Laundry Rooms

Learn the Laundry Basics

Whether you're a laundry novice or just want to refresh yourself on the basics, we'll show you how to sort and prepare, treat or mend, wash, dry, fold and put away clothes.

Excerpted from Houseworks, by Cynthia Townley Ewer
Filed under: Laundry Rooms, Housekeeping

Dry

When the washer cycle has finished, time to dry. Place clothing in an automatic dryer, and select the appropriate heat level and cycle duration. Give any twisted garments a good shake as you load them; you'll give them a head start to dry smooth and wrinkle-free. Hang delicate clothing from hangers, a dryer rack or from a clothesline to air-dry.

Hang Delicate Clothing from Line to Air Dry

Fold and Put Away

Make sure that you fold or hang clothing quickly after removing it from the dryer; the last bit of heat in the garment will help to smooth out wrinkles (and prevent the need to iron). Watch out for metal buttons or zippers. They can be very hot after a tumble in the dryer.

Using color-coded baskets, place each family member's clothing in a separate basket as you fold. You'll make it easy for everyone to put away their own clothing if they only have to grab a basket and go.