Cleaning expert reveals five 'bad laundry habits you need to stop

• Deyan Dimitrov, CEO of Laundryheap, shared his top tips to avoid any damage
• READ MORE: I’m a cleaning expert and here’s my cost-free tip to rid your washing machine of those nasty smells

It’s an arduous chore that is loathed by many – the endless cycle of laundry.

Just as soon as you have folded and put away a clean pile of clothes, another mound appears seemingly from nowhere and needs to be washed.

To mark National Laundry Day today, Deyan Dimitrov, CEO of Laundryheap, shared his top advice for the best practice when it comes to washing your clothes to ensure neither your machine, nor your items, are damaged.

Here, he reveals the main mistakes people make when doing their laundry that end up being counter-productive to a clean load of laundry…

To mark National Laundry Day, Deyan Dimitrov, CEO of Laundryheap , shared his top advice for the best practice when it comes to doing laundry, so that your washing machine and clothes are not damaged (File image)

1. Too much detergent

Sharing his first tip, Deyan warned that overusing laundry detergent is one of the most common mistakes you can make and is ultimately futile because it does not make your clothes any cleaner.

Sharing his tips with The Express, the laundry expert said: ‘Using too much laundry detergent can result in residue marks on your garment.’

He explained the residue can then attract dirt, meaning your clothes won’t look very clean at all.

Instead, Deyan said you should scale down the quantity of detergent you use on each cycle to three quarters of what is recommended.

2. Only using one washing machine setting

You should make use of the different settings on your machine and wash at an appropriate temperature (File image)

The next bad habit you should avoid according to the laundry expert is just using one setting on your machine for different materials.

Deyan explained there are different temperature settings on washing machines, depending on the type of material in the basin.

He said that, as a general rule, towels and bedsheets should be washed in hotter temperatures, whereas cotton and wool should be washed in lower temperatures to protect the material.

Instead, you should make use of the different settings on your machine and wash at an appropriate temperature. Deyan added this can stop your clothes from fading or shrinking.

3. Not emptying pockets

The cleaning expert said you should always make time to check the pockets of any items going into the washing machine (File image)

While it might seem unimportant if you are in a hurry and busy with other things around the house, the cleaning expert said you should always make time to check the pockets of any items going into the washing machine.

Deyan warned items left in pockets of clothing that have not been emptied out before the wash can fall out into the basin of the washing machine and make their way to the drain, leaving a blockage.

He noted it is especially important to remove coins or keys as – even though the metal they are made of will not get damaged – your washing machine could.

Any metal item could shatter or crack the glass on a front-loading machine or  damage the drum itself.

Keys or coins could also lodge in the pipe, causing a blockage and potential flooding – which makes it even more worth checking for any hidden objects in pockets.

4. Putting too much into the machine

While it is often tempting to pack in a bigger load to help finish your laundry quicker, overloading your washing machine makes the actual process of a washing cycle less efficient (File image)

While it is often tempting to pack in a bigger load to help finish your laundry quicker, overloading your washing machine makes the actual process of a washing cycle less efficient.

Deyan warned that, while lots of people load up their washing machines to finish the job quickly, it will ‘ruin’ their clothes in the long run.

He explained that if more clothes are inside the basin, it’s less likely the detergent will circulate properly and clean them all

Furthermore, overloading your appliance puts an unnecessary burden on the machine, meaning it could wear down more quickly and have a shorter lifespan.

5. Ignoring warning signs on the machine

While a washing machine is a staple household item, many people will ignore warning that it could be on its last legs (File image)

While a washing machine is a staple household item, many people will ignore warning that it could be on its last legs, meaning they only buy a new one when their previous appliance has broken.

Deyan warned this is a foolish game to play, urging people to ‘act’ if they spot signs their machine could be on its way out.

‘Next time you hear an odd noise from your washing machine, smell a bad odour or see mould around the handle, it’s best to not ignore these signs,’ he said.

‘A faulty washing machine will not wash your clothes properly.’

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