Doing laundry is not something many people get excited about. So when I started sharing cleaning videos on social media, I couldn't have predicted the interest it would generate.
But in the past two years, my super fluffy towel technique and deep cleaning spirals have occasionally reached over 8.5 million people.
I'm now part of the merry gang of "cleanfluencers" with 556,000 followers on Instagram and over 200,000 on TikTok .
I confess that doing laundry is therapeutic for me: I see it as an extension of my personal care routine. Some women might love the idea of a bath filled with oils and skincare products, but I love nothing more than diving into my lingerie closet and choosing a selection of products that make my clothes and workwear feel and smell heavenly.
An advantage of this is that you can make items last longer. I'm becoming more and more aware how I treat my clothes and how they are washed really affects how long they last.
When it comes to saving money and the planet, small changes can make a big difference. When most of the electricity used in your wash cycle is used to heat water, it's good to know that you can reduce energy use by lowering the temperature of your wash cycles.
No need to rely on a hot wash (a 60 degree load can cost around 31p compared to 20p for a 40 degree wash). Most modern detergents are effective at washing everyday fabrics at temperatures as low as 20°C, and biological detergents are actually more effective at lower temperatures.
OLD SNEAKERS LIKE NEW
- Remove the laces. Soak the shoes in a dishwashing bowl with warm water and powdered bleach.
- Rinse the shoes under cold water and dry them. Use a toothbrush to remove dirt and a cotton swab or cocktail stick to remove any trapped debris.
- Place the shoes and laces in a pillowcase and add towels to the drum to avoid damaging the shoes or the machine (do not attempt to machine wash leather or suede).
- Use regular detergent on a cold cycle.
- Let the shoes dry naturally, ideally in the fresh air.
Find the Energy Saving and Eco Mode features on your machine: Programs may take a little longer because they heat the water more slowly (and more economically).
But unless you have really dirty clothes or a sick bug in the house, you don't need to turn up the heat. Even then, most puzzles can be solved by first spraying on stain remover or adding oxy powder to the wash.
MY FAVORITE LAUNDRY KIT
Some girls have bags and shoes. . . I love collecting detergents, especially ones that maximize the efficiency of my wash cycle.
clothes cleaner
Antibacterial additives to kill bacteria and viruses in the laundry can be used with detergent (poured into the fabric softener area of the drawer) for a warm wash effect at lower temperatures.
Oxy stain remover
Oxi powders and sprays release active oxygen to remove stains and odors even at low wash temperatures. Unlike bleach, they contain no chlorine. Oxi powders can be made into a stain remover paste or added directly to the drum or drawer with your detergent (always add to the grout).
Ace for Whites Stain Remover Spray
My favorite stain remover spray also works on linen and white surfaces. I spray it on white socks and let it sit for a few minutes before throwing them in the washing machine. This makes them look like new.
color catcher
These little towels contain extra absorbent fibers that attract loose dye and dirt in the wash water and prevent color bleed so you can match your colors and whites (saving you time, energy and water).
clothes rails
Eco-friendly laundry items can be used dry by rubbing directly onto fabrics to pre-treat stains, or for hand washing delicates in warm water. Use a cheese grater to make soap shavings that can be added directly to the machine or dissolved in warm water to make liquid laundry soap.
white wine vinegar
A fantastic natural product that can be used to reduce odor, lighten and brighten fabrics, remove deodorant stains, soften fabrics and reduce lint and pet dander. Put a cup in the fabric softener area of your washing machine drawer before loading the laundry (so it gets into the drum during the final rinse).
Works better as a fabric softener on microfibre towels and cloths (distilled vinegar is around 40p for 500ml but my favorite is Cillit Bang White Vinegar with Eucalyptus which doesn't smell as much of chips as other vinegars).
Essential Oils
Many natural laundry detergents are fragrance-free, but adding a few drops of essential oil to clothes can give clothes a scent boost, or add to a damp cloth in the dryer to soak fabrics as they dry.
soda
It's worth buying 'baking soda' or baking soda in bulk (£2.49 for 500g from Robert Dyas) for its fantastic water softening and stain removing properties which also work in colder temperatures. Add a scoop to your clothes with every wash.
TIP: Add an extra spin cycle to your wash cycle to maximize drying time energy efficiency.
SPECIAL CARE INSTRUCTIONS
Extend the life of your favorite items (and save money) by washing them only when needed and following the directions carefully.
SILK: If a garment's label says "dry clean" (but not "dry clean only"), it can be hand washed in cold water with a liquid detergent suitable for delicate fabrics. Wash for a few minutes, rinse, then drain well (do not wring). Lay on a towel to dry.
WOOL: Check the care label, but most items are machine washable with mild detergent and fabric softener on a cold gentle cycle. Turn them inside out to avoid bunching and hand shape them straight out of the machine (don't twist, stretch or twist). Dry them naturally by laying them out on a cool towel (no dryer).
THE SECRET OF THE SOFTEST TOWELS
If your towels have become stiff and crusty, chances are they have built up scale and residue. Soak them in a mixture of baking soda and warm water overnight, rinse well, then wash as usual with 1/2 cup of white vinegar in your fabric softener drawer to loosen up the pile. Tumble dry for the fluffiest towels and add a dryer sheet for extra freshness.
