Carolyn J. Braden • 4 Minute Read
How to Do Laundry for Beginners | Free College Laundry Guide
Moving away from home is exciting...until it's time to do laundry for the first time.
Whether you're headed to college, moving into your first apartment, buying your first home, or simply learning to do laundry on your own, this quick laundry guide is here to help. No more guessing which water temperature to use or wondering if your favorite sweatshirt belongs in the dryer.
I created this simple laundry guide for my niece as she headed off to college, and I wanted her to have something she could reference anytime—without having to text or call her mom every laundry day. My sister-in-law gave me this wonderful idea, so let’s all thank her for this!
In this guide, I tell you how you can either take a screenshot of the guide or slip the laundry guide printable into a luggage tag, attach it to the personalized Hulken® rolling tote and give it as part of a college laundry kit so your student (or first time away from home person in your life) always has the answers right on their laundry bag!
Best College Move-In Gift: Personalized Hulken Laundry Tote
Hulken Discount
If you're building a college laundry kit, don't forget to check out my affiliate links and discount code for Hulken® rolling totes (use my Hulken links here or my discount code is CBC10) and luggage tags to save on your purchase. Hulken also makes laptop bags and backpacks so check them out. My discount works on these too and they make great back to school gifts! Read my full Hulken review here.
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🔗Links go out to either the brand website, Amazon, CVS, Walmart, Sam’s Club, Target, or Lowe’s where we source our supplies based on discounts, budget and pricing.
👀Check out my 1-minute 📹 video tutorial for this project on my TikTok now or via my YouTube channel @carolynjbraden!
Why I Chose a Personalized Hulken® for College
If you've ever carried a heavy laundry basket across campus or through an apartment complex, you know it gets old fast. When I was in college, I used a natural woven laundry basket I received as a gift from a sorority sister. No one had thought to give me a laundry basket but her, and I am grateful for her thoughtfulness and hoped I could return this favor one day.
While the basket was cute and functional, it was large and hard to store and difficult to maneuver down into the narrow basement of the sorority house. I did wish I had something more functional and when I found the Hulken totes a couple of years ago, I started using them first for laundry, road trips, then so much more and LOVE them.
I love my Hulkens for laundry, road trips, grocery trips and so much more!
I knew my niece could really use one for doing laundry in her dorm (I got her a pink small Hulken, as she wanted a size that could double as a carry-on (Hulken does have an actual carry-on the same size as the small) but took it one step further so everyone would know it was hers.
If you love really clean laundry, try my laundry stripping hack. See me doing it in my 1-minute video below via my YouTube channel @carolynjbraden:
For my niece, I chose a personalized Hulken® rolling tote. It rolls easily, holds a week's worth of laundry (plus detergent and supplies), wipes clean, and can be used long after college for groceries, travel, shopping, beach or lake days, moving, and so much more. Adding a luggage tag with mylaundry guide (fold it up and put it inside!) makes it even more useful.
🔗Links in this article go out to either the brand website, Amazon, CVS, Walmart, Sam’s Club, Target, or Lowe’s where we source our supplies based on discounts, budget and pricing.
Free Printable Laundry Guide to Save on Your Phone
Download My Free Laundry Guide
To make laundry even easier, I've created a printable laundry guide you can save on your phone, print for your dorm room, or tuck inside a luggage tag attached to your Hulken®. It's a quick reference you'll be glad to have whenever laundry day rolls around.
If using your phone, take a screenshot of my laundry guide here on my website using the photo above.
Free Printable Laundry Guide
Click the button below for a free PDF laundry guide you can fold and tuck in a luggage tag and attach to a Hulken or laundry bag.
👀Check out my 1-minute 📹 video tutorial for this project on my TikTok now or via my YouTube channel @carolynjbraden!
The Ultimate College Laundry Kit + Printable Laundry Cheat Sheet
College Laundry Essentials
Here's what I packed inside my niece's Hulken® (laundry supplies + more)
Laundry detergent (I sent her laundry detergent sheets as they are lightweight and portable!)
Dryer sheets or wool dryer balls (I have this dryer ball kit and love it)
Mesh laundry bag set for delicates
Disinfecting wipes (loving BIOM wipes!)
Dorm Laundry Essentials Every College Student Needs
More ideas:
Laundry hamper or laundry bag (I love this pop-up hamper and travel with it)
Luggage tag with my printable laundry guide (I love my Hulken luggage tag)
Fabric refresher spray (we love DedCool…get it for 15% off using my link or code CAROLYN15)
Sewing kit for emergencies
Extra hangers or space saving hangers
Laundry 101: Easy Laundry Tips for College Students and Beginners
Quick Laundry Tips for Beginners
Before you start your first load of laundry, remember these simple tips:
Separate whites, darks, and bright colors. Delicates can be washed with colors to save time/money, but use laundry bags/bra bags.
Always check clothing care labels.
Use cold or warm water unless the care tag says otherwise.
Don't overload the washing machine.
Use only the recommended amount of detergent.
Empty pockets before washing.
Remove clothes promptly to help prevent wrinkles.
Clean the dryer's lint trap after every load.
Don’t want it to shrink at all? Hang to dry.
These simple habits will help your clothes last longer and make laundry day much less stressful.
You’ve Got This!
Whether you're a college freshman, moving into your first apartment or rental home, or simply learning how to do laundry for the first time, this guide will help you feel more confident from your very first load. To me there is nothing better than freshly washed clothes or sheets (ahhh…clean sheets!) so check out my link below for how I get the world’s best smelling laundry!
Happy laundry day!
— Carolyn
🎬Take Action
If you try any of my ideas, let me know how it turned out—or tag me when you try them because I LOVE seeing your posts💖 If you tag me using @carolynsbloomingcreations or @carolynjbraden, I’ll see it! Or tell me about it in the comments below.
If you loved this article, we know you’ll love this one too: How to Get the World’s Best Smelling Laundry (People Will Want to Snuggle You)
Carolyn J. Braden is the owner of Carolyn’s Blooming Creations is a regular contributor and editor for CBC. She has been featured in numerous media publications such as InStyle Magazine, on HGTV, on Bustle.com, and more. She is the author of the books Georgia McMasters in Amethyst Lake Cemetery, How To Be Yourself: 3 Ways To Help You Being You, and the illustrator for the children’s book Bridging Connections. She is a former classroom teacher that now dedicates her life to educating others on how to live their most healthy, creative and happy life. Learn more about her visiting our About Us page.