My 3 laundry tricks will make your clothes last longer – a common mistake does more harm than good, my way is better
THERE’S nothing worse than emptying your washing machine to find your favorite jeans are faded.
A laundry pro has shared her easy tricks for making your clothes last longer.
In her video, Kellsie Zapata (@zapatas_cleaning_services) demonstrated how she preps certain clothing items before adding them to her machine.
“Before you do your next load of laundry, let me share a few simple tips that can make a big difference in how your clothes come out of the washer and dryer,” the Instagrammer told her followers.
For her first recommendation, Kellsie advised her viewers to turn their jeans inside out before washing them.
“This helps minimize the abrasion that causes fading and the wear that can happen along the hems, pockets, and fly-in waistband edges,” she explained.
The cleaning fanatic also suggested using a cold or cool wash temperature for your denim clothing.
“This will prevent any dyes from running or your jeans from losing their vivid coloring,” Kellsie said.
Next, she addressed the frustrating problem of drawstrings in sweatpants, pajama bottoms, and hoodies coming out during the wash cycle.
“It can be annoying trying to put the string through the hole but you can prevent this by loosely tying drawstrings together before you place your items in the washer,” she explained.
“Ensure they’re still tied together before putting them in the dryer.”
Finally, Kellsie showed her audience the best hack to use when drying their clothes.
“Dryer balls are a safer option than dryer sheets,” she told her followers.
“Dryer balls reduce the drying time, help soften clothes, and eliminate static cling.”
If you still experience static while using the dryer balls, Kellsie recommended spraying them with water before putting them in the dryer.
Tips to make your clothes last longer
- Always turn your jeans inside out before washing
- Loosely tie drawstrings to prevent them from falling out
- Use dryer balls instead of dryer sheets
- Bonus tip: Spray your dryer balls with water to prevent static cling
“They should be wet but not dripping wet, this will control static formation and keep your dryer more humid and there you go,” she said.
Her followers shared their thoughts on the home hacks in the comments section.
“Over a year ago I switched to dryer balls after watching one of your videos and, to this day, I still use them,” wrote one viewer.
“I didn’t know the dryer balls were supposed to be damp. Thank you!” said another Instagram user.
“My mom taught me this about jeans when I learned to do laundry, and making sure all zippers are zipped!” commented a third person.