Aurelia Butler

This organizing pro swears skipping laundry day can actually help you declutter.She calls it the “lazy girl laundry test.”Read on for how the method can help you clear out your closet.Almost every morning, I struggle deciding what to wear. While my closet is basically packed to the brim with clothes, it feels like half of my wardrobe is invisible to me. A few minutes go by, and I end up wearing one of my “go-to” outfits once again. Finally, someone has come up with a solution to the common dilemma that actually helps you clear out the clothes you don’t reach for. Organizing pro Dr. Regina Lark of A Clear Path calls it the “lazy girl laundry test”—and it’s actually genius. Ahead, Lark shares how and why the decluttering method works, plus what to do with your unwanted clothes after the fact. The Lazy Girl Laundry TestThis method doesn’t involve any difficult steps or active decision making. No “donation” baskets or “get rid of” piles are required. It simply asks you to live your life as you would, wearing the clothes you normally wear. There is one rule though, but we’re pretty sure you’ll like it: Don’t do your laundry.”The ‘lazy girl laundry test’ is my favorite no-effort organizing trick! You simply stop doing laundry until you’ve worn everything you truly love. Once you’re left with the ‘meh’ pile—the pieces that never leave the hanger—that’s your visual cue. It’s based on reality, not intention. You learn what you reach for, and that’s the most honest version of your wardrobe,” says Lark.Organize With UsWhy It WorksRather than adding yet another task to your daily to-do list like most organizing methods require, this one actually takes one chore away (and it happens to be one most people dread). Plus, it’s also based on real-life decisions and data rather than emotions.”It’s a gentle, judgment-free way to see what you actually wear. You are making decisions about what to keep in real-time. Your daily choices create the data for you to make analytical decisions about what to keep, rather than emotional decisions about what you think you love. The process also helps you separate comfort favorites from ‘someday’ clothes. And truly—this will work for anyone who’d rather live their life than organize it,” says Lark.Without the emotional pressure of deciding on the spot what to keep versus what to get rid of, people are able to better assess their clutter based on simple passive observations of what’s left in their closet once they feel like they have “nothing” to wear. From there, you might be inspired to wear something you’ve gone “blind” to or actually missed. Or, more likely, you’ll realize you’ve been holding onto clothes you clearly wouldn’t miss.Next Stepsjuanma hache//Getty ImagesOf course, there may be some pieces you haven’t worn because they’re not seasonally appropriate. Once you separate those items from your “meh” clothes, the process of decluttering should feel less overwhelming. “If they no longer fit your life or your body, release them to someone who’ll enjoy them. Selling or donating turns your closet clutter into someone else’s treasure—and gives you back energy, space, and a wardrobe that actually feels good to live with,” says Lark. And while you may have enjoyed completely eliminating the chore the past couple of weeks, once the process is over, you should probably do your laundry.Laura Millar (she/her) is the assistant lifestyle editor for Good Housekeeping, where she covers home design. Prior to joining Good Housekeeping in 2024, she wrote for NBC’s TODAY.com, where she covered everything from entertainment news to pop culture updates.  More

Life can be a mess: bloody noses, scraped elbows, unexpected periods, and the list just goes on from there. The good news is after testing tons of methods and products, we know exactly how to get blood out of clothes. We tapped Carolyn Forté, executive director of the Good Housekeeping Institute Cleaning Lab for her advice on getting blood out of clothes. While it’s easier to remove blood from fabric when it’s fresh, it is still possible to get dried blood out of cotton, denim, linen, and other fabrics.Here are step-by-step instructions on getting blood out of clothing items, according to cleaning pros. How to get fresh blood out of clothesLike most other stains, blood is easiest to remove when it’s fresh. The steps below are the same for most types of colorfast fabrics, including jeans and white cotton tees, and will even work well for removing blood stains from sheets. As soon as you notice blood on your clothes, head to your medicine cabinet and laundry room to gather supplies, and then get to work by following these steps:What you’ll need:Bar soapHydrogen peroxideFabric-safe bleachLaundry pre-treaterEnzyme-containing liquid laundry detergentWant even more from our cleaning experts? Sign up for Good Housekeeping’s FREE pop-up spring cleaning newsletter!InstructionsSoak the stain in cold water as soon as possible. If the stain is super fresh, place it under cold running water and try to flush out as much of the fresh blood as you can.Treat the stain with hydrogen peroxide or rub bar soap into the stain. Apply the hydrogen peroxide to a cloth and then use the cloth to blot the stain. For very heavy stains, and only if the fabric is colorfast, carefully apply the hydrogen peroxide directly to the stain or soak the stain in a small bowl of hydrogen peroxide. Scrub the stained garment by hand with bar soap in cold water.Apply a laundry pre-treater or rub in an enzyme-containing liquid laundry detergent. Machine wash the garment in warm water with a fabric-safe bleach. If your garment can’t tolerate