Unraveling the Secrets of Laundry Day Sock Disappearances

Laundry comes with a universal puzzle that unites all laundry doers – the mysterious disappearance of socks.

This conundrum has caused individuals to accumulate a strange collection of single, solo socks. There’s no mischievous laundry gnome living in our washers and dryers, but the reasons behind these disappearances have more to do with…simple laundry machine quirks, human error, and static electricity.

Dynamics of Static Electricity

When socks vanish in your laundry cycle, the invisible force responsible is likely static electricity. In the space of a washing machine or dryer, socks can develop a static charge, causing them to cling to other clothes or even the drum itself. This static embrace may lead socks to hide within larger items like your sheets and towels. To outsmart static cling, be sure to use your various anti-static products or dryer balls to minimize the chances of your socks being lost within the folds.

Mixing Loads and Clothes Entanglements

The mixing of different fabrics and colors in a single laundry load is another common culprit. Socks, being relatively small and lightweight, can easily become entangled with larger items like shirts or the cuffs of your pants. This hidden alliance means that a single sock may be tucked away in folds or sleeves without you realizing, often found later.

Human Oversight and Error

Human oversights—like socks falling out of the laundry basket, not being pulled from the drum, or possibly being dropped during the transfer from washer to dryer—plays a contributing factor as well. Double checking that washer and dryer spaces are empty during transfers is critical, as is checking the laundry room space itself when finished that you have all your garments with you.

Keeping an eye on your socks from the moment they come off your feet, enter your laundry basket, and then into your laundry machines is a bit of a cumbersome ask. If all else fails, the day after Thanksgiving Black Friday sale is a good time to stock up on more pairs!

Essential Laundry Equipment for College

College is a massive transition in virtually all areas of your life even in the more mundane and everyday responsibilities. For many college students, undergraduate life is the first time they handle laundry all on their own. As you start making a list of all the items you’ll need to succeed in college, make some room for this essential laundry equipment. These handy, convenient, and low-cost items will make your routine visits to the campus laundry room or local laundromat that much quicker and seamless.

Laundry basket.

The corner of the dorm room might seem like the perfect place to throw your laundry for the first few weeks of college, but you’ll quickly be looking for an alternative solution. That’s where laundry baskets come into play. They come in a wide variety of sizes, shapes, and materials, but their basic function is identical: to keep your dirty clothes in one convenient place until laundry day comes around. The best laundry baskets for college students are compact, lightweight, and foldable in some way. This way, you can easily store it away when you’re not using it to maximize the limited amount of living space you’re dealing with in college.

Laundry bag.

While your laundry basket is perfect for stowing away dirty clothes, it’s probably not designed to take on the road. As a result, you’ll need a laundry bag to haul everything from your dorm to the laundry room. A large bag of any size will do just fine, just make sure it’s lightweight, comfortable, and spacious. You’ll have to fit days worth of clothing in there and might even have to carry it a decent way if you’re going to a local laundromat. If you can find a hybrid laundry basket-carrying bag that gets the job done, you’re killing two laundry birds with one stone.

Detergent.

Detergent is critical when it comes to keeping your clothes clean and smelling fresh. There are plenty of high-quality detergents that get the job done, but the variety gives you room to choose what fits your needs best. The best detergent will depend on a few factors including your budget, the strength of cleaning your clothes demand, your scent preferences, and any sensitivities or allergies you might have. Some laundromats sell detergent which is convenient in a pinch. However, bringing your own detergent is going to save you a lot of money in the long run while giving you the ability to find a product that works perfectly for you.

Clothes hangers.

One of the most painful laundromat experiences is pulling out your favorite shirt or pair of pants from the dryer only to see them completely ruined. Sensitive materials such as faux leather, silk, wool, and suede aren’t designed to get tumble dried at high temperatures. This is where clothes hangers are essential. Read the tags on your clothes to figure out which items need to get hung up to dry instead of thrown in the dryer. You might find enough space to air dry your clothes in the laundry facility, but you can always move them to your dorm room with hangers.

Mesh bags.

