5 laundry habits to stop immediately

If your whites are not so bright, your darks and colours look dull, or your clothes are wearing out too soon, it could be the way you're washing and drying your clothes. 

Even the best washing machines won't be able to make up for using the wrong detergent or program. 

We run through the five easy laundry mistakes to watch out for, so you can ensure your favourite clothes look pristine and last longer.

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1. Using the same detergent for whites and darks

It's best to use washing powder for white washes, and liquid detergent (whether liquids, gels or capsules) for darks and bright colours.

This is because most washing powders contain bleaching agents. This is an excellent way of keeping your white clothes bright, but it could also make your dark clothes fade with repeat washing.

Liquid detergents, on the other hand, don't use the same bleaching agents, so they'll help your more colourful clothes keep their vibrancy.

Read our washing powder and laundry detergent reviews to find the best for blitzing tough stains and the ones that are best avoided. 

2. Over or under-washing

While you don't want to be known for wearing smelly clothes, you don't always need to wash everything after wearing it once.

If you haven't been doing something to get your clothes particularly dirty or smelly, you can follow these guidelines: 

• Underwear: 1 wear
• Bra: 2-3 wears
• T-shirt: 1-2 wears
• Whites: 1-2 wears
• Jeans: 6-10 wears
• Sweatshirt: 5-6 wears
• Dress: 1-3 wears
• Skirt: 5-7 wears

Check out our guide to washing clothes for the full list. 

While it is ultimately up to you to use your judgment (failing all else, doing a 'sniff test' is a great failsafe), washing your clothes less often does have many perks.

Not only will it keep your clothes in good condition for longer, it also means you're using your washing machine less often, saving energy and water. Speaking of which...

Visit our shortlist of the best washing machines and check out our round up of the best washing machine deals

3. Washing everything at the same temperature

Most Which? members clean their clothes on a 40°C cycle, but it's a good idea to adjust the temperature based on the load going into your washing machine.

For lightly soiled clothes, a 30°C or even 20°C wash could do the trick. A Which? investigation into laundry habits found that a 30°C wash uses 38% less energy than a 40°C one. A 20°C wash will cut it down by 62%.

For bedding, towels, and clothes with lots of tough stains, you'll probably want a hotter cycle.

For more guidelines, including at what temperatures you should wash underwear, bed sheets and baby clothes, consult our washing machine temperatures guide.

Interested in eco-friendly detergents? We've scrutinised the sustainability details of Ecover, Smol, Method, Bio-D and more green brands.

4. Putting up with a smelly washing machine

Mould build-up in washing machines is tricky to avoid, but it looks unsightly and smells bad, so you probably don't like cleaning your clothes in it.

To get rid of mould and save your nostrils from smelly and musty odours, run a regular, hot service wash every few months (ideally with washing machine cleaner). Then gently clean the rubber seal with an anti-bacterial wipe.

You'll also want to wash the detergent drawer (in most cases you can completely remove it to wash it in the sink), and clean out the lint filter behind the latch just beneath the washing machine door.

Make sure you leave your washing machine door and drawer open after washes to let humidity escape.

For more info, watch our full step-by-step video guide on how to clean a smelly washing machine.

Any other issues with your washing machine? We run through common washing machine problems and how to fix them

5. Throwing everything into the tumble dryer

Putting everything from your washing machine straight into the tumble dryer isn't the best approach to drying your clothes.

If you must use it, make sure to fill it up, separate cottons from synthetics as they dry at different speeds, and regularly clean the lint filter and heat exchanger to ensure your tumble dryer is working as efficiently as possible. Take a look at our tumble dryer reviews to get your hands on one of the best models too.

Do not try to tumble dry these clothes, unless you want them to fray, sag or ruin:

• Bras: the heat could bend them out of shape.
• Jeans: they can shrink in hot temperatures.
• Swimming costumes: the Lycra in them can distort and break.
• Tights: the delicate material can tear.
• Embellished clothes: sequins could put tiny rips into other clothes, and stones or beads can melt.
• Shoes and trainers: the glue that attaches the sole to the rest of the shoe will melt in high temperatures

Otherwise, hang your clothes up to dry. If you're drying indoors, make sure it's in a well-ventilated, sunny room with a window open, to avoid the growth of mould. 

We've tested heated clothes airers and can tell you how well they work and how much they'll cost you to run. 

Dehumidifiers can also be useful to help dry clothes, but keep the window closed if you're using one, otherwise it will have to work twice as hard. Take a look at our dehumidifier reviews to find out which performed best in our tests.

Don't put any wet garments on radiators as this releases moisture into the air causing mould, and it will act as a barrier that prevents your home from heating up. 

Window vacuums are great for removing condensation on windows. Compare our best window vacs.

Take a look at our tumble dryer tips and maintenance for more drying advice

More washing and drying tips

Which? has tested and researched washing machines and tumble dryers for decades. We've also tested washer-dryers, different types of laundry detergent and steam irons.

More recently we've tested and revealed the best heated clothes airers and best clothes steamers.

So we're a good bet if you want to know how to keep your clothes clean and looking good for as long as possible. 

Take a look at our reviews and advice to help you buy the right product and use it to the best of its abilities.

If you're after a new washer or dryer, we've picked out some popular models with Which? members. Below, you can compare prices from major online retailers. We'd always recommend reading our reviews first though, so you can get the best model for your needs.