Amazon
On a list of priority household chores, my laundry sits near the bottom. Irrationally, the higher the laundry piles above my hamper, the higher my anxiety and the further I push it down my to-do list. Due to my hectic schedule and excessive clothing count, there’s no part of the washing or sorting process I rush to complete. I do eventually restore order like a responsible adult, usually after officially hitting my last bath towel.
While I’m convinced no product on the market could make laundry day enjoyable, some genius things exist to make the chore less dreadful. If you tend to drag your feet with washing your clothes like me, then consider upgrading your routine with the below finds. We can do better together, no?
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1
A Box Legend folding board
No more letting clean laundry occupy one side of the bed for a week, friends. This laundry board is meant to help fold shirts and other items faster and far neater. Lay your clothing on top and flip the board pieces inward for a perfect fold. This should help cut down a good chunk of that laundry mountain on the bed and get you back to starfishing in no time.
This baby has over 5,000 five-star reviews and people especially love how the folding board gives shirts a tidy store-like presentation in their closets and dressers.
Promising review: "I dread folding laundry. But this folder makes it so easy to fold shirts, pants and basically any kind of clothing easy and neat." — Ash
This baby has over 5,000 five-star reviews and people especially love how the folding board gives shirts a tidy store-like presentation in their closets and dressers.
Promising review: "I dread folding laundry. But this folder makes it so easy to fold shirts, pants and basically any kind of clothing easy and neat." — Ash
2
Wad-Free bed sheet detanglers
If you're like me and find washing the fitted bed sheet to be a deeply annoying process, these detanglers, first seen on "Shark Tank," are here to straighten us both out. They'll help prevent the sheet from wadding so it can dry thoroughly and keep smaller items from getting stuck in the tangles. The top-rated detanglers even help keep socks and bras secure during a drying cycle. If you have a duvet that causes similar dryer problems as the fitted sheet, then no sweat. Wad-Free has special detanglers for that, too. The trick to making these work is to wash on a gentle cycle and avoid overloading the dryer.
Promising review: "My sheets would always burrito up in the dryer so I’d always have to run a second or even third drying session and they still would come out with some wet areas. These take a little time to put on your sheets before you throw them in the wash. You also have to watch [to ensure] a corner didn’t come undone when you move them to the dryer. The little extra time these take is well worth it though. They keep my sheets from bundling up and everything dried with just one run. I bought a second pair of these because I use them on my sheets, blankets, duvet [and] comforter. I might have to buy a third pack so I don’t have to wait for the first round of items to dry before I can do my second load. The comforter sometimes is a little difficult to put one in and they are more likely to slip off, but I still try." — Niferv
Promising review: "My sheets would always burrito up in the dryer so I’d always have to run a second or even third drying session and they still would come out with some wet areas. These take a little time to put on your sheets before you throw them in the wash. You also have to watch [to ensure] a corner didn’t come undone when you move them to the dryer. The little extra time these take is well worth it though. They keep my sheets from bundling up and everything dried with just one run. I bought a second pair of these because I use them on my sheets, blankets, duvet [and] comforter. I might have to buy a third pack so I don’t have to wait for the first round of items to dry before I can do my second load. The comforter sometimes is a little difficult to put one in and they are more likely to slip off, but I still try." — Niferv
3
A laundry pre-sorting basket
If sorting your whites and colors is what you dread the most, this stylish two-hamper system can ensure you get it all done long before wash day to save some time. The hamper features a black and white basket respectively that indicates what clothing goes where. It does a great job of keeping things organized while adding to the decor with its sleek, wooden top and metal frame. Heads up: This hamper earned over 200 five-star reviews and the consistent critique you'll find is that it's small. However, its small size is exactly what can help you wash more frequently so clothes don't pile up.
