{"id":3582,"date":"2026-01-01T04:23:19","date_gmt":"2026-01-01T04:23:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hamletlaundry.com\/blog\/?p=3582"},"modified":"2026-01-13T04:37:35","modified_gmt":"2026-01-13T04:37:35","slug":"new-year-january-laundry-reset-checklist","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hamletlaundry.com\/blog\/new-year-january-laundry-reset-checklist","title":{"rendered":"Start the New Year Fresh: The January Reset Laundry Checklist for a Cleaner Wardrobe"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"3582\" class=\"elementor elementor-3582\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5371915b e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"5371915b\" data-element_type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7599bbf2 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"7599bbf2\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.23.0 - 05-08-2024 *\/\n.elementor-widget-text-editor.elementor-drop-cap-view-stacked .elementor-drop-cap{background-color:#69727d;color:#fff}.elementor-widget-text-editor.elementor-drop-cap-view-framed .elementor-drop-cap{color:#69727d;border:3px solid;background-color:transparent}.elementor-widget-text-editor:not(.elementor-drop-cap-view-default) .elementor-drop-cap{margin-top:8px}.elementor-widget-text-editor:not(.elementor-drop-cap-view-default) .elementor-drop-cap-letter{width:1em;height:1em}.elementor-widget-text-editor .elementor-drop-cap{float:left;text-align:center;line-height:1;font-size:50px}.elementor-widget-text-editor .elementor-drop-cap-letter{display:inline-block}<\/style>\t\t\t\t<h1>The January Reset Laundry Checklist<\/h1><p>January is when people reset routines\u2014money, fitness, inboxes\u2026 and honestly, <a href=\"https:\/\/hamletlaundry.com\/blog\/best-laundry-service-and-dry-cleaning-in-berrylands\">laundry<\/a> deserves a spot on that list. At <strong>Hamlet Laundry Ltd (<a href=\"https:\/\/hamletlaundry.com\/blog\/travel-guide-to-london\">London<\/a>)<\/strong>, we see the same January pattern every year: winter layers that hold onto smells, \u201cworn once\u201d outfits piling up, and household linens that quietly need a refresh. This guide is written from a laundry team\u2019s perspective, but it\u2019ll work anywhere in the world.<\/p><h3>January Laundry Reset in 10 Minutes (Save This)<\/h3><ul><li>Do a <strong>10-minute laundry audit<\/strong> (what needs washing vs refreshing vs special care)<\/li><li>Wash <strong>first-impact items<\/strong> (bedding + towels)<\/li><li>Sort by <strong>fabric + soil level<\/strong> (not perfection)<\/li><li>Follow the <strong>warmest appropriate water<\/strong> for the fabric and <strong>dry fully<\/strong><\/li><li>Set a simple <strong>weekly\/monthly laundry schedule<\/strong> you can actually keep<\/li><\/ul><h2>Why a January Laundry Reset Works<\/h2><h3>Winter laundry builds up differently<\/h3><p>In colder months, we wear thicker layers\u2014coats, jumpers, hoodies\u2014and they often get re-worn without a full wash. That\u2019s normal. The January reset is simply a structured way to:<\/p><ul><li>remove \u201cstored\u201d odours,<\/li><li>reset linens and towels,<\/li><li>and protect clothes from over-washing.<\/li><\/ul><h3>\u201cFresh\u201d is partly about <em>drying<\/em> and <em>habits<\/em>, not just detergent<\/h3><p>CDC guidance for laundry (including <a href=\"https:\/\/hamletlaundry.com\/blog\/best-laundry-service-and-dry-cleaning-in-bickley\">clothing<\/a>, towels, and linens) emphasizes two fundamentals: <strong>use the warmest appropriate water setting for the item and dry items completely<\/strong>.<br \/>That single line explains a lot of common January complaints: \u201cmy clothes are <a href=\"https:\/\/hamletlaundry.com\/blog\/best-laundry-service-and-dry-cleaning-in-canary-wharf\">clean<\/a> but still smell off.\u201d<\/p><h4>A quick science note (no fear-mongering)<\/h4><p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/journals\/microbiology\/articles\/10.3389\/fmicb.2025.1667606\/full?