Mesh bags are an effective way to protect more sensitive materials from becoming damaged during the washing and drying cycles. Undergarments, wool fabric, and other sensitive items can get snagged on zippers which can cause irreparable tears and holes. Instead of having to pay extra by separating loads, you can simply invest in a handful of mesh bags that protect your more at-risk clothing. These bags are incredibly affordable, easy to use, and highly effective. No more spin cycles of death! You can rest assured your clothes will remain intact.

Interested in getting more actionable advice for improving your routine trip to the laundromat? Check out CoinMeter’s insider tips and tricks so you can keep your clothes in tip-top shape and smelling great no matter what life throws your way.

Laundry Myths That Are Actually Damaging Your Clothes

There are a lot of laundry room tips and tricks passed along by oral tradition intended to help people keep their clothes clean, stain-free, and smelling fresh. In reality, there are some fairly widespread myths that actually end up damaging your clothes instead of making them cleaner. Let’s pinpoint some of these misconceptions so you can save time and energy by making your laundry trips as efficient as possible.

You can completely fill the washer.

We’ve all been guilty of stuffing the washing machine to the brim in an effort to get as many clothes clean as possible. The general misconception is that if the clothes fit and the washer runs, then the clothes must be clean at the end of the cycle. In reality, you get less clean for your buck the more clothes you stuff into a load. The detergent will struggle to get in direct contact with each item of clothing. Plus, there will be less water for every article. In general, you should never fill up a washing machine to more than 75% of its capacity.

Clothes should be washed after every use.

No matter what you might’ve heard, your clothes don’t need to get washed after every use. Not only is this a great way to run up your energy costs but overwashing can limit the lifespan of your clothes. All fabrics become more susceptible to damage the more they’re washed. The tumbling in the washer and dryer, the high temperatures, and even the detergent can have a detrimental effect when done too often. Other than undergarments and workout attire, most clothes can go multiple uses before needing a wash without smelling bad.

The hotter the water, the cleaner the clothes.

Hot water doesn’t always mean cleaner clothes. In the past, the water temperature was one of the primary ways washing machines killed bacteria and remove stains. However, modern detergents are effective at cleaning clothes even in cooler water. Always setting the washer to the highest temperature setting can ruin some fabrics and even cause stains. Always read clothing labels to know what kind of water temperature is ideal. You’ll keep your clothes in better condition while still ensuring they get the proper and thorough clean you need. When in doubt, a warm setting is a good balance to strike.

The more detergent the better.

The old adage about too much of a good thing going bad is applicable to the laundry room when it comes to using detergent. It’s vital for keeping clothes clean, but there’s a point of diminishing returns. Just because you toss in more detergent doesn’t mean it’s going to work harder to clean your clothes. There is an ideal amount at which point your clothes will get as clean as possible. Beyond that point, you run the risk of having excess detergent leaving residue. Always consult the detergent label to determine precisely how much to use given the load size and type of clothes.

There’s no such thing as too many dryer sheets.

Dryer sheets are the unsung heroes of the drying cycle. They help speed up drying time while leaving your clothes smelling fresh and sweet. These advantages make it tempting to throw in a generous amount of dryer sheets with the expectation that you’ll just get more of those benefits. Instead, your dryer will struggle to operate optimally as the residue from the dryer sheets will quickly clog up the lint trap and lead to congestion. One or two dryer sheets are more than enough depending on how many clothes you’re drying at once.

Interested in learning more about how you can optimize your trips to the laundry facility? Check out Coin Meter to get insider tricks and tips for doing laundry like a pro.

The Ultimate Guide to Doing Laundry in College

You learn a lot when you’re in college, and the majority of that learning takes place outside of the classroom. You learn how to make new friends, how to deal with difficult breakups, how to navigate disagreements, how to budget, how to cook, and…how to do laundry.

Before moving out, you might’ve done a few loads of laundry on your own, but – let’s face it – you really have no idea what you’re doing. And that’s okay! Everyone starts somewhere. Here’s a little cheat sheet to get you ahead of the game so you can look like a seasoned pro in the laundry room.

