#laundry hacks

When the sun starts showing up more often and laundry finally dries without a machine, it’s a reminder of how easy it can be to do things differently. Warm weather makes space for small shifts. No more rushing to throw everything into the tumble dryer. Just clothes on a line, a bit of breeze, and the kind of freshness no fabric softener can fake.

There’s nothing complicated about air-drying. But there are a few things that make it even better—tools that simplify the process, swaps that reduce waste, and tips that keep your clothes feeling good long after they’re folded and put away.

Switch to detergent sheets

Spring’s a good time to rethink the basics, starting with what you wash your clothes in. Detergent sheets are one of the easiest upgrades. They’re light, space-saving, and come pre-measured, which means no spills, no overuse, and no bulky bottles clogging up the cupboard.

They dissolve completely in hot or cold water, work in all machine types, and often come in cardboard sleeves instead of plastic tubs. That means less mess, less packaging, and more room under the sink.

Ditch the dryer

Tumble dryers might be convenient, but they’re rough on fabrics and the environment. Using them less not only cuts energy bills, it makes your clothes last longer. The trick is getting into the rhythm of air-drying while the weather’s in your favour.

A foldable rack is easy to store and quick to set up in a sunny corner or next to an open window. If you’ve got outdoor space, even better. Use the line. Peg things out early so they have time to dry properly, and try to get heavier items like towels and bedding out first.

Use sunlight to your advantage

The sun does more than just dry—it’s nature’s way of deodorising and gently disinfecting. It helps remove musty smells and brings whites back to life without bleach.

Make the most of it by turning clothes inside out to reduce fading, spacing items well so air circulates, and keeping pegs handy in a basket so you're not hunting for them every time. Wooden pegs are a better choice than plastic—longer lasting, stronger grip, and fully compostable when they’re done.

Rethink fabric softeners

Those big bottles of softener might make clothes feel smoother, but they often leave behind residue and artificial fragrance. Over time, they can reduce absorbency in towels and irritate skin, especially for little ones.

Swap them out for a splash of white vinegar in the rinse cycle. It softens fibres naturally, helps clear out detergent build-up, and doesn’t leave a lingering scent. If you like a bit of fragrance, add a couple of drops of essential oil—lavender, lemon, or peppermint all work well.

Use wool dryer balls if needed

Even if you’re mostly air-drying, sometimes the dryer still plays a role—especially for thick items or when you’re in a rush. Wool dryer balls can help here. They bounce around to separate fabrics, reduce static, and speed up drying time.

They don’t contain synthetic perfumes and can be reused for hundreds of loads. You can even scent them yourself with a drop or two of essential oil.

Keep it simple and visible

The easier something is to access, the more likely you are to use it. Keep your drying rack somewhere close at hand. Leave your detergent sheets in a visible spot rather than buried in the back of a cupboard. Pegs in a jar. Vinegar nearby.

This way, it doesn’t feel like a whole production every time you want to do a load of laundry. It’s just a rhythm.

Dry smart indoors

Not every day is dry and breezy. If you’re air-drying indoors, a few simple tweaks help. Open a window to keep air moving. Avoid placing racks in rooms that don’t get much light or airflow. And don’t overload—give items enough space to dry properly.

Smaller items like socks, cloth napkins, or baby clothes dry fast and can be placed higher where the air’s warmer. Heavier items might need more space or a spin in the machine to finish off if the weather turns.

Clean less, fold sooner

Air-dried laundry doesn’t need as much ironing. If you give each item a good shake before pegging and smooth it out on the line, you’ll find most pieces come off wrinkle-free. Fold them as soon as they’re dry and the rest takes care of itself.

For extra freshness, hang a few items—like sheets or towels—outside even if they’re almost dry. That final hour in the open air makes a difference.

Tidy up your laundry shelf

Use the changing season as a cue to declutter. Clear out any half-empty bottles, worn-out brushes, or products you haven’t used in months. Replace them with a few basics that work: a pack of detergent sheets, a bottle of vinegar, a tin of pegs, a bar of stain remover.

It’s not about having more. It’s about having better.

Make it part of the week

Laundry doesn’t have to feel like a never-ending task. When you get into a rhythm that fits with the weather and your routine, it becomes a little easier. Maybe a Sunday afternoon load that dries while you make dinner. A mid-week batch for school uniforms and cloth napkins.

Once air-drying becomes part of the flow, you’ll wonder why you ever rushed it with machines. There’s something nice about seeing a row of clean laundry, drying in the sun, knowing it took less energy, less plastic, and left your clothes in better shape.

FAQs

Do detergent sheets work in cold water?

Yes—they’re designed to dissolve fully in all temperatures, making them perfect for energy-saving cold washes.

Can I use vinegar and detergent together?

Yes. Add the detergent sheet directly to the drum, and vinegar to the fabric softener compartment. They won’t cancel each other out.

How long does it take to air-dry clothes outdoors?

Depends on the weather and fabric weight. On a warm breezy day, most items dry within a few hours.

Make laundry day easier, get expert tips and eco-friendly advice at Eco Bravo!

Ok. So I suck at laundry. For ages I thought it was just me being a failure at adulting, but I recently put in a few methods for optimizing the process. And now I understand that I’m not a failure, laundry is just annoying.

BUT THERE ARE WAYS TO MAKE IT LESS ANNOYING.

1. Get you a DITTY BAG (or two)

In the theatre biz, wardrobe techs use these lil mesh bags (we call ‘em ditty bags) that zip shut. Each actor gets one and at the end of the day, all their undergarments (t shirts, socks, underwear, dancebelts, bras) go into their ditty bag and go into the wash. It’s SUPER HELPFUL because you can keep each actor’s stuff separate and it’s easy to get the clean garments back to the actors the next day.

I now have two ditty bags: one for underwear, and one for socks/bras. When a dirty garment comes off, it goes right into its bag, then when its time to wash, the bag gets zipped shut and chucked in the washer with the rest of the clothes.

Then once everything is clean and dried, I can unzip the ditty bag and that brings me to the next point--

2. BASKETS

I started keeping a basket in my closet. The underwear lives in there. I asked myself, is there a point to folding underwear? Does anyone see or care that there are wrinkles? No? Then don’t fold the damn things.

Instead, I just unzip the ditty bag and the underwear goes right into the basket. Saves SO MUCH TIME AND EFFORT.

3. SOCK CLIPS

Matching socks after a wash is the WORST. And folding them is pretty time consuming as well. Why not kill two birds with one stone?

And the answer to that is SOCK CLIPS.

I bought these. So far, they’ve proven easy to use, they keep socks together, and they stand up in the wash. Only thing is that they do require a lil finagling to get the socks clipped, so if you have issues with hand strength or fine motor skills, I’d look into a different brand.

ANYWAY. When I take off a pair of socks, I clip ‘em and they go in the ditty bag. When the wash is done, I open the ditty bag and just pour the clipped socks into a drawer. No matching, no folding. Take the clip off when u want to wear a pair of socks, leave it by your ditty bag, then you can reclip the socks at the end of the day.

4. AND THIS LEAVES

Large garments, like shirts and trousers. Once you get all the little items out of the way, this becomes much easier because you don’t have to shake them out to look for lost socks. Folding and hanging still sucks, but in my experience, the little items wind up taking the most time. By eliminating that time with the above processes, dealing with the big items becomes a lot less annoying because you can easily be done within ten minutes.

AND THAT IS HOW I went from feeling like a laundry idiot to feeling like I had my laundry under control. It’s a powerful feeling, to feel in control of one of your irritating chores.

It’s a nice feel.