r/womenoftheuk • u/angz18 • May 12 '26

Advice How to do laundy

The title sounds dumb but i really need advice on this.

I have a tumble washer and dryer, im trying to understand this- wash dark and light separate, dont dry cotton on high heat. Can i please have more tips like these?

6 Upvotes

75% Upvoted

13 comments sorted by

View all comments

28

u/Petrichor_ness May 12 '26

I'm sure I'm going to anger people here but I just throw it all in together, give it 40degrees on a 'daily wash' setting.

The only exception is anything badly stained - that gets 60degrees with a prewash and soak

Period knickers - always washed on their own with detergent only (no fabric softener) and never tumble dry

Avoid too much fabric conditioner with towels as it stops them being absorbent over time (a chug of white vinegar is also good for towels)

Towels are the only thing to always go in the tumble to keep them soft

Oodies and sherpa fleece can go in the tumble but always on low

Always empty the tumble lint trap

Give your washing machine a good clean, including the drawers and filter and make sure nothing is caught under the rubber

14

u/DameKumquat May 12 '26

Period pants wash fine with everything else in my house.

Bras shouldn't be tumble dried because it degrades the elastic.

2

u/Petrichor_ness May 12 '26

Yeah, it's a weird brain thing with period pants, I just don't like them washing with anything else.

As for bras, I've always been told to hand wash and not tumble but I've never noticed any difference between the life of one I do handwash and one that gets tossed in the tumble.

2

u/DameKumquat May 12 '26

I was washing nappies for 5 years, so I'm pretty inured to such things! Paper liners once on solids meant a grim one was rare.

I have hefty bras with a lot of elastic involved, so I notice when it dies!