Laundry. It’s never-ending — even when you feel like you’ve conquered a mountain of clothes, it’s always quickly replenished.
Luckily, there are a few expert-approved products out there that can make the chore more bearable. To share these favorites, professional home organizer Janelle Lam stopped by Jenna & Sheinelle with the laundry items we love and have used for years. These thoroughly-vetted picks help revive pet hair-covered sweaters and couches, keep our machines clean and more.
You can trust our seal of approval, because laundry comes up on a near-daily basis in our office — whether we're sounding off about separating our lights and darks in the wash or divulging how often we actually wash our pajamas, sheets and more. From one laundry enthusiast to another, read on to shop all of the best laundry products out there.
Best laundry products seen on TODAY
Lam calls the FurZapper a "total game-changer" in her house because her little white cat Levi likes to leave fur on all her clothes.
"I keep one in the washer and one in the dryer," Lam says. "All you do is throw it in, and that’s it! The tacky silicone grabs pet hair and pulls it off the fabric."
Lam says you can think of these shoe bags "like a car wash" for your shoes, since they have interiors lined with small cotton bristles to ensure a superb clean from every angle.
“These bags keep your sneaker in place, stop laces from tying themselves into a knot, and your shoes come out looking brand new,” vouches Lam, adding that they do it all with “no loud banging sound.”
Unlike air fresheners, which only scent the air, linen sprays like this elevated option from Homecourt adhere to fibers and neutralize odors.
“Spray on linens, inside drawers and closets. It’s a small luxury that changes the vibe instantly,” vouches Lam, who favors the rose scent. "This can even reduce static on clothes as well as wrinkles."
Skip the expensive, days-long chore of getting your dry cleaning done with this kit, which Lam calls “genius” for refreshing blazers, dresses, sweaters and more at home. The process doesn’t rely on harsh chemical solvents, according to the brand, and Lam has found that it works in about 20 minutes, removing odors and even light stains.
“Place one cleaning cloth and up to five garments in your dryer,” Lam instructs. “The dryer heat activates the moist cleaning sheet, which releases gentle steam. Comes with 5 sheets to keep you covered!”
It might sound a little ironic, but your washing machine needs a good clean too! Toss one of the six included tablets into your washing machine, start a cycle as usual — and watch as the tablet works to remove residue build-up, odors and more.
"If you have a front loader, then these are especially helpful," Lam adds. "I personally like to throw one in once a month to keep up on my washing machine maintenance."
More top laundry products we love
If your clothes are taking too long to dry or you’re having to run them a second time, lint build-up could be the culprit. This easy-to-use kit includes a flexible tube that’s able to get into all the nooks and crannies of your dryer, picking up debris and lint that’s gotten lost over the years.
“I don’t have to worry as much about a potential fire hazard, and everyone breathes easier when there’s less dust around,” said one of our writers after putting this to the test in her own home. “Plus, with this kit, you may discover hidden treasures under your oven and fridge.”
Think of these wool balls as reusable dryer sheets that also work to eliminate static and wrinkles on clothes. They cut down on drying time, helping to separate clothes, sheets, and towels while they’re in the dryer and circulate hot air more evenly.
For a natural scent without the added chemicals, Lam recommends adding a couple of drops of your favorite essential oil onto the dryer balls.
Tide is once again changing the laundry game with its biggest innovation since the brand launched Tide Pods back in 2012. These newly-launched "tiles" dissolve faster in water to get cleaning quicker, absorbing odors and lifting stains, all with zero plastic packaging.
Dubbed the “ultimate” hack for washing your sheets, this product ensures they won’t get tangled during the process. Tuck each corner into one of the slots and wash as normal — for sheets that end up less wrinkly, dry faster and more thoroughly, according to one writer.
Give any sweater a good ol’ refresh with this shaver and lint brush that doesn’t require batteries. It just takes a simple swipe using one of the razors included to leave sweaters looking like new again.
The brand says it can even be used on furniture such as couches or rugs, should they need reviving, for a “beyond satisfying” result, according to Lam.
Noticing small, jagged holes in your clothes? Moths may be the culprit — yes, moths. Lavender is the brand's Bio-Active Fragrance Technology to keep moths away while still emitting a pleasant scent. If you're worried about forgetting, the brand can send you an automated email every six weeks as a reminder to refresh your closet with this spray.
No more climbing onto the dryer to get every last sock! Easily scoop your laundry into this collapsible “basket,” which includes handles that make it convenient to carry. It comes in two different sizes: small and large, and is easy to store, making it a no-brainer for those in small apartments or dorm rooms.
This was designed for front-loading washer and dryer sets by a mom who wanted a workspace for folding and sorting laundry, without worrying that it would fall behind the appliances. It's magnetic and adjustable, with side panels rotating out to fit your space and provide you with as much room as possible.
As New Yorkers, we’re always looking for products that serve a purpose without taking up too much space. This collapsible laundry basket is the perfect example — folding down to just three inches when not in use.
This accordion-style drying rack expands to reveal over 12 feet of space to hang delicates, workout leggings and more — then collapses back into the wall when not in use. It includes everything you need to mount it to the wall of your laundry room or small apartment, promising a “clutter-free” and tidier space.
If you want to make the mundane household chore feel more luxurious, try livening up your laundry with this detergent and scent booster bundle from fragrance brand Snif. The set comes in a few top-selling scents, like "Old Money" and "Sweet Ash," that are anything but ordinary.
Meet the experts
Our team features a range of qualified experts and contributors in our broadcast segments to reveal the latest in trends, remarkable sale events and all things shopping across a variety of categories. Products were independently chosen by members of the Shop TODAY team along with Janelle Lam.
- Janelle Lam is a professional home organizer who has formerly appeared on TODAY to share organizing solutions, storage essentials and more. She’s also the author of The Folding Book.
- Shop TODAY is a team of shopping editors and writers who spend hours every day finding the best new products, tried-and-true favorites and more finds available on Amazon that are worth shopping, according to our high standards.
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How we chose
The Shop TODAY editors and writers search the internet to find the best products out there. We interview expert sources, comb through customer reviews and even use our own personal experiences to make shopping easier for our readers.
As an editorial team, we independently create content and determine coverage based on research, reporting and what we think TODAY.com readers would like to read about. The goal of our content is to provide a service and inform readers who are on the hunt for the latest products to help make their life better. Items are sold by retailer, not TODAY. Pricing and availability are accurate as of publish time. These picks were chosen by Janelle Lam and members of our editorial team.
