Share your best laundry tips 🧺

[Rebecca]

Hello hosts 👋

Laundry tips seem to be a great conversation starter across the Community Center and we’ve seen some wonderful advice shared here recently. I bet there are loads of little laundry hacks that people do day-to-day, without ever realising.  

So, what’s working for you at the moment? Anything that has helped with stains, keeping your linens fresh, speeding things up between stays or even just making the whole process easier? Share your best laundry tips below 👇

I’m looking forward to reading your replies!

[Martha-Jetty0]

Laudry, high tempeture, detegend, softner and a few drops of bleach. 

[Rebecca]

Thanks so much for sharing this with us. When you say high temperature @Martha-Jetty0 do you mean around 60 degrees? 

[Yudhish-Dutt0]

Hi @Rebecca 

Namaste, I’m Yudhish. 

I take care of the everyday details at NamaStay Himalayas, India.

Living and working in the mountains of Uttarakhand teaches you to do things thoughtfully, especially when it comes to water, weather, and resources.

1. Always prefer sun-drying as it saves energy and keeps clothes smelling fresh.

2. Sun and fresh air do a lot. Air blankets and quilts in the sun before deciding to wash them.

3. Keep things separate. Towels, bedsheets, and clothes should be washed separately for better hygiene.

4. Wash in batches instead of small loads to save water and effort.

5. An overnight soak does half the washing work for you.

In the Himalayas, laundry isn’t just a task, it’s a bit of a skill. Good care makes linen last longer, which is resourceful and important in a place like Kanatal, Uttarakhand.

Anyone in the community has tips for stained white sheets/covers? I generally soak the stained ones overnight or give them a wash as soon as the guests depart. Anyhow, would love to receive expert tips from the Airbnb community.

Thank you 🙂

[Trevor484]

I keep plenty of detergent on hand. Dryer sheets and the like. 
new Equipement with thorough cleanings after each guest. 

[Thembelihle1]

Laundry has honestly been one of my biggest bug‑bears in short‑term rental hosting!😩 Over time I’ve had to build systems that work for me:

• Stocking up: I keep a minimum of 3 sets of linen per bed (all white) and 3 sets of towels (different colors depending on the apartment scheme). This makes turnovers efficient and avoids panic when weather or timing gets tricky.

• DIY over laundromats: I tried several laundromats at first, but I couldn’t take the harsh chemicals, poor stain treatment, and the way linens lost their crisp whiteness. Upselling stain removal that didn’t work was the last straw. I also felt uneasy about the environmental footprint. So I invested in a big washing machine and trained two ladies to manage linen “my way.”

• Drying: I prefer air‑drying—it keeps whites sparkling and is gentler on fabric (and the environment). Cape Town weather usually permits, so the dryer is a last resort.

• Stain struggles: Makeup and sun tanning lotions are my worst enemies—sometimes worse than blood stains! I’ve tried countless concoctions (capsules + bicarb + vinegar + hydrogen peroxide), but some stains just don’t budge. These days I'm trying this microfibre linen that my supplier introduced me to ... seems easier on stain removal, though cotton still feels more luxurious. I’ve also added silk/satin pillowcases (makeup doesn’t rub off and they wash easily) to be neatly folded and left on the pedestals , and face towels by the sink for removal—though not everyone uses them.

• Organization: Even though laundry drains me, I love the moment when everything is washed, folded, and packed neatly by apartment and size. That order keeps me sane.

I’m always hunting for new hacks to make the process smoother, especially for stubborn stains. Reading everyone’s tips here is encouraging—it reminds me I’m not alone in this laundry battle while getting some useful tips too!

[Sonya246]

With some check-ins being same day as check-outs, I opted to purchase two sets of all bed linens. It just makes my life easier. On the days when there isn’t same day check ins, I strip the beds and start the laundry, before completing the rest of the cleaning and re-set. I wash all bed linens, including comforters and any used throw blankets in between every stay. 

[Polly164]

I send my sheets and linen out through a laundry service. They always come back so clean and nice and folded and their prices are very reasonable. 

I always wash my towels and other items myself. Partly so that I can wash them quickly, but also because the towels seem to add quite a bit to the weight through the laundry service. I then dry them usually at the local laundromat while I'm shopping. 

I used to do all my own washing, but I don't have a dryer and I would spend whole days trying to get through it all with my little washer. I'd prefer to get paid for things I do well and have the equipment for, and pay other specialists to do what they do way better than me.