Think you know how to do laundry? Think again! Just because you think you know how to properly do one of the most basic household chores in existence doesn’t mean that you’re doing it the right way. Here are some tricks and tips on how to correctly do your laundry so that all of your clothes and linens come out amazing!

1. Don’t rub stains like a mad woman

This might be one mistake you make too often (especially if you have kids). Don’t rub stains in furiously and instead be gentle. When you rub hard, you’re wearing away at the fabric and could be making the stain worse! Make sure you treat the stain as soon as you can and always use a white cloth so that you don’t have any colors transfer to your stained clothing. You’ll want to dab instead of rub and work from the outside in so that you don’t spread out the stain. For even better results, use Rejuvenate’s OUTRageous Stain Remover and Pre-Treater to get out even the toughest stains!

2. Don’t use a lot of detergent

Make sure that you really measure the detergent because you don’t want to use too much since a lot of soap can actually hold dirt that’s pulled from items and get caught in areas that won’t rinse away. This allows bacteria to buildup. If you have a large load, gradually increase the amount. But if you have hard water at home, you’ll need more detergent than usual.

3. Not filling the washer right

Learn how to properly load your washer. Top-loading washers are different from front-loading ones. Read the instructions so that you’re filling the washer machine correctly.

4. Zip zippers all the way to the top

You’ll want to double check that all items with zippers are zipped all the way to the top or else you risk snagging your clothes with the metal teeth while washing!

5. Level your washer machine

If your washer isn’t leveled, you’ll notice loud vibrations and bangs that can really damage your floors. Use a level on top of your washer to see if it’s leveled and then adjust the feet accordingly.