7.15.2022

9 Laundry Tips Every College Student Should Know - Tom's Guide

Before we know it, summer will be over and many students will be heading to campus. And while doing the laundry is the last thing on their mind, it's an essential task that students can't avoid.

While it seems easy enough to throw clothes in the washing machine, if done wrong it can cause all sorts of problems. Luckily, we've found 9 laundry tips every college student should know to make laundry easier and prevent damage to your favorite clothes. It will also save you valuable time as well as these cleaning tips every college student should know to maintain a spotless bedroom.

So if you want to make laundry easier, here are 9 laundry tips every college student should know.

1. Set yourself a "laundry day".

Student looking at a book while doing laundry

Student looks at a book while doing laundry (Image credit: Shutterstock)

Instead of doing laundry when it suits you, having a scheduled laundry day is ideal. That way it will already be in the diary as part of a routine and make laundry tasks more manageable.

You'll also save students time and money by reducing trips to the washing machine. Plus, while you're waiting, there's always time to read a book or do schoolwork!

2. Sort your clothes

Loading a washing machine with colorful clothes

Loading a washing machine with colorful clothes (Image credit: Shutterstock)

Although it may seem faster to throw everything at once, always separate the colors into lots of white, light, and dark. This will prevent darker colors from running or running onto lighter colored clothing. Also, you won't be able to save your favorite white t-shirt once it's pink!

3. Read care labels carefully

Hand washing care label

Hand wash care label (Image credit: Shutterstock)

Who reads care labels at school? Reading care labels may seem like a chore, but washing at the right temperature eliminates the risk of shrinkage or damage. Also wash clothes with similar washing instructions in the same color load.

If you're finding all the care labels a bit confusing, find out whatthe washing symbols mean and whether you can put "hand wash only" clothes in the washing machine before loading in your favorite outfits.

White shirt with oil stains on the sleeve

White shirt with oil stains on sleeve (Image credit: Shutterstock)

Whether it's cocktails at a fraternity, a late night snack, or morning coffee, clothes will be subject to all kinds of stains. It is best to act quickly and treat fabric stains immediately.

Simply apply liquid detergent to a clean cloth before gently rubbing the area, or use a stain remover. The longer you leave the stain on, the more difficult it will be to completely remove it with a wash.

You may also need to know how to remove oil stains from clothing or how to quickly remove blood stains in the event of an accident .

5. Do not overload the washing machine

overloaded washing machine

Overloaded washing machine (Image credit: Shutterstock)

We all want to spend less time doing laundry, but one of the biggest mistakes is overloading the washing machine. A full machine can not only make it difficult to thoroughly clean our clothes, but also interrupt the spin cycle. This will leave you with wet (and dirty!) clothes at the end of the cycle.

Also, don't overfill the washing machine as it uses more detergent than necessary, which can leave a sticky residue on your clothes. Always fill the washing machine to the required capacity so it can handle the load more efficiently (so you don't have to start over!).

6. Turn the clothes inside out

Put the shirt in the washing machine.

Put the shirt in the washing machine (Image credit: Shutterstock)

Most college students like to have the latest and trendiest clothes, so the last thing they need is to soil them in the laundry. Always turn garments inside out before putting them in the machine, especially if they have graphics and logos printed on them. These shirts can often fade after many washes, so turning them inside out helps reduce this.

7. Replace liquid detergent with "pods".

Pour in detergent

Pour in detergent (Image credit: Shutterstock)

Instead, replace those big bottles of liquid laundry detergent with capsule laundry detergent. Not only does it prevent spills of liquid detergent, but most students use more than is necessary. Detergents in capsules or gel tablets are pre-dosed, safe to use and don't make a mess. Plus, they're compact and easy to store if you're short on space in your bedroom.

If you choose to use liquid detergent, measure carefully and read the label for the amount. It is important to use the right amount of detergent to get the best washing results.

8. Wash at low temperature

quick wash setting

Quick wash settings (Image credit: Shutterstock)

In addition to reading care labels, experts recommend washing clothes at 30 degrees Celsius or less. This ensures your clothes are clean and reduces the risk of them fading or shrinking in the wash. It's also cheaper and good for the environment.

9. Unload washer/dryer immediately

A woman holds her nose while looking at the laundry in the washing machine

A woman holds her nose while looking at clothes in the washing machine (Image credit: Shutterstock)

It is very easy for students to throw away their clothes, wash them and let them do other things. However, always unload the washer or dryer immediately to avoid bad odors and air clothes quickly.

To avoid bad smells, it is always better to hang wet clothes to dry immediately. If you can't stay outside, use a drying rack in a well-ventilated area. Even if you want to avoid ironing, folding and storing your clothes while they are still warm, wrinkles are avoided. It's a win-win situation!

How often should a student do laundry?

overflowing laundry basket

Overflowing laundry basket (Image credit: Shutterstock)

Depending on how quickly you rummage through your closet, it's recommended that the average college student do their laundry once a week . Of course, there will be times when a busy schedule or social life takes priority, but the key is to never allow clothes to pile up. Also, nobody likes a bedroom that smells like dirty laundry!

Be sure to check out the best back to school deals and our back to school guide for great deals on classroom and bedroom essentials.


If your dorm room has seen better days, be sure to also check out 7 Cleaning Tips Every College Student Should Know . If you are running out of space in your dorm, here are 7 tips to save space in a college dorm.

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