The Basics

Read the washing labels.
What if we told you there were clear-cut instructions for washing every piece of clothing you own? Sounds too good to be true, right? Well, it’s not! Every t-shirt, sweater, pair of shorts, pair of jeans, and, yes, even underwear has a washing label that outlines exactly how to properly clean that particular article of clothing. Understanding how to read washing labels can save you from permanently staining or shrinking your clothes.

Suggested Reading: Follow These 4 Steps for Unshrinking Your Clothes

Separate clothes by color or type.
One of the commandments of college laundry is to wash clothes according to their color or type. For example, all your jeans and jean-material clothes should get washed together and all your white clothes should be put in the same load. This matching and organizing help to prevent colors from bleeding and textures from losing their distinct feel. Ignore this one at your own risk.

Washing

Don’t overload the washing machine.
As a college student, you have a lot of responsibilities on your plate with a limited amount of time during the week. Naturally, when laundry day rolls around, you might feel tempted to stuff as many clothes in the washing machine as possible. You might be able to fit in every piece of laundry you have, but that doesn’t mean they’ll all turn out clean…which is the whole point after all. It’s advisable to leave about 25% of space in a laundry load for the clothes to toss and turn since that’s how they actually get clean.

Choose the right detergent.
While using a less-than-ideal detergent won’t harm your clothing, it can certainly keep them from looking, feeling, and smelling their freshest. Whether you want to get out stubborn stains, refreshen white clothing, or keep your favorite sweater looking vibrant, there’s a specific laundry to help you reach those goals. You’ll want to find the best detergent based on what you want to accomplish for the most successful laundry experience possible.

Set a fitting temperature.
There are a seemingly endless number of washing settings, especially on commercial equipment at the local laundromat or campus laundry room. A lot of these options are pretty straightforward, but the most important setting is the temperature. Washing something too cold might not get it clean enough while washing too hot can shrink sensitive clothing. Nearly all clothing has this info on its washing labels so check those diligently before choosing the best temperature.

Drying

Take out anything that can’t be dried.

There are several items that do perfectly fine in the washing machine that can get destroyed in the dryer. Cashmere, silk, rayon, and wool are just a few examples. Consult your clothing’s washing labels before tossing them in the washer and opt for air-drying or sun-drying for clothes that can’t handle the heat of the dryer.

Clear out the filter every time.
All kinds of debris, dust, and lint get picked up and filtered by dryers so your clothes come out looking fresh and clean. However, these filters can end up limiting the drying impact of a machine when they become too clogged with debris and air can’t escape. Before (and after) using the dryer, clean out the filter for an optimized drying experience.

Interested in learning more about how to master laundry days? Check out the Coin Meter site for more insider tips and tricks for making the most of this weekly chore.

5 Tips for Washing New Clothes Effectively

Brand-new clothing looks so fresh, clean, and untarnished that it can feel like a waste to throw newly purchased items in the laundry. Still, the amount of dirt, chemicals, and bacteria on these clothes warrants at least a quick wash before wearing. Most of the washing and drying mistakes people make with their clothes have the worst impact during the first laundry cycle. Let’s explore some simple ways you can effectively wash new clothes while still maintaining their fresh appeal as much as possible.

1. Remove all unnecessary tags.
Start by removing all the non-essential tags, stickers, and add-ons from the new article of clothing. Price tags, size markers, bar codes, and anything else you wouldn’t wash should get placed to the side. Don’t throw them away yet! You might need these items to return your clothes later just in case they don’t fit, were already damaged, or simply don’t match your style. Make sure to leave all essential tags such as washing labels on the clothes. As a general rule of thumb, if the labels are sewn into the article of clothing, they’re not supposed to get removed.

2. Read the washing label.
Read the washing labels carefully. Nearly every article of clothing comes with specific instructions for how it should get washed for optimum results. Sticking to these rules can prevent clothing from losing its size, color, shape, and texture. You can generally find these tags on the inside of clothing sewn into a seam. T-shirts, sweaters, and shirts usually have these tags along the side while shorts and pants generally have them on the back of the waist. These washing labels can tell you everything you need to know about cleaning the clothing. It’s important to know how to read washing tags before attempting to decipher what they mean.

