1. Not rinsing towels properly
Tired of crunchy towels? You aren't alone! The secret to soft towels are a lot simpler than you think. According to mums in the Facebook Group Mums Who Clean, it all comes down to your rinse cycle. Most recommend a double rinse to ensure all the detergent washes out.
Read more about keeping your towels soft.
2. Using the wrong water temperature
In Australia, washing clothes, towels, and sheets in cold water is the most popular choice. But is one temperature better than the other for cleanliness and garment care?
It turns out that it doesn't matter. While warm water will give a slightly better result, cold water is better for your clothes. Not to mention washing clothes at a high temperature can cause them to shrink, depending on the fabric.
Read more about the best water temperature for washing your clothes.
3. Putting detergent in the wrong tray
There is a right and wrong way to add detergent to your washing machine - many of us have likely been doing it wrong. The result? Your clothes are stinkier and scratchier.
Here's what each of the other three trays on your washing machine is for.
4. Adding too much detergent
You aren't alone if you've ever had towels that feel crunchy after washing or clothes that have gone stiff.
It's a common laundry mistake that most of us make. And no, it has nothing to do with how you are drying your clothes.
It all comes down to how much detergent you use when washing your clothes. Here's how much detergent you should be using in your washing machine.
5. Not reading the care label on your clothes
Every item of clothing you purchase will have washing instructions on the tag. Read the care label before washing anything to ensure your clothes stand the test of time.
6. Waiting too long to treat a stain
The longer you leave a stain on your clothes, the harder it will be to clean. Treat or soak your stain as soon as possible for the best results.
The good news is that most common household stains can be removed with ingredients you already have at home.
Nicole Gibson is the laundry queen at Söka Australia. She says her DIY stain remover spray tackles about 70 to 80 per cent of common stains, and the best part is that it's cheap.
Nicole says the DIY stain remover spray contains a mixture of dishwashing liquid and vinegar.
"You've got dishwashing liquid, and you've got vinegar. Dishwashing liquid is perfect for removing oils, the vinegar component is good for deodorizing and whitening, and it's also good to remove oil. I think the combination works well," she says.
7. Overfilling your washing machine
If your washing pile is out of hand, cramming as many items in your machine as possible is tempting. The problem with this is that your clothes won't get cleaned properly. And you'll have one miserable washing machine.
Avoid piling your clothes too high. Instead, leave a gap between your clothes and the top of the machine so there’s amble room for everything to be cleaned.
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