A laundry expert has shared his top five ways to keep your washing load manageable, so you never have to spend another evening ironing your kid’s uniforms again
As youngsters go back for the new school term, parents are bracing themselves for the non-stop cycle of washing mud and ink-stained uniforms.
Laundry expert Gwil Snook from AO is coming to the rescue with his five essential tips to tame your laundry load – a lifesaver at a time when household bills are soaring. No parent fancies spending their evenings chained to the ironing board, making Gwil’s advice sound like sweet harmony in slashing both time and energy.
His top tip is to give the kids’ uniforms a vigorous shake before hanging them, dodging those stubborn creases that can take root. He advises: “To further prevent any creases, look for a washing machine with an anti-crease programme so that when you hang them out to dry, they are smooth.”
Gwil also champions the use of a wrinkle-releasing spray, to keep outfits looking crisp without the iron. For penny-pinching parents, he suggests whipping up a homemade solution by mixing equal parts fabric softener and water.
Gwil explains how it works: “Mix well and spray lightly onto clothes to help relax the fabric so wrinkles simply drop out once you hang them up.”
He also urges parents to make sure the uniforms are stored correctly if they want to rule out ironing, and he suggested another easy way to keep your school uniforms creaseless is by not packing them in tightly packed wardrobes or cupboards. If you place clothes in overcrowded spaces without breathing room, they are more likely to crease.
For those who stand by their tumble dryer but find it adds more wrinkles to their loads of laundry, Gwil recommends putting a damp cloth in the drum for the remaining ten minutes of the drying cycle. Adding a tennis ball to the cycle can also help clothes dry faster as it moves air around the dryer, helping prevent wrinkles.
The secret weapon in Gwil’s anti-crease guide is a handheld steamer, a quick and easy way to get rid of creases. He stated: “They are reasonably priced and don’t take up much room, but if you don’t want to buy one then an alternative is to place items in the bathroom while you have a hot shower.” Either way, steam is an important ingredient to keeping your kids’ uniforms crease-free, so you never have to iron another pair of trousers again.