chlorine or non-chlorine bleach, try a stain treater like Carbona Stain Devils #4. Always spot-test new products first by applying a small amount to an inside seam or hem of your garment.If the stain remains, repeat the steps above. Refrain from putting the garment in the dryer until the stain is completely gone. toncd32How to get dried blood out of clothesJust because you waited to remove a blood stain doesn’t necessarily mean it’s permanent. Instead, all you need is a little patience and a heavy-duty stain remover. Follow these steps:What you’ll need:Stain-removing laundry soakerBar soapFabric-safe bleachEnzyme-containing liquid laundry detergentAmmoniaLaundry pre-treaterInstructionsPresoak the garment. Prepare a mixture of cold water and one to two teaspoons of liquid laundry detergent or a stain-removing product like Carbona Oxy Powered Laundry Soaker. Allow the garment to soak in the mixture for several hours or overnight.Pretreat with a laundry pre-treater, or rub the stain with bar soap. Then, launder in warm water with fabric-safe bleach.If that doesn’t work, repeat the presoaking step. Presoak for a longer period of time, or mix one quart of water with one teaspoon of laundry detergent and one tablespoon of ammonia and let the garment soak in the solution. (This may take several hours, depending on the severity of the stain.)Pretreat the stain and launder the garment.Tide Ultra Oxi Liquid Laundry DetergentNow 29% OffCredit: Amazon Clorox Splash-Less Liquid BleachCarbona Oxy Powered Laundry SoakerCredit: CarbonaClorox 2 Laundry Stain RemoverCredit: CloroxWill vinegar get blood stains out of clothes? Some find that distilled white vinegar can be an effective at-home hack for removing blood stains from fabric, especially when the stain is fresh. But Forté says, “I’ve never found white vinegar particularly effective on blood stains.” Not to mention, undiluted vinegar might break down the fabric’s fibers over time. Is toothpaste useful in removing blood stains?While toothpaste can treat blood stains, it’s not the recommended method since it can’t be used on unwashable fabric. It can further stain the garment and leave it with an unpleasant smell, so it’s best to stick with tried-and-true methods. Does Dawn remove blood stains?Dawn dish soap can be a powerful stain-fighting tool — especially for grease stains — and it may help wash away some fresh blood stains. But for set stains, you’re better off rubbing the fabric with an enzyme liquid laundry detergent that’s specifically formulated to remove protein stains.How to get blood stains out of clothes with saltSalt may absorb some fresh blood, but you have to get to it quickly, says Forté, noting the pantry staple isn’t likely to remove set-in blood stains. How to get blood stains out of clothes with baking sodaThough it’s not our top-recommended method of removing blood stains, a baking soda paste (two parts baking soda, one part water) may help — particularly if nothing else has. Simply work the paste into the stain and let it sit for 30 minutes before laundering. Expert tips to keep in mindThough it’s easy to assume differently, period blood can be removed from clothing using the same steps and products as blood stains from a scraped knee, nicked finger or cut on your ankle.When removing blood stains from jeans, turn the jeans inside out to apply stain remover directly to the spot that is stained.Never use hot water on blood stains to avoid setting the stain into the fabric. If you’ve forgotten and already washed a blood stain in hot water, you can try the steps above, but you may not be able to completely remove the stain from the fabric.Though we’re all searching for a quick fix, remember that blood stains are tricky and often require pre-soaking and a lot of time to remove. There really aren’t any speedy remedies, and unless you’re dealing with a small, light stain, repeated attempts are often needed. Jamie Ballard (she/her) is a freelance writer and editor who covers news, lifestyle, and entertainment topics, including sex and relationships, TV, movies, books, health, pets, food and drinks, pop culture, shopping, and personal finance. She regularly contributes to Cosmopolitan, Woman’s Day, Good Housekeeping, and YouGov, among other publications. When she’s not working, you can find her running, traveling, or scrolling TikTok. Follow her on Twitter.Cailey Lindberg (she/her) is a writer and editor with over a decade of experience covering products, lifestyle, entertainment and food. Before joining Good Housekeeping in 2022, she was a staff writer at USA Today’s shopping network, Reviewed.com.  More

Wondering how to hand-wash clothes in the sink? We’ve got step-by-step instructions from Carolyn Forté, the executive director of the Good Housekeeping Institute Cleaning Lab on how to hand wash dresses, shirts, underwear and more in your sink. Tossing hand-wash-only items in the washer is one of the most common laundry mistakes, so it’s worth taking the time to hand-wash certain items. Knowing how to hand-wash clothes can help extend the life of your favorite garments and keep them from getting torn, stretched out, or discolored. And if you’re ever in a situation without access to a washer — like on a vacation or staying at someone else’s house — knowing how to hand-wash your items and keep things fresh will be helpful. Here are expert-backed step-by-step instructions for how to hand wash your clothes in the sink. How to Hand-Wash Clothes This step-by-step guide will work for most garments, including dresses, although they can be more cumbersome to handle. Save time by washing like items together, whether they