\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">A recent peer-reviewed study<\/a> in <em>Frontiers in Microbiology<\/em> found that household washing machines can host <strong>user-specific microbial communities<\/strong> and measurable microbial loads on machine surfaces\u2014meaning your machine\u2019s condition and usage habits matter.<br \/>You don\u2019t need to panic; you just need a smarter reset routine.<\/p><h2>The January Reset Laundry Checklist (Copy\/Paste Friendly)<\/h2><h3>Step 1: Do a 10-minute laundry audit<\/h3><p>Make three piles:<\/p><ol><li><strong>Wash now<\/strong> (daily basics: underwear, socks, tees)<\/li><li><strong>Refresh<\/strong> (winter layers that smell \u201cstored\u201d but aren\u2019t visibly dirty)<\/li><li><strong>Special care<\/strong> (wool, delicates, structured items, \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/hamletlaundry.com\/service\/dry-cleaning-service\">dry clean only<\/a>\u201d)<\/li><\/ol><p>This prevents over-washing and helps you choose the right method for the right item.<\/p><h3>Step 2: Wash \u201cfirst-impact\u201d items (biggest freshness payoff)<\/h3><p>Start with what changes how your home feels:<\/p><ul><li><strong>Bedsheets + pillowcases<\/strong><\/li><li><strong>Towels<\/strong><\/li><li><strong>Bathmats (if applicable)<\/strong><\/li><\/ul><p><strong>Should you wash towels and sheets together?<\/strong> Most laundry experts advise <strong>no<\/strong>\u2014towels are heavier, shed lint, and dry differently, which can wear sheets faster and leave towels damp.<\/p><h3>Step 3: Sort smarter (not harder)<\/h3><p>You don\u2019t need eight baskets. Sort for outcomes:<\/p><ul><li><strong>Lights vs darks<\/strong><\/li><li><strong>Heavy vs delicate<\/strong><\/li><li><strong>Very soiled vs lightly worn<\/strong><\/li><\/ul><p>Separating by fabric type and soil level helps prevent dye transfer, improves cleaning, and reduces fabric damage.<\/p><h3>Step 4: Choose settings that protect clothes <em>and<\/em> clean properly<\/h3><p>A simple rule that\u2019s both practical and evidence-aligned:<\/p><ul><li>Follow care labels, and when in doubt, use the <strong>warmest appropriate water<\/strong> for that fabric and <strong>dry completely<\/strong>.<\/li><\/ul><p>This matters especially for towels and bedding, where \u201cfreshness\u201d depends heavily on full drying.<\/p><h3>Step 5: Don\u2019t let clean laundry turn musty<\/h3><p>Most \u201cmystery smell\u201d problems come from:<\/p><ul><li>overloading the machine,<\/li><li>laundry sitting wet too long,<\/li><li>or not drying fully.<\/li><\/ul><p>Again, CDC explicitly calls out <strong>dry items completely<\/strong>\u2014it\u2019s one of the simplest, highest-impact habits you can adopt.<\/p><h3>Step 6: Winter wardrobe reset (sweaters, coats, and commuter layers)<\/h3><h4>Sweaters &amp; knitwear<\/h4><ul><li>Gentle cycle, cool-to-warm settings per label.<\/li><li>Avoid high heat in drying (heat is what damages shape and softness).<\/li><\/ul><h4>Coats &amp; jackets<\/h4><ul><li>Some can be safely washed at home, some should be professionally cleaned to protect structure and insulation.<\/li><\/ul><p>London reality check (and it applies elsewhere too)<br \/>If your winter layers face rain, damp commutes, and packed public transport, they\u2019ll often need a mid-season refresh even if they look \u201cfine.\u201d<\/p><h3>Step 7: Put-away system (keeps clean clothes clean)<\/h3><p>Finish the reset with one small system:<\/p><ul><li>Only store items when they\u2019re <strong>fully dry<\/strong><\/li><li>Keep a \u201cneeds repair\/special care\u201d bag<\/li><li>Separate \u201crarely worn\u201d items so they don\u2019t mix back into weekly laundry<\/li><\/ul><p>That\u2019s how a reset becomes a routine.<\/p><h2>Laundry Schedule Reset (Weekly vs Monthly)<\/h2><p>This table is designed to be realistic\u2014not perfect.