5 Laundry Mistakes You're Most Likely Making (And How to Fix Them)

From dingy whites to stiff towels to clothes that don't smell quite fresh, many common laundry frustrations stem from a handful of mistakes that almost everyone makes. The good news? These issues are easy to fix once you know what you're doing wrong.

Let's talk about five laundry mistakes you're probably making – and how switching to natural laundry solutions can transform your routine while being gentler on your clothes, your skin, and the environment.

Mistake #1: Using Way Too Much Detergent

If you think more detergent equals cleaner clothes, you're not alone. It's one of the most common laundry mistakes out there. But here's the truth: using too much detergent actually makes your clothes dirtier.

Why This Matters

Excess detergent doesn't rinse out completely during the wash cycle. Instead, it builds up on your clothes, leaving a residue that:

• Attracts more dirt and grime (making clothes get dirty faster)
• Makes fabrics feel stiff and scratchy
• Can cause skin irritation, especially for sensitive skin
• Traps odors instead of eliminating them
• Builds up in your washing machine over time

The Natural Laundry Fix

This is where natural laundry soap changes the game. Unlike synthetic detergents packed with fillers and chemicals, true soap-based laundry cleaners are concentrated and highly effective – meaning you need much less per load.

Our Natural Laundry Soap Powder is handcrafted from actual soap (not synthetic detergent) paired with natural boosters. You only need 1 tablespoon for HE machines or 1.5 tablespoons for top loaders. That's it. Less product, better results, no buildup.

Mistake #2: Relying on Synthetic Fabric Softeners and Dryer Sheets

Those dryer sheets and liquid fabric softeners might make your laundry smell nice temporarily, but they're coating your clothes with a film of synthetic chemicals. And that "softness" you feel? It's actually a waxy buildup on your fabrics.

The Problem with Chemical Softeners

Conventional fabric softeners and dryer sheets contain:

• Synthetic fragrances that can trigger allergies and sensitivities
• Chemical coatings that reduce fabric absorbency (terrible for towels!)
• Petroleum-based ingredients that build up over time
• Single-use waste (in the case of dryer sheets)
• Phthalates and other concerning chemicals linked to health issues

Plus, those synthetic fragrances? They don't actually make your clothes clean – they just mask odors with artificial scent.

The Natural Laundry Alternative

Enter wool dryer balls – the eco-friendly, chemical-free solution to soft laundry. These 100% pure wool balls work by:

• Gently softening fabrics as they tumble
• Reducing drying time by 25-40% (hello, lower energy bills!)
• Preventing static cling naturally
• Reducing wrinkles without chemicals
• Lasting for over 1,000 loads (that's years of use!)

Want a light, natural scent? Add a few drops of your favorite essential oil to the dryer balls before tossing them in. You get naturally scented laundry without synthetic fragrances or chemicals.

Mistake #3: Washing Everything in Hot Water

We get it – hot water feels like it should clean better. But unless you're washing heavily soiled items or need to sanitize something, hot water is overkill for most loads.

Why Cold Water is Usually Better

Washing in cold water:

• Prevents colors from fading
• Reduces shrinkage and fabric wear
• Saves energy (and money on your utility bills)
• Works just as well for most cleaning needs
• Is gentler on elastic and delicate fabrics

Modern washing machines and quality natural laundry soap are designed to work effectively in cold water. The days of needing hot water for clean clothes are long gone.

When to Use Hot Water

Reserve hot water for:

• Towels and bedding (occasional deep cleaning)
• Cloth diapers or heavily soiled items
• Whites that need brightening
• Items that need sanitizing (illness recovery, etc.)

For everything else? Cold water with quality natural laundry soap will get your clothes perfectly clean while extending their life.

Mistake #4: Overloading Your Washing Machine

We've all done it – stuffing just one more towel into an already full washer to avoid running another load. But cramming too many clothes into your machine is counterproductive and can actually damage both your clothes and your washer.

