It’s an arduous task that many hate: the endless cycle of doing laundry.
No sooner have you folded and put away a pile of clean clothes, another pile appears seemingly out of nowhere and needs to be washed.
To mark National Laundry Day today, Deyan Dimitrov, CEO of pile of dirty clothesshared her top tips on best practices when doing laundry to ensure your machine and clothes are not damaged.
Here, he reveals the top mistakes people make when doing laundry that end up being counterproductive to a clean load of laundry…
To mark National Laundry Day, Deyan Dimitrov, CEO of Laundryheap, shared his top tips on best practices when doing laundry, so your washing machine and your clothes don’t get damaged (File Image)
1. Too much detergent
Sharing her first tip, Deyan warned that overusing laundry detergent is one of the most common mistakes you can make and is ultimately useless because it doesn’t leave your clothes cleaner.
Sharing your advice with The expresslaundry expert said: “Using too much laundry detergent can cause residue marks on the garment.”
She explained that residue can attract dirt, meaning your clothes won’t look very clean at all.
Instead, Deyan said you should reduce the amount of detergent used in each cycle to three-quarters of what is recommended.
2. Use only one washing machine setting
You must use the different settings of your machine and wash at an appropriate temperature (File image)
The next bad habit to avoid, according to the laundry expert, is simply using one setting on your machine for different materials.
Deyan explained that there are different temperature settings on washing machines, depending on the type of material in the sink.
He said that as a general rule, towels and sheets should be washed at higher temperatures, while cotton and wool should be washed at lower temperatures to protect the material.
Instead, you should use the different settings on your machine and wash at an appropriate temperature. Deyan added that this can prevent clothes from fading or shrinking.
3. Do not empty your pockets
The cleaning expert said you should always take time to check the pockets of any item that goes into the washing machine (File Image)
While it may seem unimportant if you’re in a hurry and busy with other things around the house, the cleaning expert said you should always take the time to check the pockets of any items that go into the washing machine.
Deyan warned that items left in clothing pockets that have not been emptied before washing can fall into the washing machine bowl and reach the drain, leaving a clog.
He noted that it is especially important to remove coins or keys, since although the metal they are made of will not be damaged, the washing machine could.
Any metal element could crack or shatter the glass of a front-loading machine or damage the drum.
Keys or coins could also become lodged in the pipe, causing a blockage and possible flooding, making it even more worth checking for hidden items in your pockets.
4. Putting too much in the machine
While it’s often tempting to pack a larger load to help finish laundry faster, overloading the washing machine makes the actual process of a wash cycle less efficient (File Image)
While it’s often tempting to pack a larger load to help finish laundry faster, overloading the washer makes the actual process of a wash cycle less efficient.
Deyan warned that while many people load their washing machines to get the job done quickly, this will “ruin” their clothes in the long run.
He explained that if there are more clothes in the sink, the detergent is less likely to circulate properly and clean them all.
Additionally, overloading the appliance places an unnecessary strain on the machine, meaning it could wear out more quickly and have a shorter lifespan.
5. Ignore warning signs on the machine
While a washing machine is a basic household item, many people will ignore the warning that it could be on its last legs (File Image)
While a washing machine is a basic household item, many people ignore warnings that it could be on its last legs, meaning they only buy a new one when their previous appliance has broken down.
Deyan warned that this is a silly game and urged people to “take action” if they spot signs that their machine could be about to break down.
“The next time you hear a strange noise from your washing machine, smell a bad odor, or see mold around the handle, it’s best not to ignore these signs,” he said.
“A defective washing machine will not wash your clothes properly.”