<\/p><table><thead><tr><td><strong>Item category<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Ideal frequency (typical household)<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Notes<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>Underwear, socks, gym wear<\/td><td>After each use<\/td><td>Don\u2019t let sweaty items sit damp<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Towels<\/td><td>Every few uses<\/td><td>Dry fully between uses to avoid musty smell<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Bedsheets &amp; pillowcases<\/td><td>Weekly-ish<\/td><td>Adjust for climate, allergies, pets<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Hoodies \/ jumpers<\/td><td>Every 2\u20134 weeks<\/td><td>More often if worn daily<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Jackets \/ coats<\/td><td>Seasonal or as needed<\/td><td>Spot clean + occasional deep clean<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Blankets \/ comforters<\/td><td>Monthly\/seasonal<\/td><td>Follow care label; don\u2019t overload machine<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><p><em>(The key hygiene-friendly baseline remains: warmest appropriate water for the fabric + dry completely.)<\/em><\/p><h2>Laundry Hygiene Basics Most People Get Wrong<\/h2><h3>\u201cMy clothes are clean but don\u2019t smell fresh.\u201d<\/h3><p>Common causes:<\/p><ul><li>Too-large loads (poor agitation + poor rinsing)<\/li><li>Laundry sitting wet in the machine<\/li><li>Incomplete drying<\/li><\/ul><p>And the research angle: washing machines can maintain their own microbial ecosystems, influenced by use habits and machine type\u2014another reason why a January reset (habits + drying + load sizing) works so well.<\/p><h3>The 3 rules that actually matter<\/h3><ol><li>Don\u2019t overload<\/li><li>Use the <strong>warmest appropriate water<\/strong> for the fabric<\/li><li><strong>Dry completely<\/strong> (no damp storage)<\/li><\/ol><h2>What People Search<\/h2><p><strong>How often should I wash towels?<\/strong><\/p><p>There isn\u2019t one universal rule, but many cleaning experts recommend washing towels after a few uses\u2014especially if they stay damp or start to smell. The bigger principle is to <strong>dry towels fully between uses<\/strong>, because dampness is what leads to mustiness.<\/p><p><strong>Should towels and sheets be washed together?<\/strong><\/p><p>Most laundry experts advise against it. Towels are heavier, shed lint, and need different drying time\u2014mixing can wear sheets faster and leave towels damp.<\/p><p><strong>Why do clothes smell musty after washing?<\/strong><\/p><p>Usually it\u2019s not the detergent\u2014it\u2019s moisture and timing. Leaving laundry wet in the machine or not drying fully can cause that \u201cwashed but not fresh\u201d smell. CDC specifically emphasizes drying items completely.<\/p><p><strong>Is cold water \u201cenough\u201d for laundry?<\/strong><\/p><p>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 <strong>warmest appropriate water setting<\/strong>, then dry completely.<\/p><h2>A London note from Hamlet Laundry Ltd (and a simple solution)<\/h2><p>If you\u2019re in <strong>London<\/strong>, January resets can be tougher because winter layers are bulky, drying space is limited, and damp weather makes odours stubborn. That\u2019s exactly why many of our customers use Hamlet Laundry Ltd for a New Year reset: we handle the <strong>heavy loads, winter items, and time-consuming cycles<\/strong>\u2014so you keep the fresh-start feeling without losing your weekend.<\/p><p>If you want, you can use this exact checklist and simply outsource the heaviest parts (bedding, towels, coats, jumpers) to us\u2014especially during the dampest weeks.<\/p><h3>Closing: Your New Year doesn\u2019t need a perfect routine\u2014just a repeatable one<\/h3><p>A January laundry reset isn\u2019t about doing \u201cmore laundry.\u201d It\u2019s about doing the <em>right<\/em> laundry once\u2014then keeping a lighter rhythm all year.<\/p><p>Save this post, screenshot the checklist, and start with the two loads that change everything: <strong>bedding and towels<\/strong>.<\/p><h2>Ready to start the New Year <em data-start=\"32\" data-end=\"41\">without<\/em> the laundry stress? \ud83e\uddfa\u2728<\/h2><p data-start=\"67\" data-end=\"265\">A January reset feels great \u2014 until you realise how much time and effort it actually takes. If you\u2019d rather keep the <em data-start=\"184\" data-end=\"197\">fresh start<\/em> and skip the heavy lifting, <strong data-start=\"226\" data-end=\"248\">Hamlet Laundry Ltd<\/strong> is here to help.