Doing laundry is a routine task that many of us do without giving it much thought. However, poor laundry practices can lead to damaged clothes, wasted resources, and even costly repairs. Knowing what not to do is just as important as knowing the right techniques. This article outlines 15 common laundry mistakes to avoid to ensure your clothes stay in perfect condition and your appliances run efficiently.

1. Avoid mixing towels and clothes.
Towels are made of thick, absorbent materials that can produce a lot of lint. When mixed with clothes, especially those made of synthetic fibers, lint can transfer to the fabric and cling to it, making your clothes look worn and unkempt. Additionally, towels require longer drying times, which can cause clothes to overdry when washed together.

2. Never use too much fabric softener.
Although fabric softener can make clothes softer and give them a pleasant scent, using too much can lead to residue buildup on clothes. This can reduce the absorbency of towels and make clothes greasy. Excessive use can also impair the performance of your washing machine by clogging dispensers and hoses.

See continued on the next page.

Recent Articles

The ring you choose reflects your personality.

Pecan Cream Pie

Cases are on the rise

My 9-year-old daughter baked 300 Easter cookies for the homeless — the next morning, a stranger showed up at our door with a briefcase full of cash. My daughter, Ashley, has always had a heart too big for her chest. Since my wife died, we’ve barely been making ends meet. We spent everything we had trying to save her from cancer. But when Easter came this year, Ashley told me she’d been saving up her own money to buy ingredients. “For the homeless,” she said. Her mom used to be one of them. She was thrown out by her parents when they found out she was pregnant with Ashley. When I met her, she had nothing — but she had the brightest smile and the sharpest mind I had ever seen. I fell in love with her. I took her and Ashley in. And from that moment on, Ashley became my daughter in every way that matters. So when Ashley said she wanted to help people like her mom once was… I didn’t stop her. For three nights straight, after school and homework, she baked. Her little hands worked nonstop. She found her mom’s old cookie recipe. She rolled every piece of dough herself. She decorated every cookie. She made three hundred cookies. On Easter, she handed them out one by one. She looked people in the eyes. She wished them a Happy Easter. Some of them smiled. Some of them cried. I stood there thinking it was the proudest moment of my life. I thought that was the end of it. The next morning, I was washing a mountain of dishes when the doorbell rang. I opened the door. An older man stood there in a worn-out suit, holding a scratched aluminum briefcase. His eyes were locked on Ashley. Before I could ask anything, he set the case down and opened it. I froze. Stacks of hundred-dollar bills — more money than I had ever seen in my life. “I saw what your daughter did yesterday,” he said, his voice shaking. “I want to give all of this to her.” My heart skipped. Then he added: “But you have to agree to ONE CONDITION.” My chest tightened. “What condition?” I asked. He stepped closer. He lowered his voice. And what he asked for in return made my blood run cold.