Laundry is one of those chores that always feels like too much effort until you realize you’re out of clean socks. If you’d rather do anything else than spend hours sorting, measuring detergent, and waiting for cycles to finish, we’ve got good news. You don’t need to love laundry to keep your clothes fresh.
With a few lazy-friendly hacks, you can wash your clothes with minimal effort.
1. Wear It Again (If You Can)
Not everything needs to be washed after one wear! Over-washing can actually wear down fabrics faster, so here’s a quick guide:
- Jeans & jackets: Every 5–10 wears
- Sweaters: Every 3–5 wears (unless you’re sweating a lot)
- Shirts & dresses: Every 1–3 wears
- Socks & underwear: Every. Single. Time.
If it passes the sniff test and doesn’t have stains, you can probably wear it again.
2. Ditch the Measuring & Pouring
The real reason laundry is annoying? Messy detergent bottles, measuring cups, and spills. Skip all that with pre-measured detergent sheets. No measuring, no drips—just toss one in and press start.
3. Stop Sorting Like It’s 1950
Unless you’re washing delicate fabrics or bright new colors, mixing similar fabrics isn’t the end of the world. Keep it simple:
- Lights & darks: If you’re feeling responsible, separate them. If not? Cold water prevents most color bleeding.
- Towels & heavy fabrics: Wash separately when you remember (but it’s not the end of the world if you forget).
4. Use Cold Water for (Almost) Everything
Cold water washes just as well as hot for most loads and prevents shrinking, fading, and setting stains. Plus, it saves energy—so you’re technically being eco-friendly while being lazy. Win-win.
5. Skip Fabric Softener (Seriously)
It builds up on fabric, trapping odors and reducing absorbency. Laundry sheets get the job done without the residue, and if you want soft, fresh-smelling laundry, opt for scent boosters instead.
6. The Ultimate Hack: Do Smaller Loads More Often
The longer you wait, the more intimidating the pile gets. If you toss in a quick load every few days, you’ll never have a mountain of laundry staring you down.
7. Keep It Simple, Stay Clean
Being lazy doesn’t mean being dirty, just smart. A few small changes make laundry faster, easier, and way less annoying. Now go forth and be effortlessly fresh.