<\/p><p data-start=\"267\" data-end=\"364\">We make professional laundry care <strong data-start=\"301\" data-end=\"363\">simple, reliable, and completely hassle-free for Londoners<\/strong>.<\/p><h3>Why customers across London choose Hamlet Laundry:<\/h3><ul><li data-start=\"424\" data-end=\"489\">\ud83d\ude9a <a href=\"https:\/\/hamletlaundry.com\/order\"><strong data-start=\"427\" data-end=\"467\">FREE pickup &amp; delivery across London<\/strong> <\/a>\u2014 no hidden charges<\/li><li data-start=\"492\" data-end=\"571\">\u23f0 <strong data-start=\"494\" data-end=\"521\">Time-saving convenience<\/strong> \u2014 perfect for busy workweeks and winter weather<\/li><li data-start=\"574\" data-end=\"670\">\ud83d\udc55 <strong data-start=\"577\" data-end=\"626\">Expert care for everyday wear &amp; winter layers<\/strong> (shirts, jumpers, coats, bedding, towels)<\/li><li data-start=\"673\" data-end=\"747\">\ud83e\uddfc <strong data-start=\"676\" data-end=\"718\"><a href=\"https:\/\/hamletlaundry.com\/service\/laundry-service\">Professional-grade cleaning<\/a> &amp; pressing<\/strong> for longer-lasting clothes<\/li><li data-start=\"750\" data-end=\"815\">\ud83c\udfe0 <strong data-start=\"753\" data-end=\"777\">Door-to-door service<\/strong> \u2014 no queues, no carrying heavy bags<\/li><li data-start=\"818\" data-end=\"924\">\ud83d\udccd <strong data-start=\"821\" data-end=\"842\">London-based team<\/strong> who understand damp weather, commuting layers, and real-life laundry challenges<\/li><\/ul><p data-start=\"926\" data-end=\"1100\">Whether you\u2019re tackling a full <strong data-start=\"957\" data-end=\"982\">January laundry reset<\/strong> or just want weekly support, Hamlet Laundry helps you keep clothes fresh <strong data-start=\"1056\" data-end=\"1099\">without sacrificing your time or energy<\/strong>.<\/p><p data-start=\"1102\" data-end=\"1278\">\ud83d\udc49 <strong data-start=\"1105\" data-end=\"1184\">Let us handle the washing, drying, and folding \u2014 you enjoy the clean start.<\/strong><br data-start=\"1184\" data-end=\"1187\" \/>\ud83d\udce6 Book your <a href=\"https:\/\/hamletlaundry.com\/order\"><strong data-start=\"1200\" data-end=\"1221\">FREE pickup today<\/strong><\/a> and experience laundry the easy way, anywhere in London.<\/p><p data-start=\"1280\" data-end=\"1324\" data-is-last-node=\"\" data-is-only-node=\"\"><strong data-start=\"1280\" data-end=\"1324\" data-is-last-node=\"\">New Year. Cleaner wardrobe. Zero stress.<\/strong><\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The January Reset Laundry Checklist January is when people reset routines&mdash;money, fitness, inboxes&hellip; and honestly,<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":3583,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1,510,620,19],"tags":[438,21,39,439,340,349],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/hamletlaundry.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3582"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/hamletlaundry.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/hamletlaundry.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hamletlaundry.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/9"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hamletlaundry.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3582"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/hamletlaundry.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3582\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3589,"href":"https:\/\/hamletlaundry.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3582\/revisions\/3589"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hamletlaundry.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3583"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/hamletlaundry.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3582"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hamletlaundry.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3582"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hamletlaundry.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3582"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}