Most people are never taught how to do laundry. They might learn a few tips or tricks from their parents, or they might have to figure it out on their own. And once we “figure out” how to do laundry, we rarely change our process or habits. But I’m about to show you the simplest and most effective method for doing laundry. Give it a try and you’ll never go back!
When you buy through our links, we may earn a small commission.
Laundry Basics
Okay, let’s begin with the basics. If asked to name our most important keys to doing laundry, we’d start here:
- If you have a high-efficiency laundry machine, make sure you’re using detergent that’s specifically designed for your machine. Also, note that most high-efficiency machines perform best when they’re only two-thirds to three-quarters full.
- Follow the labels on bottles and don’t overuse detergent. Using too much will leave your clothes looking and feeling dingy. If that is already the case check out our laundry stripping method here .
- Always, always, always use the proper water level for the size of your load. Your clothes need friction to get clean and having too much water will minimize the necessary friction.
- Always wash your clothes according to the label on the garment.
Your Toolkit
It’s not enough to know how to do laundry. You also need the right tools in your laundry “toolkit.” Here are our recommendations, you can find everything linked here —> (USA) (Canada):
- Laundry Detergents: Tide® Powder, Tide® Powder HE, Tide® Free & Gentle (for those with sensitivities), Tide® with Bleach
- Fabric Softeners: We don’t have a favorite! Choose one with a smell you like
- Stain Removers: OxiClean®, Blue Dawn®, Tide® Stain Remover, Hydrogen Peroxide
- Dryer Sheets: Gain®, Bounce®, Wrinkle Guard®, Snuggle Plus®
- Laundry Stripping: Borax® Detergent Booster, Arm & Hammer® Super Washing Soda
Laundry Stains
All stains are different, so always make sure to read labels and pay attention to the type of stain. Having said that, most stains can be treated with powdered Tide®. (The key is to get to the stain quickly, though!) OxiClean® is another great product to keep on hand for tough stains.
In the #CleaningArmy, we have our own Stain Saviour recipe:
- 1 teaspoon of blue Dawn® dish soap
- 1 teaspoon of baking soda
- 1 teaspoon of hydrogen peroxide
Scrub this mixture into the stain and let it sit overnight. Wash in cold water the next morning. See these blog articles if you need more help with treating specific stains. (Protein Stains and Food Stains)
The Laundry System
The key to laundry is to keep up! And while you don’t have to be perfect, it does help to have a system in place. Here’s the GoCleanGo system that works pretty well. (Feel free to adapt it to fit your own needs.)
- A Hamper Each. Every individual family member should have their own laundry hamper inside their own bedroom. This prevents clothes from being strewn all across the house and teaches children to take ownership over their clothing. When the hamper is full, it’s time to do a load of laundry.
- Sorting Colors. Separate whites, darks, and reds. This extends the lifespan of your clothing and keeps everything nice and crisp.
- Sorting Fabrics. It’s also a good idea to sort like fabrics together. This includes workout clothes together, bedding together, denim together, towels together, and sweaters together.
- Read Your Labels. Always read labels and follow instructions for each specific piece of clothing.
- Enlist Help. Kids as young as four or five years old can (and probably should) help with laundry. They can begin by sorting and eventually learn how to fold and put away. Once they’re old enough, they can even be taught how to operate the laundry machine.
Welcome to the #CleaningArmy
In the #CleaningArmy, we welcome all of your filthiness with open arms. Whether you’ve got a dirty house, filthy laundry, or anything in between – we have simple cleaning methods that are going to help you kiss the grime goodbye! Grab a copy of The Laundry Handbook to learn more. You can also follow us on Instagram for daily updates.
For a list of our favorite products, click here.
We're big on Instagram.
Follow @GoCleanCo for seriously satisfying videos and top-secret tips. Don’t be shy, come say hi.
