Laundry mistakes are inevitable – you can’t stop them. We love our clothes and want to take care of them but unfortunately, clothes shrinking is common. While this can be quite the heartache, you can still save your clothes even after they’ve shrunk. In this blog, we’ll provide the answer to the question ‘what happens if my clothes shrink?’.
Firstly, it’s important we dive a little deeper into why clothes shrink. The most common reason is that the dryer’s temperature was too hot, and some clothes and fabrics shrink when exposed to high heat. We always recommend you read the labels to make sure your garment is suited for tumble drying.
Cotton, wool, and linen are usually materials that are prone to shrinking.
Now to the main question. If you do come across the ‘oh dear my clothes have shrunk’ moment, here is what to do.
Fill a sink with lukewarm water and add baby shampoo. Stir it well until you see bubbles. You can also use a conditioner that will help stretch the fibres of your garment.
After you’ve done that, put the shrunk garment in lukewarm water and leave it there between 30 minutes and one hour.
Once time has passed, remove the garment but make sure you’ve let the water drip back into the sink.
Then, get a large absorbent towel and roll up the garment inside to squeeze out the remaining water. If the garment is getting damp, then it means you are doing it right.
Finally, stretch your clothing out so it starts to reshape and then air dry it but monitor it carefully.
Clothes shrinking is a common laundry mistake but as our guide has shown, clothes can be recovered. However, we do recommend always reading care labels to prevent clothes from shrinking.
A reminder that our laundry services are available to you if you found yourself too busy to do laundry! No hassle and no clothes shrinking!
Washing machines need no introduction – they are an appliance that helps us with laundry but like with all appliances, malfunctions are common. Fortunately, you can reduce the chance of malfunctions happening. If you want to spend less money on repair or avoid buying a replacement, here are 4 ways to make your washing machine last longer.
1. Clean Consistently
It may seem poetic that an appliance that primarily functions on cleaning, needs to be cleaned itself. Look for any signs that your washing machine needs cleaning. Check for any mould or mildew. Bad smells are usually a sign that your washing machine needs cleaning.
Sometimes, if your clothes aren’t in the best condition, it could stem from the washing machine not being cleaned properly.
2. Double-Check That Pockets Are Empty
Believe it or not but it’s common for people to throw clothes into the washing machine without checking the pockets first. This could be because they are rushing their laundry and often times, they forget to empty coins and other items from their pockets. Consequently, coins can damage the drum because they go around the cycle.
3. Balance Your Laundry
Always make a habit of balancing your laundry and avoiding overloading clothes. Use your judgement and decide if there are enough clothes for one cycle. Patience is required to ensure there is sufficient space for each load of clothes. If you overload too many clothes, the drums inside will get overwhelmed and as a result, will damage the mechanical parts and it will absorb a lot of water.
4. Don’t Overuse Your Laundry Detergent
Make sure you’re using the right amount of laundry detergent. It can be tempting to put extra detergent on clothes with stains. However, more detergent can result in malfunctions and suds will only end up blocking the draining system; making it difficult for your washing machine to pump out water.
Laundry is a repetitive chore; the job starts with putting dirty clothes in the basket and ends with hanging clothes outside to dry after they’ve been put in the washing machine. However, the chore doesn’t end there. Folding your clothes is the last task.
Essentially, there are benefits to folding your clothes!
More Storage Space
Getting into a habit of folding your clothes means you’ll have more storage space in your wardrobe or drawer. Nobody wants to go home to find unfolded clothes on their chair or bed. Instead, if you fold them and put them away neatly in a contained place, you’ll save so much room and reduces the pile of laundry.
Additionally, folding your clothes will also help save space in your luggage for your next holiday!
Reduces Wrinkles
If you have an important meeting to attend and noticed a wrinkled shirt, it could mean it wasn’t folded properly. To stop your big days from being ruined by a wrinkled shirt, make sure your clothes are folded to reduce wrinkles and creases in your laundry.
However, if you want to urgently get rid of the wrinkles and creases, book with Laundryheap and we’ll iron your shirts so you look smart in your meetings!
