[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Wash, rinse, repeat.
Laundry day is a deep-seated habit that many of us don’t think twice about. However, let’s take a look at it for a moment.
Do our clothes
need to be washed every single time we wear them? In many cases, probably not. Yet, our laundry habit continues unabated.
Not only can skipping wash day potentially save you tons of time on your cleaning schedule, but it also comes with some serious benefits for you, me and the environment!
So why not try skipping laundry this week? With just a few tweaks, you can lower your energy usage and save on time and money
without lowering your personal hygiene.
The benefits of washing your clothes less often
- Clothes last longer: Unless you’re washing your clothes by hand, all that soaking and spinning is affecting the fabric, little by little. Laundering less means your favorite garments can be worn for many more years.
- Better for the environment: Every load of laundry uses energy, and can generate waste in the form of plastic microfibers that break off from our clothing. Washing less means preserving water, electricity – and keeps our worldwide waters cleaner!
- Saves on energy bills: Less water, electricity and detergent usage means extra dollars in your pocket – simple as that!
Will my clothes smell if I don’t wash them?
The biggest question mark is… without washing, how do you eliminate the smell of sweat, dirt and all the other odors that cling to us throughout the day?
While there’s nothing that will remove odors as well as a hot, sudsy bath, there are alternatives to keeping that freshness locked in for longer.
Our favorite solutions involve natural odor-eliminators (which you can read about below), many of which you can probably find in your kitchen cupboard right now! However, there are also other, chemical-strength options (such as perfume or even air fresheners) that might be worth a try too.
Read on for a perspective-opening list of fresh-clothing tips and tricks to try! Here are several ways to keep clothes looking and smelling fresh
without washing
Note: It’s important to keep in mind that you’ll always need to wash your clothes at some point, as it’s important for good personal hygiene and health.
How to remove odors naturally
With each of these methods, be sure to do a trial run on an inconspicuous part of your clothing. Some ingredients, especially lemon juice, can discolor certain fabrics.
Baking soda: Sprinkle
baking soda onto the smelliest areas of your clothing (i.e. beneath the underarms), allow it to sit for half an hour, then shake away the excess baking soda. OR, place clothing into a large plastic bag, then add a half cup of baking soda. Shake the bag vigorously, then let the bag sit for 10 minutes. Remove clothing and shake off the excess powder.
Baking soda paste: Combine equal parts water and baking soda to create a thick paste. Then, using a spoon, apply this paste to the strongest smelling areas of your clothing. Turn the item inside out, working the paste into the same area from the other side, then allow it to dry. Once dry, use a stiff brush and scrape away any leftover white residue (you may still need to rinse out the residue completely with a splash of water from the sink).
Coffee grounds & charcoal: Both coffee and charcoal are great at overpowering and soaking up other odors. Place either unused coffee grounds OR charcoal briquettes at the bottom of a large bowl, then lay your clothing item overtop (taking care to keep the clothing away from actually touching the coffee or charcoal, as they will likely stain your clothes). Leave this to sit overnight and by morning, your clothes should smell fresher!
Lemon & water spray: The smell of fresh lemon is irresistible, and with its high acidity, it makes a great natural cleaning agent. But, be wary, as lemon juice is also a natural bleacher – so only use this method on whites and lighter fabrics. In a
spray bottle, add one tablespoon of fresh lemon juice to one cup water, then spray away!
Vinegar & water spray: White vinegar is one of those household staples that works in everything from cooking to cleaning. It’s great for eliminating bacteria – especially those funky smelling ones that can attach to clothing. Add equal parts water and white vinegar to a spray bottle, and you’re ready to go! If you’re concerned about that vinegar smell, try adding in a few drops of your favorite
essential oil.
Vodka & essential oils spray: Vodka is alcohol and that means it’s a bacteria killer. Plus, because vodka carries little to no smell, it works great to de-odorize clothing,
without leaving behind any extra smells. Like white vinegar, though, you may wish to add in some of your own essential oils (such as antibacterial peppermint or relaxing lavender) for a lovelier scent, too. In a spray bottle, combine ½ cup water with ¼ cup vodka (or rubbing alcohol) and voila! You’re ready to roll.
Harness the sunshine: There’s nothing fresher than the smell of the great outdoors – add in a splash of sunshine, and your clothes will be suffused with an irresistibly natural scent you can’t find in a bottle! As an added bonus,
sunlight is also a natural bacterial dust buster, so, hang your clothes to dry on a clothesline outside, or, if you’re lacking on time or outdoor space, simply set them in front of a sunny window.
How to spot-remove stains immediately
At some point, ingredients inevitably end up on our clothing. Before those stains can set, it’s key to act and try to get them out as soon as possible.
Lemon & salt: Those notorious underarm stains don’t always need a washing machine to remove them. As mentioned above, lemon juice is a powerful natural deodorizer, and so (as long as the fabric is lighter in color), try squeezing lemon juice over the staining. Once the stain is thoroughly wet, scrub in salt and let it sit before giving it a quick rinse.
Baby powder: For those annoying oil stains (we’re looking at you, bacon), try to soak up as much of the oil as possible with paper towel. Then, sprinkle
baby powder over the stain, let it sit for half an hour, then shake off the powder. It should soak up most of the oil!
Coconut oil: An
oil to remove staining? Sounds wild, right? However,
coconut oil can work as a natural stain remover on some staining.
Take a quick spin in the dryer: Not only will this technique help to freshen the look of dryer-safe garments, but heat will help kill any bacteria clinging to your clothing. For an added bit of freshness, add in a dryer sheet, or some essential oil-infused
dryer balls.
Place fabrics in the freezer: Just like heat kills bacteria, so too does extreme cold. Put clothing in a plastic bag, then place it inside the freezer for a few hours. This technique works especially well for denim, as it helps to preserve that worn-in look and fit that washing[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_text_separator title="Launder Less with These Picks" border_width="2"][vc_row_inner equal_height="yes" content_placement="middle" gap="35"][vc_column_inner width="1/3"][vc_single_image image="160426" img_size="full" alignment="center" onclick="custom_link" img_link_target="_blank" css=".vc_custom_1654536637998{padding-right: 7% !important;padding-left: 7% !important;}" link="https://www.vitacost.com/spectrum-organic-white-distilled-vinegar"][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width="1/3"][vc_single_image image="160425" img_size="full" alignment="center" onclick="custom_link" img_link_target="_blank" css=".vc_custom_1654536653843{padding-right: 7% !important;padding-left: 7% !important;}" link="https://www.vitacost.com/mollys-suds-wool-dryer-balls-3-balls-2"][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width="1/3"][vc_single_image image="160424" img_size="full" alignment="center" onclick="custom_link" img_link_target="_blank" css=".vc_custom_1654536668958{padding-right: 7% !important;padding-left: 7% !important;}" link="https://www.vitacost.com/babylabs-organic-baby-powder-unscented"][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][/vc_row]
