When the washing basket is piling up it can be tempting to quickly stuff dirty clothing into the washing machine. However, this is a common mistake which can make the appliance work harder and not produce clean clothing. Rachael Kiss, a spokesperson at Alliance Online, explained: “Loading your washing machine correctly means your clothes will get much better washing results, looking cleaner and feeling fresher.
“More so, using your washing machine efficiently will help you cut down on waste and save you money in the long run. Here are some of the best ways to correct load and use your washing machine.”
1. Overfilling the washing machine
It can be tempting to fill a washing machine to the brim with dirty laundry to cut down on the amount of washes, especially if you’re in a rush.
However, according to the expert, this isn’t the “best practice” for the longevity of the washing machine so it is best avoided.
Rachael said: “When the washing machine is overfilled, the clothes may not have enough room to move around and get properly cleaned.
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“This means that rather than your clothes being fresh and clean, they actually can become damaged from rubbing against the agitator, potentially causing tears, rips or holes.
“What’s worse, overloading your washing machine can actually damage your machine’s drum over time.
“Repairing the drum of a washing machine can end up becoming extremely costly, the parts that would need to be replaced are very expensive and would ideally need to be fixed by a professional.”
2. Not cleaning the machine
It is easy to forget that the appliances which clean items such as the dishwasher and washing machine also need cleaning regularly.
While this doesn’t need to be every week, cleaning regularly can prevent mould as well as get rid of any limescale and odours.
The expert noted: “Cleaning the washing machine can also prevent bacteria build up, which can affect the cleanliness of your clothes and reduce the machine’s efficiency.
“It is recommended that cleaning your washing machine once a month should be done.”
This can be done in a variety of different ways including using a specialist cleaner or white vinegar and baking soda in the drum.
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3. Not pre-treating clothing
Rachael continued: “Pre-treating clothing stains before the washing process can help to ensure that they are removed effectively once washed.
“Stubborn stains can set and if left untreated for a long period of time, can set into the fabric making it much harder to remove.
“Certain types of stains like grease or oil can spread if they are not treated beforehand and can spread to other areas of the piece of clothing.
“Apply a stain remover to the stubborn area and rub with light pressure, this way, you are slowly encouraging the stain to lift out of the fabric.”
This can help to save lots of money by avoiding the need to buy new clothes if they are stained.
4. Using too much detergent
In addition to trapping dirt and building up over time, using too much detergent can cause numerous problems for clothing garments.
This includes leaving an invisible layer of film on clothing which can trap dirt and hard water material, causing them to look faded.
Residue can also build up in the washing machine which can lead to mould problems, not to mention it is extremely expensive to be wasting detergent.