Promising review: "This is a wonderful laundry hamper for my small bedroom. Sorting my clothes into lights and darks saves me time later. The bags are easy to remove and dumping the laundry into the washing machine is easy. An extra bonus is the pocket in the front where I can put things like lingerie that I want to wash separately. I also love the shelf. All around great product, and I would buy it again." —Michael Massie
Promising review: "This is a wonderful laundry hamper for my small bedroom. Sorting my clothes into lights and darks saves me time later. The bags are easy to remove and dumping the laundry into the washing machine is easy. An extra bonus is the pocket in the front where I can put things like lingerie that I want to wash separately. I also love the shelf. All around great product, and I would buy it again." —Michael Massie
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4
OxiClean Max Force laundry stain remover
With over 2,000 five-star reviews, people love this stuff for how it gives them a grace period to save their clothes from stains even when they don't have time to do laundry right away. Yes, it's a product that actually makes sense for our busy lives. Spray the garment down, let it sit for up to seven days and when you wash it, the stain can still lift.
Get it in full size or in a travel pack of two smaller-sized bottles. I recommend the travel sizes if you've never used the product before or only need to bully stains occasionally.
Promising review: "These are a handy product to have at home on top of the washer or in your purse for on the go with little ones. No strong scent, the packaging is practically leakproof so [it] won't ruin your purse. And it got stains out of my daughter’s shirt from a few months ago that I thought was there forever. One use and it was gone. I sprayed the spots and let [it sit] two days then threw in the washer. I highly recommend this product." — Love This
Get it in full size or in a travel pack of two smaller-sized bottles. I recommend the travel sizes if you've never used the product before or only need to bully stains occasionally.
Promising review: "These are a handy product to have at home on top of the washer or in your purse for on the go with little ones. No strong scent, the packaging is practically leakproof so [it] won't ruin your purse. And it got stains out of my daughter’s shirt from a few months ago that I thought was there forever. One use and it was gone. I sprayed the spots and let [it sit] two days then threw in the washer. I highly recommend this product." — Love This
5
A Dryel at-home dry cleaning kit
Running clothes to the dry cleaners on top of what you have to handle at home is a lot. I've certainly left garments hanging in my car a few extra days because I dreaded making the trip. Thankfully, you can bring the cleaners to the crib without the big bill or the drive with the Dryel At-Home Dry Cleaner kit.
This kit can gently clean your higher-maintenance clothing items in 15 to 30 minutes. It'll come with one stain pen, one odor and wrinkle releaser spray bottle, and cleaning cloths. Just spray the clothes, apply the stain pen if and where you need to and then toss them into the dryer on medium heat. You'll need 15 minutes for a quick refresh and 30 for a deeper clean. When the cycle ends, hang them up to let wrinkles fall out. Among the 100+ five-star reviews, people seem to appreciate the variety of garments and linens this kit can effectively clean.
Promising review: "I used this to dry clean two wool jackets and they turned out clean and fresh! Loved the freshener spray/ wrinkle releases; still have enough for 5 more uses, plus it contains a stain remover pen. Def worth the price!" — Mary
This kit can gently clean your higher-maintenance clothing items in 15 to 30 minutes. It'll come with one stain pen, one odor and wrinkle releaser spray bottle, and cleaning cloths. Just spray the clothes, apply the stain pen if and where you need to and then toss them into the dryer on medium heat. You'll need 15 minutes for a quick refresh and 30 for a deeper clean. When the cycle ends, hang them up to let wrinkles fall out. Among the 100+ five-star reviews, people seem to appreciate the variety of garments and linens this kit can effectively clean.
Promising review: "I used this to dry clean two wool jackets and they turned out clean and fresh! Loved the freshener spray/ wrinkle releases; still have enough for 5 more uses, plus it contains a stain remover pen. Def worth the price!" — Mary
6
Helping Hand Sock Locks
The one part of my laundry that I can never catch up on is sorting and pairing my socks. I gave it up years ago and just accepted that there would always be a few missing.
That said, the Helping Hand Sock Locks might be the game changer to end my decades-long streak of sock drawer chaos. They have over 1,000 5-star reviews with several reviewers noting that they've used these for decades. Stick the sock matches into each stretchable yet compressible loop so they survive both laundry cycles together. Finally, our machines will no longer be where matches go missing indefinitely.