Helps You Stay Organised
It may seem like a very small task but keeping clothes folded helps you stay productive, relaxed and organised. Leaving everything cluttered is not good for your mood. In addition, organising means you’ll find your favourite shirt easier the next time you look for it.
Increases Lifespan of Clothes
Significantly, folded clothes results in a better lifespan for your clothes. By folding them neatly and putting them away, you are eliminating the risk of buttons on clothes coming off or clothes being damaged. You’ve spent time laundering your clothes so make sure you increase their durability by folding them properly!
Folding your clothes itself is a skill and we hope next time when your clothes are cleaned and dry, you consider the benefits of folding them.
Every now and then, you should check for signs that your washing machine needs cleaning. Washing machines go through cycles daily of dirty clothes so it’s not uncommon for dirt and odours to build up. Our washing machine takes care of our clothes so it’s only fair we take care of it regularly.
To keep your clothes in good shape, you need to take care of the washing machine first. Here are signs that your washing machine needs cleaning!
1. The Clothes Aren’t In The Best Condition
You set your washing cycle on, you wait for your clothes to finish and then find out they’re not cleaned to a high standard. If you find yourself in this position, it’s a sign that your washing machine filter needs to be clean.
Leaving your filter unchecked will cause laundry detergent to latch on your clothes and your clothes won’t dry well. The rule of thumb is to clean your washing machine filter every six months to avoid clothes’ condition decaying.
2. The Washing Machine Has a Bad Odour
If you spot a bad odour lingering from your washing machine, it is a major sign that it needs to be cleaned. Expectedly, a washing machine contacts germs and bacteria from dirty laundry so it’s not surprising mould builds up inside.
Nonetheless, this mould can go on your clothes, which is extremely unhygienic, so it’s better to clean without delay.
3. The Rubber Seal Around The Door Has Black Stains
A major sign that your washing machine needs cleaning is noticing any black stains on the rubber seal around the door. In a damp environment, mould, and bacteria build up and these get stuck on the rubber seal. Always make sure you act fast and clean the rubber seal to avoid further dirt forming.
Sometimes, any stains left on the washing machine door could be from laundry detergents that haven’t been rinsed away. Always make sure you are keeping an eye out for any stains.
Our guide should help you to spot the signs that your washing machine needs cleaning and make your laundry experience better!
If your washing machine is faulty or you missed the day to give it a good clean, get in touch with Laundryheap! We’ll launder your clothes and return them back to you within 24 hours until your washing machine is in good condition again!
Summer has arrived! The BBQ Garden parties are lively and outdoors activities feel enjoyable again. While you’re enjoying time out with friends and family, it’s always best to know some summer laundry tips up your sleeve!
With the hotter weather, we are more prone to sweating, so we must continue to take care of our clothes.
Here are 5 Summer Laundry Tips you should use!
1. Hang Your Clothes Outside
The first summer laundry tip is to make full use of your garden clothesline this summer.
Hang your clothes outside in the hot weather and let the natural sunlight do its magic on your clothes. Hanging your clothes outside is proven to get rid of bad odours and your clothes will smell fresh afterwards!
2. Regular Clean Checks For Your Clothesline
We recommend always double-checking that your clothesline is clean. Summer is a great season, but it also invites all the insects and birds to your garden so if you spot any mess on your clothing line, clean it before hanging your clothes.
3. Teach The Kids About Laundry
Summer is a time when kids have fun and play with their friends. However, laundry is an important life skill and in the 6 weeks of the summer holiday break, find time to slowly introduce your kids to laundry. Start giving them small tasks such as folding clothes or organising the pegs. They’ll no doubt run to the door once they hear the ice cream van but teaching them slowly will get them into the habit of organisation.
4. Read Instructions on Labels and Detergents Carefully
This summer laundry tip may sound obvious but never underestimate summer fabrics. Always read the labels on your clothes carefully.
Certain clothes or fabrics such as silk and cotton will need to be washed differently due to the hot weather. Silk is a very delicate fabric that requires careful attention. Ensure temperatures don’t go above 30 degrees. Whereas cotton fabric can be managed to be in the washer at a hotter temperature of 90 degrees.