share the same color or fabric type. Kinga Krzeminska//Getty ImagesCheck the care label and select a laundry detergent. A typical liquid or powder detergent should work, but keep in mind that more delicate fabrics may require a more gentle detergent — think free and gentle detergent, fine fabric detergent or mild dish liquid.Pre-treat stains. Work laundry stain remover or liquid detergent into the stain with your fingertips, avoiding vigorous scrubbing to prevent the stain from spreading or setting in deeper. Rubbing the strain too hard can also abrade and damage the fabric. Fill the sink with water. Use lukewarm or warm water depending on your garment’s care label, but note that wool, silk and bright colors clean best in cold water. While the water is running, add the recommended dose of detergent and swish around to dissolve. Soak the garment. Place it in the sink and gently press down to fully submerge. While it soaks, squeeze the sudsy water through the garment several times. If the water changes color, don’t worry — it’s most likely the result of excess dye and shouldn’t affect the garment’s color.Optional: Pay extra care to dresses. Make sure to support the bottom of long items, especially knit dresses, when wet to keep them from stretching.Rinse thoroughly. If you have a sprayer on your faucet, place lightweight garments like sheer tights and swimsuits in a colander and rinse clean. Otherwise, fill the sink with cool water, immerse the garment and squeeze the water through to rinse. Repeat as needed. Remove excess water. Wringing out wet, delicate fabrics can cause damage, so carefully lift the garment and gently squeeze out as much water as possible. Lay it flat on a towel and roll the towel and garment together until the water is absorbed. Lay it flat to dry. Reshape the damp garment, especially knits, to its desired shape and lay it flat to dry. Once the front is dry, flip it over.How to Hand-Wash Bras and UnderwearHand-washing your bra is the best way to ensure that it maintains its shape and fit. It’s also the safest method for washing some underwear styles — like those made of lace or silk. Follow the steps below for a gentle yet thorough way to clean undergarments. Beeldbewerking / Getty ImagesFill the sink with water. Unless the undergarment’s care tag specifies a different temperature, use lukewarm water for bras and warm water for underwear. As the water is running, add a gentle detergent and make sure it dissolves completely before adding the undergarments.Let the undergarments soak. Carefully place bras or underwear in the water, gently pressing them down to submerge and swishing the detergent in the water to work it into the undergarments. Let bras soak for 15 minutes and underwear for up to 30 minutes. You can wash multiple pieces simultaneously if they’re the same color and fiber type.Rinse thoroughly. If you have a sprayer on your faucet, place the bras or underwear in a colander and rinse them clean. Otherwise, fill the sink with cool water, immerse the undergarments and gently squeeze the water through to rinse.Gently squeeze, reshape and dry flat. Remove excess water by gently squeezing the bra’s straps, back and cups or pat them dry with a towel. Similarly, gently squeeze excess water out of underwear then blot with a towel. Once you’ve removed as much water as possible, reshape the undergarments and lay them flat to air dry.How to Hand-Wash SweatersThere’s a common misconception that sweaters must be dry cleaned. However, that’s not always the case. Check the care tag first, but if it only says “dry clean,” it may be safe to hand-wash. If it’s marked as “dry clean only,” err on the safe side and drop it off at the dry cleaner.Maliflower73 / Getty ImagesCheck the sweater’s care tag. Review the sweater’s care and fiber tags to determine the recommended water temperature. For most sweaters, lukewarm water and a gentle detergent or mild dish liquid should work. Pre-treat stains. Use a laundry stain remover or liquid detergent to pre-treat stains. Gently work the product into the stain with your fingertips but don’t scrub the area to prevent the stain from spreading or the fabric from damaging. Fill your sink with water. As the water is running, add detergent and make sure it dissolves completely before placing a sweater that has been flipped inside-out in the sink. Let it soak for at least 10 minutes; every few minutes, you can squeeze and work the sudsy water through the fabric as it soaks.Rinse thoroughly. Fill the sink with cool water, immerse the sweater and squeeze the water through to rinse.Remove excess water. Gently squeeze the sweater to remove as much water as possible, then lay it flat on an absorbent towel and gently roll the towel and garment together until the water is absorbed. Air dry the sweater. Lay the sweater on top of a dry towel and let it air dry. Once the front is dry, flip it over.Maria Sabella is a lifestyle writer with a passion for home and interiors — from paint colors and holiday decor to the latest design trends. Her work has appeared in outlets including Better Homes & Gardens, The Spruce, BuzzFeed and Bustle. Jamie Ballard (she/her) is a freelance writer and editor who covers news, lifestyle, and entertainment topics, including sex and relationships, TV, movies, books, health, pets, food and drinks, pop culture, shopping, and personal finance. She regularly contributes to Cosmopolitan, Woman’s Day, Good Housekeeping, and YouGov, among other publications. When she’s not working, you can find her running, traveling, or scrolling TikTok. Follow her on Twitter. More

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