. You can air-dry bedding, wool, and cotton by hanging the items to dry or placing them flat on a table. Always air-dry clothes in a well-ventilated area to avoid musty smells.
8. Invest in Laundry Organizers
Keeping your laundry organized from start to finish is important for an efficient laundry routine. Thus, hampers, sorting bags, dryer racks, scent boosters, and other laundry essentials are a must. Further, keeping these well-organized helps maximize space in small homes.
9. Set a Weekly Laundry Routine
Having a set laundry routine and sticking to it is the best way to keep clothes from piling up. Based on your work schedule, you can plan your laundry once on a weekday and once during the weekend.
Alternatively, you can set a schedule that suits you best and keeps your clothes for the next workweek organized. And, for any urgent laundry requirements, you can reach out to a laundry pick-up and drop-off service.
10. Consider Using a Professional Laundry Service When Needed
Outsourcing to a convenient laundry delivery service makes sense when you have hectic workweeks, large families, and have to clean sensitive fabrics. NYC laundry services offer on-time pickup and delivery, specialist stain removal, and bulk washes for large loads. You can schedule through a laundry pickup and delivery app, sit back, and enjoy a convenient service.
Bonus Tips for an Efficient Laundry Day
For a quick and efficient laundry day, here are some additional tips that you can follow:
- Sort as you go by placing your clothes in separate hampers.
- Do full loads, but don’t overload your washing machine.
- Utilize a high-spin speed to reduce drying time.
- Store seasonal clothes separately and effectively to maintain their quality.
- Use natural scent boosters to keep your laundry fresh.
Comparing Professional Laundry Service to Doing Your Laundry at Home
On average, people spend 240 hours per year or 4.5 hours each week doing laundry. While many opt to do their laundry on their own, opting for a professional laundry service in Manhattan, NY, offers the following in comparison:
| Feature | Professional Laundry Service | Self-Cleaning (at Home) |
| Time and Effort | Pick-up, drop-off, and delivery services are available | Every step of the laundry process is your responsibility |
| Cost | Slightly higher, but pays off in terms of quality and convenience | Lower initial costs |
| Quality and Expertise | Professional-grade equipment and cleaning | Quality is dependent on your skills |
| Convenience | High | Moderate |
| Garment Lifespan | High | Risk of damage |
| Hygiene | Uses commercial-grade, high-temperature cleaning agents | Depends on personal practices |
| Bulky Items | Can handle | Might be a challenge |
Table 1: Comparison Between the Features of a Professional Laundry Service in Manhattan, Ny, and Self-cleaning
Wrapping Up
Having clothes ready to wear every week calls for a strict and efficient laundry routine. Thus, follow all 10 tips, do not slack on your laundry duties, and seek professional help if your laundry chores feel too hectic or urgent.
Tackling Weekly Laundry With Ease
Are you ready to make your weekly laundry chores fast and efficient? Get organized and get in touch with an NYC laundry service for help.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Are “Dry Clean Only” Clothes Safe to Be Put in the Washing Machine?
No. Garments labeled “dry clean only” are often made of delicate fabrics (like velvet, leather, or certain silks) that can be damaged by water and agitation. Always follow the manufacturer’s care instructions and take these items to a professional dry cleaner to preserve their quality.
2. How Often Should I Do Laundry to Avoid It Piling Up?
To keep laundry manageable and prevent an overwhelming pile, it is best to schedule specific days for laundry each week. Consistency is key to an efficient routine.
3. What Happens if an Item is Lost or Damaged by the Laundry Service?
Professional laundry pick-up and drop-off services usually have policies in place to handle such occurrences. You are required to report any issues within a short timeframe (e.g., 24 hours of delivery) and will be offered compensation or a resolution based on the specific terms of service.
4. Can the Service Accommodate Special Requests, Like Specific Detergents or Hang Drying?
Most quality NYC laundry services offer customization options. When scheduling an order through the laundry pickup and delivery app, you can specify preferences such as detergent choice (e.g., hypoallergenic), water temperature, dryer temperature, and whether certain items should be hang-dried or returned on hangers.