Laundry

Don’t we all want soft, clean, great-smelling laundry—clothes with no traces of stains or yellowing?  Mary has some great resources to help you wash your clothes and bedding at a reasonable cost.  Also, learn how to minimize the impact on your health and the environment. Read on for some great ideas. Get your washing done –  cheaper, better, and faster!

From economical ways to approach your wash, such as, How to Wash a Down Comforter to How to Use the Right Amount of Laundry Detergent, to How to Get Yellow Stained Bed Pillows White Again, you’ll be grateful for this practical, economical information.

diy laundry helpers dryer door open with blue towels

DIY Laundry Helpers That Beat Store-Bought Add-Ins

Walk down the laundry aisle and it starts to feel like you need a minor in chemistry just to wash
sick woman blowing nose while bundled under blanket.

How to Do Laundry When Someone in Your Home Is Sick

When someone in your house gets sick, laundry quietly moves from a routine chore to a health decision. Sheets, towels,
kid dressed up in cape and mask next to washing machine basket towels

Are You Washing Everything Too Often… or Not Enough?

From bedding to bath towels and beyond, here’s a practical, friendly guide to how often you should wash just about
high efficiency washer and dryer in laundry room

Before You Buy a New Washer and Dryer, Read This

If your washer or dryer is on its last spin, take a deep breath. Replacing them doesn’t have to drain
how to get cat hair out of clothes

Struggling With Pet Hair in Laundry? Try These Tricks

If you share your home with a furry friend, you know the struggle: pet hair on everything, especially your clothes.
woman have problem with dust mites allergy bedding hand scratching

How to Get Rid of Dust Mites and Breathe Cleaner Air

You can’t see them, but they’re everywhere—dust mites, the tiny freeloaders living in your mattress, carpet, and favorite recliner. Here’s

Stain Removal 101: The Ultimate Guide to Conquering Any Stain

Stains… they show up when we least expect them, don’t they? A rogue coffee splash on your favorite white shirt,
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Ask Me Anything: Groupon, Super Stain, Annoying Birds, Surprise Fees and More

My virtual mailbag is turning up questions and situations that I doubt are exclusive to only the writers. We all
borax versus washing soda

Borax vs. Washing Soda: What’s the Difference? Plus Everything Else We Need to Know

In this post, we'll compare these two popular laundry additives, exploring their similarities, differences, and the various ways you can
Absolutely the Best Homemade Laundry Stain Remover

Absolutely the Best Homemade Laundry Stain Remover!

I'm excited to tell you how to make a fabulous, if not magical, do-it-yourself homemade stain remover. Compare this SHOUT
best flannel bed sheets how to prevent pilling winter bedroom

Best Inexpensive Flannel Bed Sheets, Plus How to Prevent Pilling

There are few things as comforting as slipping between super soft, comfy flannel sheets on a cold winter night. But not
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6 Reasons Why Borax Should Be in Every Laundry Room

Adding 1/2 cup of borax to every load of laundry will do all kinds of wonderful things to keep your
wadded up sheets bed sheets in dryer

The Solution for Wadded-Up Bed Sheets, Blankets, and Duvet Covers

I've discovered a fabulous solution. Some very smart person has come up with a gadget (made in the USA, yay!)

Easy Fixes for the Big 3 Laundry Disasters

What do stinky, yellowed, and crayon-stained laundry items have in common? They're the reason many people write to me. Fortunately,
line drying clothes blowing in wind

16 Things Should Absolutely Never See The Inside of a Clothes Dryer

In the same way that drying clothes outdoors on a clothesline has its limitations (weather, effort, community rules that forbid
basket of white linens how to wash white clothes

How to Wash White Clothes: Expert Tips for Keeping Whites Bright

In the same way that there are rules in life for things like how to drive a car, how to
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The Best DIY Carpet Stain Remover That Works Like Magic

Unlike some other homemade laundry stain and detergent products you'll find here at Everyday Cheapskate, this one is also a
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How to Get Pet Hair Out of Carpet, Ugly Out of Laundry and More

Once again, it's time to reach into my virtual mailbag and answer a few questions from my dear readers ...
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Ask Me Anything: Pet Odor, Line-Dried Towels, HOT Cold-Brew and MORE!

