The Cheapest and Easiest Way to do Laundry (Brought to You by a College Student)

STEP 1: The first thing you're going to need is dirty laundry which more than likely is very abundant in college, and the second thing you're going to need is something to carry it is. You could buy a cheap laundry hamper or bag to carry it is or even save some old grocery bags to stay as low in price as possible. They all work just as well!

STEP 2: Now you're going to want to buy some detergent. This is really something I would suggest not going without. If you want to buy bulk and get the best bang for your buck, I suggest boxed detergent. It smells wonderful and is usually much cheaper than its liquid alternative.

STEP 3: This step is very much an alternative. There are two things that are suggested as a buy. The first is softener. It's not really a necessary, just something to make your clothes soft and smell pretty yet again. It can be done without if need be. The second is a box or bag of dryer sheets. I have to say that these are an excellent choice! You can buy them very very cheap at Wal-mart or even a dollar store, and they certainly do freshen up clothes quickly.

STEP 4: You're ready to begin the process! There are several different kinds of washers, but what's universal is the need to take care of colors. If you need to save on cash, you can mix darks and lights carefully. Just don't add heat and make sure you have the washer set to "cold" not warm or hot. This prevents the colors from bleeding or fading, however, if you have a new shirt, you may want to wash it separately at first since new shirts sometimes bleed dye when they are first washed. If you're trying to be more careful, be sure to separate darks, lights and towels (towels tend to leave lint on your nice clothes).

STEP 5: Now, depending on which kind of washer you have, there are different steps to take first. The washers at my school have a pull out slot in which you must insert detergent into one cup, and softener in the other. There is also a space for bleach which should NEVER be used on anything but whites!! (It also occasionally may cause white to turn yellow such as in certain kinds of tennis shoes). In my washer at home, I have to run water first and pour the correct amount of detergent in the main compartment. There is usually a space for bleach and softener labeled clearly in these washers as well.

STEP 6: Fill the washers with clothes, but don't overfill. Each washer is different, but it's fairly easy to see when the clothes are too densely packed inside. If you cram the clothes in, they won't be completely washed, and it may even damage or break the washer.

STEP 7: The cycle should be chosen on the washer which is all very self-explanatory, and after the wash and rinse cycle has completed, the washer will shut off. At this time, you can remove the clothes from the washer and proceed to put the clothes in the drier.The higher the heat, the more likely the clothes will fade or shrink, the faster the clothes will dry.

*NOTE: If you have a really nice sweater or outfit, the dryer heat may cause it to shrink or tear. Be careful!

**NOTE: Shaking clothes loosely before putting them in the dryer may help them keep from wrinkling as much as well as not packing the dryer too full.