me too!

And I dont buy anything too exotic

Definite yes on pocket checking, trying to clean up shredded kleenex or paper towels https://cdn.quiltingboard.com/images/smilies/mad.png

I keep a spray bottle of Shout in my bathroom to spray on any spots on my clothes before they go into the hamper. Simple enough for me, and it works.

If it can’t go into the washing machine and dryer, I don’t buy it. There are some exceptions - namely dressy clothes but I don’t wear that type very much anymore.

My theory is very simple. If there is no label, then I wash them with my hands using mild detergent.

LOL That happened to me once and it was one of my favorite sweaters too. I always washed it by hand in cold water and just spun it out and would air dry it. One day my daughter decided to help by doing the wash and well it wasn't pretty. I think I ended up giving it to the neighbors seven year old daughter. :)

I started doing this as well. Really makes a difference. Used to forget something was stained - less likely when first put in the hamper. I too have given up buying items that need special washing. Laying items flat to dry is not for me. Life is to short for such stuff.

I put everything into the machine - sometimes in a lingerie bag and don’t mind laying something flat on top of the dryer. I don’t put everything into the dryer but I also don’t mind hanging things on their hangers and just putting them back in close when dry. Back in the way back days when I wore panty hose to work I finally learned that I could put them in a lingerie bag and machine wash. I did let them dry on top of the dryer. Being retired my life is already very simplified.

I don't do any hand laundry. I have washed everything from wedding dresses to leather jackets and had very few failures. I do use color catchers. They seem to help things like the b/w stripes stay b/w, not gray. With soft water and Cheer detergent, I have few issues with stains.

I too am a label reader. I sort clothes that go together and the alien red pieces may sit months before washing until another alien red piece shows up to go with the first. Now my quilts will be washed one at a time and hung to dry weather permitting. So that means no quilt washing in winter months. Some quilts do make their way to the dry cleaners. Especially larger King size quilts that I have put a lot of effort into. Very few pieces of clothing make it to the dry cleaners. DH suits are about it. I keep a dryer rack in one of the bath tubs in the house to hand clothes and fabrics, after pre-washing, to dry. I hate to iron clothes so hang them quickly out of the dryer. I have to ask myself where all the clothes come from. There are just the 2 of us and we don't go anywhere so are pjs are about all we wear most of the time. The closets are full. I think it is time to thin things down. That will also relieve some of the laundry duties.