25 Laundry Hacks For Busy Moms, Dads & Caretakers!

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Busy Family members have enough on their plate these days taking care of the kiddos, family, work, and all the other little things thrown at them. Laundry should not be such a painful chore, and to be fair, it does not have to be.

Below are some awesome laundry hacks for busy moms, dads and caretakers to help speed up the laundry process. These aren’t just for parents, check them out to have a clean house in no time.

Simple Tips To Keep Laundry Clean and Organized

Doing laundry can be quite the chore, and it’s easy to miss items when you’re in a rush. I know that if my towel or socks disappear, I’m going to be running around the house looking for them and probably end up with dirty feet and cold toes. Below are a few simple tips to help get you organized before starting your laundry cleaning.

1. Avoid a pileup in your laundry room by having a hamper or basket right next to each person’s bed in your household. It will allow them to toss their clothes in as soon as they take off their PJs or wake up. This should cut down on around 25% of your laundry. We love these super cute and color laundry hampers from Amazon– they are cheap and very functional!
2. If you have a problem with socks disappearing, try placing all the dirty ones in one larger basket rather than individual smaller ones. The bigger baskets makes it harder for little feet to pull them in and hide them.
3. Another great tip for this is to pre-sort your clothes when they are still on your bed/chair/floor. As soon as I get out of the shower I put all my dirty clothes in a basket and then I sort them as soon as I get back from work. It’s a lot easier to separate the lights and darks on a full basket than a few pieces on your bed.
4. Hide your detergent. It may sound weird, but you will use less of it if you don’t see it all the time. Keep it under the sink or very far back on a shelf where little hands can’t reach it easily. This is also why I like Tide Pods because my child can’t open it.
5. Get a laundry box and place your detergent , bleach, stain remover, fabric softener and dryer sheets in there with a permanent marker to keep track of what’s inside. If you have a bar of soap or bottle of shampoo that doesn’t match the one in your shower, throw them in there too. This way, you won’t have to rummage through a bunch of bottles to find the right one for the job.
6. If your washing machine or sink backs up, this trick will come in handy. Dump a cup of baking soda into the drain, followed by a pot of boiling water to clear it out without having to get elbow deep. This also works for unclogging the toilet.
7. If your washing machine doesn’t have a “sanitize” function, try adding 2 cups of water to your regular cycle and 1-2 tablespoons of bleach to help kill bacteria, especially after you’ve had sickness in the house or if someone has had an accident on the sheets. This is an awesome laundry hack for busy moms who can’t afford to have their whole family get sick! Do this without a load of clothes- I set this up before going to bed late one night when the washing machine is not in dire need!

25 Laundry Hacks For Busy Moms and Caretakers!

Laundry Hack #1 — Make Your Own Woolite

If you are a fan of Woolite, but hate the price tag, then this hack is for you. You can make your own Woolite at home with items already in your pantry. Mix 1/4 cup each of hair conditioner and white vinegar with 1 ounce of rubbing alcohol.

Laundry Hack #2 — Make Pilling Disappear

One of my pet peeves is lint! If you are finding balls of lint on your sweaters or clothes, this hack will get rid of them for good. Fill a cup with ice cubes, then run your clothing over the ice using a paintbrush or something similar. The cold temperature will solidify the fibers and make pilling disappear.

Laundry Hack #3 — Ironing is a Breeze

Do you have trouble ironing, this hack will make it so much easier. Before you start ironing, wrap the cord around the handle of your iron. It will prevent the cord from tangling and ensure that it doesn’t get caught on anything as you are pressing.

Laundry Hack #4 — Save on Dry Cleaning

If you love your clothes, but hate the price of dry cleaning them, this hack is for you. Instead of taking in several items separately, take at least 3 in together to reduce your prices. Many cleaners charge per item rather than a flat fee, so splitting the cost could be less than paying for each item separately.

Laundry Hack 5 — Keep Your Sweater Fresh

If your sweaters are developing an odor sitting in your closet during the summer months, you can de-funk them with vodka or another form of alcohol. Simply pour a small amount into a spray bottle and spritz the knits then allow to dry off before wearing. The alcohol will kill the bacteria that emits the odor. If you don’t want to use vodka, then skip to hack #11 for a better smelling alternative.

Laundry Hack #6 — Make Pimple Fighting Sheets

Many busy moms have found a new favorite use for their favorite brand of facial cleansing wipes other than removing makeup. The germ-fighting sheets are just as effective against everyday germs with an added bonus of being gentle enough for teens to use without having to worry about harsh chemicals. Just toss one in the dryer with your pillow cases and sheets and you now have healthy pimple fighting clean laundry. This has made a big difference with my son back acne. I did not realize the dryer sheets were causing him to break out on his back so much. Such a simple thing to fix and he is so much more confident.

Laundry Hack #7 — Unshrinkable Clothes

If you always seem to be finding your favorite sweater shrunken in the dryer, it ‘s time to take matters into your own hands.

When you’re ready to wash, fill a clean sink or tub with cold water and add 2 cups of hair conditioner. Place the piece of clothing in the water making sure it stays submerged, then gently squeeze out any excess conditioner before throwing it in the machine. Wash as usual, then toss it in the dryer.

The conditioner will help prevent the fibers from locking together and ruining your clothes, while allowing them to retain their original shape.

Laundry Hack #8 — No More Static Cling

If you are tired of static cling, this hack is one that you won’t want to miss. By adding a couple of tablespoons of vodka or rubbing alcohol into your rinse cycle, static cling will never be an issue for you again.

