14 September 2023 , 12:53
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School is officially back in session - and with it comes a seemingly endless stream of dirty uniforms and PE kits. Trying to keep on top of the laundry is no mean feat and loading up the washing machine every day is not only time-consuming, it's very expensive. But there are some things you can do to keep clothing looking clean and fresh without the need for a full wash.
Paula Quazi - cleaning expert and co-founder of cleaning brand Smol - has revealed a range of money-saving hacks to help parents keep the laundry pile down. The first thing you should do when your children are home is to get them to take their uniform off and give it a proper shake-out before hanging them up to air. If you've got any pesky smells to tackle, "hang by an open window to allow faint smells to fade even quicker," Paula advises.
And it's not just fresh air you can utilise to make life easier. Make the most of your bathroom and hang clothes up in there after you've showered. Steam is an easy way to freshen up previously worn items and it's also a great way to ensure no energy goes to waste.
More often than not children will come home with small stains on their clothes - a full-wash isn't necessary but you still need to get them off. According to Paula, you need to: "Act quickly to remove as much of the stain as possible by scraping off any excess solids with the back of a knife and using cold water over the area to loosen the stain." Avoid using hot water because it will set the stain.
As well as dirt and marks, kids' clothes are also liable to pick up various scents over the week leaving them smelling less than fresh. Again there is a simple hack to fix the problem. Spray a quick mist of essential oils and water to refresh them for another day's wear. But note, this only works on hardier materials and not gentler fabrics like silk.
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Finally, it's important to really get to know your washing machine. Dig out the instruction book to find the best setting - the shortest, coolest, lowest water cycle possible. And it's time to ditch the half-loads completely. "Sometimes a mid-week wash might be unavoidable but running multiple half-full loads is a sure-fire way to run up your energy bill and also waste water and detergent," Paula explains.
If you find you're accidentally cramming too much into your machine, the cleaning expert shares a simple way to test the capacity of your washer. "You should be able to fit a palm’s width between the top of your laundry and the inside of the drum; more space than the width of your palm then you know you’re not fully loaded, any less and the washing won’t have room to clean," she reveals.