How do you keep your clothes looking nice?

[OFAHmusical]

I love buying nice clothes from Cos etc, but after the first wash everything comes out stiff and crunchy. Where am I going wrong, mumsnetters? I have a brand new washing machine, a water softener and I use normal powder. Only wash at 30. What else can I do? I can’t bear the thought of hand washing!

Was it happening with an old machine?
It's probably either too much detergent - you need less with softener, or inadequate rinsing.

Yes - for “nice” clothes I use a tiny amount of liquid detergent (the delicates stuff) and put them in mesh laundry bags too, to stop them tangling themselves up so much.

I also wash them as little as possible. I wear aprons about the house to stop them getting messed up when I’m at home :grin:

I change clothes for at home and not at home, for the same reason. The at home clothes are ones that wash and dry quickly. It means I don't like unexpected visitors though, but it means decent clothes don't get spills and pet hair on them.

Ok, mesh bags and less detergent -I’ll give those a try, thanks!

Yes. Check your dose. I consider myself a laundry queen. I got a new machine and hated it. Everything felt shit! Cursed it and blamed it for 8 odd years. Got a new different machine. First thing that happened was a flood - it turned out my drainage pipe was absolutely blocked with undissolved powder. I finally read washing powder guidance and realised I was using about 4 times too much Oldest machine was fine as it must have been using a shit-load of rinsing water. New machines don't!! I was getting through a box of soap powder a month. Now one lasts me months and months!! And washing feels so much nicer 😉 Who knew?? Not even the laundry queen!!

My husband was also insistent I was using too much powder...I didn’t believe him but I’ll
believe mumsnet!

I had been filling this up. Turns out you only need up to the low black mark 😶

Ohh...i been putting in about half the size of that jug. But still clearly way too much!

Hold fire. You don't fill one of those to the top!?

I’m really sad as bought a cheap clothes steamer to give things a better finish, and to delay the dry cleaning. But have been working from home since March, and it’s sitting in the corner gathering dust now.

For liquid detergent, if I’m only washing a few items, I would use at most a couple of tablespoons. I save powder detergent for jeans and cotton items, and again you can use a fraction of what they tell you.

Basically cut the detergent as far as possible; if clothes aren’t coming clean add a bit more.

There was an amazing ama thread on here about a year ago from a mnetter who worked for one of the powdered wash companies testing the best way to wash clothes with a mini washing machine on her work desk. It was fascinating and changed everything for me in terms of how I was clothes, towels, kids stuff etc. Turns out there is real science behind it all!! Will try to find it.

Ohhh yes! Jumping on here to see if the science thread is found!!

Also, talking about laundry detergents, does anyone add Fabulosa to remove stale smells (football kits for example) and does it effect how the clothes turn out?

My washing machine engineer said to use a tiny amount of detergent as machines now use tiny amounts of water. He also said to clean the machine regularly.

Honestly that thread was the most interesting one I've ever read on here 😃

I pre-soak things that are really dirty or smelly and add disinfectant that smells nice or non-chlorine bleach depending on what the clothes are.
Just a bit of washing powder in the washing machine.

Oooh, this was the one! www.mumsnet.com/Talk/AMA/3308661-I-developed-laundry-detergents-AMA

Was a brilliant thread!

I’m interested in whether the recommendation was to fabric softener or not. I’ve read a few articles on-line advising to stop using it as it coats the fibres of the clothing and is horrible for the environment. I’ve since stopped using it. I try not to wash clothes too often and line dry whenever possible. I have a hand steamer and when I can be bothered I steam my cashmere sweaters between wears. I’ve bought the ingredients to make my own environmentally friendly frebreeze but seriously haven’t been bothered yet. On another note I have noticed quite a lot of colour fade with my Cos items of clothing and can’t work out if I’m doing something wrong or if it’s their dyeing process. ( I don’t really use a bio washing powder)

Sevenrtytwo Thankyou!

I put a small amount of soda crystals in the wash (we are in a hard water area ).

On the washing thread I have been educated that powders contain bleach hence colour fade and liquid is best for colours. Fascinating!

@Seventytwo

Oooh, this was the one! www.mumsnet.com/Talk/AMA/3308661-I-developed-laundry-detergents-AMA

Was a brilliant thread!

Just read through OP responses. Great 👍 .

I will defer to the experts on how to use laundry detergent, but other things which help IMO are:

• Use the lowest spin cycle you can get away with
• Always hang clothes on hangers to dry
• Wash clothes less often and definitely don't get in the habit of chucking it in the wash after every wear. Most things don't need to be washed every time (except the obvious like underwear and socks)
• Controversial one these days but....use an iron. Everything looks SO much better ironed.

Agree with ironing and one better steaming.

All my work/formal clothes get steamed and look so much better than if they’ve been ironed.

Agree with ironing & steaming. Also I use net bags for any items I want to keep nice.
Iron on reverse side, right side ironing can really fade and mark clothing.
I use Laundress cashmere & laundry sprays to keep jumpers and other clothes fresh.
Love this thread