Fresh Ways to Upgrade Your Back-To-School Laundry Routine
Has your washing machine been working overtime during summer stay-cation? Feeling lukewarm about laundry after returning home from an actual vacation with loads of sandy/sweaty must wash items? Sure, laundry can be agitating - but there is still time to upgrade your laundering routine just in time for back to school season!
- Consider a daily laundry schedule. Tending to mountains of laundry once per week can be very overwhelming. Preserve patience & your permanent press with a dedicated daily 10 minute routine. Maybe you don’t think you dingy up enough clothes to run the washing machine this often, but remember that most washing machines today offer low & medium water level options. The 10 minute *timer* begins when you collect the to-be-washed items of the day & start the washer. (Timeout for when the washer is running.) Transfer wet clothes to the dyer. (Timeout while the dryer is running.) Retrieve promptly, fold*, & put away. Daily dirties done!
- Be smart about how you sort. Instead of letting a hamper overflow, keep multiple laundry baskets in each room where laundry accumulates. Start the sort process at each room location so that you can grab baskets & go for specialized cycles (from active young families to college students) when needed. *PRO TIP - Folding is a GREAT after school chore for kids. They can also assist with removing clothes from the dryer, taking clean clothes to their respective areas, matching socks, & cleaning the interior dryer exhaust vent after each use.
- Keep School Backpacks Squeaky Clean. Look before you launder! Check the care instructions tag & follow these easy steps to get backpacks unsullied in the washing machine. You’ll need:
- Gentle laundry detergent
- A pillowcase or mesh laundry bag
- Stain remover (optional)
- An old toothbrush (optional)
- Dry newspaper (optional)
- Spray bottle (optional)
- Vanilla extract (optional)
- 1. Apply the stain remover to any areas that are discolored or heavily soiled. Use the toothbrush to gently work the remover into the fabric.
- 2. Make sure all the zippers are open, turn the bag inside out & place it inside of the pillowcase or laundry bag.
- 3. Tie the pillowcase closed or fasten the mesh laundry bag.
- 4. Wash the backpack in cold water on the gentle cycle.
- 5. Remove the pillowcase or mesh laundry bag & hang the backpack upside down to drip dry, outdoors if possible. Wait until the bag is completely dry before replacing the contents.
- 6. Optional step for STINK elimination: If extra deodorizing is needed (hello extracurricular sports) the answer is black & white! Use newspaper to deodorize. It’s hard to believe, but newspaper can absorb odors. Start by crumpling up several pieces of newspaper. Then, gently spritz the newspaper with vanilla extract (don’t soak the stuff, just a light mist will do) & stuff the backpack with the newspaper. Let the bag sit for the weekend. When the newspaper is removed, the funky smells will be gone & the vanilla scent will likely linger for up to a week.
As your laundry routine elevates to extraordinary, make sure the laundry room is also ready for back to school season! Killarney Metals has steel washer drip pans & washer drain pans that work with any brand of washing machine. Make a laundry room upgrade for #Back2School easy with these in-stock & ready to ship washer pans complete with the No Leak Guarantee. Check out KillarneyMetals.com or call toll-free (877) 801-7417 8:30AM - 5 PM EST for assistance.