Most popular post

By far the most popular post is "You can wash suede clothing." Who knew? Along those same lines is this: Don't wash your clothes every time you wear them. Really. Hang them so they can air out and unless they have visible dirt of some kind, wear them again. And maybe again. Dare I say four times? It's up to you.

You don't have to wash your clothes...

Sometimes clothes can get by with a good airing out instead of being washed. This will save wear and tear on the clothes as well as water, detergent and electricity to wash them.

Be kind to your clothes

Sometimes clothes can get by with a good airing out instead of being washed. This will save wear and tear on the clothes as well as water, detergent and electricity to wash them.

Use less detergent this way

Use less detergent and get your clothes cleaner, too? Yes. All you have to do is allow a 10 to 15 minute soak between the first minute or two of agitation and the rest of the cycle. Be sure the detergent is dissolved. Try using a little less detergent, and if clothes come clean then, use even a little less next time until you see a problem, then increase it just a little. Always measure!

Save your clothes from bleach

If you use bleach to clean anything, keep a spray bottle of vinegar around for those "oops" times. Vinegar neutralizes bleach on contact, even on clothing. Do NOT use it in the eyes - contact a medical specialist if you get bleach in your eyes.

Clothespin holder

Hanging clothes on the line outside? Make a clothespin holder from a child's pullover shirt. Just sew the bottom closed and put it on a wire hanger. You can bend the hanger to keep it from slipping off. Hang it on the clothesline and slip it along as needed.

Trash bag anchor

Save the wide elastic from old underwear. It's great for anchoring the tops of trash bags over a large kitchen garbage can.

Free rope

When you cut up old clothes for rags (you do, don't you??), cut alongside the seams and keep a few on hand for lightweight rope. Depending on the material and type of seam, these can be sturdier than you might think. Tie them together for a longer rope.

Ironing clothes

It's cheaper to iron clothes than to dry them in a dryer. If you can time it, hang them until they're almost dry, but not quite, then take them down and iron right away. If you can't iron at that moment, roll them and put them in a plastic bag until you can get to them. (How long you can leave them there depends on your climate - don't let them mildew.)