If you have a large family, the washing machine in your home is probably switched on more often than not, and you might even find yourself loading it up a few times each day. Young children can work their way through clothes and socks in next to no time at all, especially if they often get muddy through playing outside.
Since doing the laundry can be tiring, here are a few useful tips to bear in mind and hopefully make the process less exhausting:
Pre-sort laundry
Rather than simply gather the dirty laundry in one big pile, pre-sort it before you come to wash. Laundry bins and baskets are useful for this, as you can assign one for your whites, one for colours and one for hand-wash or undergarments. It's a good idea to label them too - although some come pre-labelled - so your teenagers can place their own laundry in the baskets.
This way, you won't have to sift through a messy pile of clothes before loading them into the washing machine. Instead, you'll be able to reach for one pile and throw it into the drum straight away, making your washing process hassle-free.
Pin socks together
When you do one big wash, it's common for socks to become mismatched, leaving you having to search through the pile to find each matching pair. This can be frustrating and time-consuming, so to avoid any missing sock-related issues, pin each pair of socks together before placing them in the washing machine.
Don't overload the washing machine
While you might have what seems like endless piles of clothes to wash, it's important to remember not to overload the washing machine. Filling the drum to the brim won't give your clothes a thorough clean and you may find that there are still visible marks or stains on certain garments once the wash has ended.
Wash undergarments separately
When it comes to washing your undergarments, it's a good idea to wash them separately. Packing fine bras and lingerie into the washing machine with garments such as sweaters and jeans could cause them to become damaged.
Since undergarments are normally made of delicate materials, such as lace or silk, check the information on the washing label before throwing them into the machine as there's a high chance that they're probably handwash only.
If you can wash them in the machine though, it's a good idea to place them into a mesh bag to avoid damaging underwires or fine embellishments such as rhinestones.
© Axonn 2015