Once the clothes are sorted, head to the washing machine— and load it properly. "If you're jamming things in with both fists, you've overdone it," says author Cheryl Mendelson. Washing is accomplished through friction. If it's too full a load, the clothes won't churn evenly and come clean, and they will rub against each other too forcefully in spots, causing them to abrade and pill. Wash in the hottest water the garment allows (it gets dirt out better and kills germs). A cold-water rinse is usually adequate and it's the most energy efficient, but if your clothing or sheets are dingy or itchy, Mendelson recommends rinsing in warm water. Follow the labels for soap and bleach, with one general rule: "Always dilute them with water first before adding them to the load," says Mendelson. Otherwise, the products could cause patches of discoloration.

Load the dryer no more than half full, since clothes fluff up and expand as they dry. If you're trying to speed dry just one article of clothing— such as a pair of jeans— toss in a dry towel or two with it; they'll swoosh the air around better and actually accelerate the drying time. No matter what size the load, try experimenting with the permanent-press knob— which in many households goes as unused as the programming button on the VCR. "This is really a great invention because it pumps cool air in at the last 10 minutes of the drying cycle," which keeps the clothes from wrinkling as much, says Mendelson. Don't think the job is done just because the dryer spins to a halt, however, or it'll be ironing time anyway. Instead, take clothes out immediately, smooth them, then fold or hang up. "You might have to touch a few things up with an iron, but that'll be it," says Mendelson. "This is the miracle of the laundry room."