gocleanco
May 31
I’m in the hot seat answering your burning questions on @downy Rinse & Refresh! I’ve been using the new @downy Rinse & Refresh for a while now, and this stuff is so good at making your fabrics fresh on the daily. Odors get trapped in fabric because we have a residue (like minerals, hard water, or body oils) coating the fabrics. @downy Rinse & Refresh breaks down the residues and helps eliminate the odors. You put it in the fabric softener dispenser cup and wash with your regular detergent (I use Tide in case you are new around here). Plus, it is safe for all washable fabrics. I just used it on my musty towels and it blew my mind! What have you tried Rinse & Refresh on? Tell me in the comments! #ad #downypartner #odorisnttheend
gocleanco
May 23
Petition to have all toilet seats removable from now until the end of time. Sign below ⬇️ #cleaningtips
gocleanco
May 21
Needed this to live on the feed forever cause you folks ask me about it everyday. This is the @malibucpro hard water treatment I use on my hair. If you have super hard water, it sticks to your hair just like your shower doors. It makes your hair coated and feel like straw—your shampoo doesn’t work as well and your hair feels limp and lifeless. It’s super to easy to use, you can do it at home and it’s safe for highlighted/colour treated hair. Linked it up in both our Amazon storefronts and on stories. @hairhouseyeg 💁🏼♀️ #hairtutorial
gocleanco
May 12
Dawn Platinum means serious business. Did you know that 3 bottles of the leading non-concentrated dish liquid equals ONE bottle of Dawn Platinum? @dawndishwash has a powerful formula to help you get through more dishes with less product, which will save you some moola plus you can use it outside of the kitchen! Dawn Platinum cleans windows and BBQ grills, tire rims…anywhere you need to fight a greasy mess, you can reach for Dawn Platinum. We love Dawn Ultra around here, but Dawn Platinum is even more concentrated so it’s the best grease-cutting you can get. You know it works on dishes but where else are you using Dawn, outside of the kitchen sink? Share your best stories below so I can test them out! #ad #dawnpartner
gocleanco
May 9
If you give a Mom a coffee…😵💫 ☕️ Don’t overdo it this week leading up to your big “day off”. #happymothersday
gocleanco
May 3
April in nutshell. #springcleaning
gocleanco
Apr 28
dump scare > jump scare 🫣
gocleanco
Apr 27
DING 🛎️ DING 🛎️ DING 🛎️ If you guessed: Spray Tan Residue, you win 5 gold ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ and bragging rights to your friends. #dontdothisathome
gocleanco
Apr 26
You each get one guess: GO! #springcleaning
gocleanco
Apr 17
Check out my IG Live on Wednesday—I'll be chatting with P&G dishwashing scientist, Morgan Eberhard, to answer all your burning questions about the new Cascade Platinum Plus. Remember…the dishwasher pod that blew all your minds a couple weeks ago?! It’s the solution we have all been waiting for; cabinet-ready dishes without pre-rinsing or the need to dry them out of the dishwasher. My DM’s were DEEP when I showed you Cascade Platinum Plus in action and tbh, I didn’t think loading the dishwasher could get so many people steamed up! Drop your questions below so we can answer them on the live with Morgan. She knows her stuff —she’s a legit 👩🏼🔬 folks. #sponsored #cascadeplatinumplus #cascadepartner
gocleanco
Apr 15
Happy National Laundry Day! Not sure why we need a national day for laundry since we do it everyday but hey hey I’m always in the mood to hug a box of tide so here we are! Anyways, in celebration of Laundry Day, we have a blog post all about my new washer and dryer to answer your pressing questions. It will live on the blog so you can go back and check when (touch wood) your machine kicks the bucket. Link is in our bio to read! #laundryday
gocleanco
Apr 13
Nothing like a few before and afters to get your asses motivated! Remember you can start one drawer a day and build from there if you don’t know where to start. Also, try to rope in some friends to help you—6 hands are better than one! Pick a designated day each week for about a month and get everyone together and tackle projects around your homes together. It’s way more fun to clean/organize someone else’s house. Trust me, I made a business out of it. 😉 #springcleaning
gocleanco
Apr 12
Vacuum round up and break down of how they made it into our Amazon Storefront in stories today! We are also planning a Vacuum Fight Club…so drop your favs or the ones you want to see us test in the comments and I’ll hook us up.
gocleanco
Apr 2
#sponsored Did you know that household bleach is derived from sodium chloride - common table salt? During household use, it breaks down to mostly salt and water. Did you also know that you can use Clorox® Disinfecting Concentrated Bleach to keep your flowers beautiful longer? Wearing gloves, add ¼ tsp. of Clorox® Disinfecting Concentrated Bleach to every 1.27 L of water you use in the flower vase and stir well to mix. Make sure to trim off the end of each flower stem before arranging it, to increase absorption. Check your flowers weekly and refresh the water as needed. Just mix up a fresh batch of Clorox® Disinfecting Concentrated Bleach and water solution. #yeahbleachdoesthat @clorox_canada
gocleanco
Apr 1
Wanted to catch y’all before you had breakfast. #cleaningmotivation
gocleanco
Mar 30
Some products you just have to see to believe. 🤯 Cascade Platinum Plus is a brand new product (you might have seen it on the shelves already) that is changing the GAME for your dishwashing routine. For years we’ve been doing work that really should be our dishwasher’s job! Spoiler alert: it’s not your dishwasher, it’s your dish detergent. TBH I was skeptical when @mycascade told me not to rinse and to let the dishes SIT OVERNIGHT BEFORE WASHING THEM but here we are. #sponsored #cascadepartner
gocleanco
Mar 29
It’s the final week of the Spring Cleaning Challenge! How y’all doing? Thrown in the towel yet?! 🫣 This round was fast and dirty (in the best way possible) and I’m telling ya—it feels like a fever dream 😮💨 😵💫 I’ll be recovering on my heating pad come Monday. #springcleaning
gocleanco
Mar 25
Spring cleaning isn’t over until we clean the windows. Sparkling windows make all the difference, you can actually see outside and let the sunshine in! I have a Spring Cleaning offer with @oceansalesltd up in my stories, it is a package deal with the AquaBLADE and the Carbon Tuff Cloths. Check it out! #sponsored
gocleanco
Mar 23
Carpet Cleaner Fight Club 👊🏻 coming at you 3.23.23 get your 🍿 and pull up a 🪑 *Carpets were harmed in the making of this video* #springcleaning
gocleanco
Mar 19
Remember to change your mop head every once in awhile 😎 @hairhouseyeg #shorthair