SATIN: Use hand wash in cold water with mild detergent. Soak for up to 30 minutes and rinse well with cold water. Do not wring, wring or tumble dry but allow to dry in its natural form and gently steam to remove wrinkles or iron with a cloth or tea towel.
DENIM: Pre-wash new dark denim items before wearing to fix the color. Turn them over and wash them in cold water with white vinegar (in the softener compartment).
Only wash the jeans afterwards if they are soiled or after wearing them several times. Always turn inside out and use a short delicate cycle at 30°C (low spin speed).
Séchez en secouant avant de suspendre (à l'envers) pour éliminer les plis, ou culbutez à low temperature, puis pensionez-le alors qu'il est encore légèrementhumide pour remodeler et terminer le séchage sur un cintre ou poser l'article à court .
SNAP: Hand wash or put in a mesh bag to avoid snagging when machine washed.
ULTIMATE GUIDE TO STAINS REMOVING
A one-time stain removal could save clothes from the landfill. Emergency Procedures: Before taking chemicals, fill a container with hot water and a tablespoon of liquid detergent and soak the garment or stain. If that doesn't work, repeat the process with a cup of white vinegar in a bowl of warm water.
Blood: Better to attack quickly. Rinse the item or stain with cold water first, then pour a body fluid or washing gel directly onto the stain or rub with a baking soda paste (two parts baking soda to one part water). Then it goes straight into the washing machine without rinsing.
Gum: Place ice cubes on the gum or place the item in the freezer and then scrape the gum with a sharp knife.
WHAT DO YOU NOT WANT TO MACHINE WASH?
Monthly cleaning of your machine extends its lifespan and ensures smooth operation.
1) Remove the drawer and clean in a bowl of warm, soapy water.
2) Spray bathroom cleaner or white vinegar behind the drawer to remove mold and limescale. Leave on for a few minutes, then clean.
3) Clean and drain the filter.
4) Clean the rubber door seal with bathroom cleaner or white vinegar (no bleach which can destroy the rubber) on a soft cloth.
5) Clean the drum by pouring a pack of soda crystals into the drum. Put a cup of white vinegar in the drawer and then run the machine on a hot cycle.
TIP: Reduce mold or bacteria growth by leaving the door and drawer open when the machine is not in use.
Chocolate: sponge with biological detergent, then wash normally.
Curry: Mix equal parts dish soap and white vinegar in cold water. Apply the solution to the stain with a clean cloth. Then machine wash with oxy powder and organic detergent.
Fruit Juice: Rinse with cold water, pre-treat with liquid detergent, then machine wash.
Grease: Pre-treat a greasy stain with dish soap (rub gently with a clean cloth) before washing in the washing machine with an organic detergent.
Encre : place the tache face vers le bas sur une serviette en papier et utilisez une sponge pour la tamponner avec de la varnish ou un disinfectant pour les mains (l'encre doit ensuite être transferée sur la serviette), puis mettez-la in the washing machine.
Lipstick: Remove as soon as possible. Place the stained item on an old towel and dab the liquid detergent on the wrong side of the fabric to allow the lipstick to transfer to the fabric underneath. Do not rub the stain directly as the oil and paint will penetrate deeper. Once you've removed most of the stain, throw it in the washing machine with biodetergent and oxypowder.
Makeup: Pre-treat with dishwashing liquid or organic detergent and leave on for 15 minutes before scrubbing with a clean, soft-bristled brush and rinsing with warm water, then machine wash with oxy-powder.
Mold: Spray or soak with diluted household vinegar, then machine wash with organic detergent and 1-2 cups of vinegar.
Nail Polish: Allow to dry, scrape off excess, then soak a microfiber cloth in nail polish remover and rub gently. Then put the machine with oxy powder.
Color: Soak in a mixture of half detergent and half warm water, blot the stain vigorously, then machine wash normally. Next step for stubborn stains: Apply remover with a clean toothbrush.
Red wine: Cover the stain with white vinegar, then scrub with liquid detergent and machine wash on a warm cycle.
Sunscreen: Pre-treat with warm water and liquid detergent for an hour, then put in the washing machine with an organic detergent.
Sweat Stains: Spray liberally with distilled white vinegar. Leave on for at least ten minutes, then wash normally.
Tea and coffee: Rinse immediately with cold water, then add a few drops of detergent and scrub gently before washing with powdered oxy and bio detergent.
Ketchup: Wipe clean with cold water and a teaspoon of liquid detergent, then machine wash.
Wax: Allow to dry, scrape off excess. Place the garment under a paper towel and iron over it to allow the towel to absorb the wax.
ADAPTED by LOUISE ATKINSON from Live, Laugh, Laundry: A Calming Guide To Keep Your Clothes Clean – And You Happy, by Laura Mountford (Ebury, £16.99), published 13 April. © Laura Mountford. To order a copy for £15.29 (valid until 24/04/23; free UK postage on orders over £20), visit mailshop.co.uk/books or call 020 3176 2937.
