Flying through the housework like a certified professional is arguably one of the hallmarks of the ultimate Man in 2019. If you like to do your fair share of chores around the home, there may still be some tasks that you find challenging. If getting through your pile of dirty clothes every week is a particular issue for you, these tips will help you sharpen your laundry skills.

MASTER THE “WEARS-PER-WASH” RULE

You may be relieved to discover that you are not obliged to chuck every single stitch of clothing straight into the laundry basket after one day of wear. Different items of clothing have different “wears-per-wash” which are appropriate, and the sooner you get your head around these, the sooner you get to wake up from your laundry nightmare.

WASH OCCASIONALLY

The jeans you wear practically every day can probably last a couple weeks between washes. That is, unless you’ve been out and about in especially hot or humid weather. (You might want to give your jeans a wash after an amazing night out at Crazy Horse club for gentleman, for example.)

WASH EVERY TIME

Some every-day items need washing every time you take them off. Your socks, T-shirts and underwear all fall in this category. Same goes for gym gear, and leisure clothing if you’re out enjoying an active vacation.

EXERCISE COMMON SENSE

You’re looking at around 1 to 3 wears-per-wash for things like wool jumpers or button-down shirts, depending on the fabric, how snugly it fits you, and the heat and humidity that day. Exercise common sense when it comes to clothing items such as tracksuit tops and jumpers. When in doubt, give it a quick sniff, and if it’s on the edge, throw it in the washing machine.

READ THE LAUNDRY INSTRUCTIONS (DO IT!)

Yes, this may sound absurd—what man, modern or otherwise, has any use for instructions of any form?—but if there was ever a time to read the instructions, doing the laundry is it. Why? Because reading the label will actually help you do a better job. When it comes to doing the laundry, you have several different sets of instructions to read. Yes, this is annoying, but once you’ve familiarized yourself with the range of laundry situations and conditions, you’ll soon get the hang of it, and will only need to check the instructions occasionally.

CLOTHING LABELS

First off, you’ve got the tags on the clothes themselves. Here you’ll find information on everything from recommended detergent type to load composition and water temp. Labels are easy to decipher because they usually have pictures—your dog could probably grasp what should and should not go down—so no excuses!

WASHING MACHINE INSTRUCTIONS

Next up, check the instructions on your washing machine and make sure you’re using the machine correctly. For example, you’ll learn about water temps, and how to avoid overloading your wash.

DETERGENTS

Finally, read the instructions on your box of detergent, as you can be sure to find something important there. For example, fabric softener can wreak havoc on your clothing if you use the wrong amount, or use it on fabrics that it is not friendly to.

Whether you’re a housework novice or your pride yourself on your skills, these tips will help you turn washing clothes into a fine art.

Thanks for reading and y’all stay dandy.

-Diego

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