Getting Your Whites Really WhiteKeeping linens and clothing as white as the day you bought them can be a challenge. This page is about getting whites white.
Starching ClothingThis is a page about starching clothing. You will need to use starch to get that crisp look to clothing such as dress shirts.
New Washer Has No Liquid Soap Dispenser Visible?I have always used powered soap. Now I have a new machine and I see no place to use liquid. How do I use the soap? Please help.
Reducing Lint on Black Pants?I have a pair of black jeans that get linty 10 minutes after having them on. How can I prevent this?
Removing Tar from ClothingGet your clothes back to looking good by getting rid of the tar stain. This is a page about removing tar from clothing.
Removing Pine Tar from Baseball PantsThis is a page about removing pine tar from baseball pants. For a good grip on the bat many hitters use pine tar.
Laundry Tips and TricksLaundry is a necessary chore that many people dread. There are lots of ways to speed up the process, remove stains better, and make your life a little easier. This is a page about laundry tips and tricks.
Cleaning Stinky TowelsThere are a number of products that can be used to clean stinky towels, including ones you probably already have around the house. This is a page about cleaning stinky towels.
Removing Mustard Stains from ClothingThis is a page about removing mustard stains from clothing. Mustard stains are notoriously difficult to remove from clothing. While it may not be easy you can get the stain out and have your clothes looking as good as new again.
Saving Money on Laundry DetergentThis is a page about saving money on laundry detergent. Laundry is a chore we all deal with on a daily basis, especially if you have children. All those loads of dirty clothes can really use up a lot of detergent, and that can get expensive.
Keeping Baby Socks Together in the WashThis is a page about keeping baby socks together in the wash. Baby socks are very small and easy to lose track of in the laundry. Keeping you baby socks together will making putting your baby's clothes away much easier after the wash is done.
Making a ClotheslineThis is a page about making a clothesline. Hanging your clothes out to dry is a thrifty and natural way to dry your washed clothing. Making your own clothesline is another way to save money on your laundry expenses.
Getting Kids to Turn Laundry Right Side OutAs a mother of 3 boys, laundry day was every day. I found I was spending a lot of time turning clothes right side out. After asking them a million times not to put clothes in the hamper inside out, I finally just started leaving them that way.
Cleaning ComfortersThis is a page about cleaning comforters. Comforters are nice to have on your bed anytime of year. They are warm in the winter, cool in the summer and look great year round. It can be a chore to get them clean again though.
Wrinkle Free Clothes Without IroningThis is a page to wrinkle free clothes without ironing. Ironing is a time consuming chore that many of us avoid when given the opportunity. Keeping clothes wrinkle free without ironing is a great time saver.
Ironing a Dress ShirtThis is a page with tips and solutions for ironing a dress shirt. You can wear a nice shirt, but if it has wrinkles, it won't look good.
Disinfect Laundromat Washing MachinesTo avoid getting germs from another family when using the laundromat washers, just wipe down the machine with Listerine mouthwash. Then add 1/2 cup of Listerine to the wash cycle. The Listerine disinfects the machine.
Getting Socks Really CleanSocks endure a lot of punishment and can be tough to get clean. This is a page for getting socks really clean.
What is a Cold Water Block Press?I just purchased a 100% Egyptian cotton matelasse and shams from Peacock Alley Outlet. The cleaning instructions advise to take to the cleaners and ask for "cold water block press" to retain size and shape. What is this and can I do this at home?
Whitening Synthetic Fabric Clothing?How can I whiten non-cotton white items like bras and panties? Non-chlorine bleach doesn't do the job. They get a grey look after many washings, even though we have a water softener.
Preventing Mildew Smell on Clothes Left in Washer?When the temperature starts to warm up outside, almost immediately after my washing machine cycle has ended, I have to get the laundry out or it will start to smell like mildew. I only have about two - three hours before the process starts.
Hang Drying Small ItemsBeing short on space to hang lines for my small laundry items, I lined up three laundry baskets on the bed in the room next to the laundry room. That gives me plenty of room to hang all small items.
Sanitize White Towels And Linens With BleachWhen we were raising our five children, I found it was easier to use white washcloths and towels in their bathroom. The white can be safely bleached which made me a bit happier, since I felt bleach killed any germs that were held in the washcloths and towels.
Removing Stains from Clothing?I have a winter jacket, navy blue with a white stripe. It's two years old. I washed it and the blue is perfect, but dark greyish stains remained. I washed it in HE Purel (front loader washer) and the white still had greyish stains. How to I remove them?
Warning: Don't Use Bleach If Iron in WaterIf you have iron in your water supply, it is best not to use bleach in your laundry. It makes the iron worse and can leave yellow stains. I have known this for years, but I think it is not as well known now as it was in my generation.
