Please help me be a laundry queen

[Mitsufishi]

I am so so awful at laundry. Our clothes seem to always smell slightly of damp. I hang them in our utility room which is small and doesn't get much air so I think that is probably why, although I do have a dehumidifier in there on the laundry setting. I can't really hang them any where else as there isn't space. We have a washer dryer but the dryer setting seems to only work if its on for absolutely hours so I never use it. Clothes are never that clean seeming either. I know what to do with proper stains but some t shirts etc that have things like washable paint on them just don't seem to get clean.

Everything is also always so creased because I am terrible at folding. I only iron work shirts and school clothes. Not sure i could bear doing everything. And it would only get creased again due to my terrible folding.

I've got three small children (one is very very small) so would also love to hear tips of how you do your laundry 'schedule' to make it manageable.

Help me oh domestic goddesses!

Do you have any outdoor space to hang laundry outside? Then it would have a good blow and not smell damp.

Without fresh air flow or an effective tumble dryer, you're going to get that dank smell.

Is there another room you could use, if there is no outside space?

We have a tiny utility room and no damp smell. The clothes need to dry in a couple of days or they do smell musty. I've read that a small fan will help a lot with drying times.
Anything stained I sit in a sunny windowsill. It gets rid of almost everything.
At what stage do you fold things?are you folding them too small?

The rope of a room is warmer so clothes dry better there. Could you have one of these extendable things?
www.littlewoods.com/minky-4-line-indoor-retractable-airer/1384667382.prd?aff=google&affsrc=acquisition&cm_mmc=google--GS_home-garden--Home+-+Laundry+-+Google+Shopping-_-3WtyQwo0_42986707706

TOP!

I'm rubbish at housework but generally the laundry is pretty good.

I don't leave stuff sitting in the washing machine. When not in use I leave the door open.
I hang stuff outside where possible, or I use a lakeland heate airer, which is one of the best things i've bought. Dries stuff overnight, I love it.

They just brought out a wall mounted one if you are short on space
www.lakeland.co.uk/24576/Dry-Soon-Wall-Mounted-Heated-Airer

Also re:folding, maybe consider one of these to help you with tops etc?

www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B003W490U2?pc_redir=1411934282&robot_redir=1

I hope those links work!

Also, sorry for the piecemeal (sp?) posts but what washing powder and stain remover are you using? Yyou may need to use a bio if stains are really stubborn with a squirt of Shout or vanish.

Also bear in mind some stains do better on a cooler wash i.e things like blood, some food stains, poo contain protein which 'cooks' on hotter temps.

I used to hang clothes on hangers and hang them on the bedroom curtain poles with the windows open. They do dry really quickly and doesn't make the room damp.

Check the filter on your dryer and empty it of fluff every so glad time you use it.

What temperature do you wash things at?

I found that if things were washed at thirty they were more likely to dry smelly (esp if slow to dry) and the washing machine was smelly too- a big bacterial bath.

I wash everything at 60 now or an actual proper cold wash where the water isn't heated at all and that has improved things no end.

Could you get a heated airer like someone suggested and always make sure you can spin them at the maximum your machine can do, maybe even do an extra spin after the cycle has finished for things that retain water more?

Don't overload the washing machine
You can dry outside for most of the year - even if stuff doesn't dry completely, it won't take long when you bring it in
Look at Anthea Turner you tube clips on how to fold
Don't overload clothes airers
Dry shirts on hangers
Use bio powder - not liquid.

Second the advice to check the filter on your tumble dryer. Have a google of your type of dryer.

A condenser dryer will also have a large box thing somewhere in it - as well as the simple fluff catcher - that needs cleaned out every so often. We didn't know about that and were about to give up and buy a new one as the dryer was taking ages - when the saleswoman in the shop explained we should go home and give that a clean. It worked a treat. We normally dry stuff a bit before putting it in - hanging over banisters etc - and then only half fill the dryer.

And look at getting a heated dryer...

Def to the heated airer ! I put large items on the line to air dry where possible
All underwear gets bunged in the dryer along with baby gros and vests so they are bone dry
shirts can get hung on window rails usually dry over night
Anything else gets put on airers in the garden to get off the worst wetness then into dryer or on to the heated airer over night
Cover heated airer with sheets or towels duvet covers or even shirts to keep heat in

I can do about five lots in one day like this

I would say...

Is your washing machine working properly?
Don't overload your machine
Clean the machine once a month on the highest temperature - details here.
Take washing out straight away and hang up
Use a clothes horse and try to ensure there are gaps between each item
Turn clothes over once a day to speed up drying
Use a dehumidifier
Use powder and fabric conditioner (I find Lenor or Comfort best)

Thanks so much everyone.

Question re separating
What do you wash whites with a small amount of colour with? Like a stripy top or I have this top thats white with a sort of thin fake leather piping round the collar. Wouls those go with whites or lights?

I use non bio at the moment. Would bio irritate skin of eczema sufferers and newborn?

I do pale as one wash (anything that would be noticeable if it got leaked onto) and dark or likely to run as another.
I soak school shirts in vanish overnight every 6-9 months if they're less than bright white.

So to actually answer your question, if it's got white and a colour I would usually put it in pale. Unless the dark is very dark and seemed likely to run in which case I'd maybe chuck in a colour catcher. Tesco's own.

I find that the liquid tablets end up making my washing smelly because the machine starts to smell more quickly. Since I have changed to using liquid or powder it has really improved. I also make sure that I wash sheets and towels on a really hot wash to help keep the machine clean.

Empty the machine as soon as possible (never leave the clothes sitting in it over night).

Don't over load the machine - the clothes won't be washed properly.

Four types of wash

1. White clothes
2. Dark clothes
3. Pale clothes to include white striped t shirts or similar
4. Towels and bedding (all white)

I only use fabric conditioner on the towels and bedding and same for bio detergent. We all have sensitive skin so have to use non bio for clothes and I've been told many times that fabric conditioner ruins clothes.

Any chance you can get a tumble dryer rather than washer dryer?

"I use non bio at the moment. Would bio irritate skin of eczema sufferers and newborn?"

No. This is a myth that started when biological powders first hit the market. The thing that causes skin irritations in detergents are excessive perfumes, so avoid strong scented detergents like Surf and Bold, strong scented softeners like lenor infusions and maybe use the extra rinse feature on the washer. I've found Persil and Ariel Bio powder will wash better than any other detergent.

Also, try and avoid using low temperatures. Clothes are fine to wash on 40, with bedding and towels on 60.

Run a maintenance wash through your machine (longest, hottest cycle) with a washer cleaner in it - you can get these in Home Bargains or the pound shop. This will get rid of any nastiness in the outer tub.

Regularly washing on 60 degrees with a biological powder eliminates the need for regular maintenance washes.