The New York Times - Stop using so much laundry detergent

A laundry detergent bottle cap, shown overflowing with blue laundry detergent.

Photo: Michael Hession

Doing laundry will never be loads of fun, but we have a few tried-and-true product recommendations and tips that can help make this chore feel a little less … like a chore.

For starters: laundry detergent. You might be using too much of it. Though it seems counterintuitive, the more detergent you use past a certain point, the dirtier your clothes become.
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How much detergent you should really be using→

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The best laundry baskets and hampers

Four of our picks for best laundry basket or hamper, each with a few items of laundry inside.

Photo: Michael Hession

A good basket or hamper can bring order to a mountain of dirty clothing and make you feel ready to take on not only laundry day, but the chaos of daily life in general. So go ahead, ball up those socks and make epic shots into one of these.
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Our favorite baskets and hampers→

More laundry hacks

Our pick for best clothes steamer, the Conair Turbo ExtremeSteam Garment Steamer (GS54), in dark blue.

Despise ironing? Try this handheld steamer instead

It won’t do everything an iron can, but it’s a fast and easy way to smooth out rumpled clothing.

The Honey-Can-Do SRT-01235 Heavy-Duty Triple Laundry Sorter, shown in front of a peach-colored background.

This $40 laundry sorter will save you time

It comes with three compartments that make presorting a breeze.

A person removing lint from a shirt as they're taking it out of the dryer.

10 cheap(ish) laundry aids to help your clothes last longer

Simple things like mesh laundry bags and de-pilling tools can breathe new life into tired duds.

Our top pick compact washer and dryer, the Boscch 300 Series.

The best washer and dryer for small spaces

If you can’t quite fit a full-size washer and dryer in your home, a 24-inch washer and ventless dryer pair will usually work instead.

Thinking about trying out an online custom tailor? Don’t.

A GIF showing a man trying on shirts that have been tailored using online services. The shirts are too long, too tight, or ill fitting.

Photos: Dan Jones

We tried three online custom tailors. We wouldn’t recommend them. Our test shirts came back comically long and unwearably tight.

Nope→

Thanks for reading.

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The New York Times - Stop using so much laundry detergent

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