Here it is mailbag day, when I reach into my virtual mailbag to read and respond to a handful of

13 Reasons to Use Vinegar in Laundry (and When Not To)

Using inexpensive distilled white vinegar in the laundry is smart because it will whiten, brighten, reduce odor, and soften clothes
stack of folded clean white towels

Laundry Stripping is the Easy Solution for Dingy Gray Sheets, Towels, Underwear

I can't recall a time when I was excited and at the same time embarrassed to tell you about something
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DIY Wrinkle Release Spray: How to Make It Better Than Downy

Unlike myself, not everyone I know loves to iron. I guess I’m crazy that way. There’s just something soothing, calming

13 Surprising Uses for Borax Around the House Safely

Recently this desperate message with a subject line Dishwasher Disaster! washed up in my inbox. I came this close to ignoring
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6 Ways to Make Safe, Problem-Free, Homemade Fabric Softener, Dryer Sheets

Fabric softeners are designed to reduce static and make laundry come out feeling soft and smelling great. But they can
diy laundry detergent borax washing soda fels naptha in a mason jar

How to Make Your Own Powdered Laundry Detergent

Store-bought laundry detergent can be pricey and full of chemicals you can’t even pronounce. But what if I told you
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12 Laundry Hacks You’ll Wish You Knew Years Ago

If you've ever suffered the heartbreak of stains, unbearable stink, or other kinds of annoying laundry issues—or just want to
7 Easy Ways to Make Your Jeans Last Much Longer stack of denim

7 Easy Ways to Make Your Jeans Last Much Longer

These days, jeans seem to rip and fall apart long before their time, a problem with simple solutions for how to
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Q/As on Auto Leasing, Homemade Detergent, Silver, and MORE!

You should see my email inbox. Yikes! It's overflowing with reader questions, tips, stories, feedback, rebuttals, and all kinds of
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Using Too Much Detergent? Here’s the Right Amount

Many people use way too much detergent, leading to dingy clothes, skin irritation, and even a funky washing machine. The
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How to Remove Sweat Stains and Save Your Favorite Clothes

Yellow armpit stains on white shirts are a problem if my inbox is any indication, which I believe it is.
how to clean a washing machine woman's hand wearing glove with microfiber towel

How to Clean Your Washing Machine: Easy Steps for Top & Front Loaders

If you assume the inside of your washing machine is the cleanest place in your home because you put detergent
how to keep white laundry white stack of folded towels sitting on bedding

Here’s How to Keep White Laundry White & Bright Without Bleach

If you've ever sent perfectly functional household linens or clothing items to the rag bag simply because they turned a
white pillows

How to Get Yellow-Stained Bed Pillows White Again

Favorite bed pillows get a lot of use every night. We keep clean pillowcases on them and don’t think much
A plate of food with a birthday cake, with Candle

Ask Me Anything: Candle Wax Removal, Laundry Sanitizer, Heavy-Duty Window Cleaner

A many-candled birthday cake left you with a mess of melted candle wax, now hardened and hopelessly stuck to your
A bed without bedding with arrow pointing to lower right corner and text saying "This corner!"

