Don’t be afraid to cut back on your detergent use. Odds are, you won’t be left with dirty clothes — studies have shown that most Americans use more detergent than is necessary to get their clothes clean. [3] X Research source An added benefit of reducing your detergent use is that you will also save money!
Using medium-small, manageable loads. Your machine should be about 1/2 full of loosely packed clothes. This goes for your dryer as well as your washer. [5] X Research source Washing your towels on their own (without other clothes in the load). In addition to crowding the washer, clothes with things like zippers and buttons can wear the fabric of the towels.
Check the care label on colored towels before washing. Most whites will be safe for hot wash cycles, but hot water can make colored fabrics fade.
Use gentler settings in your dryer — lower heats and slower speeds[7] X Expert Source Rani GorgisLaundry & Cleaning Specialist Expert Interview. 7 April 2021. Alternate between line-drying and tumble-drying. Line-dry towels, then “freshen them up” with a short cycle in the tumble dryer.
Use loose folds to prevent stiff creases in the towel’s fabric. Alternatively, loosely roll your towels. One good folding method is as follows: Hold your towel lengthwise (so that the short edge is pointing to the floor). Fold the towel in half to make a long, skinny strip. Loosely fold the towel into thirds. Fold one edge toward the center, then fold the other edge over the top and line up the edges so they form a tidy bundle. Fold the bundle in half once more and store the towel. Store folded towels side-by-side (like books) rather than in stacks. This helps prevent the bottom towels from being flattened by the ones above. If you’re hanging towels from a rack, don’t hang multiple towels on top of each other — this, too, can make the bottom towel stiffer.
If you want to save money, try throwing a few tennis balls in the dryer with your towels instead. These generally work just as well.
Only use white vinegar for this task. Other vinegars, like apple cider and especially balsamic vinegar, can stain your laundry.
Many online sources recommend against using baking soda and vinegar at the same time. These chemicals will react with and neutralize each other (just like in the famous “papier-mâché volcano” science fair project).
Borax is available online and in the “laundry” section of most major department stores for cheap — rarely more than $5 for a small box.
