Laundry Tips from Nature

If you think you can't green up your wash cycle, you're all wet Drying laundry on the clothesline gives it the freshest, cleanest smell, and it saves money, energy and carbon impact. What more could you want? How about some natural tips for your wash cycle? Soften your image Clothing that feels stiff after being dried on a clothesline or clothes drying rack probably still has some soap in it. Add an extra rinse cycle, and reduce the amount of soap you use. A half-cup of vinegar added to the rinse helps release unused soap and acts as a natural softener. Don't worry, the smell goes away when it dries. Bottoms up If you want to line-dry diapers, cut your soap usage in half. Start with one cold rinse, then wash hot, followed by two more cold rinse cycles. Add a dash of tea tree oil in the last rinse to naturally disinfect and freshen the load. Skip bleach and fabric softeners. The sun naturally disinfects and whitens, and bleach residue irritates tender little moons. Clothes drying racks are ideal for hanging diapers indoors or out. Just make sure they're in the sun.

Getting out of the lint trap

To help avoid lint accumulating on line-dried clothing, separate clothing in the wash cycle. Socks and towels are lint monsters, so are blankets and fleece. Wash and dry these separately, and you won't have to comb the rest of the laundry.

Do your wash load early or overnight, so you can hang it in the morning to dry while you do other stuff. It'll be ready to fold when you return.

Vinegar gets you out of any pickle

• Sponge a little white distilled vinegar directly onto wine stains within 24 hours, then clean according to care tag directions.
• One cup of vinegar in a load of baby clothes will break down uric acid and soap residue, leaving clothes fluffy and fresh.
• Clothes rinse better if a little vinegar is added to the last rinse to dissolve the alkalies in detergent. Cotton and wool blankets will puff up softer too.
• Lightly rub a little vinegar on deodorant stains before washing as usual.
• After a hem or seam has been removed, you'll often see the holes left behind by the thread. Place a cloth dampened with vinegar under it and iron. The holes will magically close.
• To remove a scorch, try wiping it with vinegar, then brush with a dry cloth.

Nature wants to help you, so give it a chance. Clothes drying racks and clotheslines make it easy!