Back-to-school time is right around the corner, and you know what that means: piles of dirty clothes, sweaty (and stinky) sports gear, mysterious stains, and more loads of laundry.
In this article, we’ll share five hacks to make your laundry routine more efficient and keep your kid’s clothes fresh throughout the school year. Laundry school is in session—let’s get started!
1. Beware of Back-to-School Stains
You just bought a bunch of new outfits for the school year. But let’s get real: Those clothes are coming home stained after the first week of school lunches, art classes, and playground shenanigans. Here are some common culprits and how to handle them.
Ink and Marker Stains
Ballpoint Pen Ink: Use rubbing alcohol or hand sanitizer to blot the stain, then rinse with cold water.
Permanent Marker: Apply a bit of rubbing alcohol to a cotton ball and dab the stain gently.
Food and Drink Stains
Chocolate: Scrape off the excess chocolate, then soak the stain in cold water. Apply a pre-treatment stain remover and wash as usual.
Ketchup/Mustard: Blot the stain with cold water, apply a mixture of dish soap and hydrogen peroxide, and then launder.
Juice: Rinse the stain with cold water, apply a stain remover, and wash in cold water.
Grass Stains
Mix a solution of one part white vinegar to two parts water, and sponge the stain. Alternatively, rub a paste made of baking soda and water into the grass stain, then rinse and wash.
Sweat Stains
Apply a paste of baking soda and water to the sweat stain, let it sit for an hour, then launder as usual. White vinegar also works well.
2. Start a Laundry Sorting System
Properly separating your laundry is essential to prevent color bleeding, shrinkage, and damage. However, between kids’ sportswear, school clothes, and casual clothes, keeping everything organized is tough. That’s where a sorting system comes in.
For starters, you can use different colored bins for white clothes, dark clothes, and delicates. You can also label laundry baskets for uniforms, sports uniforms, and towels to make sorting simpler.
Pro tip: Check out our ultimate guide to sorting laundry.
3. Take Special Care of Sports Gear
Sports gear like jerseys, gym clothes, and uniforms are notorious for reeking of sweat. One way to fight back against body odor is to hang those stinky items to dry completely before throwing them in the hamper—otherwise, they can end up smelling like mildew.
You can also add a cup of white vinegar to the rinse cycle for extra odor defense.
Pro tip: Check out our ultimate guide to getting sweat smell out of clothes.
4. Use Wool Dryer Balls to Shorten Drying Time
When you’re short on time during the school year, you can’t afford to sit around all day waiting for your clothes to dry. That’s where wool dryer balls come in.
Wool dryer balls boost airflow during the dry cycle to boost airflow, which can help your clothes dry twice as fast.
Bonus: Less time in the dryer means less money spent on your energy bill. Don’t take our word for it though—the U.S. Department of Energy suggests using dryer balls to cut down your energy costs.
5. Stock up on Laundry Essentials
As the school year ramps up, your schedule is bound to get busier. Stocking up on laundry essentials will save you time and hassle, ensuring you're always prepared for whatever stains and smells come your way.
Laundry Pods
Pre-measured laundry pods are a lifesaver for busy parents. Just toss one in the washer and you’re good to go. No measuring, no mess—perfect for those hectic mornings.
Don’t send your kids to school smelling like “Spring Breeze.” Be the MVP (most valuable parent) and wash their clothes with Laundry Sauce so you can have the best-smelling kids in the whole school.
Scent Booster
Keep your kids’ clothes smelling fresh all day long with scent boosters. A quick add-in to your laundry routine can make a big difference, especially for active kids who come home with clothes that need an extra boost of freshness.
Dryer Sheets
No matter what your care tag says, these must-haves keep your clothes looking and smelling their best—minus the guesswork.
Dryer sheets are the ultimate hack to defeat static cling. They’re also an easy way to keep clothes feeling and smelling great, even if you have to fold and put them away in a rush.
Stain Removers
From grass stains to lunchtime spills, having a reliable stain remover on hand is essential. Pre-treat stains as soon as they happen to prevent them from setting, saving you from extra scrubbing later on.
When School Starts, Have Laundry Sauce Ready
Getting back into the swing of the school routine can be stressful—especially when you’re dealing with stains and smells. But with a little planning and the right supplies, keeping your kids’ clothes clean doesn’t have to be a chore.
And when it comes to ensuring your laundry not only looks clean but smells incredible, Laundry Sauce is the ultimate hack. Our high-performance pods combine powerful stain-fighting enzymes with captivating scents that linger all day.
Stock up now so you’re ready for the first day of school!