Promising review: "We have used Sock Locks for over 30 years. Was so glad to find them on Amazon. Couldn't wait to snap them up. When we take our paired socks out of the dryer we just put them as is in our sock drawers. Take them off the rings to put socks on in the morning and slip the socks back on the ring and into the laundry basket at night, Haven't lost a sock in years and I never have to sort them either." — Ronald C. Baldwin
That said, the Helping Hand Sock Locks might be the game changer to end my decades-long streak of sock drawer chaos. They have over 1,000 5-star reviews with several reviewers noting that they've used these for decades. Stick the sock matches into each stretchable yet compressible loop so they survive both laundry cycles together. Finally, our machines will no longer be where matches go missing indefinitely.
Promising review: "We have used Sock Locks for over 30 years. Was so glad to find them on Amazon. Couldn't wait to snap them up. When we take our paired socks out of the dryer we just put them as is in our sock drawers. Take them off the rings to put socks on in the morning and slip the socks back on the ring and into the laundry basket at night, Haven't lost a sock in years and I never have to sort them either." — Ronald C. Baldwin
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7
Ballcap Buddy dishwasher or washing machine holder
Calling all folks who haven't washed their baseball caps since the Ice Age. Before you scoff, hear (or read) me out because with over 12,000 five-star ratings, this cool contraption is worth grabbing. It serves as a mini-protective cage for your billed hats during the cleaning process. Stick your hat inside, snap it closed and then pop it into the washing machine or dishwasher to clean the hats while preserving their shape. Now, you can add them to your laundry day without over-complicating the process.
Promising review: "Had a Kansas State Wildcats hat that was probably 10 years old and filthy. Sweat stains and an unfortunate bird 'strike' at the zoo. Wasn't sure the hat would survive cleanup, but it did, and looks great. Product is well worth the price! Need to run some other old favorites through the dishwasher as well." — W
Promising review: "Had a Kansas State Wildcats hat that was probably 10 years old and filthy. Sweat stains and an unfortunate bird 'strike' at the zoo. Wasn't sure the hat would survive cleanup, but it did, and looks great. Product is well worth the price! Need to run some other old favorites through the dishwasher as well." — W
8
Affresh washing machine tablets
A smelly washing machine means a smelly load of clothes. If you find you often have to rewash loads that still stink after the first cycle, then it might be the machine itself. Popping in a cleaning tablet after wash day will relieve the machine of odor-causing residue that can make the next laundry session a repeat doozy. I use these all the time (plus the Affresh tablets designed for the dishwasher) and my re-wash count is down to zero. Also, you'll be happy to know these precious tablets have an unbelievable 35,000+ reviews on Amazon!
Promising review: "I’ve been using Affresh washer cleaner in our front-loading washing machine ever since we bought it. I don’t really count how many loads of laundry we do, I just usually do it about once a month or so and that usually does the trick.
Our washing machine has a washer setting for the tablet, so it does a special wash just for the washer cleaner. I like this because it agitates the tablet until it completely dissolves it, and then it spins the sudsy water for quite some time until the washer is nice and clean.
I am really quite happy with the results of this washing machine cleaner. I can always tell when it needs to be cleaned either from the look of the drum or the glass, or sometimes from the way that clothes smell if they are left in the washing machine for a little too long. There are three of us in this household, all adults, and we use the laundry about 3-4 loads per week, so that can give you a gauge at about how often we need to Affresh the washer..." — Noelle
Promising review: "I’ve been using Affresh washer cleaner in our front-loading washing machine ever since we bought it. I don’t really count how many loads of laundry we do, I just usually do it about once a month or so and that usually does the trick.
Our washing machine has a washer setting for the tablet, so it does a special wash just for the washer cleaner. I like this because it agitates the tablet until it completely dissolves it, and then it spins the sudsy water for quite some time until the washer is nice and clean.
I am really quite happy with the results of this washing machine cleaner. I can always tell when it needs to be cleaned either from the look of the drum or the glass, or sometimes from the way that clothes smell if they are left in the washing machine for a little too long. There are three of us in this household, all adults, and we use the laundry about 3-4 loads per week, so that can give you a gauge at about how often we need to Affresh the washer..." — Noelle