Turning your jeans inside out will slow down how fast they fade.

Inspect your dryer vent to make sure that it is not blocked. This will lesson the possibility of a fire and improve air circulation while in use.

Read the tags of your clothing and follow the washing instructions. If something needs to be washed in cold water then it should be washed in cold water. Not reading the instructions will lead to a damaged article of clothing.

Save your self the ironing time by pulling shirts out of the dryer while they are still warm and hanging them on a hanger. The most you will have to do ironing wise if a pocket or a collar.

If you get blood on your clothing, just pour hydrogen peroxide on blood spot and rinse with cold water.

Save energy in the warmer months by hanging your clothes on a clothes drying rack or clothes line outside. This way you will not have to run your dryer. If you want to avoid having slightly stiff clothes make sure to use fabric softener in the wash. Also to prevent fading from the sun, don’t put the clothes in direct sunlight.

When filling the washing machine, make sure to fill it to capacity, but not to over fill it. If you over fill it your clothes will not get as clean as they should. If you do not have enough for a full load, change the settings on the washer for a smaller load.

Don’t over fill your dryer. This will just make it take longer for your clothes to get dry, and it waists energy. If necessary do two small loads taking into consideration the types of fabrics you’re putting together. Things like towels will take longer to dry then something like cotton t-shirts.

If you have a baby or small child in the house, consider using a detergent that is scent-free, as the scent may cause an allergic reaction. Also, if your child is breaking out in a rash, switch to a hypo-allergenic detergent.

Many newer washers are rated for "high-efficiency," meaning they use less water and electricity than their predecessors. Because of this, many detergents have switched to a concentrated, or "high-efficiency" formula, in which you no longer have to use as much as you once did. Follow the directions on the detergent! Also, if you have a high-efficiency washer, use a high-efficiency detergent, as this will help keep your clothes cleaner.

To save energy, thus save money, all clothes can be washed in COLD water without damaging the material. The trick is to make sure you wash them on the correct cycle, (ie. gentle, regular, permanent press, etc.).

If you use chlorine bleach in your white clothes, you may notice an unpleasant chlorine odor in your clothes after a normal wash cycle, even if you use fabric softener. If this happens, do not add fabric softener to the final rinse cycle. After the cycle is completed, reset your washer to the final rinse and THEN add the softener. (Some machines allow you to set an extra rinse cycle at the start of the wash.)

This will reduce or eliminate the chlorine odor and still gets your clothes soft!

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To avoid unpleasant surprises after each washload, check your pockets when sorting the laundry. Tissues disintegrate; pens can break apart and leak; and loose coins can damage your washer tub or pump!

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To make this easier, you can buy a rolling clothing rack at a hardware or home supply store. Park it next to the dryer and keep hangers on the rack so you can take shirts, blouses, etc. right out of the dryer and hang them up without delay!

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If you have a printed or iron-on design on your favorite T-shirt or sweatshirt, it will last longer if you turn the shirt inside out before washing or drying it. (Turn it right-side out when dry.)

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Running out of room for T-shirts in your closet? Fold them in thirds (either side over the neckband) and roll them up tightly. Store them in your dresser or chest of drawers. If they have a graphic design, keep the graphic side out and you can grab your favorite drum (or car or what have you) design without rummaging through the whole collection.

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If you use bleach or laundry booster in your wash (say liquid chlorine bleach and/or one of the oxygen-based laundry boosters) for your whites and bleachfast colors, use either chlorine or non-chlorine but NOT both at the same time. The chlorine in liquid bleach reacts with the ingredients in the non-chlorine bleach and produces unpleasant--and possibly toxic--fumes (sort of like mixing liquid bleach and dishwashing liquid or other household cleaning agents).

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When washing bras, panty hose, or other dainty items, it is best to wash them in a mesh laundry bag to keep them from tangling. At the very least, be sure to close the hooks to keep the straps from tangling. For best results, wash them in plenty of cold water and use a fabric softener.

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Sorting laundry is more than just making sure you don't accidentally wash a red sock in a load of hot-water-only whites.

Washing delicate items (like silky blouses and skirts) with rougher-textured items (bath towels and blue jeans) will cause unnecessary wear and tear on the delicate stuff (not to mention unnecessary wear and tear on you from your significant other!). And washing lint givers (towels) with lint takers (knits and cords) will require cleaning more than just the dryer's lint trap!

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