How to do laundry better
THE best laundry comes from handing the pile to someone else and having it come back cleaned and pressed. However, that’s just a fantasy, right? Here are some tips on avoiding common laundry errors.
Don’t pour too much detergent
More detergent for grubbier clothes sounds sensible but actually, it doesn’t work that way. When you overdo the detergent, you get more bubbles and these protect stains from the actual stain removing goodness you seek. So stick to the directions, and use stain remover sprays to soak stubborn-looking dirt before you chuck everything into the machine.
Invest in laundry mesh bags Those cute tees with the sparkles sewn on and the special socks with the transfers will be damaged by the average tumble of the machine. Laundry bags allow pieces to be washed without having them tangled, stretched and rubbed along with the rest of the load. (It also saves some judicious hand washing.) Buy a selection of different-sized laundry bags as one size doesn’t fit all.
Dry coloured clothes inside out to prevent fading
Even if you dry stuff in the shade, the sun has a bleaching effect. So turn it all inside out before you put it in the machine, hang it up inside out, iron it inside out and then turn it right way for hanging.
Overdoing the fabric softener is also counterproductive
Fabric softener can make everything softer and smell nice, especially if you hang out your clothes outside to dry instead of using a dryer, but too much of it will give your laundry an oily feel. Also, as it tends to be highly perfumed, it can cause itchy skin. Stick to the instructions, and if you have a machine, look into dryer sheets and fabric paper that contains just the right amount of softener.