Laundry expert warns against putting this one thing in the washing machine
A laundry expert has warned that there's one thing you shouldn't be putting in your washing machine as it can irritate skin
There are numerous products on the market that promise to clean your clothes and leave then feeling soft and good as new, but some laundry experts have issued warnings against some of these.
One expert at Which? has taken to TikTok to share the things she would never do when washing her own clothes - including the one easily available product that she'd never use.
"I would never use fabric softener" explains the expert, "it can leave a layer of residue on your clothes, reduces the absorption of towels, plus it can irritate sensitive skin."
Kathryn Kellogg, founder and blogger at Going Zero Waste has echoed this view, writing: "Fabric softener isn’t needed in your wash.
"It doesn’t wash or clean your clothes, so it’s better left out entirely. It’s not going to remove stains or lingering odours.
"Fabric softener is supposed to soften your fabrics, but it doesn’t necessarily do that over time. It helps with wrinkles and static, but there are more eco friendly fabric softener alternatives."
The experts at Which? have also shared a number of things they would never do with their washing machines, adding that it's a bad idea to use too much detergent as this will also leave a residue on clothes.
The expert continued: "I would never use powders for dark or bright colours, as this can make the duller, instead stick to capsules or liquids and save the powder for whites."
The next tip is to wash different items of clothing at different temperatures.
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"Most people wash all their clothes at 40 but that can actually be quite hard on delicate items," they explain, "modern detergents generally wash well at lower temperatures, so why not try a 20 or a 30?"
Alongside being more eco-friendly reducing the temperature will also save you money on your energy bills.
Which?'s final tips are to avoid washing your jeans and jumpers too often, waiting until they are actually dirty to do so, and to be sure to clean your machine if your clothes are coming out smelly.
