Why You Should Put Some Chalk Sticks In Your Laundry Hamper

If you're always looking for new laundry tips and tricks, you're not alone. For example, if your laundry basket is in dire need of some help when it comes to the funky odors it's emitting, then you need a way of absorbing bad smells before they stink up your bedroom. Even if your laundry basket is in a separate space, no one wants to risk dirty clothes making their house reek. This might come as a surprise, but chalk can actually work to banish those nasty odors. That's right: It's not just for hopscotch anymore. Plain old sticks of chalk are a cheap and effective way of kicking offensive odors to the curb. This hack works primarily because chalk is so absorbent and clings on to moisture. 

Since dirty laundry is riddled with funky bacteria that causes a host of foul smells (sweat and dead skin cells included), it's perfectly normal for clothes hampers to stink a bit. But chalk can quickly and efficiently send these smells packing. If you don't have any at home, you can grab a 12-pack of Crayola chalk at Staples for $1.25. Although this hack usually requires an open plastic bag to hang your chalk from, you can use small garment bags for a similar effect. This is especially great if you're looking to go plastic-free and want to make your home more eco-friendly. Luckily, Amazon sells an 8-pack of small mesh laundry bags for $9, making this an affordable odor-banishing hack to boot. 

You might know why you should use chalk to remove oil stains, but did you ever think to utilize it for odor removal? As cleaning expert Kathy Cohoon explained to Homes & Gardens, "The chemical makeup of chalk and its open-cell structure makes it incredibly absorbent," adding, "Chalk is able to zap up moisture and liquids easily." As such, it's ideal for funky laundry baskets and any other parts of the home prone to dank smells. After you place your chalk in a mesh bag, add it to your hamper's lid. If you use plastic hampers, you can attach self-adhesive clips on the inside, attaching your mesh bags from there. Amazon sells a 30-pack for $8, so this trick definitely won't break the bank. 

However, if you have wicker hampers, you may need to use mesh bags with drawstrings, weaving them through your hamper's lid. Likewise, it's also recommended to swap out your old chalk for new chalk monthly, as this helps to keep it fresh and always working its odor-absorbing magic. Keep in mind that this generally means that one pack of $1.25 Crayola chalk could reasonably last you for an entire year. If you have a lot of laundry or find it to be particularly smelly, you may want to add a few pieces of chalk to your hamper rather than just one, working to absorb even more odors. This simple yet effective smell-eliminating hack can transform your indoor space in no time.