Laundry Shop: A Repeatable Care Routine

You want a repeatable laundry routine. Maybe you’re tired of sorting, or you want to save time and energy. A good laundry routine keeps clothes clean, extends their life, and saves money. Here’s a repeatable care routine for laundry.

A laundry shop routine is a set of steps you follow every time you do laundry to ensure consistent results. A good routine includes sorting, pre-treating, washing, drying, folding, and putting away. Following the same routine every time saves time, prevents damage, and keeps clothes looking new.

To follow a repeatable laundry routine, sort clothes by color and fabric, pre-treat stains, choose the right water temperature and cycle, use the right amount of Tide Free and Gentle, add vinegar to the rinse, dry on the right setting, fold promptly, and put away. Don’t skip sorting, don’t overload the machine, and don’t forget to clean the machine monthly.

The Repeatable Laundry Routine

Step 1: Sort Clothes (5 minutes)

Sort by color: whites, lights, darks, brights. Sort by fabric: cotton, synthetics, delicates, towels. Check pockets for items.

Step 2: Pre-Treat Stains (5 minutes)

Pre-treat stains before washing:

• Oil and grease: Dawn Ultra Dish Soap
• Food and organic: OxiClean Max Force Spray
• Heavy grease: Shout Advanced Grease Busting Foam
• Ink: Amodex Ink and Stain Remover

Step 3: Load the Washer (2 minutes)

Fill no more than 3/4 full. Don’t overload.

Step 4: Add Detergent (1 minute)

Use 2 tablespoons of Tide Free and Gentle per regular load.

Step 5: Add Baking Soda (1 minute)

Add half a cup of Arm and Hammer Baking Soda for extra cleaning and deodorizing.

Step 6: Choose Settings (1 minute)

Water temperature: Cold for darks and delicates, warm for most loads, hot for whites and heavily soiled. Cycle: Normal for everyday, gentle for delicates, heavy duty for towels. Soil level: Normal for most loads, heavy for work clothes.

Step 7: Add Vinegar to the Rinse (1 minute)

Add half a cup of white vinegar to the fabric softener dispenser.

Step 8: Add Lysol for Disinfecting (1 minute, as needed)

Add Lysol Laundry Sanitizer to the rinse for heavily soiled loads.

Step 9: Wash (40 to 60 minutes)

Step 10: Dry (30 to 60 minutes)

Choose the right dryer setting or air dry. Remove clothes promptly to prevent wrinkles.

Step 11: Fold and Put Away (15 minutes)

Fold clothes promptly. Put away in the right place.

Step 12: Clean the Machine Monthly

Use affresh Washing Machine Cleaner monthly.

Weekly Laundry Schedule

Day	Load	Settings
Monday	Whites	Hot water, normal cycle
Tuesday	Darks	Cold water, gentle cycle
Wednesday	Towels and bedding	Hot water, heavy duty
Thursday	Delicates	Cold water, delicate cycle
Friday	Lights	Warm water, normal cycle
Saturday	Synthetics and work clothes	Warm water, permanent press
Sunday	Machine cleaning	Empty hot cycle with affresh

What Works

Follow the Same Routine Every Time

Following the same routine every time saves time and prevents mistakes.

Sort Before Washing

Sorting prevents color bleeding and fabric damage.

Pre-Treat Stains

Pre-treating stains before washing gives the best results.

Use the Right Amount of Detergent

Use 2 tablespoons of Tide Free and Gentle per regular load. Don’t use more.

Add Vinegar to the Rinse

Vinegar softens clothes, removes residue, and deodorizes.

Fold Promptly

Folding clothes promptly prevents wrinkles.

Clean the Machine Monthly

Use affresh monthly to keep the machine clean.

What to Avoid

Don’t skip sorting. Mixing colors and fabrics causes damage and color bleeding.

Don’t overload the machine. Overloading reduces cleaning and strains the motor.

Don’t use too much detergent. Excess detergent leaves residue.

Don’t use fabric softener. Use vinegar instead.

Don’t forget to clean the machine. Use affresh monthly.

Don’t leave clothes in the washer. Leaving clothes in the washer causes mildew.

Don’t leave clothes in the dryer. This causes wrinkles.

FAQ

What is a good laundry routine? Sort by color and fabric, pre-treat stains, use the right water temperature and cycle, use 2 tablespoons of Tide Free and Gentle, add vinegar to the rinse, dry on the right setting, fold promptly, and clean the machine monthly with affresh.

How often should you do laundry? Most people do laundry 2 to 3 times per week. Wash towels and bedding weekly. Wash delicates as needed.

How much detergent should you use per load? Use 2 tablespoons of Tide Free and Gentle per regular load. Don’t use more than the recommended amount.

Should you add vinegar to every load? Yes, half a cup in the fabric softener dispenser. Vinegar softens clothes, removes residue, and deodorizes. Give elastic items a break occasionally.

How often should you clean your washing machine? Monthly. Use affresh Washing Machine Cleaner in an empty hot cycle.

References

1. Tide. “Laundry Routine Guide.” tide.com.
2. The Spruce. “Laundry Routine Guide.” thespruce.com.
3. Good Housekeeping. “Laundry Guide.” goodhousekeeping.com.
4. Consumer Reports. “Laundry Guide.” consumerreports.org.