3. Avoid mixing different colors together.
There’s no greater pain in the world of laundry than to pull out a favorite piece of clothing only to see it stained with color from another item in the laundry. New clothes have a much higher likelihood of bleeding in the washer, especially when washed at high temperatures. This can diminish the color of newer clothes and stain other clothes. The best way to avoid this problem is to avoid mixing colors. For example, whites shouldn’t get mixed in with the darks and vice versa. When it comes to specific colors, you’ll have to operate on a bit of a spectrum. In other words, it’s okay to wash a lime green shirt with kelly green pants.

4. Choose the right detergent.
Choosing the best detergent is another crucial step for washing new clothes effectively. Generally speaking, there are three different kinds of laundry detergent: liquid, powder, and pod. The liquid option is the most commonly used and, as a result, has the greatest variety. Powder detergents are also popular due to their ability to really “sink” into clothing for a deep clean. Laundry pods, also known as single-use detergents, are perfect for doing laundry at a public facility due to their ease of use. When washing new clothes, you want to use a detergent that’s gentle and color-preserving.

5. Select the proper wash settings.
Here’s where things get a little tricker. Looking at a washing machine can sometimes feel like operating a spaceship with all the different setting selections. When washing new clothes, you want to strike a balance between cleaning and preservation. You want to give your clothes a thorough clean to remove common stains, bacteria, or other potential impurities while still protecting the integrity of the clothes. You should always stick to the instructions on the laundry label as these settings have been selected specifically to optimally clean that particular item of clothing. If that’s not possible, it’s advisable to stick with moderate temperatures and average spin cycles to avoid overwashing or overheating.

Want to learn more about how you can improve your laundry cycles? Visit the Coin Meter site today for some insider tips and tricks for making the most of this weekly chore.

Can You Get White Clothes White Again? Yes! Here’s How

White clothes are notoriously difficult to keep…well, white. Whether it was a dress shirt, t-shirt, blouse, sweater, or even a pair of white jeans, we’ve all had the unpleasant experience of watching a favorite piece of clothing slowly (or quickly) fade away from its original color.

Unlike other colors that can hide some discoloration, white clothing wears stains, blemishes, and other imperfections like a neon sign. They’re bright, in your face, and hard to ignore. Unfortunately, there’s a popular misconception that discolored white clothes are a lost cause. We’re here to set the record straight. You can get white clothes white again! Here’s how.

Harness the power of the sun.
The washing cycle isn’t the only opportunity you have to restore white clothes to their original shine. Instead of tossing whites into the dryer, put them through a natural drying process by unlocking the power of the sun. When you hang clothing up outside to dry, they benefit from the bleaching effects of the sun without the harmful side effects of liquid bleach. This is a powerful stain-removing method when used in tandem with other strategies mentioned here.

Use the biting effect of citrus.
Lemons have the ability to zap away stains with their citrus-rich juice. There are a few ways to take advantage of this natural feature. You can simply cut a lemon in half and rub it on the stain to pretreat it before the wash cycle. However, you can also boil your clothes along with lemons. Simply bring a large pot to a boil with the citrusy fruit inside and let your whites soak for around an hour. It’s unconventional, but it’s effective!

Break out the aspirin.
It turns out aspirin isn’t just good for relieving standard headaches. This common medicine can also alleviate headaches of the laundry variety. Aspirin can help break down stains on white clothes to increase the likelihood they’ll get removed entirely during a wash cycle. Dissolve a handful of aspirin in a bowl or small pot and soak the stained clothing. After an hour or so, it should be ready to wash.

How to avoid discolored white clothes.
The aforementioned steps should help you restore white clothes to their former glory. Of course, it’s not possible in all cases. There are some stains that are simply too stubborn to get all the way out. That’s why it’s better to keep white clothes from becoming discolored in the first place. Good news: It’s possible too! Follow these tips to protect your favorite white clothes from getting stained to the point of being unwearable:

Separate whites and colors.
One of the most common laundry mistakes is mixing whites and colors. Dyes have a tendency to run, especially during hot washing cycles. If white clothes are in the same load as other colors, they could come out of the laundry with a hint of pink, blue, red, or whatever color bled during the cycle. Washing whites alone prevents this potential issue and keep whites pristine.

