This post has been sponsored by Church & Dwight Co., Inc. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
My mom taught me everything that I know about how to take the best care of my clothing. 👗 And, as a gal that LOVES to shop and is constantly adding unique and fun pieces to her closet… Laundry 101 was a must for me.
Today, I’m bringing you a few Tips + Tricks on how to keep your clothing looking (and smelling!) its best. All things that I learned thanks to my sweet Mom! I’m also sharing some ways in which you can make laundry time more fun, easy, and pain-free plus introducing you to a few of my favorite products to use—which include ARM & HAMMER and OxiClean .
LAUNDRY 101:
WHAT YOU’LL NEED:
- Laundry Detergent – one of my favorites is ARM & HAMMER Sensitive Skin Laundry Detergent. It smells GREAT & is gentle on your skin.
- Fabric Softener/Dryer Sheet – some detergents include fabric softener, but I like adding in a separate softener or sheets with a great scent! – ARM & HAMMER Fresh’n Soft Tropical Burst
- Stain Remover – I LOVE OxiClean Stain Remover Spray… it’s always been a go-to in our house growing up & always gets the job done!
- Laundry Basket (DUH!) I found the one above at Walmart! 😜
HOW TO SEPARATE YOUR CLOTHING:
You should separate your laundry in 3 different piles whenever you are ready to wash them:
- Whites always go with whites
- Colors can be mixed together
- Create a separate pile for your dirty towels + wash rags
Sometimes, you’ll also have to separate black items from your colored items if you have a lot of them. Black pieces of clothing tend to get white stains from the detergent if they are clumped up or too close to the other clothes in the laundry.
HOT OR COLD WATER?
Whites & Colors: ALWAYS wash your whites and colored clothing with cold water if you don’t want them to shrink!
Black Clothing: Wash in cold water.
Towels: Can always be washed in HOT water.
*PRO TIP*- Always make sure your socks and t-shirts are right side out for a better wash.
*PRO TIP*– White socks can be washed separately in hot water with bleach.
HOW TO FIGHT STAINS:
When it comes to stains, I’m definitely no stranger. I’m constantly spilling coffee or food on myself! (Nathan is always laughing at me about this.) Treating stains doesn’t have to be a hassle though! OxiClean Stain Remover Spray is one of the easiest products to incorporate into your laundry routine. (You can find it in the detergent isle at your local Walmart! And… it works wonders.)
To treat stains, simply spray it onto the “oops spot” on your garment, and let it sit for at least 30 minutes before washing. As soon as it’s out of the wash – VOILA! It’ll look as good as new! 😀
* PRO TIP*- Always read the labels on your clothing to make sure that you can machine wash them before washing. Some fabrics require hand washing or dry cleaning if they are a little more delicate. (Most of my dresses require dry-cleaning so this is VERY important!)
TO USE OR NOT TO USE A FABRIC SOFTENER:
Fabric softeners are a great little bonus and can make a huge difference to adding that extra amount of softness to your laundry. (i.e. – it works best with towels and dish rags so that they are less scratchy after the wash!)
HOW TO MAKE LAUNDRY TIME FUN:
I always had to find ways to pass the time when I was doing laundry in NYC. (I couldn’t leave my laundry by itself unless I wanted it to get stolen! – #truelife) So naturally, I found ways to fill my time while I was sitting at the laundromat. Below are some of my fav laundry activities:
- Listening to a favorite Podcast. 📻
- Watching Friends or a funny T.V. show on your laptop or iPhone. 📱
- Reading a new book! 📚
On another note: ARM & HAMMER & OxiClean have always been brand favorites in our family for YEARS, and I also love that they have such a great variety of products to choose from. Like, P.S. – did you know that they also make toothpaste?!
My mom instilled in me from a very young age to ALWAYS take good care of my teeth and would always remind me how baking soda worked as one of THE BEST teeth whiteners. (Something I take super seriously since I drink so much coffee!) I love that ARM & HAMMER toothpaste has baking soda as a top ingredient. Their Truly Radiant Bright & Strong Toothpaste is among my favorites.
Since we’re on the topic of teeth, here are a few healthy habits that my Mom taught me when it comes to taking the best care of your pearly whites…
8 Best Habits for Clean & Healthy Teeth:
- Invest in a good toothbrush. The ARM & HAMMER Spinbrush Pro Seriesis a great one!
- Brush after every meal to keep teeth healthy & white, and to keep gums clean. (I like to carry a mini-toothbrush & toothpaste in my purse!)
- To avoid coffee/tea stains, use a straw when drinking cold drinks in the summer so that your teeth don’t have direct contact with the beverage!
- Brush after you drink hot coffee – drastic temps can affect your teeth.
- Chew sugarless gum to avoid cavities. (Some gum is dentist recommended!)
- Floss every day!
- Change your toothbrush periodically.
- Have a professional teeth cleaning a few times a year.
photography by Paige Newton.
What are some of your favorite Laundry Tips + Tricks? Or good habits for healthy teeth? I would love to hear them below!
P.S. – You can find all of today’s post products at Walmart. Visit your local Walmart and pick up these trusted ARM & HAMMER OxiClean products today. Grab everything you need all at one stop and turn your store run into a home run!
Thank you to ARM & HAMMER & Walmart for sponsoring this post! A brand that I use and love, and store that I’m frequently shopping in.
ARM & HAMMER, the ARM & HAMMER logo, and OxiClean are trademarks of Church & Dwight Co., Inc.
WEARING: Old Navy Swing Tank & Denim Skirt | Forever 21 Gingham Pajama Romper
Like your comments. I like to change laundry products and I have two I go forth between. Here’s a great cheap stain remover. Mix one tablespoon of ammonia to half cup of hydrogen peroxide. Never has discolored my clothing and has removed every stain. (From Queen of clean) cheap also. Thanks for the tip.