What Happens When You Overload

When your washing machine is too full:

• Clothes don't have room to agitate properly, so they don't get fully clean
• Soap and water can't circulate effectively
• Items don't rinse thoroughly (hello, detergent buildup!)
• Fabrics get twisted, stretched, and damaged
• Your machine has to work harder, leading to faster wear and tear

The Right Way to Load Your Washer

Your washing machine should be loaded about 3/4 full – loose enough that clothes can move freely and get properly cleaned. A good rule of thumb: if you can't easily fit your hand between the top of the clothes and the top of the drum, it's too full.

Think quality over quantity. Running an extra load with properly spaced clothes will get everything cleaner in the long run – and with natural laundry soap that works in cold water, you're still being energy-efficient.

Mistake #5: Skipping the Pre-Treatment Step

Tossing stained clothes directly into the wash and hoping for the best is a recipe for permanent stains. Most stains – especially oil-based ones, protein stains, or set-in marks – need pre-treatment to come out completely.

Why Pre-Treatment Matters

Stains are easier to remove before they've been through a wash and dry cycle. Once you've dried a stained item, the heat can actually set the stain permanently into the fabric. Pre-treating gives your natural laundry soap a head start on breaking down the stain.

Natural Pre-Treatment Options

You don't need harsh chemical stain removers. Here are some natural solutions:

• Fresh stains: Rinse immediately with cold water and rub with a bit of natural laundry soap
• Grease/oil: Apply a small amount of dish soap or castile soap directly to the stain
• Protein stains (blood, sweat): Cold water soak with natural laundry soap
• General stains: Make a paste with natural laundry soap powder and water, apply to stain, and let sit for 15-30 minutes before washing

The key is addressing stains quickly and giving them attention before the wash cycle. Your future self will thank you when that favorite shirt comes out spotless.

Why Natural Laundry Solutions Make All the Difference

You might have noticed a theme throughout these fixes: natural laundry products aren't just better for the environment – they actually work better than their synthetic counterparts.

The Benefits of Switching to Natural Laundry

When you make the switch to natural laundry soap and wool dryer balls, you're getting:

Better for Your Skin: No synthetic fragrances, dyes, or harsh chemicals means fewer irritations and reactions, especially important for sensitive skin, babies, and anyone with allergies.

Better for Your Clothes: Natural soap cleans effectively without the buildup that synthetic detergents leave behind. Your fabrics stay softer, colors stay brighter, and clothes last longer.

Better for Your Budget: Concentrated natural laundry soap means you use less per load. Wool dryer balls last for years instead of buying single-use dryer sheets. And cold water washing saves on energy costs.

Better for the Environment: Plant-based ingredients, biodegradable formulas, reduced plastic waste, and lower energy consumption all add up to a significantly smaller environmental footprint.

Making the Switch: What to Expect

If you've been using conventional detergents and fabric softeners for years, switching to natural laundry products might feel a little different at first. Here's what to know:

The Adjustment Period

Your clothes may have buildup from years of synthetic detergent use. When you switch to natural laundry soap, it will start stripping away that buildup. This is a good thing! But it might take a few washes for your clothes to feel their absolute best.

Some people notice their towels feel slightly less fluffy initially – this is because you're removing the waxy coating left by fabric softener. Give it time. Once that buildup is gone, towels dried with wool dryer balls will be soft, fluffy, and actually absorbent again.

Less Suds Doesn't Mean Less Clean

Natural laundry soap doesn't create mountains of bubbles like synthetic detergents. That's by design – all those suds don't actually clean your clothes; they're mostly for show. Natural soap works through actual cleaning action, not foam.

Trust the process. Your clothes will be clean, fresh, and free of chemical residue – you just won't see a bubble bath in your washing machine.

The Bottom Line on Natural Laundry

Laundry doesn't have to be complicated, but it's worth doing right. By avoiding these five common mistakes and switching to natural laundry solutions, you'll get cleaner clothes, softer fabrics, and peace of mind knowing you're not coating your family's clothing in synthetic chemicals.

Start with the basics: use less detergent (and make it natural), ditch the dryer sheets for wool balls, wash in cold water when possible, don't overload your machine, and pre-treat those stains. These simple changes make a huge difference.

Because clean clothes shouldn't come with a side of questionable chemicals. Natural laundry soap gives you everything you need and nothing you don't – just clean, fresh, soft laundry that feels as good as it looks.