Keep Your Holiday Laundry Fresh: 8 Tips You Need To Know

The holiday season is a magical time filled with festive cheer, good food, and plenty of laundry! 

Whether you're hosting family for the holidays, preparing for a cozy Christmas movie marathon, or sprucing up your home for last-minute guests, your laundry can quickly pile up. But fear not! 

We've got some smart laundry tips to help keep your festive season clean and stress-free, so you can enjoy the holidays without worrying about laundry chores.

1. Prepare for the Holiday Laundry Rush

Holidays mean extra laundry—whether it’s sheets and towels for family guests or your favorite Christmas sweaters. To avoid being overwhelmed, start by organizing your laundry from the get-go. Sorting your laundry by type and fabric will save you time, reduce the risk of damage, and keep everything looking great.

Smart Tip: Get ahead of the chaos by sorting laundry by color, fabric type, and weight. Pre-treat stains (especially red wine or gravy spills) right away to avoid having them set in. Plus, keeping a laundry schedule will help you stay on top of the madness and keep things running smoothly.

2. The Best Way to Wash Holiday Clothes (Especially Those Festive Sweaters)

Ah, the Christmas sweater—an iconic part of the season. From sparkly sequins to soft wool, these festive pieces require special care to keep them looking their best.

Smart Tip: Wash your holiday sweaters in a laundry bag on a cold, gentle cycle. Avoid using hot water or a high-heat dryer, as this can cause damage to the fabric or shrink your woolen items.

Pro Tip: For delicate fabrics like wool, skip the dryer altogether and lay them flat to dry. This will help them maintain their shape and softness, so they’re ready for next year’s festivities!

3. Keep Those Holiday Table Linens Sparkling Clean

Holiday dinners often come with some messy mishaps—think wine spills, gravy stains, and more. But don’t stress! There are easy ways to keep your tablecloths, napkins, and placemats looking pristine.

Smart Tip: Treat stains as soon as they happen with a stain remover to help lift them before washing. Then, wash your linens on a delicate cycle to avoid damaging the fabric.

Pro Tip: For stubborn stains, try using a little vinegar and baking soda to lift them from white linens naturally. It’s simple and effective!

4. Wash Your Holiday Pajamas the Right Way

Christmas jammies are one of the best holiday traditions, but getting them fresh and cozy can be tricky. These clothes need extra care to keep them comfy and cute throughout the season.

Smart Tip: To avoid losing their shape, wash your holiday pajamas in cold water and turn them inside out. This will help protect any prints or patterns and keep the fabric soft.

Pro Tip: Dry your pajamas on low heat or air-dry them to maintain their cozy texture.

5. Get Your Bedding Ready for Holiday Guests

Hosting family and friends means extra sheets, pillowcases, and towels—and washing all of that bedding ahead of time will save you from a last-minute scramble.

Smart Tip: Wash your bedding in warm water to get it nice and fresh. If you're worried about allergens or germs, a mild detergent will help keep your linens soft and sanitized.

Pro Tip: Dry sheets on low heat to avoid shrinkage and to keep everything feeling fresh for your guests.

6. Avoid Overloading Your Washer (and Your Stress)

When you’ve got loads of laundry to do, it’s tempting to overload the washer, but this can actually leave your clothes less-than-clean and may cause damage.

Smart Tip: Stick to smaller loads to ensure everything gets cleaned properly and you avoid stretching or damaging your fabrics.

Pro Tip: Balance your loads by fabric type—this way, everything gets a good wash without the washer working overtime.

7. Keep That Holiday Smell Fresh (Without Overdoing It)

Holiday scents are a big part of the season—from pine trees to cinnamon cookies. But don’t go overboard with the fabric softener, as it can leave a sticky residue that builds up over time.

Smart Tip: Use just a small amount of fabric softener to keep things smelling fresh without the risk of buildup.

Pro Tip: For a more natural scent, try adding a few drops of essential oils to your dryer balls. This will add a light, festive fragrance without overwhelming your clothes.

8. What To Do with Holiday Towels & Blankets

Whether it’s for extra guests or a cozy night in, your holiday towels and blankets are bound to see a lot of action this time of year. Keep them soft, fresh, and fluffy by following these tips.

Smart Tip: Always wash towels separately from your regular laundry to avoid lint buildup. To soften towels naturally, add some white vinegar to the rinse cycle.

Pro Tip: Skip the fabric softener on towels. It can actually reduce their absorbency, making them less effective when it’s time to dry off.

By following these simple laundry tips, you can stay ahead of the laundry pile and keep your holiday season as stress-free as possible. From festive sweaters to guest linens, a little bit of planning can go a long way in making sure you have more time to enjoy the fun parts of the holidays!

Final Tip: If the holiday laundry pile is just too much to handle, there’s always a helping hand, you need a laundry service, you need OrangeBag! Get your laundry done quickly and professionally—without any hassle! Simply download the OrangeBag app, and your laundry will be picked up, cleaned, and returned to you in no time.

Cheers to a cleaner, simpler holiday season!