Four laundry mistakes ruining your clothes

Emma Rostron, general manager at One Less Thing, has shared top tips on correctly loading and washing clothing properly.

The expert explained: "It might seem like a chore, but you should always separate your clothes into whites, light colours, dark colours, and delicates.

"This will help you avoid colour transfer and ensure your clothes are washed at the right temperature as the wrong temperature can cause them to shrink or fade, and even result in clothes that are no longer the colour you intended.

"For example, washing red clothes with white clothes on a hot wash can leave everything pink."

It can also help colours stay bright, including white clothing which will stay looking nicer for longer.

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It can be tempting to do as few loads as possible, especially with energy bills costing UK households a fortune.

However, overloading the washing machine can result in poor washing performance and can even cause damage to the machine.

This is because the drum will become unbalanced or too heavy and be hard to spin.

Emma added: "A good rule of thumb is to fill the drum about three quarters of the way, leaving enough space that you can pop the side of your hand in between the edge of the drum and your clothes.

"Overloading the machine can also cause clothes to rub against each other, which can cause them to wear out faster as well as form those annoying bobbles that make clothes look worn and old."

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Matthew Morris, owner of Go Cleaners London, added: "Not only does this mean clothes rub against each other more, leading to wear and tear, but it can also make it difficult for the detergent and water to circulate properly, meaning some clothes won't get a decent wash, if at all!

"So, if you have a large load, consider splitting it into two smaller loads instead of overloading the machine.

"The key isn't to fill the drum to burst but to leave enough space for the clothes to slosh around."

The expert continued: "Too much detergent can lead to excess suds and poor rinsing which can leave your clothes with a sticky film, while too little means your clothes won't get a thorough enough clean.

"To determine the correct amount of detergent, always check the instructions on the package as they will usually give you a guide.

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"As a rule, you’ll need more for heavily soiled clothes or large loads and less for lightly soiled, delicate or small loads."

Not cleaning the appliance makes it a breeding ground for mould and mildew as well as limescale which can cause the machine to not run as well.

Matthew added: "Simply run a hot cycle with a cup of white vinegar or bleach before giving it a quick final cool rinse to remove any remaining residue.

"You should also wipe down the door and rubber gasket after each wash to remove any excess water and prevent mould growth which can make your clothes smell even when they’ve been washed."