Before you start
- A washing machine (or a basin for hand washing)
- Laundry detergent (liquid, powder or pods)
- Stain remover (optional)
- A drying rack, line or tumble dryer
| Symbol | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Wash tub | Machine washable. A number or dots show the maximum temperature (1 dot = 30°C, 2 dots = 40°C, 3 dots = 50°C, 4 dots = 60°C) |
| Tub with one line underneath | Use a gentle or synthetics cycle |
| Tub with two lines underneath | Use a very gentle or wool cycle |
| Tub with a hand | Hand wash only |
| Crossed-out tub | Do not wash; dry clean only |
| Empty triangle | Any bleach allowed |
| Triangle with two diagonal lines | Only non-chlorine (oxygen) bleach |
| Crossed-out triangle | Do not bleach |
| Square with a circle | Tumble dry allowed (1 dot = low heat, 2 dots = normal) |
| Crossed-out square with circle | Do not tumble dry |
| Square with a horizontal line | Dry flat |
| Iron with dots | Iron at low (1 dot), medium (2) or high (3) heat |
| Circle | Professional dry clean |
Method 1 Sort and prepare
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Step 1: Check every label
Look at the care label inside each item, usually on a side seam or at the neck. Follow the maximum temperature and drying instructions.
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Step 2: Sort by colour
Make piles for whites, lights and pastels and darks and brights. New dark or red items can bleed dye for the first few washes, so wash them separately at first.
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Step 3: Sort by fabric and dirt
Wash towels and bedding separately from clothes (towels shed lint), keep delicates such as lingerie and silk apart, and separate very dirty work or sports clothes.
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Step 4: Empty pockets and close fastenings
Remove tissues, coins and pens. Zip zips, fasten hooks, and turn jeans, dark clothes and printed T-shirts inside out to reduce fading.
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Step 5: Treat stains first
Apply stain remover or a little liquid detergent to stains and leave for 10–15 minutes. Use cold water on blood, egg and dairy; hot water can set them.
Method 2 Wash in a machine
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Step 1: Load the drum
Fill it loosely, about three-quarters full, so clothes can move. Overloading leaves clothes dirty and creased and strains the machine.
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Step 2: Add the right amount of detergent
Follow the dose on the pack for your load size and how dirty it is. Use less in soft water and more in hard water. Too much detergent leaves residue and makes clothes stiff. Put pods straight into the drum, before the clothes.
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Step 3: Choose the cycle
Use Cottons for towels, bedding and sturdy cotton; Synthetics for polyester and mixed fabrics; Delicates or Wool for delicate items; Quick for lightly worn clothes.
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Step 4: Pick the temperature
30°C or cold cleans most everyday clothes and saves energy and colours. Use 40°C for moderately soiled items, and 60°C for towels, bedding, underwear and cloths when you need extra hygiene, if the labels allow.
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Step 5: Set the spin
Use a high spin for towels and cottons (dries faster) and a lower spin for delicates and synthetics to reduce creasing.
Method 3 Hand wash delicates
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Step 1: Fill a basin
Use lukewarm or cool water and a small amount of gentle or wool detergent.
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Step 2: Soak and swish
Submerge the item, swish gently and leave it for 10–30 minutes. Don’t scrub, twist or wring.
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Step 3: Rinse and press out water
Rinse in clean cool water until no suds remain, then press water out gently or roll the item in a towel.
Method 4 Dry and finish
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Step 1: Remove clothes promptly
Take washing out as soon as the cycle ends to avoid smells and creases.
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Step 2: Shake and hang
Shake each item, then hang it on a line, drying rack or hanger. Dry knitwear flat on a towel so it keeps its shape. Dry whites in sunlight and darks in the shade to avoid fading.
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Step 3: Tumble dry carefully
Only tumble dry items with the tumble dry symbol. Use low heat for synthetics and delicates, clean the lint filter every time, and remove clothes while slightly damp to reduce ironing.
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Step 4: Fold or hang straight away
Fold or hang clothes while still warm from the dryer or freshly dry to keep creases away.
Troubleshooting
My clothes shrank
Heat causes shrinkage, especially wool and cotton. Wash cooler and air-dry. For wool, soaking in lukewarm water with hair conditioner and gently stretching it while damp can sometimes help.
A colour ran onto my whites
Don’t dry them. Re-wash straight away with a colour run remover or oxygen bleach, following the instructions.
Clothes smell musty after washing
You left them in the drum too long or the machine needs cleaning. Re-wash, remove promptly, and run a maintenance wash on the machine.
White marks on dark clothes
Too much detergent or an overloaded drum. Use less detergent, load less, and add an extra rinse.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need fabric softener?
No. It softens and reduces static, but builds up on towels (making them less absorbent) and shouldn’t be used on sportswear or microfibre.
How often should I wash bedding and towels?
Wash sheets every week or two, and bath towels after 3–4 uses.
Can I wash everything at 30°C?
Most everyday clothes, yes. Wash towels, bedding, underwear and items worn by someone who is ill at 60°C if the labels allow.
Summary
Read the care labels, sort by colour and fabric, pre-treat stains and empty pockets. Wash in a loosely loaded machine with the right dose of detergent, on the cycle and temperature the label allows, usually 30°C. Take clothes out promptly, then air-dry or tumble dry only what the label permits.
