(1) Check the Laundering Instructions…and do what it says: This is the simplest piece of advice you’ll ever get! Better yet, before falling in love with that beautiful shirt, jumpsuit, piece of lingerie in the store….look at the label and decide whether you’re really willing to do the hand-washing or other special treatment required.

• Delicate items need a little mesh bag and a place to hang after washing. Take a look at the pull-down rods and valet rods that can be added to your laundry area. When needed, they’re right there and when you’re done, they slide out of the way!

(2) Set Aside Ironing Space in the Laundry Room: Some of us love ironing, have a dedicated area and lovely lavender scented spray for our linens. But even if you’re a dedicated Permanent Press person, clothes sometimes come out of the dryer too wrinkled to wear. Many laundry areas are right in the main part of our homes, next to the kitchen, or in the master bathroom. We don’t want to have a huge ironing board in the middle of everything—the solution? Fold-out ironing boards!

Fold Out Ironing Board (Closed)

(3) Got a Stain? Treat it Immediately: Most stains will respond well to the stain stick of your choice. The key consideration of course, after washing, don’t dry the garment until you’re sure the stain is gone. A couple of stain removal tricks:

• Wine: Sprinkle salt on the stain to minimize saturation. Soak in cold water or borax solution for 30 minutes. Wash as usual.
• Coffee: Soak in cold water. Then apply a pre-treatment product and wash as usual.

(4) Invest in Better Hangers: Using covered hangers, your clothes stay on the hangers in your closet. When you wear them, your clothes will fit nicely, without dimples or distortions. As an added benefit, the inexpensive felted hangers are space savers. You can fit more neatly hung clothing with these then is possible with a hodgepodge of tangled up hangers. If you’re feeling creative, check out the fun & functional yarn covered hangers.

Velvet Hangers (Amazon)

Yarn Bombed Hangers (Etsy)

(5) After Being in Storage, Seasonal Clothing can Smell Musty:

• Dry clean only garments? Try vodka—it’s not just for drinking anymore. Vodka makes an effective deoderizer, and is less expensive than a special cleanser. Using a spray bottle, spray the musty item all over. Then hang it outdoors until dry.
• If you have an outdoor space, hanging clothes in the fresh air is always effective, time-tested, and free!
• Check the labels to confirm that they’re machine washable. Sort by color in the washing machine, no soap and add 2-3 cups of clear vinegar to the wash cycle. The vinegar smell only lasts for minutes; they’ll smell fresh and new after drying.