Susannah Constantine shares tips for saving money doing laundry
Emma Rostron, general manager at One Less Thing, has shared top tips on correctly loading and washing clothing properly.
1. Not separating colours
Emma explained: “It might seem like a chore, but you should always separate your clothes into whites, light colours, dark colours, and delicates.
“This will help you avoid colour transfer and ensure your clothes are washed at the right temperature as the wrong temperature can cause them to shrink or fade, and even result in clothes that are no longer the colour you intended.
“For example, washing red clothes with white clothes on a hot wash can leave everything pink.”
Separating colours will also help colours to stay bright, and white garments to stay nice and crisp.
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2. Overloading the washing machine
It can be tempting to stuff the washing machine with as many clothes as possible to do fewer loads.
However, doing so can result in garments not being washed properly and may even cause damage to the appliance.
Emma added: “A good rule of thumb is to fill the drum about three-quarters of the way, leaving enough space that you can pop the side of your hand in between the edge of the drum and your clothes.
“Overloading the machine can also cause clothes to rub against each other, which can cause them to wear out faster as well as form those annoying bobbles that make clothes look worn and old.”
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3. Using too much detergent and fabric softener
The expert continued: “Too much detergent can lead to excess suds and poor rinsing which can leave your clothes with a sticky film, while too little means your clothes won’t get a thorough enough clean.
“To determine the correct amount of detergent, always check the instructions on the package as they will usually give you a guide.
“As a rule, you’ll need more for heavily soiled clothes or large loads and less for lightly soiled, delicate or small loads.”
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4. Not maintaining the washing machine
Washing machines need cleaning regularly to keep mould and limescale at bay.
Simply run a hot cycle with some white vinegar to remove any unwanted odours and dirt.
Britons should also wipe down the door and washing machine seal after each wash to remove excess water.
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