Laundry Hack #9 — Freshen Up Your Laundry

Did you know that you can make your own air fresheners using dryer sheets? Just place the used dryer sheet in a mason jar or any glass container with holes punched in the lid. Add some water to the jar and let evaporate. Then just take a whiff of your homemade air fresher whenever you need a bit of a scent boost. Place the jars in your linen closet, clothes closet and bathrooms to keep laundry, towels, and sheets smelling clean and fresh for weeks.

Laundry Hack #10 — Make Your Own Stain Remover

If you are tired of spending money on store bought stain removers, this hack will make them unnecessary. Mix together equal portions of hydrogen peroxide and dish soap with a dash of baking soda and store in a spray bottle to use as needed. The ingredients combine to make a powerful cleaner that can be used for just about any stain.

Laundry Hack #11 — Get Even The Most Stubborn Stains Out Of Clothes

If you have a really tough to remove stain or one that has been hanging around too long, reach for the hand sanitizer. It doesn’t matter if it is gel, foam, or liquid, they all work just as well and won’t harm your fabrics. Just rub the cleanser directly on the stain and then launder as usual.

Laundry Hack #12 — Get Rid Of Bleach Stains

If you have managed to get bleach stains on your clothes, don’t panic just yet. They can be easily removed with hydrogen peroxide and a bit of patience. Just mix two parts water with one part hydrogen peroxide in the spray bottle and then apply to the stained area. Let it sit for a few minutes and then launder as usual.

Laundry Hack #13 — Make Your Own Stain Remover

Simply combine baking soda, liquid castile soap, and lemon juice to make your own liquid laundry stain remover that will get out even the most stubborn of stains in a matter of seconds. You can also make your own bleach cleaner like I do- I am telling you this stuff works better than anything Ive used before!

Laundry Hack #14 — Make Your Own Liquid Laundry Soap

If you are tired of spending money on liquid laundry soap, making your own is easy and inexpensive with this recipe from The Frugal Girl. Just combine one part grated bar soap with two parts water in a saucepan and then heat until the mixture is completely melted. Then stir in 15 to 20 drops of essential oil, allow it to cool and store in a jar or bottle.

-Homemade Liquid Laundry Detergent

Laundry Hack #15 — Keep Your Clothes Smelling Fresh

There are few things worse than putting on clothes that smell musty even after they have been washed. To keep your clothes smelling fresh and clean, just add a few drops of essential oil to the outside of your wool dryer ball (These are my FAVORITE wool dryer balls!) before tossing it in the dryer for a few minutes. Not only will it keep your clothes smelling great, but it will help to naturally soften fabrics as well.

Laundry Hack #16 — Clean Your Iron

After every use, you should always clean your iron to keep it in great working condition. All you have to do is sprinkle a little bit of salt over the surface and then run the steamy side over it. The grains will help remove buildup that has formed on the plate while keeping your iron free from nasty odors.

Laundry Hack #17 — Eliminate Shrinkage

To avoid having clothes shrink, add two tablespoons of vinegar to the final rinse. It will not only keep your fabrics from shrinking but it will also help prevent colors from fading in the wash.

Laundry Hack #18 — Make Your Own Dryer Sheets

If you currently use dryer sheets, consider making your own instead. To do so, just place a couple of cotton cloths with essential oil drops on them, in the dryer after the wash is finished. It will keep them from looking wrinkled and also give them a nice, fresh scent.

Laundry Hack #19 — Dryer Balls Save Energy

Too Many dryers are energy hogs, so any way you can cut back on the time it takes to dry your clothes is a big money saver at the same time. By adding two or three clean tennis balls to the dryer with your wet laundry, you can cut drying time by 25 percent. They work by bouncing around to separate the laundry and allow hot air to flow evenly through all of it. I use natural wool dryer balls but either work the same.

Laundry Hack #20 — Gentle Cycle

It’s surprisingly simple for getting rid of wrinkles without an iron or steamer. Just throw your wrinkled items in the dryer on medium heat with a damp washcloth. The steam that is created will help to smooth out all of the wrinkles.

Laundry Hack #21– Brighten Whites with Salt

If you have a lot of white clothing, add a half cup of salt when washing to brighten them up even more. I don’t recommend this for colored clothes though because it could potentially lighten the color over time.

Laundry Hack #22– Make Your Spot Remover

Make your own spot remover using 1 part Dawn dish soap, 3 parts hydrogen peroxide and 2 parts water. Put this in a spray bottle to tackle any stains that pop up on your clothes when you’re in a rush.

Laundry Hack #23 — Save Money By Reusing Fabric Softener Sheets

Fabric softener sheets are great for keeping clothes smelling nice, but they are also perfect for polishing silver, protecting furniture from scratches and even removing pet hair. If you have some lying around or want to switch to reusable cloths instead of the disposable ones, simply cut them whatever size is needed for the job and get to work.

Laundry Hack #24 — Check First For Damage

If you have a tendency to get snags, spills, or have accidents no matter how careful you are, then always check your clothes for damage before washing them. This will help prevent further stains and tears from happening. Stitch up any tears and patch up any holes before tossing them into the washing machine.

Laundry Hack #25 — Keep Your Workout Clothes Smelling Fresh Without Much Effort

Everyone has that favorite shirt that they pull out of the dirty laundry just before going to the gym that still has a faint whiff of body odor. If you have had enough with that shirt, try this simple hack for keeping your clothes smelling fresh long after they come out of the dryer. To keep your clothes from holding onto odors, just add a half cup of vinegar to the wash cycle before starting. It will neutralize any odors that are left behind. And no don’t worry the vinegar smells does not stick around- just clean smelling clothes with no odor!

These 25 laundry hacks for busy moms and household caretakers should surely get you on the right track to making the chore of doing laundry easier! If you have an awesome tip you would like us to include- be sure to tell us in the comments!