how to do laundry & use the washing machine - 10 step guide.

how to easily do laundry…

NEWSFLASH…

… 60% of new students leaving home and arriving for their first term at University don’t know how to do their own laundry.* 

So we’re coming to the rescue with a 10 step guide that makes laundry easy.

laundry learnings.

And it’s not just newly fledged adults who struggle. A study by Smart Energy GB has shown laundry confuses a great many of us. 

• 74% of us don’t understand what our clothing care labels mean. 
• 42% of people just stick with 2 programs on their washing machine.
• 29% of us have never used a cool wash.

But a few basic laundry learnings will not only guarantee us clean clothes, they could save us almost £149 per year** by embracing fuller loads, cooler washes and more efficient drying methods. 

So let’s learn the smol 10 step laundry guide! Here is how to use your washing machine for perfect results.

step 1. laundry labels.

Always read your clothing care labels.

They will tell you if you need to hand wash, dry clean or machine wash an item and what the maximum wash temperature is that your clothing can withstand. 

step 2. sorting.

Sort your machine-washable clothing into 2 piles. Lights and whites into one and darker/vibrant coloured clothing into another.

step 3. refine.

An optional step if one or both of your piles are too big to fit in a single load.

Create new smaller piles by sorting like-coloured items into matching temperature groups. For example, if you have some towels or bedding in the light coloured clothing pile, you might want to wash these on a hotter setting than the rest of your whites. So make a new pile just for them.

step 4. prep clothing.

A quick check through any pockets will pay dividends… not least because you might find some spare change! Make sure to remove any tissues or paper and take off any belts. Doing up zips is a great idea to stop them catching on other clothing. Any buttons (including those on sleeves or collars) however should be undone as if they remain buttoned up, they could rip open during a wash cycle.

step 6. select cycle.

With modern detergents such as smol, the good news is you can TURN DOWN THE TEMP on most of your wash loads!

The benefits of washing on cooler temperatures are lower bills and lower carbon footprints.

The exception to this is cotton underwear and bedding which you will probably find need a warmer wash than cold. 

Just check that you aren’t washing delicates on a normal wash cycle - they will need the appropriate program to avoid damage; if you’ve checked the care labels back in step 1 you’ll be sorted!

step 7. load up.

Turn any dark or vibrant coloured clothing inside out to further protect your items before popping your clothing into the drum one at a time. This will ensure they aren’t twisted up in a clump. 

Remember - aim for full loads. It will save you time, money, effort and carbon. However, don’t cram the machine too full. Clothes need room to move for best results.

Check out our #washwell guide to discover what a full load looks like and why you should avoid half loads wherever possible.

step 8. unload.

When the cycle has finished and the door has automatically unlocked, take out your damp laundry. Leaving wet clothes to sit in a machine is not a good idea, it sets in more wrinkles and encourages mildew along with a fusty damp smell that will be hard to remove from your clothes. Promptly remove wet laundry from the washer to lessen wrinkles and prevent mildew.

step 9. dry.

The best way to dry your laundry for the planet, your clothes and your wallet is to hang on a line to dry outdoors.

If that’s not an option - there are many ways to dry indoors without resorting to a tumble dryer including dehumidifiers and heated airers.

step 10. put away.

Hanging your clothes up to dry will decrease the need to iron, so once they are dry it’s time to separate out the items that WILL still need an iron from those that can get put away. Neatly fold the items that must go into a drawer and for clothing that sits on hangers - ensure all zippers and buttons are done up (this helps your clothing keep its shape).

laundry champ.

So there we have it. Ten smol steps to laundry success. And the most important takeaway? Don’t deny your laundry a good quality detergent such as smol capsules. Our FREE TRIAL means you’ve nothing to lose and a lot of wonderfully washed clothes to gain!