Tired of dragging your laundry to the laundromat or fighting for a machine with other tenants in your building? Well, what if we told you that you could do your laundry without a washing machine? Curious? Here’s how (and why).
1. Get That Gum Right Out Of Your Clothes
At some point, it happens to us all—we get gum on our clothes and think they’re ruined. After we pull off as much of it as we can, then what?
That’s where our freezer (and ice cubes!) come in! Just add some ice cubes to a freezer bag and put it on top of the gum – this will stop it from absorbing further into your clothes.
For less bulky garments, you can rub an ice cube right onto the gum. When it hardens, use a knife to scrape it off. Delicate items, though, go right into the freezer!
After taking off as much as you can, put the item into the freezer, then do the above steps once the gum hardens. As a final step, use a toothbrush to brush away any last remnants of gum. You can also watch this video so you’ll learn how to remove gum like a pro.
2. Stop That Shedding Sweater
Since winter’s here, I just bought a new fleece. Soon, everyone I saw the day I first wore it knew about it, too, because it had shed all over them and their houses, little aqua specks everywhere — talk about embarrassing!
I was about to return it when I stumbled upon this tip from Cosmo’s Brooke Shunatona. As she suggested, I put it into a freezer bag, then into the freezer, each time before wearing it and, like magic, the shedding stopped. Try it yourself and see!
3. Remove Odd Smells From Jeans, Shoes, & Clothing
Were you helping clean out your mom’s basement again, and now your jeans smell like mildew? Or, perhaps you’re tired of washing your jeans in the machine because they keep fading more each time.
All you have to do is stick them into the freezer (either as they are or in a big Ziploc bag) and the cold will eat away any bad scent, as well as get rid of bacteria.
Aside from jeans, this trick works for shoes and other items of clothing, like unpleasant-smelling gym shirts, too. So stick them in the freezer and they’ll smell better when you remove them!
Though I do recommend you warn your family or roommates first, so they don’t think you’re losing your mind…
4. Freeze The Runs In Your Tights And Nylons
Tired of your tights or nylons getting a run right when you put them on? From now on, after you buy a pair, run them under water, then put them in a bag and freeze them overnight. Defrost them the next day, air dry, and you’re all set!
5. Get Rid Of Pesky Pests
Have moths, dust mites, or other bugs made holes in your clothing or bedding?
Even if not, as a preventative measure, just stick those things in the freezer overnight. The next day, toss them in the wash to remove any final trace of bugs (which are often invisible) and voilà!