Coffee stains, tangled sheets and hard-to-wash, yet often-worn items can be a headache when it comes to doing laundry. Thankfully, tons of clever hacks can make washing stubborn stains from clothes, bedding and more ... feel like less of a chore.
National Laundry Day, which falls on April 15, commemorates the importance of the task and the advancement of modern washing machines. And in honor of the holiday, lifestyle and beauty expert Bahar Takhtehchian stopped by the 3rd hour of TODAY to share fixes to some of the most common laundry challenges.
From a collapsible laundry basket to "color-catching" washer sheets, we’ve compiled these solutions and more that promise to leave clothing and other items looking as good as new.
Best National Laundry Day products seen on TODAY
"Every time you wash synthetic clothes, thousands of tiny fabrics and microplastics are released into your washing machine. These fibers then make their way to rivers and oceans and potentially harm animals and nature," Takhtehchian explains. "This bag protects your clothes and the environment by reducing fiber breakage and trapping those tiny fibers ... The bag will catch any residual fibers and prevent them from harming animals and the Earth."
Without the mess or measuring, the Tide Evo Detergent Tiles were launched back in February of this year, and Shop TODAY had a first glance at the innovation. The tiles are an eco-friendly option for users with eco concerns, with a portable, recyclable design that tackles 100% of stains, per the brand.
The "all-in-one" laundry solution has "six layers of clean" that removes stains and odors, brightens, protects, and boosts freshness on clothes and more. No more adding multiple steps to your load to get a powerful clean.
Funky odor from mildew towels, gym clothes and other smelly items? This "stink eraser" tackles it all.
"Some clothes develop a funky odor that is impossible to remove with traditional detergent," says Takhtehchian. "The Lume Stink Eraser is a detergent booster that uses a powerful enzyme blend to break down stubborn odors and residue. Just add the booster to the machine’s wash cycle along with your favorite detergent and watch the stink disappear."
The universal laundry rule is to separate your whites and colors to prevent transfer. However, the "color catching" washer sheets above offer a handy solution so that you can wash your items together without worry.
"These color-catching sheets trap dyes that are released during the wash cycle and prevent them from transferring onto other clothes," Takhtehchian explains. "Just add one sheet on top of your laundry before you start the wash cycle. The sheets work with all types of fabrics and water temperatures, saving you time, water and energy."
For delicate garments or those that need hand-washing, the Soak Laundry Soap helps clothes feel brand new without rinsing. Just squeeze some in a bowl of water, let it soak for 15 minutes, and twist out the excess water to remove the dirt and detergent.
Bulky laundry baskets can take up room in small spaces. This laundry basket has a pop-up and foldable design for swift access, whether it's in use or not.
More laundry products to shop
If you live with a furry friend, this reusable and affordable laundry hack helps keep clothes free of pet (and human) hair. Simply toss it in the washer and dryer along with your clothes, and it’ll collect the hair throughout the process, leaving you to easily dispose of the hair afterward.
Does your white tee need a refresh? These power packs promise to help by employing the use of a chlorine bleach alternative to help worn clothes look new again.
The brand describes these unscented, liquid-less laundry sheets as "ultra-thin" and "lightweight," which helps them dissolve completely in both hot and cold water, and clean clothes with ease.
"I was amazed at how well the hair removal tool worked in just one swipe," freelance writer Katie Jackson said in her review. "It’s so easy to figure out, I honestly don’t know why it even comes with instructions...Within three minutes, I’d probably remove three weeks’ worth of Wilco [my dog's] hair."
On Amazon, the tool is currently a #1 bestseller in "cat hair removal products," but the brand recommends it for both cat and dog hair.
Prevent dryer fires and help your clothes dry at a quicker rate with regular cleanings made easier with this cleaning kit, which includes a vacuum hose attachment that gets into every nook and cranny. One writer was shocked at the amount of lint and other debris she managed to fish out, calling it a satisfying and impressive clean.
Takhtehchian previously noted that you can even use this in other hard-to-reach spaces, such as under the couch and fridge.
Named the “ultimate” hack for washing your bedding by one writer, this product makes tangled sheets a thing of the past. Not to mention, Takhtehchian said the bulkiness of bedding can cause the washer to go off balance. That’s why she likes these sheet detanglers for efficient washing and drying, too.
