Top Common Laundry Mistakes You’re Probably Making

Whether you like it or not, laundry is a chore that we just have to do. Who wants to wear dirty clothes all the time? You might be the type of person who is quick to flip your shirt or pants inside out and give them a quick spray of Febreze, but that doesn't always get the job done. Sometimes, you just have to do laundry. And here are common laundry mistakes. Sometimes these mistakes can affect the appearance, longevity, and cleanliness of your clothes.

Stacker, an expert analysis website, shared the top most common laundry mistakes and how to avoid them. So, what mistakes are you probably making with laundry?

At the top of their list is overloading the washing machine. Overloading the washer means your clothes may not get as clean as you want them to. Clothes need space to move around to get them clean. "Stuffing the machine full might lead to ineffective washing and rinsing," they said. They also mentioned that overloading can also damage your machine and cause mechanical issues. As Southern Living points out, this can also cost you more money in the long run.

Some people may be guilty of doing this but neglecting to sort clothes made their top three. They suggest sorting your clothes at least by color like light or dark. Not following the care instructions for specific colors or fabrics can lead to damaging your clothes' appearance. According to The Cleaning Authority, washing dark colors with light ones, the lighter colored clothes will lose their brightness over time.

Less is more when it comes to detergent. While some people believe that more detergent makes your clothes cleaner, it actually has the opposite effect according to their list. They said, "Using extra detergent can leave a soapy residue on your laundry, attract dirt, and irritate sensitive skin."

This also applies to overusing fabric oftener. Sure, it smells great, but it can also lead to a waxy build-up on your clothes.

A big no-no on their list is skipping regular machine maintenance. So, yes, this means cleaning your washer and dryer. Not taking care of your machines can cause your clothes to smell weird, break down, or lessen their ability to do their job. As far as the lint filter, you should empty it every single time.  A clogged lint filter lowers the ability of the dryer to do its job. Not to mention, it's a massive fire hazard. The US Consumer Product Safety Commission reports that clogged dryer vents are responsible for more than 15,000 dryer fires each year. You should also periodically check the dryer vent to make sure it's clear.

Take a look at the complete list of common laundry mistakes here.

Think about how easier cleaning would be if we had the help of Cinderella's magical animal friends. Unfortunately, this is not our reality. Many of our realities include piles of dirty clothes, dirty dishes that "you’ll get to later," and always-accumulating dust. But there is hope for maintaining a clean home. Sure, we all have our hacks and tips, but which ones are worth trying out?

Many people have been sharing how they keep their homes spotless or tidy home habits they developed. A good habit to develop is making sure everything has a place. This could be something you developed from your parents, a relative, or on your own. Making sure everything has its own spot can prevent clutter and get you in the habit of putting things back after using them. This also makes it easier to wipe down surface areas like your countertops without appliances constantly getting in the way.

You don't want things to get to a point where you feel overwhelmed by cleaning. Here's a bit of advice: don't leave deep cleaning for cleaning day. Try coming up with a cleaning schedule or a routine. This could be cleaning the bathroom on Thursdays and washing bedding on Sundays. Just cleaning a little bit every day helps in managing keeping a clean home.

There are all kinds of ways and methods for cleaning anything. Of course, some are more effective than others. And some require a handful of steps and instructions. But let’s be real here: we all just want the best cleaning tips and hacks. Those that leave your place spotless with minimal effort.

Some of us may think we have it all together when it comes to cleaning around the home, but there’s always something new to try. For instance, when you have a stained or spotty plastic or vinyl shower curtain, you can just toss it into the washing machine with a little detergent to get it clean. Then there’s descaling your coffee maker. It just takes a mixture of half vinegar and half water brewed until the reservoir is empty. This can help get rid of calcium buildup and keep your coffee maker running a little longer.

Check out more cleaning hacks people swear by below.

Lemons are great for cleaning. This is especially true if you're trying to ditch chemical cleaning products. Not only is the scent amazing, but you can use the fruit to clean wooden cutting boards, deodorize your drains, and degrease pans. According to Taste of Home, lemons work well for cleaning ovens. They said for oven buildup, just fill an oven-safe baking dish with water and lemon juice. Then, bake for 30 minutes at 250 degrees. After the oven has cooled, remove the side and wipe any remaining grime from the oven's interior.

This one is for those with kids or who often watch them. If one of the kiddos decides to draw their best crayon artwork on the walls, your wooden living room tray, LCD screens, clothing or appliances, there are ways to remove it. Some people swear by WD-40. They say it's good for clothing items and LCD screens. For clothes, The Spruce suggests flipping the fabric inside out, spraying WD-40 on a cloth, and dabbing it onto the crayon stain. Then, scraping off the solid bits left behind. You can also treat crayon stains with detergent and a toothbrush scrub, or a dab mayonnaise on a cloth for walls.

There are several ways to remove wine stains. But if you find yourself in a bind, then try salt or club soda. You start by spritzing the wine stain with club soda. Next, blot the wine, or colored drink stain, with a microfiber cloth. Just repeat this until the stain is gone. Some people swear by kosher salt. Usual Wines reported that salt will absorb the wine and lift away the color from the surface.

You may have heard of this cleaning hack. Most comforters are machine-wash-friendly. If the comforter fills only half the washer then you should be good to go. When ready to dry, add tennis balls to the dryer to keep the comforter's stuffing from collecting in one corner. According to Real Simple, if you have ever pulled a washed comforter or pillow out of the dryer to find it lumpy, the tennis ball trick can prevent that.

Dusting is a task that many of us can live without. But if you're looking for an easier way to tackle dust, try using a dryer sheet. They collect dust better than a cloth. You can run it along your baseboards or lines. Apartment Therapy reports that you can also dust surfaces with a sock. Obviously, you want to make sure it's a clean sock. Some people even say that using a pillowcase for hard-to-reach places like ceiling fan blades does the trick. Just open it up, carefully slide it over the fan blade, and use it to wipe out from the center of the fan to the tip of the blade. "The motion collects the dust from the blades and any dust that falls drops into the pillow instead of onto your floor," said Apartment Therapy.

Nobody's a fan of stubborn brown stains in coffee mugs. Here's a cleaning hack to try. Sprinkle some baking soda onto the bottom of your stained cup, add just enough water to form a paste and scrub. Then, give it a good rinse. Some people have also tried distilled white vinegar. Just fill the mug with vinegar and let it sit for 10 minutes. Molly Maid recommends another approach, which is pouring salt into the bottom of the mug and dumping a few pieces of crushed ice on top. Cover the mug with a few layers of plastic wrap and shake vigorously. They said the coarse salt removes the coffee stains without any chemicals.