How Do I Iron a Crease in Dress Pants?What is the best way to iron a crease in a pair of dress pants? I was told to use a wet handkerchief and press down hard on the crease while ironing. I'm not sure about this, but do you think if I bought a can of spray starch that would help?
Reuse Dye-Catching Laundry SheetsIf you take your load out of the washer (or dryer) and the little sheet is still almost white, or lightly colored, it can be used in another load, until you wash something which leaves more dye on the sheet.
How Can I Keep Small Laundry Items from Getting Stuck in Dryer Fins?In every dryer I've ever owned, small items like socks and washcloths tend to get trapped between the ends of the fins and the front or back of the dryer and then they don't get dry. Does anyone have any tips on preventing this?
Best Rinse Cycle Temperature for Permanent Press Clothes?What is the best rinse temperature for permanent press clothes?
Why Would Clean Clothes Have a Strong Chemical Odor?What would cause my clothes to have a strong chemical smell in them? It causes me and others to sneeze, cough, and start sniffing, and their sinuses start to drain. I've tried buying new clothes and rinsing them before wearing them, and still have the same problem.
Reuse Dryer Sheets In Different WaysThe new Purex 3 in 1 laundry sheets work great, after you finish with them in the dryer, they can be used to dust with, put in bottom of trash can or dresser drawer for odor control, or cut out and use to felt the bottom of what-nots sitting around.
Preventing Color From Bleeding on Clothing?How do you stop red material from running into other light colours in a dress when it is washed for the first time?
Removing Shiny Iron Spots on Clothing?I ironed a black blouse without using steam or a pressing cloth and it left shiny spots. How do I remove them
Adding Borax to the Wash?I have a HE washing machine. I am understanding that others are using borax in the machines. Are they putting the borax into the machine with the load of clothing?
Cut Fabric Softener Sheets in HalfI have found that you can cut fabric softener sheets in quarters and they'll work just as well, last longer, and best of all cost less!
Dishwasher Detergent and Bleach to Brighten WhitesEveryone's white clothes eventually get dingy and gray. Here is a way to get them bright and white again and looking like they did when new. I found this tip many years ago from Heloise. It is to be used only on whites.
Putting Color Back Into Black Garments?How can a black garment be restored to a true black color? My 100% cotton capri pants have a greenish cast to them.
How Can I Stop My Jeans from Bleeding in the Wash?I have very dark jeans that continually bleed. I wash them alone in hot water to try to release some color. I've done this 5 times already and nothing is working. Is there something I can add to the wash cycle to break this down and stop my problem?
Reducing the Smell of Fabric Softener in Laundry?Could anyone please tell me if there is any way I could minimize the scent of the fabric softener after the clothes have dried? It seems too strong and sometimes isn't that flattering anymore, especially when the dress is to be worn at a special event. Thanks.
Preventing Laundry from Fading?What can I do to not have my colors fade during washes?
Using HE Detergent in a Top Load Washer?When using detergents made for the high efficiency washing machines, can you use the same detergent and the same amount in a top-loading machine?
Dye Fades on Shirt Collar Points in Wash?I've noticed as I wash collared shirts over time, the fabric color wears off the point. (For example, a blue oxford shirt will have white points on the collar point/edge.) Is there any way to prevent this from happening? Any suggestions?
Underarm Smell on T-shirts?I have a very embarrassing problem with my t-shirts. They start to smell under the arms even when they are freshly washed. I am using deodorant (tried lots of different brands) and shower everyday, so it cannot be me.
Different Ways to Hang Dry Your ClothingWe live in a 2-bedroom, first floor apartment that has an attached garage. Since we can't hang our laundry outside, my husband installed some wash lines in the garage. During the warmer months I'm able to dry my clothes and save money on the electric bill by not having to use the dryer.
Removing Stains on Cotton Towels?How do I get rid of black marks on cotton towels?
Prevent a Smelly Washer With Powdered Dishwasher DetergentI have a great tip for making a smelly clothes washer smell fresh and clean, given to me by a Maytag repairman. Simply run dishwasher detergent powder, not liquid, through your machine with no clothing in it, about once or twice a month.
Wash Clothes More Efficiently With Rubber Dog BallsThis is a twist on an old tip. I went out to my mom's this past weekend to do laundry. Because my husband and I have a baby bird, we go through many poopy and hand feeding formula covered towels.
Hard Lumps Inside Clothing?Some time ago, I noticed some lumping appearing inside my bras (like between the material). It obviously wasn't there when I bought them, but they just started appearing.
Quick Dry Clothes With an IronIf you have clothes that are still damp from the dryer or clothesline, a quick way to dry them is to iron them at a low temperature, or use your blow dryer to dry them. Just use the low setting.
Removing the Smell of Lestoil from Clothing?After finding a crayon in my son's pocket I removed the stains with Lestoil, now I can't get the smell of Lestoil out of the jacket. I have tried ammonia, vinegar, and baking soda and the smell is still there, albeit faint. Help.
