Laundry is a process- especially for those who are attempting their first load… It makes me think back to my college days sharing community washers, doing my laundry for the first time from home.. Boy, did I, among hundreds of others, not have a clue of what I was doing! And neither did my friend.

She would constantly “get another wear” out of her jeans until it was just about time for Finals, never sorted through colors or even items to be washed in a lingerie bag. In one giant heap it went, and at the end of it all, the clothes stayed in a suitcase that was only pulled from when it came time for that item to be worn.. And the vicious cycle continued..

Now this is how we do it...

For those who can relate and who would like a play-by-play of better ways to do laundry, eHow gives us these fiery instructions:

Gather Your Materials

Before you head all the way to the neighborhood laundromat (or, for the fortunate few, to the washer and dryer downstairs), make sure you have the following:

* Quarters: Yes, washing and drying costs money; usually 75 cents to $1.75 per load for each machine. Laundromats often have change machines; those that don’t, however, leave you to fend for yourself.

* Detergent: News flash! Laundry detergent does not automatically spray out of the inner workings of the machine. That said, go to your local supermarket or convenience store and pick up a bottle (liquid form) or box (powder form) of detergent. There really is no difference between liquid and powder detergent. You may find that liquid is less messy, however, but also slightly more expensive. You’ll probably be happiest with the brand your Mom or Dad used (you’re used to the smell), but you should especially look out for detergents that may give you an allergic reaction.

* Bleach: If you’re doing a load of whites, you may want to add bleach to get your clothes as bright as possible. A note of caution: Bleach should only be added to whites (as you may have guessed, it tends to, uh, bleach). Luckily, because scientists work so hard, detergents are now available that have “color-safe bleaching action” (meaning that you can mix your whites and nonwhites). Which bleach should you use? A survey by Consumer Reports found that Tide liquid detergent with bleach alternative was the most effective detergent on the market. Cheer came in a close second, followed by Arm & Hammer. Just thought you’d like to know.

* Fabric softener: To help eliminate static cling and make your clothes feel softer and smell fresher, add fabric softener. Fabric softener is available in both liquid form (which is added during the wash cycle) and sheet form (which is added during the dry cycle). As in the powdered-detergent-vs.-liquid-detergent debate, there is no real difference in effectiveness between liquid fabric softener and dryer sheets; some consider fabric-softener sheets a worthless indulgence, while others find it a necessity. You be the judge. Some examples are Downy, Snuggles (with that cute little bear) and Bounce.

* Laundry basket: We don’t want to see your dirty underwear hanging over your arm. To keep us from getting sick, we insist that you purchase a heavy-duty laundry basket or a drawstring laundry bag. If you’re cheap, you can go with a pillowcase.

Read more: How to Learn to Do Laundry | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/how-to_4845418_learn-do-laundry.html#ixzz1VveZxyK8

Interested in how often you should do laundry? Check this out and let us know which one you agree with!

Moxie Girl Household Assistants organize homes in Gilbert, Chandler, Mesa, Tempe, Scottsdale, Ahwatukee, Peoria, Glendale an Surprise.