Do you want your laundry to smell fresh and clean after every wash? Well I certainly do, I love nothing more than to give my clean dry fresh laundry a good old sniff. There is something so satisfying about fresh smelling clothes.
A good mix of laundry products will be key in keeping your washing smelling good but if your clothes are going into a dirty washing machine this will have an impact on your washing too. It’s so important to take care of your washing machine if you want clean clothes and fresh smelling cloths.
A few simple tips from me will help you to keep your laundry smelling fresh again!
Don’t delay drying your washing
Don’t leave clean washing in the machine after the load has finished washing especially not overnight. Get it our straight away the nice warm, dark environment like a closed washing machine is where bacteria and mold will thrive causing washing to lose its fresh smell.
Damp clothes
Never put damp clothes and towels in the laundry basket. You may have been swimming and emptied your wet things straight into the washing basket. This is not a good move/ Instead come home and put these wet items in the washing machine straight away. The same rule applies to wet and damp bathroom towels and face flannels.
Make sure items are really dry before you add them to you Ironing basket or put away
Thick towels and heavy clothing such as jeans take longer to dry these items may need a little longer on the washing line or in the tumble dryer. Around the pockets on jeans can still be slightly damp so make sure this area is bone dry before transferring to the ironing. A slight damp patch will cause bacteria to grow and again will take away that freshly washed smell.
Dry outside
I love seeing my washing drying outside on the line, for me its one of life’s real pleasures. Freshly aired cloths, towels and bedding is such a fabulous feeling. The sun is also a bleaching an agent so any whites with stains will really benefit from hanging outside in the sun. Before I hang my washing I always wipe the line over with a kitchen towel or antibacterial wipe. My pegs are soaked weekly in warm soapy water and are kept insure when not in use.
Choose the right products
I am a big fan of using washing detergent rather than powder or tablets I do find from experience that the detergent helps the washing to smell fresh for longer. Use fabric conditioner wisely and never use too much as this can really clog up your machine as its such a thick liquid and can cause a build up of gunk. Work with different brands and combinations until you find a fresh smell that you and your family enjoy. Scent boosters are great as they are directly thrown into the drum of the machine and release smells directly on the washing. Have you read my review of Scent Boosters?
Stains
Pre-treat stains by soaking garments in a mixture of water and white wine vinegar over night. There are plenty of other methods to remove stubborn stains and I always find natural is best Stain removal tips
Hot wash
If you’re washing smelling football kits or sweaty gym clothes always opt for a hot wash
Tumble dry
The heat from tumble driers can climate the fresh smell of washing so always use tumble dryer sheets or make your own using my method of cut up square sponge cloths, soak them in fabric conditioner, store in a plastic sealed tub and then add one to your drier when you use. I have tested a few tumble drier sheets and the Asda ones are really good and keep a long-lasting smell.
Look after your washing machine
Finally look after your washing machine. If you don’t clean your washing machine on a regular basis it will start to smell and it will not clean your clothes probably.
As always thank you for reading
Lynsey Queen of Clean xoxo
