The Mumsnet Laundry Rules - £300 voucher to be won NOW CLOSED

[JustineBMumsnet]

Fairy Non Bio is sponsoring the Mumsnet Talk app, so we’d like you to talk about your top laundry tips for families.

Do you have tips for removing the plethora of stains your DC somehow produce? Maybe you’re skilled in mixing wash loads with zero colour transfer? Or perhaps you’ve got a cast-iron system for laundry that keeps the job from overwhelming you (and your machine).

Whatever they are, share your laundry tips for families below. Everyone who posts on the thread will be entered into a prize draw where one MNer will win a £300 Love2Shop voucher.

If you're an avid Mumsnet talk boards user, you should download the app for yourself. It's free, and allows you to be part of the conversation wherever you are!

Thanks and good luck!

MNHQ

Standard Insight T&Cs apply

I mix colours unless it's very white or a new brightly coloured red garment. I separate washes into "dirty" (pants/socks) and "clean" everything else.

My top laundry tip is to train your child early! DS was loading the washer as a tot and now as 12 year old can bring both baskets down stairs, load colours or whites, put the laundry stuff in and start the machine.

It almost makes childbirth worthwhile!

I go for laziness/efficiency - everything in together (unless a massive load to separate) and bung in a colour catcher and a spoonful of vanish and fairy powder. I'd say 80% of the time it works out well and at least things are clean!

A little squirt of ammonia in the prewash cycle will keep whites pristine and remove even the most stubborn stain. So much cheaper than branded stain removers and so much more effective. With fairy washing powder and fabric conditioner the washing smells amazing too. Get loads of compliments.

My DH moaned once too often about the way I did receive laundry. Now he does it, because he's so clever...

To remove grease stains justst rub some chalk over it before the wash and it will get absorbed, my drying tip is If you need a load to dry more quickly, toss a dry hand towel in there for 15 to 20 minutes.

My laundry tip - not everything has to be washed after only an hour's wear. You "reduce, re-use, recycle" in other areas of your life - do the same with clothing, consider a second wearing before washing.

If you don't put a load on every day you will struggle to catch up.
Be grateful if DH does it, even if he shrinks your cashmere, otherwise he may not do it again (and who would guess my shrunk cashmere would be the perfect fit from my 10yo)

Line dry! Many stains can be bleached out by a bit of sun. It's more environmentally responsible too and doesn't hike up your electricity costs like a tumble drier.

To save dry cleaning bills, I have successfully washed winter coats and woollen jackets in the delicate cycles,
Obviously, I only wash old coats/ jackets that I don't mind if they got ruined.
My colleague told me this tip: she puts the humidifier in a smallish room with the wet laundry, in a couple of hours, the clothes are dry.

If your washing machine is starting to smell run it on a high temperature wash to get it clean and sprakling again!

I separate the washing into whites, dark colours and light colours. Dh has a separate woollen sock pile (merino socks, he's a farmer & pure wool socks are a critical piece of kit, apparently). Kids (3&5) are trained to put their clothes in the right basket. DH (42) has not yet grasped the concept other than for his precious socks. Everything is line dried and may get left there for days if the weather is not kind. I never have stain problems, I use a decent bio powder (and an extra rinse cycle) and if the machine doesn't sort it the sun / daylight will.

My daughter gives me all her stained baby clothes to try and clean as she thinks I'm some sort of miracle worker! If the clothes are white I soak them in baby Milton solution first then machine wash. Sometimes light coloureds have to be sacrificed and they become white! I rub washing up liquid on grease stains and sometimes even use Swarfega hand wash if they are especially tough. I put a colour catcher in with most washes unless they are all truly white ( and often reuse the sheet if not that stained) . I always hang clothes out on the line even it's a dull day.

Also, if something is an extremely bright colour I will take it into the shower with me for the first wash and 'trample on it like I was pressing grapes'! to see if the colour runs. I also occasionally put bicarbonate of soda powder in the wash as well- much cheaper than branded Calgon type stuff. An engineer who came to service my washing told me to do that and my machine lasts for years. I always wipe out excess water from round the rubber rim after each wash and try not to over load.

Pretygood it is possible to unshrink wool but it takes patience. I managed to tumble dry my favourite dress & it came out fitting my 6 year old.

Wool/cashmere is actually very strong and can be stretched if softened first. Especially if it's good quality.

Start with a sink of Luke warm water (not too hot) and add a bottle of cheap hair conditioner. Mix and Siam your garment for half an hour or so.

Remove the garment and roll in a towel to remove excess water.

Then pull. Like you wouldn't believe uou could to your precious cashmere. Then pull some more. You won't break the fibres
Because of the conditioner.

You will probably need more than one Gp at this. Let it dry in between and try again. I promise you it is possible, but it's not a quick fix !

My tips are: throw it all in together, wash on 40 degrees for 30 mins. I use the cheapest biological powder as non-biological brings us out in a rash. I also use the basic range fabric conditioner.
My husband is a mechanic and biological gets all the oil and grease out of his work clothes perfectly

I treat the stain before it goes in the wash, it normally works. I do try to wash my laundry at the lowest temperature possible and that seems to stop colour transference.

When I replaced my washing machine I got a large capacity drum and super low energy. I now do less loads and it's far more energy efficient and get through the washing so much quicker. Also my children sort out their whites and their colours so it's quicker for me to pop them in the right loads!

Get a heated airer from Lakeland - dries everything overnight or sooner.
Worth its weight in gold!

For stains that are going to be stubborn, rub on a bit of bar soap before the wash and as for ironing? Don't bother unless its things like dress clothes. T shirts, jeans, joggers, underwear, bed sheets, etc. Save yourself a whole load of time and just fold them up without ironing. No one will notice or even care.

my teenage daughter wears something for an hour then expects it to be washed again but i secretly just iron it and hang it up

Try to use the tumble dryer as much as i can for ease

Using the timer on the washing machine has helped me lots. How did it take so long for me to notice and actually use it?

White vinegar is great for softening as we don't do scented in our household. I go through a LOT of vinegar here

I am dividing my washing for whites and dark coloured and always using natural soap to rub on stains which is very effective. Some stains on babygrows or bibs get more treated with soap and left overnight.