Freshen up your fall wardrobe with these laundry tips.

By Alexis Rochester

Fall in Texas means football games, busy school schedules, cooler mornings (finally!) and pulling those cozy blankets and sweaters out of storage.

As a chemist and mom of two here in Stephenville, I know how quickly laundry piles up this time of year.

Between sweaty sports uniforms, school clothes, backpacks and blankets, there is always something that needs refreshing.

But here is something most people don’t realize: Your laundry doesn’t always need more detergent.

Sometimes it just needs the right chemistry!

Every fall, I make a few simple adjustments to my laundry routine. These science-backed tricks help tackle stubborn odors, stains and buildup without spending hours in the laundry room.

You can view the full science-backed fall laundry reset guide here.

1. Try a bioenzyme laundry booster

This is one of my favorite laundry items.

Regular detergent contains surfactants that help lift dirt and oils from fabric.

Enzymes work differently. They break down specific substances like proteins, starches, and fats.

This makes enzyme boosters especially helpful for sweaty sports uniforms, food stains, towels and clothes that have developed lingering odors.

I use this Bioenzyme Booster alongside my regular detergent.

Adding more detergent doesn’t necessarily make clothes cleaner.

Too much can leave residue behind. Sometimes adding an enzyme booster is a smarter solution.

2. Refresh those stored fall clothes

If you’ve pulled sweaters or fall pajamas out of storage and noticed a stale smell, you might need to do a little refresh.

I wash stored clothing with my regular detergent and an enzyme booster when needed.

But for stubborn odors, I use a DIY washing soda soak, using sodium carbonate.

Another important trick? Don’t overload your washing machine. Clothes need room to move for proper cleaning.

3. Treat sports stains before washing

Football, soccer, playground adventures, and fall festivals mean plenty of grass stains, mud and mystery spots.

Apply a fabric-safe stain remover before washing, and always check the stain before putting clothing into the dryer. Heat can make stains worse, so always treat stains before washing and drying.

I keep a gentle, pH-neutral stain remover nearby for quick pretreating before laundry day.

4. Don’t forget backpacks

Here’s something many people overlook: school backpacks! After several weeks of school, backpacks collect crumbs, spills, dirt, and plenty of germs.

I empty everything, vacuum the inside, and pretreat visible stains.

If the care label allows machine washing, I use a gentle cycle with cold water and an eco-laundry strip.

Then I let the backpack air-dry completely.

5.     Switch back to my eco-strips for everyday loads

Fall gets busy quickly, and I’m all about making laundry simpler.

For regular everyday loads, I switch back to my favorite eco laundry strips.

They’re easy to store, already measured and keep my laundry area free of bulky detergent containers.

Plus, they clean clothes really well.

The chemist mom takeaway

You don’t need a laundry room full of expensive products to get cleaner clothes, just some fall essentials.

The secret isn’t using more products, it’s understanding which ingredients actually work for the mess you’re trying to clean.

Alexis Rochester is an investigative chemist, founder of Chemistry Cachet, and Stephenville mom of two. She shares practical, science-backed solutions for cleaning, skincare and everyday home life.