Removing Gasoline (Petrol) Smell from Clothing?When I fueled up my ATV on a snowy day I spilled gas on my outdoor pants. How can I get rid of the smell? I'm living in Norway, so please don't recommend a cleaning agent you only have in the US. I am looking for some household way.
Removing Wrinkles from a Leather Jacket?I would like to know how to get wrinkles out of a leather coat
Cotton Blanket Stiff After Drying?My boyfriend accidentally dried my 100% cotton winter blanket on high heat instead of low heat like it says on the tag. Now it's as stiff as cardboard. I've tried shaking it out, but it's still very hard and stiff. Is it ruined forever or is there a way I can re-fluff it?
Removing Unknown Stains on Towels?I just bought beautiful hand towels from Williams Sonoma Home for my guest bathroom. They are waffle weave on one side, plush terry on the other and linen colored.
Restoring Whites Washed With Red ClothingI accidentally washed two of my husband's white shirts with a red sheet, and of course they turned pink. Somebody told me to use Rit dye remover, but the store was out. So I bought Carbona.
Replacement for Ironing Board Pad?Does anyone know what I can use to replace the pad that's under my ironing board cover? It's gotten thin on one end where I do the majority of my ironing. The cover is still in fine shape, so I'd hate to buy an entire cover and pad.
Use Mesh Bag to Separate Stained Clothes in LaundryAny time you have a stained item, pretreat it and then place it in a mesh washing bag before putting it in the washer. When you unload the washer's contents into the dryer, the bag acts as a reminder for you to check its contents for stains.
Add Laundry Detergent Before ClothesWhen doing laundry, I fill washer with water, adding 1 cup baking soda and your choice of laundry detergent while it is filling. I run the washer for 30 seconds to distribute the detergent and soda.
Green Spots on Clothing From Washer?I have ruined nearly all of my clothes. There are green spots on nearly everything I wash in my top loader. It's not a new machine, but it's never been abused either. It doesn't seem to matter what fabrics I am washing.
Removing Oil Based Paint from Laundry?I accidentally washed a white towel with oil-based paint on it with a load of towels. Now my towels and washer have oil-based paint all over them. How can I get rid of the paint on the towels? Help.
Washing a T-shirt Bra?How do I wash and dry a T-shirt bra (a bra made specially to wear with T shirts). Suggestions? Thanks.
Removing Leather Dye from Socks?My husband's work boots stain his socks a rust color. I've tried bleaching them and using Borax, Oxi Clean, and every stain remover you can think of. Any suggestions on how to get out the stains?
Why Do Towels Have Fade Marks?What makes my some of my towels and washcloths have fade marks on them? I wash them with detergent only, no bleach.
Preventing Navy Blue Pants From Fading?What ca I use to keep the dark blue color in my work pants from fading? I like to have my pants starched at the cleaner's. So is there anything I can do before sending them to the cleaner's that would help them stay dark navy blue longer. Please help.
My Whites Come Out Grey and Yellow?I have a Hotpoint Aqualtis washing machine that now makes my whites come out slightly grey? Any ideas?
Washing Clothing With Bleach (Without Having Them Smell Like Bleach)?Does anyone know of a good way to remove the odor of bleach from washed clothing? Any and all suggestions are welcomed.
Keeping Wash Cloths Smelling Fresh?Does anyone have any advice on how to keep facecloths smelling fresh? I wash and dry them and the next day they smell musty. When I wash them it's in the hottest water with no softener.
Getting Antifreeze Out of a White T-shirt?How do I get antifreeze out of a white t-shirt
Use Less Than the Recommended Laundry DetergentI've been reading the comments from the ThriftyFun community. Many of us have had problems due to the new liquid laundry detergents, since there's been an excessive amount of soap left in the final rinse cycle.
Shirt Collars Will Not Iron Flat?I have a number of expensive, all cotton shirts. Unfortunately, the collars have become badly 'dented' and creased to the point where they will not iron flat. Does anybody have advice on how I can remove these dents and deep creases?
Wash Whites Last to Keep Washer FreshI have found that my new front load washer used to get smelly. I now make sure that I do my whites last. The bleach keeps it fresh until my next use.
Fluff on New Towels?Every time I buy new towels (they cost me $30 each) when I wash them before we use them they are just full of fluff and it takes me ages to get it off! Why oh why?
Pin Dryer Sheet to Piece of Laundry to Make It Easy to FindI always hate it when I can't find the dryer sheet in my load of dried laundry. It is embarrassing to go out and find a sheet hanging out the bottom of your pants, or shirt sleeve. I resorted to turning every piece inside out before folding until I found the used sheet.
