6 Laundry Tips to Teach Your Teen Going Off to College

Using the washing machine might be pretty simple, especially if your college teen is used to doing chores at home. However, they could still use a few more tips on efficiently washing their garments, aside from just separating the whites from the light-colored clothes and dark-colored ones.

College dorm room living opens teenagers to the joys and struggles of independence. There will be a lot of responsibilities, as well as mistakes and mishaps that could be avoided if they have been guided and oriented on what to do.

Knowing how to do laundry is crucial to college life because no one will have clean clothes ready for your teen anymore. So, before they leave for the university, don't forget to share these laundry tips below:

1. Always wash clothes inside out except for bedding.

There are practical reasons for washing clothes inside out. First, it will prevent friction and damage, especially for shirts with cute designs or graphics. It will also prevent the colors from fading fast so that the clothes will look more presentable longer. Washing inside out is also the best way to remove dirt, sweat, and grime.

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However, if the clothes' stain is on the surface, the best way to clean this is to soak the garment first before putting it in the washing machine, per Tidy Diary. On the other hand, it's better to wash bedding and pillows with the top printed side up because that's where the dirt and grime are.

2. Use pods instead of liquid detergent.

Pods are not messy and will prevent spills. They are also premeasured, so there's no waste, especially since college students tend to use more than they need. Pods are also convenient, compact, and easy to store in a dorm room without enough space.

3. Wash using low temperature.

According to Better Homes & Gardens, washing with cold water is more sustainable as it requires less energy. Cold water also helps the clothes last longer as hot water may promote the fading of colors faster. However, hot water will definitely get the dirt and germs out more effectively for clothes that are too dirty and soiled, such as work clothes, bedding, towels, underwear, white garments, or socks.

4. Never overload or underload the washing machine.

To cut on laundry time, your teen may tend to overfill the washing machine, but doing this will make the spin cycle inefficient, so the clothes remain dirty, smelly, and soiled. According to Domestic & General, overloading may lead to higher bills as the machine is forced to work harder and consume more electricity.

Similarly, underloading the machine is also a bad idea as the cycle will use more detergent that could leave a residue on the clothes. Always stick to the required capacity when washing to ensure proper circulation and cleaning. If there's a weighing scale at the laundromat, use this.

5. Take out the clothes immediately after a wash/dry cycle.

It's tempting to leave the clothes in the machine and then return to it at the end of the day. However, this will likely cause a distinct odor because the garment has not been aired immediately. Damp clothes must be hanging in a well-ventilated area, if not outdoors. Also, there's no need to iron clothes if they are put away while still warm, as this will reduce wrinkling.

6. Settle on a laundry day.

Some college kids might only wash "when it's convenient," but, ideally, this should be scheduled like clockwork. It should be part of your college teen's routines to help make the chores more manageable and save her time and money with fewer trips to the laundromat.

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