6 cool laundry tips you'll want to know

Whether it's missing socks or dull whites, most of us have at least one thing about laundry that irks us. The tricks below should help you get through laundry day without a hitch.

Face it, the invisible sock bandit who hangs around washing machines and snatches one sock from a pair will never be apprehended, but here's a way to thwart him. Give each family member a mesh produce bag for stashing soiled socks. Then, on the day you're doing laundry, tie the bags closed and toss them into the washer and dryer. That sneaky thief will leave empty-handed and you'll have to replace socks only when they wear out.

Hampers are handy for keeping dirty laundry in one place, but they can get a little ripe when packed with soiled clothes. Here are two ways to prevent hamper smells.

• Cut the foot off a pair of old panty hose, fill it with baking soda, knot it and toss this makeshift odor eater into the hamper. Replace the baking soda every month or so.
• Keep a box of baking soda next to the hamper and sprinkle some on soiled clothes as you throw them in the washer, where the soda will freshen and soften the load.

Do your white T-shirts seem to veer toward gray? Are your white socks looking dirty no matter how many times they're washed? Try one of these methods to make your whites stay white.

• Soak whites in a solution of 3.8 litres (one gallon) of water and 250 grams (one cup) of baking soda.
• Soak whites in hot water in which you've dissolved five aspirin tablets (325 milligrams each).
• Add 250 millilitres (one cup) of white vinegar to the washing machine's rinse cycle.

While faded garments are the rage for some age groups who don't want new clothes to look new, this may not be your preferred look. Read on for some tips on keeping black and dark-coloured wardrobe items looking as they should.

• For black clothes: Add 500 millilitres (two cups) of brewed coffee or tea to the washing machine's rinse cycle.
• For dark colours: For colours such as navy blue and plum, add 250 grams (one cup) of table salt to the rinse cycle.
• For denim: Soak jeans in salt water or a 50/50 solution of water and white vinegar before the first wash. Turn the jeans inside out before putting them in the machine and turn the temperature setting to cold.

Dry sweaters using pantyhose. Don't pin the sweaters directly to the drying line. Instead, run an old pair of pantyhose through one sleeve, then the neck and out of the other sleeve. Clothes pin the hose to the line.

With these handy tips in your pocket, you can say goodbye to the laundry day blues!