The same goes for choosing the right detergent. Summer clothes, as explained, as made from different materials and fabrics from winter clothes. To avoid ruining your clothes, our tip for you is to read the labels on your detergent to make sure it’s suited for delicate clothes.
We recommend using a gentle detergent for the best results and keeping your summer clothes in good condition!
5. Take Care of Your Swimwear
Whether it’s at the swimming pool or at the beach, people love swimming in the summer. You’ll want to make sure your swimwear is in good condition after you’ve finished swimming.
Before you put your swimwear away in the wash, always handwash them to ensure the sand isn’t in the machine. After you’ve hand-washed, put them in the washing machine and set the settings to 30 degrees. Once the cycle is over, the strong smell of chlorine will go away, and you’ll have freshly delicate-looking swimwear again!
You have the essential summer laundry tips to look after your clothes! If you feel that laundry will overwhelm you this summer, book with Laundryheap and we’ll do the laundry for you! No hassle, no stress!
Book with us, choose a collection day and we’ll deliver your laundry back within 24 hours!
It’s National Barbeque (BBQ) Day! You’re chilling in the garden and enjoying your BBQ! Suddenly you realise to see that there are BBQ sauce stains on your clothes.
Your emotions may shift from BBQ delight to BBQ despair but not to worry, we are here to show you that the BBQ sauce stains haven’t ruined your clothes and there are ways to remove them!
Image from Shutterstock.com
Why are BBQ Sauce Stains Difficult to Remove?
BBQ sauce stains are great on our burgers and chips. However, when they drop on our clothes, they can be a cleaning nightmare because of their greasy nature. They can ruin the colour of your fabric and they contain oily residues too.
Having said that, it’s not impossible to remove the BBQ sauce stains. Much like tomato sauce, they can be removed.
How to Remove BBQ Sauce Stains
The first step in removing BBQ sauce stain is to act fast when you notice your clothes have a funny looking colour! Don’t let the stain settle in your clothes. With care, immediately wipe the stain off with a paper towel.
If you’ve spotted the stain a little late, don’t panic. You can still scrape it off with a fork, spoon, or butter knife. Removing the external stains is important because it prevents them from spreading to other parts of your clothes.
Pour Cold Water
Secondly, pour cold water on the stained parts for a couple of minutes because it helps makes the cleaning process as seamless as possible. You’d be forgiven to think hot water helps but unfortunately, this is a misconception as hot water will only make the stain difficult to remove due to the complex mix of ingredients in the BBQ stains.
Rub Liquid Detergent and Rinse
Proceed with care and start to rub a liquid detergent into the part that has the BBQ sauce stains. As we talked about before, due to the greasy nature, you need a strong liquid detergent that does the magic. After this, let the clothing sit for 5-10 minutes (always keep an eye out) before rinsing. Once you start rinsing, make sure you don’t stop until the stain is completely removed.
Wash and Dry
You’ve rinsed the clothes so now you need to wash and dry them. Simply put your clothes in the washing machine with the hottest water settings. After the cycle is completed, the next step is drying. It’s always best to be pragmatic and approach this with precaution so double-check once again the BBQ sauce stain is removed. Even if there is a little bit of stain remaining, this could still ruin the particles in your clothing. If there is none, then start drying.
We hope your National BBQ Day is full of joy, laughter, and plenty of BBQ but no BBQ sauce stains on your clothes!
If you’re wondering why the lace in your underwear is coming unravelled or why the elastic in your waistband isn’t doing its job anymore, it’s probably because you’re washing your underwear wrong. Have no fear, because we are here to rid you of ALL your underwear washing woes.
Should you be washing underwear with normal clothes?
Killing germs
How to wash your delicates
How to wash cotton
How to wash bras
How Laundryheap can help
Should you be washing underwear with normal clothes?
