People feel cheated after realising how to wash different fabrics properly
Doing a wash can sometimes be a nightmare because you have to sort the garments out in terms of colour and it can take ages.
But it turns out, you also need to be sorting your loads out by materials too, as different materials need different care from the washing machine. Using a washing machine or tumble dryer is a task that most householders use regularly, but few have actually mastered when it comes to handling different fabrics in the washing loads.
Katy Roberts, washing machine expert at AO.com, had her say on how to simplify cleaning your different fabrics using your appliances, as many are left scratching their heads at how best to treat their clothes without damaging them.
Cotton
Katy said that cotton is the "most durable fabric to clean", and it is also the "most hassle-free material you can wash", as it can be "cleaned using any washer setting and on any temperature."
She said: "When you're tackling stains be sure to pre-treat with detergent, and when loading into your tumble dryer put this on a medium or low setting for best results. Most washing machines offer a cotton setting which uses warm water and a faster spin cycle to efficiently clean cotton so give this a try next time you're putting your cotton in the wash."
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Linen
Linen, like cotton, is also "extremely durable in the wash." Katy recommended using "a gentle cycle with warm water for best results." Also, if your linen is brightly coloured, "use a colder setting as this will help minimise any colour draining from a wash." If you want to pop your linen into the tumble dryer, "all functions are supported so you can rest assured that your linen will dry quickly and efficiently."
Wool
Katy warned: "Wool is a tricky and difficult fabric to wash. When washing your woollen garments, be sure to check the item's label as there are many dos and don'ts to washing wool correctly. Avoid using hot water, fabric softener and bleach altogether.
"Cold water cycles are best for wool along with using a mild detergent. Always air dry your woolly clothes to avoid shrinking and to cut the time this takes, why not pop the dehumidifier on? Some washing machines have a wool cycle that uses cold water and a gentler spin to prevent shrinking – a handy feature that takes the stress out of washing your jumpers."
Silk
If you're washing silk, you need to be aware that it needs "a careful approach when put in the wash." Ideally, you'll need to "use a delicate setting on your washing machine, or if your machine has one, a silk cycle with as short a spin cycle as possible."
Katy said: "Using a gentle detergent will do wonders when washing your silks but keep fabric softener out of the wash. Once again hot water and hot air should be avoided to prevent any damage to the delicate fabric, so be sure to keep your silks away from the tumble dryer. Finally, once washed, pop your silks onto a maiden and allow these to air dry away from direct sunlight."
Polyester and Nylon
Katy said: "Synthetic materials like polyester and nylon are two materials that require different treatments in the washing machine. Polyester is the easier of the two as this is best washed using a normal cycle in warm water. Try to wash your polyester items in similar colour batches and run your tumble dryer on a cooler function to dry.
"Conversely, nylon should be washed using a low-spin cycle avoiding too much heat where possible. This extends to the tumble dryer, where you should only put your nylon clothes in on a low heat."
People took to X, formerly Twitter, with some expressing their shock that people didn't know to wash different materials at different temperatures. Someone complained about their washing machine, fuming: "I wonder what the use of the washing machine is, it's of no use at all!!!! It damages the clothes, would rather switch back to the use of hands!" Someone replied with some handy advice, however, penning: "Not all clothes should go in the machine. Also, follow the wash instructions, especially for the temperature on the cloth label. Remember to also sort the clothes. Set your machine to the right setting for the type of cloth. Look up the symbols."
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