No Sunday is scarier than the one involving heaps of dirty leggings, sports bras, and my boyfriend’s Bombas socks piling up on my hamper. It takes about five minutes of courage-mustering to crawl under my hydraulic lift storage bed to procure my laundry accoutrements and assortment of oversized tote bags. But the real chaos ensues once I take the elevator down to the laundry room; or as I call it, the Bubbly Battlefield.
Bottles are strewn across the tops of machines, some ajar with blue goo dripping onto the white laundry lids. Remnants of last week’s lost-and-found sit dusty in the “intimates graveyard.” Singular socks left behind mingle together at their own party on the concrete floor. Lint balls dance in the air like tumbleweeds in a Western film, and in my brain, I hear a foley sound of a whistling ricochet, signaling tension in the air. A slow motion scene plays out—residents leaping, grabbing, and throwing their clothes from one drum to another, a valiant attempt to protect their pieces from being dropped on the floor in favor of freeing up a machine. On the off chance I decide to conquer laundry on a quieter weeknight, the task is just that: a task. A mundane chore that must be done.
So if laundry is something we all have to do, I thought, why not elevate it? How you do anything is how you do everything, et cetera. So why not make my laundry experience as luxurious as I want my life to feel? By swapping out my drugstore detergents with fragrant designer bottles and buying a hamper that can separate my clothes from my boyfriend’s, laundry became a ritual I actually looked forward to. By elevating my products, I created an experience; the Bubbly Battlefield no longer phases me when armed with the right tools.
The Best Luxury Laundry Products, According to Vogue
Since discovering these luxury laundry products, I have avoided many a panic from clumsy red wine spills. The sudsy heroes below will delight and actually execute—it can be our clean little secret.
The Laundry Detergents
A good detergent will lift the toughest of stains right out, but a great one leaves behind a soft, welcoming aroma. Even for the fragrance-averse, there are options offering the faintest olfactory delight. DedCool and Ouai collaborated on a “dedtergent” featuring Ouai’s signature Melrose Place scent: a rosy, feminine fragrance with a warm sandalwood base. My current hyperfixation is The Laundress’ Fresh Take detergent. My sheets and pillows have never smelled more inviting. Plus, having a signature perfume scent is trending as incredibly chic; why shouldn’t that extend to your laundry?
The Laundry Sets
Prefer a one-and-done approach? Look for a set. Whether it be sticking to one scent family for every product or trusting your favorite non-toxic brand with a complete kit, shopping bundles are a foolproof solution to make sure you always have exactly what you need (and then some). I have my favorites, too. We all know and love clean beauty—I’d like to introduce “clean laundry” (of a different sort) to the lexicon. Blueland offers a plastic-free, eco-friendly approach, and Branch Basic focuses on plant- and mineral-based ingredients without any harmful chemicals; both are now in my regular rotation.
The Laundry Extras
When you’re still trying to cover the basics, these accessories may seem indulgent; but even something as simple as tossing a few wool balls into your dryer can enhance the longevity of clothes. These Intimissimi mesh baggies protect delicates from damage, and a few extra moments to spot clean can make all the difference in yet another coffee-stained tee.
The Fabric Care
Some clothing simply requires little extra TLC. Cashmere and wool fabrics pill easily from friction and tangled shorter fibers, but make no mistake, a pilled sweater is not past its prime. With gentle care from a cashmere comb, these pieces can be quickly restored to their smooth structure. For the lazy girl’s guide to cashmere care, opt for an electronic product; Steamery’s fabric shaver minimizes elbow grease.
And to stretch out the time in between visits to the dry cleaner, a quick spritz of a refreshing spray, like this citrus-vanilla one from Brooklinen, can revive even the most high-maintenance closet essentials.
The Wrinkle-Proofers
Even the most expensive outfit can be visually cheapened by wrinkles and creases. While the trusty iron and board still prove effective, there are more compact options. For small spaces, consider a handheld steamer or vertical steaming stand. And worry not about a creased bridesmaid dress at a destination wedding; the Nori steam iron is compact, and fits in a carry-on suitcase.
The Fragrance Boosters
Fragrance can last on fabric for days; there’s nothing more nostalgic than grabbing an old sweater and getting a whiff of a memory from when you last wore it. Why not treat your favorite blazers to your favorite perfume? Alternatively, prep wool dryer balls with some drops of fragrance oil (I like Homecourt’s warm Neroli scent) for an aromatherapeutic dry cycle.
Keeping a closet smelling fresh is also key, especially in tighter spaces that can get musty quickly. For the ultra-refined, Diptyque offers medallions in cult classic scents to be tucked into drawers or hung between clothes, diffusing warm notes of the scent between washes.
The Bigger Tools
Thanks to brands like Serena & Lily, McGee & Co., and Zara Home, hampers (and other larger equipment like drying racks) are no longer eyesores—instead, there’s enough choice out there that these storage units can align with personal interior taste. Don’t forget the functional element, though: Wheels, folds, and lids are helpful to hide the mess. (My Joseph and Joseph hamper even has separate compartments for my whites and colors—no manual separating needed.)
