There are many laundry gadgets and gizmos to make laundry tasks easier. Some are designed for the laundry room, while others are helpful when traveling. Here are some that you may find useful.
Dispenser Drip Tray for Detergents and Fabric Softeners
For those of us who buy the large, economy-sized liquid detergent and fabric softener bottles, there is a handy gadget for catching drips from the push button dispensers.
The drip tray snaps onto the bottle spout, and hangs down about five inches, with a protruding tray at the bottom. The tray is designed with a raised edge to prevent detergent or fabric softener from running onto the floor. You place the cup (lid) from the bottle on the tray and push the dispenser button to measure out your liquid. Ridges on the tray prevent the cup from sitting in any detergent or fabric softener that may have dripped. These drip trays can also be used on certain bleach bottles.
Laundry Folding Boards
If you’ve often wished you could fold your blouses, shirts, and t-shirts the way they do in retail stores, this could be the answer.
A folding board consists of hinged pieces of durable plastic that open and close for folding clothing sections in a certain order. They’re easy to use, and some models print the steps on the board for guidance. You’ll find them useful for many items such as shirts and blouses, t-shirts, pants, dresses, towels, and pajamas. The collapsible design makes them convenient to store, either on the laundry room wall, or on the back of a door.
Baseball Hat Washer
This gadget allows you to safely wash, air dry, and store baseball hats, sport hats, visors, and other types of caps. It’s a durable, hinged plastic cage shaped like a baseball hat. You open it, insert the baseball hat, and close it, latching it in place.
To wash, place the device with the hat on the top rack of the dishwasher, add detergent, and start the cycle. You can also place the baseball hat washer in a washing machine, but only in one with an impeller, not with an agitator or in a front-loading washing machine.
Hanging Mesh Sweater Drying Rack
The hanging mesh sweater drying rack is excellent for drying sweaters without stretching them. It consists of three tiers made of polyester mesh, with a hook at the top for hanging on a shower rod. The sweater dryer easily holds three sweaters, even large ones. It can also be used to dry swim suits and delicates.
You can hang the mesh dryer outside as well to dry items in the sunshine. There’s a band to hold the sweaters in place on each tier. The drying rack can rotate 360°, and the hook can lock to prevent the wind from blowing it off its holder.
For storage, the rack folds down fat, and fits into a closet when not in use. It also travels well, so you can take it on business trips or vacations.
Collapsible Laundry Basket
This type of laundry basket holds about two loads of laundry and collapses down to a little over three inches tall for convenient storage in closets, or between the washer and dryer. It’s particularly good for smaller spaces. Two baskets of the same model will nest into each other, saving even more space.
Iron Shoe Cover
With an iron shoe cover you can iron any material — cottons, linens, delicate silks, satins, synthetics — right-side up with no press-cloth, and without worrying about scorching, sticking, or shine. It’s attached to the bottom of an iron by hooking a spring over the heel, and setting the iron’s point into the point of the shoe.
Made of a non-stick laminate on an aluminum backing, this iron cover fits most standard irons, and can be used dry or with steam. You can clean it as needed by removing it from the iron and using mild soap and water.
Laundry Gadgets for Outside the Home
Mini Steam Iron
A mini steam iron is a lightweight, compact iron that’s ideal for traveling. Usually weighing about one pound, it often comes with a tote bag, a measuring cup, and some are equipped with dual voltage (100 and 240 volts) for use anywhere in the world. There are multiple temperature settings for various fabric types. Some mini irons have a one-touch steam control to release steam that not only smooths wrinkles, but kills 99.9 percent of germs and bacteria.
The mini iron is also suitable for home use. It can get in and around pleats and pockets that bigger irons can’t reach, and many like to use it for quick ironing touch-ups. It’s also very popular with those who sew and quilt, especially for taking to classes and sewing retreats.
Wash Bag
The wash bag is a “compact washing machine” for travelers, campers, or cottagers. It’s a lightweight wash bag that weighs just under five ounces and is made of durable nylon fabric with a polyurethane coating. The bag folds up to pocket-size, making it easy to carry or pack, and doubles as a dry bag (as a type of pliable, waterproof container).
There’s a flexible washboard inside, a see-through window to monitor your washing progress, and on the outside of the bag water fill lines and easy-to-follow instructions. To use, add clothing, water and detergent, and rub the clothes against the internal washboard for about three minutes for a machine-quality wash, or 30 seconds for a quick traveler wash.
Rinse with fresh water in the wash bag, or under a running tap or shower. The bag is designed to wash two or three lighter pieces of clothing at a time, including delicates, shorts, socks, shirts, and bathing suits. Heavier items such as jeans or trousers should be washed one at a time.
Call C&W Appliance Service at (214) 358-1496 or (855) 358-1496 for all your appliance repair and maintenance needs or submit our online service request form for prompt, reliable service.
