Do You Have The Right Laundry Supplies for Any Situation?

At first glance, doing laundry might seem like a straightforward endeavor. Put the clothes in the machine, toss in some detergent, hit start, move the clothes into the dryer, hit start again. The next thing you know, you’ve got fresh, clean clothes. If only it were so simple! There’s a lot more to all this laundry business than it seems. Different types of detergents do different things to your clothes. Then there’s fabric softener, stain remover, and all sorts of other products you might want to use depending on the condition of your clothes. With all the different types of materials found in a typical wardrobe and all the different ways we have of dirtying our clothes, a well-stocked arsenal of laundry supplies is a necessary feature of any home. There are certain products any person should have on hand to be ready when the need arises.

Popular Detergents

Laundry detergent is the main requirement in the washing process. It is what you put into the washing machine with your clothes, and plays the main role in making your laundry clean. There are several types of detergent, each with a different set of benefits and drawbacks. They include the following: 

• Biological detergent is great for brightening white clothes and does an excellent job of cleaning and removing stains. The drawback is that it can fade colors and should not be used for silk or wool.
• Color-safe detergent lacks the brightening power of other detergents, but its enzymes ensure it still works on stains. As its name suggests, it is perfect to avoid the fading effect of other detergents on colorful clothes.
• Special detergents for delicates are necessary for washing silk or wool. They lack the deep-cleaning abilities of normal detergents, and therefore should only be used for special loads of delicate fabrics.
• Non-biological detergent is less of an irritant, but generally doesn’t work as well at removing stains. It is only the best option for people with sensitive skin.

Popular Stain Removers

Some stains refuse to come out in a general wash, and require the application of a special stain remover. There are several types of stain removers known to be effective.

• Oxy-Clean spray comes in a Clorox-like bottle and is sprayed onto the stain before a wash. It is safe to use on colors and it does a good job.
• Oxy-Clean also sells a powdered stain remover. To use it, mix the powder with water in a bucket and submerge entire articles of clothing. It can also be tossed into the washer during a regular cycle.
• Tide’s stain removing pens are another option. They are convenient to take with you, meaning you can keep one in a backpack or purse for emergency stains on the road.
• Stain removing wipes and gels are also available, which can be useful to more directly target a small stained area of a piece of clothing.

Other Useful Supplies

While detergents and stain removers are the two mainstays of any laundry supply cabinet, there are other items which are always useful to have. Baking soda has long been a favorite in the laundry room because of its brightening and smell removing powers. Once you try tossing it in with your clothes, you might never run another load without it.

Fabric softener is another optional additive that can make your clothes feel nicer than ever at the end of a load. Everyone in your household will enjoy the added bit of comfort. Scent boosters are a great option for anybody who enjoys an especially nice smell to their clothes. Sometimes, the regular clean-clothes smell is good enough, but then a little added scent can also be nice.

Unless you’ll be hang-drying your clothes, dryer sheets are a must. They remove the static from the clothes in the dryer and add a bit of a fresh scent at the end of the laundry process. A drying rack, while not essential, is also a useful tool in any laundry room. Even if you have a dryer, some fabrics will be too fragile for the machine. With a handy, collapsible rack, you can keep all your drying clothes in one place instead of spreading them around the house on random shower rods and pull up bars. With the right supplies, doing laundry is a breeze. Stock up, and happy washing!