The Most Essential Laundry Tips, Fixes and Hacks

Whether you’re one person or a family, laundry can feel like a never-ending task. And that’s without having to consider the technicalities of separating your loads, dealing with clothes that need handwashing, and trying to keep white items clean and bright. So, our cash for houses Dallas team has put together a few of our most useful laundry tips and lifehacks to make your everyday tasks a little easier.

Laundry Tips #1 – Musty Smells

It’s easy to forget a load of laundry in the washer or dryer, and when you do remember it, it comes out with a musty, unpleasant smell. If you can’t see any small, dark spots of mold or mildew, you can just rewash them and they should come out clean and fresh smelling. It you do see stains or the smell is quite strong, it’s best to use color-safe oxygen bleach in the wash, as this will kill any spores in the clothing and the machine itself. If the mold or mildew is more stubborn, first soak the clothes in a bucket filled with a color-safe oxygen bleach or a borax solution to boost the cleaning power.

Laundry Tips #2 – Keeping White Clothes White

The most common laundry problem we all face is keeping white clothes white! The sweat from our bodies, residue from skincare products and sunscreens, and everyday stains quickly leave white linens and clothing looking grey, yellowed, or grubby. Here’s what to do:

• Always wash white items separately.
• Don’t overload the washing machine. The load should be loosely packed so that the washing liquid can get to every layer, and there should be about a 5-inch gap at the top of the drum once it’s loaded.
• Use a laundry liquid that is designed for white items. This will have gentle bleaching and optical brighteners that freshen up your clothes, remove that yellowing effect, and help with stain removal. You can also try adding a half cup of borax or one cup of baking soda to each load to boost the cleaning effect of your detergent.
• Wash on a warmer cycle. Always use the hottest cycle recommended for the items you’re washing, as this will help remove stains and dirt.
• Try dry clothes outside, as the sun’s UV rays help to bleach the fibers and whiten them up. If you can’t dry your white items outside very easily, dry them on a low setting and be careful not to over dry them, as this can cause that yellowing effect.

Laundry Tips #3 – Tissues in the Wash

Although we all know we should check every pocket of every item of clothing before we put it in the washing machine, it’s so easy for something small like a tissue or paper napkin to get passed the check! We’ve all done it, and there’s nothing quite as frustrating as pulling a load of washing out and seeing all those little clumps covering your clothes.

Don’t worry though, there is a fairly easy fix! First, pull off any larger clumps. Then, dump the load in the dryer – removing any items that need to be air-dried. The dryer will catch almost all the little bits in the lint filter, and any remaining bits can be picked off easily with a lint roller or by hand. Just remember to clean your lint filter well after your load is done, as a clogged lint filter isn’t good for your clothes or machine and can become a fire hazard if it gets completely blocked up.

Laundry Tips #4 – Urine Accidents

Pets and little kids can easily have accidents, and most of these can be quickly cleaned up with a disinfectant or appropriate cleaning fluid and a little scrubbing. But urine is a little different. Because it contains protein and acids, the smell can linger or even set in permanently if it’s not cleaned up the right way. So, here’s what to do:

• Act quickly. Always clean up an accident right away, and if you don’t have the time at that moment, the best option is to dump the clothing or linen into a plastic container of cold water.

• Always use cold water. Heat and dryness will set the stain and smell, so never wash any urine stains away with hot water.

• Use the right detergent. Ordinary detergent isn’t quite designed to work with urine, so try get something like a pet urine detergent or an oxygen-based bleach (like Clorox 2 for Colors or OxiClean), as this will kill any bacteria and clean away the proteins and acids effectively.

• Get professional help if needed. If it’s a large item like a mattress or sofa, or a special fabric like upholstery or silk, then call in the pros as soon as you can. Sponge away any excess urine and remember to keep it damp with some cool water while you wait. Be sure to tell them it’s a urine stain so that they know exactly the right way to treat it.

• Inspect before drying. Check the items carefully for any staining or smells after the wash, as the heat of the dryer can permanently set any remaining urine stains. If you’re unsure, rather run the items through the wash a second time to be sure.

Selling a Home in Dallas with Our Cash for Houses Team is Easier than a Load of Laundry!

If you want to sell property fast without having to look for a buyer, dealing with a real estate agent and paying their commission, or even emptying the house, then the best option is to sell directly to cash house buyers in Dallas. We even do clean-out services, so you don’t have to worry about any heavy lifting.

We don’t just supply you with great laundry tips and laundry hacks, we can also sell your house in 24 hours, putting a lump sum into your account in just a few days. Here’s how our process works:

• You enter your information on our website. We’ll contact you directly to discuss an offer for your property (you can also get a free property evaluation from our website)
• You can accept or reject the FREE NO-OBLIGATION offer
• Cash will be deposited into your bank account – with no real estate agent fees
• We can handle all aspects of the process, including clearing out the house
• You can also call us directly on 469-858-008

That’s all there is to it!

You can also download our FREE eBook for more information on how to sell your house in 24 hours.

Our team is compassionate and highly motivated to offer you the best possible market-related price for your house, so you can sell your house in 24 hours. Not only does this cash go straight into your bank account as soon as the sale goes through, but you also pay zero real estate agent commission.

At Shiny Key Properties, our trained consultants have years of experience in assisting local and out-of-state homeowners to sell their property. To find out more about our cash for houses Dallas service, please contact us today and speak to one of our friendly team members.