Your iPhone Can Prevent Common Laundry Mishaps With This Easy Trick

Even if you do laundry on a weekly basis, it can still be very easy to mess up. All you have to do is misread the label, and the next thing you know, your sweater is two sizes too small or your pants faded in color. The issue is that it is very easy to misread most laundry labels. That's because they rely on a series of cryptic symbols that explain how you can launder that particular piece of clothing and what to avoid. While some might be self-explanatory — like a bucket with a hand is "handwash" — others are more ambiguous, like a square with a circle in it is "tumble dry." However, this is a laundry mistake that is surprisingly easy to fix. A simple iPhone hack can help you identify various laundry codes, so you'll know how to clean everything the right way and never toss the wrong item into a particular load. 

This hack involves using your phone camera to decode what the tag is trying to convey. It uses AI to scan the tag and then explain what each symbol means, translating the icons into words. Since most people have their phones in their pockets at all times, this is a useful way to quickly decode any ambiguous icons that have you confused. And even better, you don't have to download any new laundry apps!

To use this laundry hack, your phone needs to have iOS 17 or higher. This will ensure that the shortcut will automatically pop up, allowing you to access the information quickly. All you need to do is take a photo of the tag, and then view the image in your photo gallery. Once you bring up the photo, look at your editing bar on the bottom and click the "i" enclosed in a circle. The first option that will pop up is "Look Up Laundry Care." If you click that button, you will get a breakdown of what each icon means, along with a one- to two-sentence explanation of any caveats. 

This will help you take care of each item of clothing properly, helping extend the shelf life of your wardrobe. For example, while most people quickly check the tag to see if they can wash it in the washing machine and at what temp, they don't usually check what to do after it comes out of the drum. This trick will help you catch things you would have otherwise missed, such as not ironing the piece once it dries, or laying it flat to dry instead of hanging it up it to ensure it doesn't dry out of shape.