It’s not difficult to get overwhelmed with laundry. It can pile up quickly, but that’s a different article. This one is actually about turning your clothing inside out when washing, drying, ironing, putting away, and storing it.
Washing from the Inside Out
Some clothing will last longer if washed inside out because printed designs or embroidery will be better protected. Printed items will have more protection in the dryer too, because color won’t touch hot surfaces directly. Turning shirts wrong side out while washing and drying helps keep them from collecting too much lint on the good side. Pants with pockets will dry more quickly if dried inside out.
Inside Out Ironing
Ironing clothes while they are inside out can be tricky, depending on the garment. However, it is generally effective and can help protect clothing. For printed clothes, turn inside out and then lay a towel between layers and another towel on top of the print. Use the low setting of the iron and don’t let it sit on the printed area too long. Even with a towel in place decals and silk-screened images can melt, so use caution. You may simple want to iron as close to the printed area as possible without actually touching it. Inside out ironing is also a good habit in case something ends up on your iron and goes unnoticed. If a little spot ends up on the inside of a garment because something melted onto your iron, you should still be able to save the garment. If instead the spot were front and center on your favorite shirt, you would probably have to replace the garment.
Ins and Outs of Folding and Storage
Any items of clothing that are prone to collecting lint should be folded or hung up inside out until you’re ready to wear them. This little trick makes it much easier to get ready even if you don’t have a lint brush handy. Storing seasonal clothing inside out can also help reduce lint but more importantly, you’ll be able to make sure no moths or spiders have made a home inside your clothes before you put them on. While it’s always good to shake clothing out after storing it, this method gives you extra assurance.