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10 most common laundry mistakes and how to fix them

10 most common laundry mistakes.

29 Oct 2024

Are you doing your laundry all wrong?


Think you know the best cycles to choose? How much detergent to use? Whether or not to add fabric conditioner? 


According to one study, 87% of people in Britain aren’t sure how to wash their clothes properly* and we each damage on average 10 bits of clothing per year through AVOIDABLE laundry mistakes! 

top 10 mistakes.


So let’s get to the bottom of the TOP 10 most common laundry mistakes to make.. and what we should be doing instead. It should help keep us clean AND extend the life of our clothes. 



1. forgetting stains.


Do this at your peril! The secret to stain removal is to ACT FAST! The longer you leave it, the harder it will be to remove. 


Soak stains in cold water for 15 minutes and then apply smol stain gel. Its bleach-free formula is safe for even brightly coloured clothing and its powerful enzymes give incredible results on so many common household stains. Leave the gel to work for a few minutes before washing your item as normal (according to clothing care label instructions). And remember… blot stains, don’t rub. Rubbing pushes a stain deeper into the fibres, making it harder to remove.




2. overusing detergent.


Using too much detergent can mean your laundry comes out of the wash with a soapy residue. It can also clog up your machine and stop the water from draining properly.


Let smol come to the rescue: our laundry capsules are pre-measured to exactly what’s needed per standard load. They’re the perfect way to ensure you aren’t overusing detergent. And if you’re a liquid lover rather than a capsule convert, smol laundry liquid comes with a refillable bottle-for-life that lets you add exactly what you need. Its clever pump ensures no waste.




3. ignoring labels.


So many of us don’t check care labels on our clothing but they are there for a reason so if you’re unsure of their meaning… check out our complete guide to laundry symbols. Washing clothes at the wrong temperature, choosing the wrong cycle or using a machine when an item should be hand washed or dry cleaned… can be a costly error! Brightly coloured items on hot washes with white delicates can lead to dye transfer or shrinkage. 


Sorting your laundry into similar piles according to colour and care label advice can protect you from these costly mistakes. 




4. overlooking pockets.


Forgetting to empty out pockets before putting your clothes in the wash can cause all manner of issues. From forgotten tissues causing paper bomb explosions to sharp metal objects like keys damaging the machine drum or outer tube. 


Remember, CHECK YOUR POCKETS! Aside from maybe finding some bonus cash, at the very least you could save yourself from having to rewash your laundry.




5. washing hot.


Washing your clothes at high temperatures risks them fading, shrinking and wearing out much faster. But it doesn’t have to be this way! 


Modern quality detergents like smol capsules and smol laundry liquid are designed to give outstanding results even at 20°C cold washes. 


And there’s a lot to be said for turning things down from 40°C to 20°C.


  • A 30 min 25°C cycle** sees clothes shed 50% less microfibres (so clothes last longer).
  • There’s less need to iron (cool water doesn’t wrinkle the fibres as much).
  • You’ll save money and energy!




6. forgetting fasteners.


Zips, buttons and clasps can become caught in other clothing within a laundry load and as the clothes tumble about, this can result in rips and tears. 


Close up any zips but OPEN UP any buttons (even the ones on sleeves and collars).


If you have a large number of delicate items that seem prone to damage in your machine you can consider investing in a mesh bag that will keep your items safe from any potential hazards throughout your wash cycle.

 

7. overloading machines.


Full loads are always best and half loads are best avoided if you want to save money, time, energy and carbon BUT… cramming as much laundry as possible into the drum is not good! Overloading gives poor performance and might even break your machine. At the very least, you could end up with clothes that are still dirty or coated with detergent residue.


Click here for our foolproof way to ensure full loads that work!.




8. wasting conditioner.


Ever wondered why those jugs of fabric conditioner come with an oversized spout? It’s so easy to use too much conditioner when it needs to be poured and the bottle is oversized and heavy. Just like detergent, using too much conditioner will result in a build-up on your clothes and in your machine. 


Thank goodness smol’s concentrated fabcon comes with a clever dispenser and needs just 4 pumps for wonderfully fresh, fragrant laundry. No danger of waste here!




9. neglecting machines.


Not cleaning your machine regularly has a surprisingly negative impact. Appliances can experience a build-up of detergent, softener and fibres which can clog the drains and give a wonderful breeding ground for bacteria. This can lead to some pretty foisty smells, which in turn transfers to your washing…


If you’re not using harsh bleaching chemicals or have opted for fragrance-free detergent it’s even more likely that you’ll encounter this at times.


A clean machine means cleaner laundry so follow our smol guide to cleaning washing machines to avoid this frustratingly common laundry mistake. 




10. leaving loads.


A really common laundry mistake most of us have probably made is forgetting we’ve done the laundry in the first place! When we remember the next day (or later) we find our clothes have a mildewy odour due to the growth of bacteria.


Having to rewash our clothing costs us time, energy and money so let’s remember to take out our laundry once the cycle has finished. 

in conclusion…


We’re all going to make laundry mistakes at some point or other (perhaps we’ll get a full house on this very list) BUT keeping these 10 points in mind means we’re less likely to make them again. Happy washing!

*Workwear Giant 2019 Study.

**Leeds University Jan 2020