Unless you wash your clothing at a minimum of 60 degrees, the bacteria from your underwear can transfer to the rest of your load. You may now be wondering why we are advised to wash clothing at anything less than 60 degrees. Aside from the environmental benefits of a cold wash, cold water will CLEAN clothing but will not ELIMINATE microorganisms. Unless your clothing is particularly dirty, simply cleaning it will suffice.
Killing germs
There are several ways that you can rid bacteria from your underwear asides from a hot wash. Using an oxygen bleach detergent can kill the bacteria from underwear at as low as 20 degrees. After washing underwear in the washing machine, you should always clean your machine. The e-coli and bacteria from your underwear can stick to your washing machine and transfer to other loads of laundry. To wash your machine, simply add two cups of white vinegar and run an empty cycle. This will leave your machine sparkling clean and ready for your next load of washing.
Running an empty cycle every time you wash your underwear is not very environmentally friendly. Rather than wasting water, energy and detergent try hand washing your underwear instead.
How to wash your delicates
Washing your delicate underwear is always difficult. Lace can become unravelled, silk can lose its silkiness and colours can fade.
It’s always best to hand wash your delicates to avoid any unnecessary trauma to the material. Use warm water and a detergent without enzymes. Be careful not to use too much detergent as this will leave behind a soapy residue. Use a gentle plunging action when washing and avoid vicious rubbing. When drying NEVER hand-ring out residual water or use the tumble dryer. Instead, hang your underwear outside, but avoid drying in direct sunlight. This process will ensure that lace stays in tact and your silks stay silky.
If you do want to use your washing machine to wash your more delicate underwear make sure you check the care label first. This will give you an indication of what cycle and temperature you should use. Additionally, put your underwear in a laundry bag or pillow case to avoid lace being snagged in the washing machine.
Unlike underwear made from silk or lace, cotton is a more durable material, and, therefor, is less likely to be damaged in the washing machine. That being said, it is still important to use a laundry bag or pillow case to ensure that your cotton stays soft. Additionally, don’t wash your underwear with jeans, towels or any other rough materials. Unlike with delicate underwear, you can use any detergent to wash your cotton underwear, just don’t overuse it as you will leave a soapy residue.
Bras can be worn 2-3 times before they need to be washed. Regardless of if you hand wash or use a washing machine, its best to use a detergent that doesn’t contain bleach or alcohol. If you can’t find a detergent without either of these ingredients, use a small amount of baby soap for the same effect.
To ensure that your bras stay in good shape it’s best to hand wash them. Hand washing is the best way to eliminate sweat and odours and prevents them from losing their shape. The best way to hand wash your bras is to leave them in warm water with a small amount of detergent. Leave them for 40 minutes to 1 hour before taking them out of the water and hanging them over your shower curtain pole, or leaving them flat on a towel to dry. Never tumble dry your bras as this will lead to them losing their shape.
If you want to use your washing machine to wash your bras, use a delicate cycle setting and a laundry bag. Additionally, make sure you don’t wash your bras with any rough or heavy materials as this will break down the fibres of your bra and lead to their deterioration.
If you don’t want to risk ruining your underwear, Laundryheap can help. Simply book your slot using our app and we will pick up, wash and deliver your underwear back to you within 24hrs. We now offer contactless collection and delivery, among other support services to limit physical interactions.
Updates to how we handle the coronavirus situation are constantly changing. At Laundryheap, the safety of our customers is our highest priority, which is why we are remaining fully operational. In addition to our usual services, we have devised new operations to ensure the safety of our customers.
Essentials pack
Discount for healthcare workers
NHS support initiative
Pay it Forward
High temperature wash services
Contactless collections and deliveries
Essentials Pack
Around the world, people have been notified by the government to limit the amount of time they spend outside. We should only be leaving our homes for the necessities- to pick up shopping or a prescription, or to exercise. To help, we have devised an Essentials Pack to help those who are unable to get the toiletries they need. Our pack includes, soap, toilet paper, washing up liquid, shampoo, shower gel, toothpaste, cleaning liquid and liquid soap.
The essentials pack can be purchased for personal use, for a relative, friend or family member, or to send to someone in need. We are collaborating with AGE UK to send essentials to someone in need. If you would like to contribute to the initiative, you can book an Essentials Pack and put AGE UK into the address section.
