From soiling your favorite jumper to pulling your jeans out of the machine three shades lighter, there are a lot of things that can go wrong in the wash.
And with the cost of living crisis impacting our laundry habits and people becoming more conscious of their laundry costs, it's no surprise that our clothing cleanliness is taking a hit.
A recent study of 2,000 adults, conducted by OnePoll and commissioned by Ariel, found that nearly two-thirds of us (62%) are reducing their laundry hours to combat rising costs.
It turns out we're also changing the way we wash our clothes, with 57% saying they're more likely to put their clothes on a cold cycle.
Those of us who lower the temperature of our wash cycle think the main benefits of washing at a low temperature are energy savings (52%), money (46%) and the environment (41%).
Read more: Are we washing our clothes too often?
But how do we make sure we wash sparingly while protecting our precious clothes?
Luckily, there are some simple, science-backed tips and tricks that can help you save on your clothes and those precious pennies.
Freeze your clothes first
Lipstick, makeup, wine and even deodorant can damage wardrobe favorites, but according to scientist Martin TerBekke, putting them in the freezer before putting them in the washing machine can help remove some stains.
"It might sound strange, but the next time you put lipstick on your sweater, chop it to freezing temperatures in your freezer," she explains.
"It clumps the lipstick, which means it's easy to scrape off after it's set.
"For particularly waxy makeup stains, place the garment in the freezer for 20 minutes, then gently scrape off excess gel stains," she adds.
Read more: Why you should never wash your jeans and how to keep them clean
close them
Washing zippered garments helps prevent them from damaging other items.
"Before putting clothes in the wash, zip up all the zips to keep them from snagging on your other clothes and damaging the fibers," says TerBekke.
Read more: Scrubbing the oven with a dishwasher tab tops the list of best cleaning tricks
Leave a fist-sized gap in the drum
While it's tempting to cram as much into the machine as possible, according to TerBekke, if you don't leave a small gap, it could mean your clothes don't have room to move.
"Fill the machine but leave a fist-sized space at the top so the water spreads evenly and the laundry gets washed properly," she recommends.
return the clothes
It turns out that turning your clothes, especially jeans , inside the wash helps protect them by preventing them from rubbing together, which helps protect the fabrics.
"If you turn the jeans inside out when washing, you also prevent the seams from discolouring," adds TerBekke.
See: Generation Z leaves their dirty dishes in the sink longer than any other generation
Read more: What is undressing clothes? The latest deep cleaning trend is making the rounds on TikTok
Button-down shirts and blouses
This will prevent it from stretching and the distorted sides from meeting.
look great
While you might think that washing over a cooler cycle might reduce cleaning effectiveness, TerBekke says lowering the temperature can have just as much of an impact on spills and stains.
"When it comes to those stubborn stains, don't be afraid to wash your clothes in cold water," she advises.
"By washing at lower temperatures you can save up to 60% on the energy costs of your washing machine and protect your clothes – even washing at 40 degrees can double the stress on fabrics.
"Protecting the quality of clothing helps keep it out of landfill and saves us from having to buy more," he adds.
READ ALSO: Woman Shares A Time-Saving Trick She Uses While Bathing
come to the band
If you've been crafting for Christmas, you may have glue stains on your clothes, but there is a way to remove glue from fabric.
"Start by brushing off any dried-on adhesive residue or rubbing the stain with clear tape to remove any residue," TerBekke suggests. "Rinse the fabric under cold water to dilute any remaining glue."
Additional SWNS reports.
Aucun commentaire:
Enregistrer un commentaire