#laundry

#laundry

"As a perfectionist... I think there's something that I have to practice a lot, which is standing proud next to things that are imperfect, and loving them anyway."

According to a survey by Mattress Advisory, the average American swaps out their dirty sheets for fresh ones every 24 days, but sheets should be washed way more frequently - at least once a week.

Washing machine rubber door seals are one of the biggest hidden breeding grounds for mould in the home. They trap moisture, detergent residue and fabric fibres during and after washes, creating the perfect warm, damp environment for mould and bacteria to thrive.

If you have a spare $7,999 (plus a $250 deposit), hate folding laundry, and happen to live in the Bay Area, one-and-a-half-year-old startup Weave has the robot for you: Isaac 0. It takes Isaac 0 around 30-90 minutes to fold a load of laundry, Weave says. That's all it does - it's stationary and needs a regular wall outlet - and it can't tackle large blankets, bed sheets, or inside-out garments.

Leaving aside the question of dry cleaning for now, the environmental impact of your laundry is mainly determined by the machines you use. Your choice to line dry or use a clothes dryer (and, if so, which one) has a significant impact on your household energy use. Your choice of washing machine affects both energy use and water consumption. But those are decisions you make once and live with for years. You have the opportunity to choose a greener laundry detergent every few weeks.

I honestly don't see the point of it. Why shove dirty laundry in a basket for a week when you can put everything straight into the washing machine? At least if it's in the washer, it's where it belongs and ready to go. The basket just delays the inevitable. It's like having an unnecessary middleman. And it doesn't match the flat, and dominates the room like a dead piece of furniture.

Although I thought it wasn't possible, this winter my love of knitwear hit new heights. The hardest working item in my wardrobe was a black, oversized fine wool T-shirt. I wore it over my workout gear, with blazers to meetings and layered beneath a thick cable knit when writing at home. I took to sleeping in a cashmere-silk blended singlet if that sounds lush, it really is.

Turn the clothes inside out to rinse under cold water. Pre-treat the clothes by soaking them in cold water and a half cup of baking soda for at least 30 minutes. Wash the clothes on a long cycle using an enzymatic laundry detergent and cold water. Add a half cup of white vinegar to the rinse cycle if the fabric is sturdy enough to handle it.

"Since you don't have an unlimited supply and you're hitting the pool, lake, ocean, or sprinkler practically every day at this point, it's tempting just to give those suckers a light rinse and hang them somewhere to dry."

I opened the bottle... zesty lemon, fresh and uplifting eucalyptus, and a touch of earthy rosemary. This clean fragrance... pleasant and subtle scent on clothes.

The plastic wicker laundry hamper features a practical lid and removable liner, providing an efficient solution for keeping laundry organized and easy to transport.

A pack of Downy fabric spray has been my go-to for wrinkle-free clothes since my school days, especially indispensable for dress shirts after gym.