Please note: the Essentials Pack is only available whilst stocks last and is only available in London.
Discount for healthcare workers
Medical staff around the world are doing an outstanding job at combating coronavirus. We would like to thank healthcare workers by giving them 30% off of their laundry. If you are a healthcare worker, place your order and then contact our customer care team and give them your email address. Our team will verify your email address and add your 30% discount to your order before you pay. It’s our small way to thank you for everything that you are doing.
This offer is available in all cities we operate in.
With our partners Under the doormat, we are providing London NHS workers with temporary homes close to hospitals. Under the doormat provides luxury accommodation for people looking for home-stays in London, and we provide them with their linens. During Covid19, we are offering the empty homes we have near London hospitals to those NHS workers who need them.
If you are an NHS worker and would like to use the accommodation on offer, please contact: NHShomes@underthedoormat.com.
In addition, if you own an unoccupied property that you would like to offer to a key worker, contact: myhome@underthedoormat.com.
Pay it forward
We understand that covid19 isn’t easy for anyone, however, some people are more vulnerable than others. If you know someone who is considered a high risk of catching coronavirus, buy them a Laundryheap gift card and let us eliminate the potential virus from their clothing. When you buy one of our gift cards we will add an extra amount to the card as an added gift.
Giftcards are available in all cities we operate in.
To limit the risk of spreading coronavirus we are now offering a hot wash service across all cities we operate in. High temperatures have better success of killing bacteria and viruses, so we recommend taking advantage of this service to ensure that your clothing is effectively sterilised.
WARNING: Please always check the care label of your clothing before requesting a hot wash service. Delicate materials, such as silk, may be damaged if they are washed at too high a temperature.
We are now offering contactless collections and deliveries to limit your contact with our drivers. We want to limit the spread of coronavirus, and ensure the safety of both our customers and drivers. When you book your service, specify in the delivery instructions a safe location where we can collect and deliver your clothing. Our drivers will inform you when your clothing has been picked up and when they have been re-delivered to you.
We are keeping a close eye on the governments advice on how to handle covid19. For now, our services are fully available to ensure your safety. Download the Laundryheap app now to book your delivery slot.
Do you love to do laundry every week? Or are you more of a, leave your dirty clothes in a heap until they HAVE to be cleaned, kind of person? Regardless, your laundry habits could be a result of your Zodiac sign. Find your sign and let us know how accurate we were.
Aquarius- the eco-washer
Pisces- the generous washer
Aries- the impatient washer
Taurus- the resilient washer
Gemini- the sneaky washer
Cancer- the loyal washer
Leo- the dominant washer
Virgo- the strict washer
Libra- the friendly washer
Scorpio- the determined washer
Sagittarius- the lazy washer
Capricorn- the disciplined washer
Helping all the signs
Aquarius- the eco washer
If you’re an Aquarius then you are all about solving the problems of the world. You’re a humanitarian, progressive and intent on saving the world. That’s why when you wash you do it in the most eco-friendly way. Always using the most natural detergents, or making your own, and never buying laundry products that contain single-use plastic.
This Zodiac sign is compassionate and intuitive, always willing to lend a hand. When it comes to their laundry, they’re the first to dish out the detergent and share their fabric softener. They’re an empathetic individual, always ready to help others in or out of the laundromat.
Aries are enthusiastic and determined individuals and are always the first to put on their washing. However, this zodiac sign is notorious for being short-tempered and impatient- if their washing can’t be done on a ‘Quick-15’ setting it can lead to tantrums.
The complete opposite of the Aries, a Taurus is patient and resilient. A Taurus will always see a task through and will patiently wait for their washing to be done- no matter how long that may take.
Gemini’s have a tendency to be restless. They can’t stay still for too long, so washing their clothes proves to be their worst nightmare. Watch out, because their quick-witted and gentle nature makes them very appealing and could lead to them off-loading their dirty laundry on you.
