Real Deal: Laundry hacks to keep your clothes looking new longer

News 12's consumer reporter Janice Lieberman gives us The Real Deal on how to keep your clothes looking new longer.

News 12 Staff

May 3, 2022, 11:59 AM

Updated 891 days ago

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Spend a lot on clothes? You may be washing that investment down the drain!
News 12's consumer reporter Janice Lieberman gives us The Real Deal on how to keep your clothes looking new longer.
Your washer and dryer can be your best friend if you figure out how to make them work for you. Below are some expert tips:

JEANS

Let’s start with jeans. They can be costly. What’s worse is when your favorite pair shrinks, discolors or rips. To protect their color, texture, and sheen, best thing to do is to try to wash them inside out. That way, it's the inside surface that takes the beating.

SORTING

Don’t sort by color, sort by the fabric density. Heavy fabrics absorb more water than lighter ones. Mixed washing can damage garments made of thinner fibers.

DIRTY SOCKS

Wash socks in cold water. Most of the dirt is protein based. If you use hot water, the stains will remain.

HEAT

When moving your laundry into the dryer, remember heat can destroy your clothes. You want to use the least amount of time and the least amount of heat. One of the best things to do is to use the center mode on your dryer. It’ll actually determine how much time and heat is absolutely necessary to make sure your clothes are safe. It’s also easier to iron clothing that’s still a bit damp.

DRY FASTER

To make your heavier loads dry faster, toss a tennis ball in the dryer so it forces the blankets to move around.

WHITER WHITES

Make your whites whiter by adding crushed aspirin to your machine.

STATIC CLING

Worried about static cling? Toss some aluminum foil balls into your dryer.
If you have a story idea, question or tip, click here to reach out to Janice.