We all know how much of a chore laundry work can be. The cycle of sorting, washing, and drying seems to go on and on, with no end in sight.

The only way we can hope to free ourselves from this endless tedium is to have a machine that can handle all the minutiae and hassle of laundry without human intervention. Unfortunately, science has yet to design such technology, and so we have to bear the burden of laundry work just a bit longer.

That said, we can still make the load easier for ourselves, and that’s what these tips are for. The next time you use an AFRA washing machine, you can rest easy, knowing that your laundry is just that less of a hassle.

Let the hampers do the hard work for you.

When you’re faced with that dreaded pile of clothes, the first thing that’s most likely on your mind is the arduous task of separating the lights and the darks. And let’s face it, the sorting process can sometimes be the most infuriating part when you’re handling the laundry.

Fortunately for you, there’s an easy solution that can do the sorting for you and help take a load off your shoulders. All you have to do is have two hampers for each member of your family: one for light clothing and the other for dark. Let them sort clothes out themselves, and by the time it’s time to do the laundry, the lights and darks will already be separated for you.

Shrink down that giant pile of fresh clothes.

If there’s one thing that’s more disheartening than actual laundry work, it’s the pile of freshly cleaned clothes that seems to grow and grow over time. At first, they’re just confined to your clothes basket. Then they start spilling over the sides as more clothes come in. Before you know it, you’re digging through this pile for new clothes instead of your closet, where they belong.

The best way to avoid this is to simply fold your laundry as soon as it’s off the drying line, or out of the dryer. Fold them even before they reach the basket, and then put them away in your wardrobe or closet. As a bonus, the folding will also eliminate any wrinkles.

Dealing with stains.

Nobody likes stains, especially when it comes to your favorite clothes. And while some stains can be dealt with by simply washing, others are simply too stubborn and require special methods to remove.

For simple stains, keep a bucket handy. You can pre-soak any clothes that are especially soiled, rubbing stains, collars and the underarms using only household soap, and then stick them into the machine. After the wash cycle, they’ll come out like new.

For more stubborn stains, there are a few popular methods you can try to help you get rid of them:

Chewing gum can be handled by placing the garment in a freezer. The cold will render the gum hard, allowing you to simply peel it off.

Ink stains can be dealt with by spraying the stain with hairspray. Leave the garment aside for a few minutes to allow the spray to set. Then throw it into the washing load as you normally would.

Acrylic paint can be removed by soaking a paper towel in rubbing alcohol and scrubbing the stain with it.

Grass stains can be sorted out by soaking the stained spot of your garment with a mixed solution of 1 tablespoon dish soap and 2 tablespoon hydrogen peroxide. Once soaked in, you just need to scrub the stain out.

Never lose socks again

Where do our socks go when we finish washing? And why do they keep disappearing? This is easily one of the biggest mysteries of the world, next to the Loch Ness Monster and UFOs. Some blame their washing machines. Others think that their socks must have gone vanished between the washing machine and dryer. And the more imaginative blame tiny gremlins for sneaking into their machines in the dead of night and making off with their socks.

Whatever the reason, we can all agree that missing socks are a problem faced by everyone who’s stuck with laundry duty.

So, it’s a good thing that there’s an easy solution to help set your mind at ease and keep your socks accounted for. All you need to do is keep a mesh bag for socks. If you have a family, you can have one for each member. Just stick your socks into the bags and chuck them into the washing machine. Once they’re done, it’s a simple matter of drying the socks out in pairs on your drying rack.

Alternatively, if you have a dryer, you can just use the bags again and chuck them into the dryer. Either way, your socks will be in pairs throughout the process, all the way up to the pint they’re back in your sock drawer.