Yes, laundry is inevitable. But with the right products, it doesn’t have to be a grind. We asked our editors and writers to share their favorite laundry hacks and sustainable goods in the hope that we can help you make laundry day a little more fun and a tad less of a chore.
From divided hampers that do away with sorting on laundry day to tablets that banish odor from your washing machine, here are some easy, creative ways to help you clean your clothes and whistle while you work.
Dirty Labs Bio Enzyme Laundry Booster
If you lurk around laundry subreddits (no, just me?), then you may have heard of deoxyribonuclease, or DNase for short. This enzyme is supposed to be a marvel when it comes to tackling protein stains. You can’t find it in a ton of detergents, but you can easily add it alongside with Dirty Labs Bio Enzyme Laundry Booster.
I use it for fabrics that I don’t like to scald, adding it to cold cycles where it does a great job of getting rid of icky odors in sports wear. It also erased a mysterious stain my cat left on my couch when I tossed the cushion cover in the washer. Plus, it happens to be an EPA Safer Choice and USDA Biobased certified, meaning it’s more eco-friendly than some laundry additives. The biggest drawback is its higher price, but for me, it’s worth every penny. Jenny McGrath, laundry writer
Ash Clothespins
For over a decade, I’ve air dried almost all my clothing, since it uses less energy and, frankly, I love how line-dried laundry smells.
One thing I’ve learned from hanging everything from T-shirts to blankets: all clothespins are not built the same. Cheap wooden and plastic clothespins tend to discolor, stain your clothes, rust and crack relatively quickly. Then you’re stuck in a non-sustainable cycle of buying and re-buying.
Instead, I’ve started switching over to these sturdier, higher-quality clothespins made of ash hardwood with stainless steel springs. They’re longer than standard clothespins, grip clothes more firmly, and the oiled hardwood better resists the weather. Julia Skinner, lifestyle writer
DedCool Dedtergent Mochi Milk
I’ve always avoided fragrance in my laundry detergent, until I came across DedCool. As the brand that makes my all-time favorite genderless perfume, I knew its laundry detergent would be a safe way to rock a signature smell without triggering an eczema flare-up or offending anyone in my midst. Notes of marshmallow, sweet rice milk, peach nectar and vanilla bean prove laundry detergent no longer needs to smell like a science experiment gone wrong.
The biodegradable, environmentally conscious and vegan Mochi Milk DedCool detergent also goes a long way. I can get away with about an ounce of the stuff for a full load of laundry in my front-load washing machine that includes thick bath towels, linens, soiled clothing (toddler life!) and intimates. Marissa Miller, lifestyle writer
Affresh Washing Machine Cleaning Tablets
How clean can your laundry be if the washing machine isn’t? I discovered this the hard way when my washer started emitting a musky smell, which tends to arise from keeping the machine’s door closed between cycles, leaving wet laundry inside or even using too much detergent.
After a deep cleaning with bleach, I use one of these tablets from Affresh once a month for maintenance. They help eliminate odor-causing bacteria that build up in the nooks and crannies of a washing machine, though you will need to manually clean the residue left behind. They’re better for your washing machine than vinegar, which can damage rubber components over time, and EPA-certified for safety and septic tank usage.
Although Affresh is owned by Whirlpool, the tablets are designed for all makes. Another option is Tide’s Washing Machine Cleaner, which comes in powder form rather than a tablet and has a stronger scent than Affresh. Les Shu, travel writer
Trudon Wax Melt in Abd El Kader Cameo
As a fragrance obsessive, I’m a little too well-versed in the world of fancy laundry detergent, dryer sheets and fabric sprays. This wax oval from Trudon is my favorite, less-obvious way to make towels, sheets and even wool coats smell absolutely delightful for days on end.
While they’re technically meant for melting down (and have a solid burn time when you do), keeping them intact is a hack I’m obsessed with sharing. I usually tuck one in my linen closet or coat closet and find that it imbues the right balance of minty, black tea fragrance onto fabrics. It’s prompted guests to ask about what smells so good in the bathroom. Oset Babür-Winter, drinks writer
Singer Fabric Shaver and Lint Remover
In the interest of sustainability, I tend to buy clothes that last. So it’s frustrating to see pilling over time, especially when these annoying fuzzies give my favorite heavy coat a less-than-desirable look. I love wearing this coat, it’s very nice and warm, so I purchased this fabric shaver to help remove the pilling and other textile defects.
