Easy Laundry Tips to Help Clothes Look Great Longer

I’ll be honest, I’ve had my fair share of laundry disasters. I’ve shrunk clothes. I’ve faded colors. I’ve turned entire loads of clothes pink (not a big deal until you’re the ONLY girl in the house). I’ve ruined favorite pieces of clothes over the years and I’ll be honest, it’s been heartbreaking. There is nothing worse than realizing your favorite bamboo shirt wasn’t supposed to be dried or that your favorite cardigan was dry clean only. I can still think back to one of my beloved sweaters that I seriously wore almost daily. It made a trip into the washer and when it came out, it could have fit my at 6 year old…maybe. Having learned over the years that not all laundry routines are created equal, I’ve gotten smart and come up with some easy laundry tips that are ensuring my family’s clothes stay looking their best!

So, how do I handle laundry and avoid laundry disasters? Well, with four simple steps I’m actually becoming a laundry master and finding ways to keep my family’s clothes looking great for longer. Are you curious to know what they are? Thankfully, I love to share my ninja laundry skills so I’m here to tell you exactly how to do your laundry the RIGHT way!

Read Labels

One of the simplest clothes preservation tips out there is to actually read the labels in your clothing. I know this totally sounds like a “duh” type of thing but I’m shocked at how often I personally forget to look at the labels. Knowing what your clothes are made out of more importantly, the recommended care for them can make all the difference in how they look and how they fit.

Let me mention here that these labels should not be seen as suggestions. If something says not to dry it, DON’T DO IT! If it says wash on cold only, it’s probably a good idea to do what your label says….after all, that information is put there to help you take the best possible care of your clothes!

Simplify the Process

If you’re anything like me, every time you get ready to start your laundry, it feels like a science project. You need to add a certain amount of laundry detergent. Then a certain amount of Fabric softener. Then you need stain remover. It’s enough to make a mama’s head hurt. And well, truth be told, in the past I’ve been guilty of just grabbing and pouring because there’s never tons of time when it comes to getting the laundry going! But FINALLY I’ve found the perfect solution that helps keep our clothes looking better for longer and the best part it, there is no measuring or pouring required!

(Note: Like all household products, keep out of reach of children!)

I’ve given up all my bottles of laundry detergent, stain remover and fabric softener for the convenience, power and AMAZING smell of Tide PODS® Plus Downy laundry detergent pacs! These easy to use 4-in-1 laundry pack clean, brighten, fight stains and protect my family’s clothes every time I do the laundry.

Now, I know you’re trying to wrap your head around this easy and effective way to save time in the laundry room while still keeping your clothes looking great so follow along with me here. I’m going to walk you though it step by step.

Step 1: Grab all those smelly clothes laying everywhere (I like in a house of boys, remember?).

Step 2: Open the laundry machine and drop in a Tide PODS® Plus Downy laundry detergent pac (or 2 if you’re doing a large load).

Step 3: Add your clothes to the machine and push start!

Now, wasn’t that easy? It’s almost like all that laundry is washing itself and all I had to do was gather the clothes, drop in a Tide PODS® Plus Downy laundry detergent pacs, add the clothes and push start! SCORE! The Tide PODS® did the rest and got our clothes crazy clean while also conditioning and protecting them from damage

Now, just in case you’re thinking your machine is too old for all this crazy technology, don’t worry! Tide PODS® Plus Downy laundry detergent pacs work in both high efficiency and standard washers and use HE Turbo technology that provides six time the cleaning power in half the time*! Plus, they can be used in either hot or cold water, making them the only laundry solution you’ll need! Super wow, right? Let me just tell you, if they leave my boys’ clothes looking and smelling great, they’ve got to be awesome!

Wash in Cold Water

I know, there is much debate about this. Growing up, my mama washed EVERYTHING in hot water (it kills the germs better she said). However, I’ve discovered that using cold water and Tide PODS® Plus Downy laundry detergent pacs keeps my clothes just as clean as my mama’s method did and the best part is, they stay looking great for longer! No matter what you’re washing, try switching that knob to cold for clothes that keep their shape and their color.

Pay Attention to Fabrics Prior to Drying

In my experience, hanging clothes to dry keeps them looking newer for longer but let’s be honest, who’s got time to do that with every single item in your family’s wardrobe? No, I don’t hang all my family’s clothes to dry but I do pay attention to which ones are OK to go in the dryer and which ones are better to hang. As a general rule, any of my leggings and bamboo clothing gets hung.

Additionally, I don’t dry dress shirts. However, athletic clothes and jeans can go right on in the dryer! By simply using Tide PODS® and paying attention to what I put in the dryer and what I hang, I’m able to keep my family’s clothes looking like new for much longer than ever before!

Now it’s your turn! Since you now know how to keep your family’s clothes looking great with a few simple changes and help from Tide PODS® Plus Downy laundry detergent pacs, you’re ready to look at laundry in a whole new light! Start washing your clothes the right way (by adding Tide PODS® Plus Downy laundry detergent pacs FIRST) and the easy way and you just might discover like I did that taking great care of your family’s clothes doesn’t have to be hard!

Tell me, what’s your best tip for keeping your family’s clothes looking better longer?

*stain removal of 1 Tide PODS® pac vs. 6 doses of leading bargain brand liquid detergent, base variant