That Bed Sheet Pet Peeve, How to Soften Hard Water for Laundry

It may not show up in The Top Tens Biggest Pet Peeves (yes, there is such a thing), but getting
A close up of a egg

How to Make Wool Dryer Balls

Whenever I write about the benefits of using wool dryer balls in place of laundry softeners, I get a few
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Ask Me Anything: Concrete Stains, Yellowed Whites, Power Toothbrush

Every day when I open my inbox, I find dozens, if not hundreds, of questions from the audience. Want to
washing soda borax on white laundry

Help! I Get Clumps of Crystals in My Homemade Laundry Detergent

Several times over the past years, I have wished with all my heart I could call Mr. Migaki, my favorite
lestoil how to get grease stains out of clothes on kitchen countertop

How to Get Grease Stains Out of Clothes: The Ultimate Guide with Lestoil

Lestoil (“less toil”) Concentrated Heavy Duty Cleaner is a product that’s been around for at least a hundred years. Your
wool dryer balls hand placing into laundry dryer

How Wool Dryer Balls Really Work to Save Money and Protect Family Health

A previous post, on why laundry softening products are a real problem continues to strike a chord with thousands of readers.
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Commercial Fabric Softeners are the Problem (Here is the Solution)

When it comes to doing laundry, most of us are prone to overkill. We want beautifully clean, brilliantly white, soft,
hand pulling dryer sheet from box

26 Surprisingly Useful Ways to Use Dryer Sheets Around the House

Dryer sheets have so many other uses around that home that have nothing to do with laundry—indoors, outdoors, and in
rust stains on bathroom tub and sink

Ask Me Anything: Rust Stains, HE Washer, Stained Concrete, More

Every day when I open my inbox, I find dozens, if not hundreds, of questions from the audience. Want to
aundry hacks woman loading washer with colorful basket clothing

17 Genius Laundry Hacks and Tips for Cheaper, Better, and Faster Laundry Days

I love to do laundry. I’m crazy that way. Here are some of my favorite laundry tips that just might
Lestoil in laundry basket

10 Things You’ll Be Happy to Know About Lestoil

Apparently, Lestoil has been manufactured right here in the USA for decades and loved by many. Curiously, I'd never even
English bull dogs under the laundry

Get Pet Hair and Fragrance Build-Up Out of the Laundry

Dogs and cats shed. A lot. That pet hair can get all over the house—on rugs, on bedsheets, and clothes.
woman holding a stack of clean towels folded laundry problems and solutions

10 Brilliant Fixes for the Worst Laundry Disasters

Laundry disasters don’t discriminate. From mysteriously shrinking sweaters to stubborn armpit stains, it’s easy to feel like giving up. But
clothing hanging in closet how to get rid of mothball smell

How to Get Rid of Mothball Smell in Fabric—For Good!

If you’ve ever tried washing mothball-scented fabric, you already know—it doesn’t just disappear. In fact, it might make things worse!
how to wash a down comforter bedroom

How to Wash a Down Comforter the Right Way at Home

If you’ve ever wondered if it's okay to wash your down comforter instead of taking it to the dry cleaners,
high efficiency washing machine regular detergent in HE washer

Can You Use Regular Detergent in an HE Washer Safely?

If you've ever wondered what's the difference between regular laundry detergents and those designated as "High Efficiency" or HE if
soilove laundry stain remover

Soilove: The Best Budget-Friendly Stain Remover for Clothes

Finding the best stain remover for clothes can be a game-changer for your laundry routine. Enter Soilove, a budget-friendly and
simple tips for laundry dryer lint

How to Dry Clothes Without Damaging Them: Expert Tips & Tricks

See all that lint in your clothes dryer trap? Yikes! It's proof-positive your clothes and linens are wearing out prematurely
Close-up Of Female Hands Pouring homemade laundry detergent In The Blue Bottle Cap

Is Homemade Laundry Detergent Safe to Use in Today’s Washing Machines?

It’s been many years now since I switched from commercial laundry detergent to making it myself—both powdered and liquid homemade
smelly towels soft plush bath towels how to make old towels smell fresh again

How to Freshen Smelly Towels: A Step-by-Step Guide

If my inbox is any indicator of what’s going on in the world, and I believe it is, smelly towels
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Save Money with This Easy Homemade Laundry Detergent

Making your own laundry detergent might sound like a chore from another era, but it’s actually one of the easiest