The January Reset Laundry Checklist

January is when people reset routines—money, fitness, inboxes… and honestly, laundry deserves a spot on that list. At Hamlet Laundry Ltd (London), we see the same January pattern every year: winter layers that hold onto smells, “worn once” outfits piling up, and household linens that quietly need a refresh. This guide is written from a laundry team’s perspective, but it’ll work anywhere in the world.

January Laundry Reset in 10 Minutes (Save This)

• Do a 10-minute laundry audit (what needs washing vs refreshing vs special care)
• Wash first-impact items (bedding + towels)
• Sort by fabric + soil level (not perfection)
• Follow the warmest appropriate water for the fabric and dry fully
• Set a simple weekly/monthly laundry schedule you can actually keep

Why a January Laundry Reset Works

Winter laundry builds up differently

In colder months, we wear thicker layers—coats, jumpers, hoodies—and they often get re-worn without a full wash. That’s normal. The January reset is simply a structured way to:

• remove “stored” odours,
• reset linens and towels,
• and protect clothes from over-washing.

“Fresh” is partly about drying and habits, not just detergent

CDC guidance for laundry (including clothing, towels, and linens) emphasizes two fundamentals: use the warmest appropriate water setting for the item and dry items completely.
That single line explains a lot of common January complaints: “my clothes are clean but still smell off.”

A quick science note (no fear-mongering)

A recent peer-reviewed study in Frontiers in Microbiology found that household washing machines can host user-specific microbial communities and measurable microbial loads on machine surfaces—meaning your machine’s condition and usage habits matter.
You don’t need to panic; you just need a smarter reset routine.

The January Reset Laundry Checklist (Copy/Paste Friendly)

Step 1: Do a 10-minute laundry audit

Make three piles:

1. Wash now (daily basics: underwear, socks, tees)
2. Refresh (winter layers that smell “stored” but aren’t visibly dirty)
3. Special care (wool, delicates, structured items, “dry clean only”)

This prevents over-washing and helps you choose the right method for the right item.

Step 2: Wash “first-impact” items (biggest freshness payoff)

Start with what changes how your home feels:

• Bedsheets + pillowcases
• Towels
• Bathmats (if applicable)

Should you wash towels and sheets together? Most laundry experts advise no—towels are heavier, shed lint, and dry differently, which can wear sheets faster and leave towels damp.

Step 3: Sort smarter (not harder)

You don’t need eight baskets. Sort for outcomes:

• Lights vs darks
• Heavy vs delicate
• Very soiled vs lightly worn

Separating by fabric type and soil level helps prevent dye transfer, improves cleaning, and reduces fabric damage.

Step 4: Choose settings that protect clothes and clean properly

A simple rule that’s both practical and evidence-aligned:

• Follow care labels, and when in doubt, use the warmest appropriate water for that fabric and dry completely.

This matters especially for towels and bedding, where “freshness” depends heavily on full drying.

Step 5: Don’t let clean laundry turn musty

Most “mystery smell” problems come from:

• overloading the machine,
• laundry sitting wet too long,
• or not drying fully.

Again, CDC explicitly calls out dry items completely—it’s one of the simplest, highest-impact habits you can adopt.

Step 6: Winter wardrobe reset (sweaters, coats, and commuter layers)

Sweaters & knitwear

• Gentle cycle, cool-to-warm settings per label.
• Avoid high heat in drying (heat is what damages shape and softness).

Coats & jackets

• Some can be safely washed at home, some should be professionally cleaned to protect structure and insulation.

London reality check (and it applies elsewhere too)
If your winter layers face rain, damp commutes, and packed public transport, they’ll often need a mid-season refresh even if they look “fine.”

Step 7: Put-away system (keeps clean clothes clean)

Finish the reset with one small system:

• Only store items when they’re fully dry
• Keep a “needs repair/special care” bag
• Separate “rarely worn” items so they don’t mix back into weekly laundry

That’s how a reset becomes a routine.

Laundry Schedule Reset (Weekly vs Monthly)

This table is designed to be realistic—not perfect.

(The key hygiene-friendly baseline remains: warmest appropriate water for the fabric + dry completely.)

Laundry Hygiene Basics Most People Get Wrong

“My clothes are clean but don’t smell fresh.”

Common causes:

• Too-large loads (poor agitation + poor rinsing)
• Laundry sitting wet in the machine
• Incomplete drying

And the research angle: washing machines can maintain their own microbial ecosystems, influenced by use habits and machine type—another reason why a January reset (habits + drying + load sizing) works so well.

The 3 rules that actually matter

1. Don’t overload
2. Use the warmest appropriate water for the fabric
3. Dry completely (no damp storage)

What People Search

How often should I wash towels?

There isn’t one universal rule, but many cleaning experts recommend washing towels after a few uses—especially if they stay damp or start to smell. The bigger principle is to dry towels fully between uses, because dampness is what leads to mustiness.

Should towels and sheets be washed together?

Most laundry experts advise against it. Towels are heavier, shed lint, and need different drying time—mixing can wear sheets faster and leave towels damp.

Why do clothes smell musty after washing?

Usually it’s not the detergent—it’s moisture and timing. Leaving laundry wet in the machine or not drying fully can cause that “washed but not fresh” smell. CDC specifically emphasizes drying items completely.

Is cold water “enough” for laundry?

Cold water can work well for many everyday loads, but for items where hygiene and odour control matter (like towels and bedding), follow the fabric label and use the warmest appropriate water setting, then dry completely.

A London note from Hamlet Laundry Ltd (and a simple solution)

If you’re in London, January resets can be tougher because winter layers are bulky, drying space is limited, and damp weather makes odours stubborn. That’s exactly why many of our customers use Hamlet Laundry Ltd for a New Year reset: we handle the heavy loads, winter items, and time-consuming cycles—so you keep the fresh-start feeling without losing your weekend.

If you want, you can use this exact checklist and simply outsource the heaviest parts (bedding, towels, coats, jumpers) to us—especially during the dampest weeks.

Closing: Your New Year doesn’t need a perfect routine—just a repeatable one

A January laundry reset isn’t about doing “more laundry.” It’s about doing the right laundry once—then keeping a lighter rhythm all year.

Save this post, screenshot the checklist, and start with the two loads that change everything: bedding and towels.

Ready to start the New Year without the laundry stress? 🧺✨

A January reset feels great — until you realise how much time and effort it actually takes. If you’d rather keep the fresh start and skip the heavy lifting, Hamlet Laundry Ltd is here to help.

We make professional laundry care simple, reliable, and completely hassle-free for Londoners.

Why customers across London choose Hamlet Laundry:

• 🚚 FREE pickup & delivery across London — no hidden charges
• ⏰ Time-saving convenience — perfect for busy workweeks and winter weather
• 👕 Expert care for everyday wear & winter layers (shirts, jumpers, coats, bedding, towels)
• 🧼 Professional-grade cleaning & pressing for longer-lasting clothes
• 🏠 Door-to-door service — no queues, no carrying heavy bags
• 📍 London-based team who understand damp weather, commuting layers, and real-life laundry challenges

Whether you’re tackling a full January laundry reset or just want weekly support, Hamlet Laundry helps you keep clothes fresh without sacrificing your time or energy.

👉 Let us handle the washing, drying, and folding — you enjoy the clean start.
📦 Book your FREE pickup today and experience laundry the easy way, anywhere in London.

New Year. Cleaner wardrobe. Zero stress.