Simply tuck each of the corners into one of the allotted holes, and in our experience, your sheets will come out drier and with fewer wrinkles.
Certain fabrics benefit from skipping the dryer and air-drying instead. This clothesline is ideal for travel, camping and other indoor/outdoor use, mentioned Takhtehchian. And, it takes just a few seconds to set up.
According to the brand, it can be fastened to any sturdy surface, thanks to the bungee cord-like hooks at each end. You can use it to hang socks, bathing suits, undies and more delicates.
When was the last time you washed your favorite baseball cap? Experts say that if you wear it regularly, it should be washed “several” times a year, to avoid acne, skin irritation or a potential infection.
Takhtehchian noted that this laundry gadget can help you clean it properly while maintaining its shape. “Just open up the ‘cage,’ put your hat in, and place the device in the washing machine using the gentle cycle,” she suggested. “You can also use this device in the dishwasher!”
Miss Mouth’s is a Shop TODAY-favorite brand for getting rid of stains on clothing items, couches and shoes — now their laundry detergent sheets are getting the spotlight. These can be a great alternative for those who want to avoid liquids or pods, which can be dangerous to kids and pets, said Takhtehchian.
The hypoallergenic formula makes them safe to use on sensitive skin without fear of irritation, while the petite packaging makes it easy to take them on the go, according to the brand.
Tackle tough stains with this pretreatment spray, which promises to reverse wine spills, grease and more tricky spots. Spritz this on the affected area, then let it sit for five minutes or up to a week before tossing it in the wash.
Takhtehchian noted that this can also be a great solution for large items that can’t easily go into a machine, such as furniture. For instance, one editor used this product to clean a potentially disastrous coffee stain on her white ottoman.
You can trust these bags to protect your swimwear, lace and more finicky fabrics to go through the wash and come out the other side undamaged. Reviewers say they can even be tossed in the dryer without fear of shrinking or falling apart, too.
Sweater weather may be coming to an end soon, but that doesn’t mean you can’t spruce up clothing items before putting them in storage. This lint remover and fabric shaver rids thicker materials (or workout leggings!) of pills, lint, fuzz, and more with a couple of quick swipes across the affected areas.
Coffee and a white button-up is always a risky move — it’s likely to end up on your shirt. This was the case for writer Emma Stessman, who tried out this stain remover one day in the office.
“While I had relatively low expectations, I was so impressed by the results,” she says. “And I was even more excited later when I went to the product page on Amazon, and I saw it was only $8!” She even tested it further by spilling Athletic Greens on a light-colored tee and had the same results — her shirt looked good as new.
In an attempt to get my [Hoeger] sister and me to help out with household chores, my parents bought us a folding board. It worked — we became satisfied by how crisp our clothes looked in our closets thanks to a folding how-to featured on the tool.
This specific one hangs easily in your closet when not in use, and features imagery on how to fold button-ups and a basic tee.
Made for clothing and furniture alike, this brush comes with three different attachments depending on the type of material you’re brushing.
A bulkier blade is designed to de-pill and get lint off of thicker, more durable fabrics, while a medium blade is meant for less thick items and a delicate, smaller blade is made for clothing items such as linen or silk.
If you’re working with limited space in your laundry room, these “guards” make it easier to ensure no sock gets lost behind the washer and dryer by setting up a dedicated space for spot treating or folding laundry.
The brand says this portable and compact clothes dryer is perfect for those who don’t have in-unit or building laundry — apartment dwellers, to use when camping, or in a dorm room.
It has built-in UV lighting that adds an extra layer of cleaning power, and you can adjust time and temperature settings with a remote control to ensure fully dried clothes every time.
Ironing just got a whole lot easier — this portable, travel-friendly device was one of Shop TODAY’s Gifts We Love in 2024, for “making travel less of a pressing situation.”
Writer Danielle Murphy loves how fool-proof it is, making it easy to iron any material or fabric, no matter if you’re wearing silk to a wedding or getting wrinkles out of a work shirt.
Meet the expert
Our team features a range of qualified experts and contributors in our broadcast segments to reveal the latest 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 Bahar Taktehchian.
- Bahar Takhtehchian is a lifestyle and beauty expert who formerly stopped by the show to highlight multitasking cleaning items, travel products and more.
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.
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