How to wash whites separately?

Jane
by Jane

I have white sheets and need to wash them in hot water. I also have a few white tops (mostly cotton) that I wish to wash in cold water. (I used to wash them all together.) My husband and I live in an apartment building and it costs me $3.75 to wash and dry a load. As it is, I will need to wash the sheets more often than I used to. How do I wash and dry the tops without creating more loads? I already spend $75 a month on laundry.


Thanks for your replies!


Jane


P.S. Ironing is out of the question.

  6 answers
  • Kathy Gunter Law Kathy Gunter Law on Jun 04, 2019

    You can hand wash the tops in your sink. I've done it many times when traveling. Then you can hang to dry. $75/ month is just terrible. It seems it would be less expensive to go to a laundrymat.

    RE: Ironing, you can make your own wrinkle releaser. In a spray bottle, mix 1 cup of fabric softener to a bottle of warm water and shake until mixed. Spritz anything you want to remove wrinkles and smooth garment while laying flat. When it dries, the wrinkles fall out. I've even sprayed a sweater and put it on damp to remove wrinkles. It's a rather amazing result.

    • See 2 previous
    • Kathy Gunter Law Kathy Gunter Law on Jun 05, 2019

      I put it in a spray bottle that holds 32 ounces. I put in the fabric softener first then filled probably up to 28 ounces so I had room to "shake" to mix it. You can buy Downy Wrinkle Releaser but it's around $7 or $8 a bottle. So glad I found this substitute.

  • Rymea Rymea on Jun 04, 2019

    I always wash all white cottons together in hot water, sheets, towels, socks, t shirts, everything white with a scoop of Oxiclean white revive.

  • Pat Pat on Jun 04, 2019

    I wash all clothes including sheets in cold water....no problems and all get clean. The dryer settings are normal for sheets and you can use delicate setting on the dryer for shirts and blouses if you need to.

    • Jane Jane on Jun 05, 2019

      Pat: I need to wash our sheets in hot water because my husband has asthma and allergies.

  • Oliva Oliva on Jun 04, 2019

    I agree with Pat. The cold water is far safer than using hot water for all of your clothing. Using a low setting in the dryer insures no shrinkage.

    Alternatively, you can wash your shirts in your sink, using a dish pan, in cold water.

    Place in white towels and roll, to remove excess water, then toss in dryer on low, with the sheets.

    • Jane Jane on Jun 05, 2019

      Thanks! I'll probably try the dish pan idea.

  • Gk Gk on Jun 04, 2019

    You can buy a portable washing machine for about 250.00-300.00. I had one when I was young, single and poor! I bought it at a garage sale! It worked great and I used it for several years before I gave it away to another young single poor friend! If you are spending 75.00 a month in the apartment laundry it won't take long to pay it off! I could store it in a closet and then wheel it into the kitchen to hook up to the sink.

    https://www.toptenreviews.com/home/laundry/best-portable-washing-machines

    https://www.thespruce.com/i-used-a-portable-washing-machine-and-heres-what-happened-4034924

    https://bestportablewasher.com/small-portable-washing-machine-for-apartments

    • Jane Jane on Jun 05, 2019

      Thanks for the idea! I have looked at those in the past, when we were considering buying a tiny house. Hopefully, we will be moving to a house in October and I may consider those again, if the house doesn't come with a washer/dryer.

  • Pat Pat on Jun 04, 2019

    Mother had one of those...worked great! She had the matching dryer also.....Stored and used in her kitchen