College is a major life transition that brings with it a host of new experiences and responsibilities. Although laundry is one of the more mundane changes, it’s a critical chore that college students need to get the hang of if they want clean, fresh-smelling clothes on a regular basis. When you first begin exploring the wonderful world of laundry, you might be wondering about the various laundry products needed to get the job done. Let’s review the various types of laundry tools and their purposes so you can master your laundry needs in college.

Detergents

Imagine washing your hands without any hand soap. Yuck! That’s essentially the equivalent of washing clothes without detergent. This is the key to keeping your clothes clean, smelling fresh, and looking great. The real challenge for most college students is finding the right kind of detergent. In general, there are three primary kinds of detergent: liquid, powder, and pods. Pods are more portable and convenient, but liquid and powder detergents are generally cheaper per wash. The trick is finding the right variety of detergents depending on your specific needs. Standard detergents work great with all clothes while others have a specific use such as removing stains from white clothes, treating delicate materials lightly, or tackling stubborn stains. Make sure to read the labels to make sure you have what you need.

Dryer Sheets

Don’t you hate when freshly-dried clothes stick to your skin like glue with that annoying static? Well, we’ve got a solution for you: dryer sheets! These laundry tools resemble small tissues and significantly minimize the static-cling of clothes. On top of that, dryer sheets make materials feel softer and more comfortable and leave behind a nice scent to give your clothes a long-lasting pleasant aroma. This way, your clothes are ready to be worn immediately after the drying process without any frustrating sticking. All you have to do is toss a dryer sheet or two in the dryer with a load of laundry. The more clothes you’re drying, the more dryer sheets you’ll need. However, usually one is more than enough.

Further Reading: The Ultimate Guide to Doing Laundry in College

Mesh Bags

One of the most underrated and underutilized laundry products is mesh bags. When you need to wash delicate materials but don’t have the time, patience, or money to pay for multiple loads, mesh bags allow you to mix all your laundry together while still protecting more sensitive items. For example, if you need to wash your underwear with everything else, tossing them in a mesh bag can eliminate the potential for snagging, pulling, and ripping. Mesh bags are incredibly affordable, easy to use, and super effective. You can use mesh bags in the washer and the dryer, although you might not want to dry some more sensitive materials such as wool, cashmere, or silk. You can find mesh bags at the vast majority of superstores, supermarkets, and drug stores.

Stain Sticks

Stain sticks are another helpful laundry tool to have in your arsenal for college. These pen-shaped devices are the most convenient way to remove smaller stains to avoid having to do a full load of laundry. Whether you spill some coffee in the morning (or late at night), drop a bit of ketchup at lunch, experience an ink spill, or fall victim to any other kind of stain, you can simply pull out the stain stick and apply it on the stain. These devices aren’t guaranteed to remove stubborn stains, but they can handle moderate blemishes pretty well. They’re a great tool to have at your disposal whenever you’re in a pinch.

Interested in learning more ways to prepare yourself for laundry at college? Head over to www.coinmeter.com for insider tips and tricks for mastering this weekly chore. We offer a host of helpful advice and actionable tips you can use to keep your clothes clean and pristine.