21 June 2024 , 16:00
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While some household chores can be relegated to the bottom of the 'to do' list, there is no escaping the dreaded laundry pile - but one cleaning expert has claimed that Brits are neglecting one essential washing machine cycle.
Despite the average person spending a whopping three hours on laundry every week, there are some common appliance mistakes that could be costing you more money. According to Salah Sun, from Beko Plc, using the same washing machine setting for every laundry load isn’t the most effective way to clean clothes.
He said: "These appliances have many easy-to-use settings which, with a quick switch, could make your laundry easier." In fact, a staggering £6.8billion is being wasted each year from shrinking and damaging clothes from failed laundry care, with the worst hit items being jeans.
The expert revealed that a majority of homeowners fail to use the 'clean cycle', which he claims "guarantees a cleaner and better working" appliance. Salah continued: "One easily forgotten cycle that you should be using once a month is the clean cycle. This helps to keep your washing machine working its best, keeping your clothes clean and the drum smelling better."
The household guru then shared his tried-and-tested technique, adding: "Empty your drum, add a cap of vinegar to your drawer, and run your clean cycle." This will take the machine through a hot cycle, which can help remove limescale and hidden grime build-up.
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"Make sure you’re regularly cleaning around the door, drum, and even your drainage point at the bottom," Salah explained. While most of us opt for a preferred method, the expert shared the other spin cycles and settings that should be regularly utilised.
Delicate cycle
The delicate washing machine feature provides gentle agitation to keep your most precious pieces of clothing safe. It is great for underwear and silk blouses, but won’t effectively clean your towels or jeans, which require a more aggressive cleaning approach.
Quick wash
The quick wash is a popular choice for many busy Brits, as it provides a clean laundry pile in as little as 30-minutes. However, heavily soiled or wool items might require a soak beforehand, meaning that a longer wash time is a must.
Use your quick wash cycle if you need something last-minute, but make sure not to put everything into your drum with it. Keep any items that need some extra attention, including your stained attire, to the side to be treated properly.
Spin speed
The spin speed determines how fast your machine’s drum spins when getting rid of your excess water and aiding in drying your clothes to a fresh damp rather than soaking wet.
Salah said: "High spin is great for thick, robust fabrics such as denim. If you’re washing your jeans with a low spin speed, you might find they come out damper than you expected and take longer to dry.
"However, more delicate fabrics, such as silk and wool, should stay at a low spin speed. High spin speeds can also increase creases in your clothes, so if your silk shirt is a nightmare to iron, try adjusting your washing machine settings."
Temperature
A washing machine's temperature can range between 15 and 95°C, with both high and low temperatures having their own benefits. A lower temperature can slash your energy consumption, whereas a higher temperature is perfect for decontaminating heavily soiled clothing.
Salah added: "Some fabrics, such as wool, shouldn’t be washed at a high temperature. However, keeping your temperature setting at low might not clean effectively. If your family is fighting a sickness bug, higher temperatures can help kill the bacteria on your clothing and bedding, alongside a good detergent."
Agitation
Agitation describes how gentle or rough your washing machine treats your clothes. A high agitation setting will have more movement for those tougher items, whereas a low agitation setting is better for more delicate clothing.
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Salah says: "The truth of it is, using the same cycle setting won’t give your clothes the agitation they need each time. Some items, such as your towels, should be on a high agitation to get them clean, while your underwear would only need some gentle movement. This is why we recommend separating your towels from the rest of your laundry."