Let your trickiest laundry problems come out in the wash

Your favorite silk blouse. The dog’s blanket. Less-than-fresh yoga pants. These tricky items and other basket cases can make the weekly wash a slippery business. These solutions will help lighten the load.

1. “I don’t like [washing clothes] because my laundry room looks and feels like a utility closet.”

A few basic upgrades can beautify this hardworking space: First, brighten it by opening blinds or swapping in LED bulbs. Better lighting is not only more pleasant, but it helps you spot and treat stains on items before the heat of the dryer sets them, says Bin Lin, director of R&D Laundry and Home Care for Henkel, the maker of Persil detergent.

Consider open shelving to allow clear access to necessities like detergent. (You can hide extra supplies in baskets and sturdy boxes.) A wheeled hamper with separate sections will help you divide lights and darks. Finally, add a plant to enliven your room and freshen the air naturally.

Sources: Williams-Sonoma European ironing board, $130, williams-sonoma.com. The Container Store Whitewash rattan storage bins, from $20 each, containerstore.com. Heritage Hill glass jars, from $8 each, target.com. Steele Canvas 3BU elevated truck with vegetable-tanned leather rim and divider, $173, steelecanvas.com. Samsung FlexWash WV9900 washing machine, $1,799, and dryer, $1,899, in White, samsung.com.

2. “My whites could be whiter; my brights, brighter.”

After you wash whites with detergent, do a second hot-water cycle using just bleach. Why the two steps? When you combine them, the bleach kills the stain-targeting enzymes in the detergent before they can do their job. For other clothes, try a color-boosting detergent. Most contain so-called optical brighteners. (They work so well that the military has banned them; they make fabrics glow in night vision.)

Also, turn colorful clothing inside out before you wash. This helps reduce friction and thus fading, as well as the pilling that can make hues look dull.

3. “I shrank my favorite sweater! Can it be saved?”

“If it’s a knit, maybe,” says Sean Cormier, associate professor of textile science at the Fashion Institute of Technology, in New York City. “T-shirts and cotton sweaters can get their shape back. Woven materials like wool suits and dress shirts, no.” If your now-tiny item falls in the former group, lay it flat to dry and stretch the sides while it’s still wet. If it’s been dried, sorry. Rewashing it in cold water won’t help.

4. “I need a simple stain fix.”

Everyday liquid detergent can remove most marks, says Lin. Pour a small amount directly onto the stained area of a dry item. Work it into the fibers with your thumb or another part of the garment, then let it sit for five to 10 minutes. “That gives the enzymes and surfactants in the detergent time to work in a concentrated way before they get diluted in the wash,” he says. Launder per usual, ideally right away, and inspect the item carefully before putting it in the dryer to ensure the stain is gone; if needed, repeat the treat-and-wash step.

For stubborn ink, food, grease, blood and grass stains, try nontoxic Amodex Cream.

5. “Pet hair is my pet peeve.”

You need to reduce the static that makes fur stick, Lin says. Tumble fuzzy items in the dryer on the no-heat “air fluff” setting, then add fabric softener to the wash. Last, dry them with reusable woolly dryer balls, eco-friendly alternatives to dryer sheets that grab hair, too.

Source: Echoview handmade wool dryer balls, $24 for 3, echo viewnc.com.

6. “My washer stinks ...”

Blame bacteria, which can bloom in humid front-loader machines. Every two to four months, wipe the door’s rubber seal with a cloth soaked in a solution of 1 cup chlorine bleach to 2 cups water, then run a hot-water cycle with bleach.

7. “... and so does my workout gear.”

The germs on sweaty clothes, like synthetic leggings, are the culprits, says Cormier. Washing them in cold water with the suggested amount of detergent (not too much or too little) and without overloading the machine should clear odors; if they linger, you’re likely underdosing the detergent, says Lin.

Skip fabric softener, which can interfere with wicking, and the dryer, which can shrink or damage high-tech fabrics. And remember to remove and hang them up promptly, to avoid replacing one yucky scent with another: eau de mildew.

8. “I dread hand-washing.”

Delicates aren’t as much work as you think: Most need a brief soak (five minutes, max) in a sink with gentle, low-alkaline detergent (Cormier likes Vaska), then a swish and a rinse in clean water. Let dirtier items sit for up to 30 minutes, then rub soiled areas with a laundry bar (try Purex Fels-Naptha). Hang or lay items flat to dry, and finito.

9. “My dryer takes way too long.”

If you clean the lint trap and run small loads, and your stuff still comes out damp, look for a blockage. Detach the hose in back and remove any lint, then check the exhaust vent outside. Weak airflow there signals a clog in the line — a fire hazard. Call in a pro to clear it, and invite him back — dryer vents need annual checkups.

Source: Sheila Maid drying rack, 57 inches, in White, $150, columbuswashboard.com.

10. “I want to use less energy and water.”

Lower your frequency: Wash underwear and socks after each use, of course, but only do pajamas, jeans, bras and towels every three to five uses. Wring things out: Extend the spin cycle to cut drying time for bulky items like bedding. Upgrade your machine: High-efficiency front loaders use about half the water of a standard top loader.

This story was originally published September 1, 2017 at 10:34 AM with the headline "Let your trickiest laundry problems come out in the wash."