Cancer proves to be the most loyal Zodiac sign of them all. After finding a laundry detergent that works for them they will never leave it. They are very pessimistic about new detergents and softeners making their way into the laundry market and would much rather stick to their tried and tested methods.
This fire sign dominates every aspect of their life, including the way they do their laundry. They are natural-born leaders with a knack for organisation, so their laundry is always perfectly timed and completed on schedule.
Virgo’s are analytical, hard-working and practical. They often have a methodical approach to life and they treat their laundry in the same way. Their clothes are washed on a schedule and in the most practical way.
The Libra will avoid confrontation at any cost, so if you’re looking for someone to do your washing for you search for a Libra. They are one of the more social zodiac signs, so, if you do ask them to do your washing, make sure you sit and have a chat with them first.
Scorpio’s are determined. Any task they set their mind to will be completed, whether it’s a project at work, or getting to the bottom of their laundry heap.
The Sagittarius is constantly on the move. They love to travel and hate being confined in one space for too long. Undoubtedly, they won’t even begin their washing until they have absolutely nothing left to wear. They are too curious for washing- they want to explore the world, not their laundry basket.
Capricorns possess a sense of discipline and self-control like none of the other Zodiac signs. Everything in their lives in spotless- especially their laundry. They are excellent managers and take full control over their lives, including their laundry, which is always done to the highest standard.
Regardless of your Zodiac sign, at Laundryheap we can pick up, launder and deliver your clothes back to you within 24 hours, completely free of charge. Download the Laundryheap app to book your time slot.
In all honesty, when most people think about facts to do with laundry what springs to mind first are things like stain removal tricks, or when did mankind start washing their clothes. The truth is laundry has lots of surprising tales and facts associated with it. This post will highlight 8 of the most surprising facts about laundry!
How Vikings did their laundry.
Ancient Roman’s use of urine to clean clothes.
Chinese were the first people to use the iron.
H.Sidgier invented the washing machine.
Astronauts incinerating their dirty laundry.
Pochon invented the early tumble dryer.
Washing detergent was invented because of soap shortages during the First World War.
70% of dirt on your clothes is invisible.
How Vikings did their laundry.
Early sea voyagers like the Vikings used to tie their laundry up and hang it off the back of ships to wash as it passes through the waves.
Ancient Roman’s use of urine to clean clothes.
In Ancient Rome they would heat urine with water, insert the clothes into the cocktail and stomp on the clothes to clean them.
Chinese were the first people to use the iron.
Ironing as we know it today was invented by the Chinese. They were the first people to iron clothes with metal over a thousand years ago.
H.Sidgier invented the washing machine.
1782 was the year the first washing machine was invented. Its creator was H. Sidgier of Great Britain. This was a very primitive version of what we have today, Sidgier designed a rod cage that would crank. Years later inventions like the hand-powered drum machine helped form the machine we use today.
Astronauts incinerating their dirty laundry.
Astronauts have historically incinerated their dirty laundry in the Earth’s atmosphere on their way back down. This was initially a way to save water but Nasa does hope to use soiled laundry to feed plants in the future.
Pochon invented the early tumble dryer.
Dryers have been around for 200 years. Although this is new in comparison to the washing machine, they were not commonplace in houses until after the 1960s. You can thank Pochon from France who designed and created the first-ever hand-cranked dryer. Even after the first electric dryer was created in 1936, most people continued to use the old-fashioned model for many years to come.
Washing detergent was invented because of soap shortages during the First World War.
Washing detergent as we know it today was invented because of soap shortages during the First World War. Chronic shortages of fat meant soap could not be made which led to the creation of synthetic detergent. It was first marketed as ‘Dreft’
70% of dirt on your clothes is invisible.
70% of dirt on your clothes is invisible. According to scientists’ even if your clothes appear to be clean what makes them dirty isn’t necessarily what you can see. Various types of human matter like dead skin cells, sweat, natural body oils and even the wrong type of detergent can make your clothes much dirtier than they may appear.
If you are too busy reading surprising facts about laundry instead of getting some done then let Laundryheap help with our convenient and professional service.