Washing Machine Not Rinsing Soap Out of Clothes?I am have a problem with loads of washing not rinsing properly. I never overfill the machine, always use half or less than half the amount of detergent on the box/bottle, clean my machine at least once every 2 months (with either ammonia or soda and vinegar).
Dress Pants are a Lint Magnet?How do I get my clothes from being a lint and hair magnet? I'll clean them off with a lint roller, but before I get out the door I've got all kinds of stuff all over them again.
Separate Laundry Into 5 PilesI always washed my towels by themselves and always wash small loads by separating my clothes into 5 piles: underwear, dark clothes, sweaters, bright clothes and towels. They smell fresh until I put them on.
Getting Rid of Static in Sheets?Sometimes, I have to do housekeeping. When I go to pull the sheets and blanket off to change the sheets, I get this awful static electricity shock. Anyone have any idea how to stop this? I use Bounce. I have tried extra liquid softener in my work clothes. Any ideas will be a blessing as this is getting pretty painful with the cold weather.
Using Less Laundry Soap?Is there anyone out there who uses one third of the recommended amount of liquid Tide for a large load? Are your clothes generally coming out clean? Your feedback is appreciated.
Use Netting to Collect LintSo you left a tissue in your shirt or pants pocket and now your "dark load" is covered with bits of white; even happens with light colored loads, but never fear. Buy a yard each of light and dark netting, the cheap stuff, NOT nice tulle. Unfold and toss the appropriate shade in the dryer with your bespeckled load of laundry. It works! Use and reuse the net until it gets soft, then replace with new, stiff net. Give the "old net" to your kids or grand kids for play.
Use Tide for Stains and a Cheaper Brand for the RestWith the ever rising costs of keeping clean and clean laundry, I tried to come up with ways to cut costs in every part of the house (I guess that's why we are tuned into "Thrifty Fun"). For doing laundry I have always used Tide.
Cheapest Time to Run Your Washing Machine?What is the cheapest time to run the washing machine and why?
Remove Smell From HE WashersMost front loading High Efficiency washers will develop a "smell" every few weeks caused by stale water sitting in the rubber door seal. Instead of buying the expensive tablets sold for this problem, just put a 1/4 cup of regular Vinegar in the wash along with your clothes. Vinegar is a natural cleaner that will not harm your washer, your clothing or the environment.
Steaming Outfits in the ShowerHere's a tip that I do on a daily basis. I hang my outfit in the shower and the steam from it takes all of the wrinkles out of them (even hanger lines).
Biodegradable Laundry Soap Recipe?I would like a recipe for a biodegradable laundry soap. Thanks.
Clothes Hanging In Closet Are Stained?The clothes hanging in the closet have stains on the shoulders and down the sleeves. I need something to get the stains out without ruining the clothes.
Cascade with Dawn Dishwasher Tablets Alternative?I've been using Cascade with Dawn dishwasher tablets. They work great but are just too expensive. I have tried several liquids and powders but they don't get my dishes clean. Any recommendations? I use plain white vinegar in the rinse-aid receptacle.
Does Borax Make A Spray?Does Borax make a spray for underarm area on shirts and blouses? It might help the oder I sometimes get when I iron my son's shirts. Thanks for your help on this.
Washing Dry Clean Only Pants?Can I wash clothes that say Dry Clean Only? The pants I want to wash are made of 95% polyester, and 5% elastano. What could happen if I wash them?
Biological Vs Non-biological Washing Powder?My washing machine is bobbling my husbands socks. I use a biological washing powder and I wonder if a non-biological washing powder would be better. Do you have any suggestions? Many thanks.
Old "Washing Clothes" RecipeImagine having a recipe for this! Years ago, an Alabama grandmother gave the new bride the following recipe. This is an exact copy as written and found in an old scrapbook - with spelling errors and all.
Fisher-Paykel Washer Advice?Can you tell me if there are any Fisher-Paykel washers that don't lock while they are washing? Also can you just spin dry something you have hand washed?
Stains on Hosiery from Shoes?How can I prevent shoe dye transfer to pantyhose? I have buff pantyhose which I wore with black shoes and now there are black marks in the foot area of the pantyhose that cannot be removed. Can this pair be salvaged? If not, is there something that can be done to prevent this from happening to the next pair?
Arm and Hammer Laundry Detergent for Clean LaundryI started using Tide with Febreeze to tackle sweaty workout clothes. It did the trick, so I used it on all my family's laundry. Only problem is one of my daughters had a allergic skin reaction to it. So I looked for a sensitive skin/fragrance free laundry detergent.
Pink Stains on White Trim of Shirt?I have two shirts that have white trim. Something red faded onto them in the washer? Anyway to get the pink out?
Liquid Fabric Softener vs. Dryer Sheets?Is there a difference between a Liquid Fabric Softener and those Dryer Sheets? Can I use one only and still get best results?
Does Fabric Softener Stain?Does fabric softener stain towels?