This inexpensive device may be battery-operated with just one speed, but the rotating blade cleanly trims fabric pills, which end up neatly in an easy-to-empty collection chamber. If you need more power, you can find more expensive options that offer multiple speeds and a rechargeable battery. The Singer is also advertised as a lint remover, but I prefer to go old-school for that. Les Shu, travel writer
Bathola 160L 3-Section Hamper
Over the years, our household laundry demands have escalated significantly. Once upon a time, it was just separating lights and darks. Now, we have to deal with my wife’s expansive selection of thermal layers and my ever-growing collection of expensive cycling attire. More and more items demanded special attention on wash day, yet it was all dumped into the same tired old hamper.
Finally, sick of looking at the uncouth overflow in the corner, I broke down and ordered a pair of three-section hampers. Now we can sort our clothes when they get deposited, not when it’s time to clean. And since each section is its own mesh bag, when one fills up, it’s quick and easy to grab it and dump it into the wash.
Because they aren’t super pricey, the hampers can feel flimsy at times. And I don’t love that the bags are held on with Velcro, which tends to snag certain clothes. But they look much cleaner than our old hamper, and make laundry day just a little bit easier. Tim Stevens, travel and automotive writer
The Laundress Fabric Spray
As a frequent traveler and someone who will do anything to avoid the dreaded chore of ironing clothes, I’m a big fan of The Laundress’ line of fabric sprays – both at home and on the road. They do double duty of de-wrinkling and refreshing fabrics, all while smelling like delicious high-end candles or perfumes.
I love the clean, citrus-scented Classic all-purpose fabric spray (with notes of marine, lily of the valley and ylang ylang) and Isle (bergamot, grapefruit, mint and lilac), as well as the more floral and feminine No 723 (damask rose, geranium, violet and amber). They also work to keep fabric looking and smelling fresh between washings.
The Laundress also makes sprays for specific fabrics, like delicates, wool, cashmere and activewear. Plus, the Beauty Sleep scent (bergamot, lavender, jasmine, oakmoss and sandalwood) is perfect for my bedding and pajamas. I keep a travel-sized bottle in my suitcase so I can spray it on hotel pillows and sheets to conjure the smell of home when I’m traveling. Elizabeth Brownfield, food writer
Dirty Labs Bio Laundry Detergent
Big-name detergents tend to give me hives, so I’ve switched to products that avoid traditional petrochemical cleaners and synthetic ingredients. My favorite is the Dirty Labs Bio Laundry Detergent, because it is safe for sensitive skin yet extremely efficient, even tackling my weekly mountain of super sweaty activewear.
I appreciate that it comes in a few spa-like scents, including an uplifting blend of magnolia, bergamot and cedar dubbed the Signature, but you can also nab it in an unscented Free & Clear version. The price tag may be higher than the average detergent, but I’ve found that it also lasts longer – so it’s well worth the splurge. Bernadette Machard de Gramont, kitchen writer
Nellie’s Laundry Cubed
Small but powerful, these compressed powder cubes are all-natural and free of both fragrance and plastic. They also take up so much less space in my Brooklyn apartment than that giant bottle of Tide I used to get from Costco. I was initially worried that ingredients like sodium bicarbonate would leave a powder residue in certain cycles, but after several tests I’m happy to report that they easily dissolve in either hot or cold water. And they work just as well in a gentle cycle when I’m washing knits or my lingerie. Tobey Grumet Segal, lifestyle writer
LG Wi-Fi Connected Washing Machine
Nobody loves doing laundry, so when it was time to buy a new washer, I was on the lookout for any model that would make it a bit easier. My family went with the LG WM3600HWA – just rolls off the tongue, doesn’t it? With built-in Wi-Fi connectivity, it delivers a notification to my phone when my load is done. No more forgetting or waking up to a smelly, mildewed mess. The free LG ThingQ app also acts as a remote control to start and stop the machine, or you can control it by voice through Amazon Alexa and Google assistant. If you really want to customize it, you can even send specialized cycles and settings to your washer from your phone. Maybe it’s not really possible to love a washing machine, but I appreciate my LG more and more every time it pings my phone. Adam Doud, tech writer
Trader Joe’s Reusable Lavender Dryer Bags
$4.49 at Trader Joe’s (in store only)I have two cats and two dogs, so my clothes generally look like they are the lint brush. Dryer sheets help, but I prefer these reusable lavender dryer bags to even the “chemical-free” sheets because the smell is heavenly.
OK, if you’re going to nitpick, these “reusable” bags of lavender buds do eventually burst open and fill your dryer and dried clothes with lavender buds. I guess reusable does not mean infinite. But you can easily avoid that by retiring them from service when they start looking a little worn. I use them as a sachet in a trunk of blankets or my sweater drawer. Maria Ricapito, beauty writer