Don’t overload the washing machine.
We’ve all been guilty of stuffing a laundry machine to the brim to save a dime or a few minutes of time. This “hack” can backfire since clothes don’t have the room necessary for a thorough clean. It’s advisable to never fill a machine with more than 75%.

Pay attention to detergent instructions.
Detergents come with clear dosage instructions which have a direct impact on how clean (or dirty) your clothes look after a cycle. You don’t want to use too much or too little, so pay attention to the recommended amount, especially as it pertains to white clothes.

Suggested Reading: How to Choose the Best Detergents

Interested in learning more handy laundry tips and tricks to keep your clothes looking great and smelling fresh? Check out the Coin Meter site for more helpful and effective laundry advice. You’ll never look at this weekly chore the same again!

Do Quick Loads Really Clean Your Laundry?

Have you ever wondered if quick wash settings on a washing machine really clean your clothes? Everyone has used these rapid cycles at least once at a laundromat to save time or to reduce energy usage. Regardless of the reason, it’s common for people to wonder whether or not these settings actually have an impact. Here, we’ll take a closer look at quick wash cycles and whether or not these settings really clean your laundry.

What’s a quick wash setting?

The vast majority of washing machines – both residential and commercial – have a rapid wash setting. This option is called by a variety of names including “speed wash”, “light wash”, and “eco wash”. These cycles typically last anywhere between 15 and 20 minutes which is significantly quicker than the standard cycles or deep-clean settings that can easily last a half hour or more. The time advantage of this option is clear, but can you trust these cycles to really clean your clothes, or are you just paying to get them wet?

Do quick wash laundry cycles really clean my clothes?

Yes! Believe it or not, rapid wash settings actually clean your clothes. Of course, these cycles aren’t as thorough as standard options. You will need to use a smaller load size and less detergent, but they still get the job done. This is especially true when using high-grade commercial equipment at a laundry facility. These professional-quality washers have the power and efficiency to provide a deep clean even within 30 minutes or less. So, next time you choose a quick wash cycle, you don’t have to worry about whether or not your clothes will actually get clean.

When should you use a quick wash cycle?

Now that you’re clear on a quick wash cycle’s ability, let’s take a look at some times you should consider using this option.

Time pressure

The most common reason people opt for the quick wash setting is when they’re in a rush. With work, school, and other responsibilities dominating your schedule, sometimes all you have is 30 to 45 minutes to get your laundry done. Using rapid wash settings is one of the most effective ways to save time in the laundromat.

Washing everyday clothes

Some items of clothing you’ll need to wash on a daily basis or at least after each use. Instead of using a full cycle each time, you can go with a quick wash option to limit the amount of time you have to wait at the laundromat.

Removing simple stains

There are times when you need to clean simple stains out of an item of clothing that doesn’t need a thorough wash. Whether you fell in some dirt, dropped some food, or split a drink on your clothes, a quick rinse might be the perfect laundry setting. It’s quick yet effective at treating surface-level stains. If you need to remove stubborn stains, you should stick with standard or longer washing settings.

Refreshing clothes

Sometimes, your clothes just need a quick refreshing rather than a whole wash. Maybe an article of clothing picked up a faint yet unpleasant odor after a single use or you bought something new and want to wash it real quick before wearing it. Either way, a fast wash cycle is a great way to quickly and effectively freshen up clothing.

Protecting sensitive materials

Some materials such as wool are safe to use in the washing machine but should only get washed on a light setting. Quick rinses are perfect for these sensitive materials since these cycles provide a good clean without being too harsh on the clothing. When in doubt, make sure to read the laundry tag of each article of clothing to know what it can handle.

Interested in learning more about how to keep your clothes clean and smelling fresh? Visit the Coin Meter site today to get access to insider tips and tricks to help you optimize this weekly chore.