Doing the laundry - it's one of those household chores that we all waste much more time on than we'd like. Despite the amount of hours we spend on the dull duty, it seems that a lot of us don't actually know how to use our washing machines properly - a problem that has been highlighted by Capital DJ Roman Kemp this week, as reported by the Mirror.
At the age of 29, Roman - the son of Spandau Ballet star Martin Kemp - admitted to his 294,000 Twitter followers that he didn't know what he should be putting in each of the three trays in the drawer at the top of his washing machine. Sharing a photo, he wrote: "I’m Roman. I’m 29 years old; and I still have no idea what I put in each of these…"
And with more than 51,000 likes on Roman's tweet, it's clear that he's not the only one who is stumped by the trays and their confusing little symbols, the Mirror reports. "I'm Sarah and am 47 and I don't know either. Please share when you know," one bemused Twitter user wrote.
Another added: "Morning Roman, I’m 76 and l still haven’t a clue, but it’s all clean when it comes out."
InTheWash.co.uk advises everyone to check the manual for their machines as confusingly, the symbols above each of the compartments which indicate what you should put in them can be in different places on different models.
But the website says the machine drawer compartments are usually labelled one, two and three/star/flower symbol. Number one, usually labelled as 'I', is the 'pre-wash' compartment, where you put detergent for a pre-wash cycle when your clothes are particularly stained or dirty.
Number two, or 'II' is the 'main wash' compartment, which you use almost every time you wash your clothes. This is where InTheWash says you put your detergent. A powder or a liquid can go in this part.
The third compartment, which usually has a flower or a star symbol on it, is where the fabric softener is supposed to go and is the smallest compartment of the three in the drawer and it usually goes in the middle.
Roman's post was shared far and wide on social media, including in the Family Lockdown Ideas Facebook group by a mum who revealed she had been using her washing machine incorrectly for more than 30 years. She wrote: "Had to share as just discovered that I’ve been putting the detergent in the pre wash drawer for the last 30 years [laughing face emoji]".
"Always thought it illogical to put the fabric conditioner in the middle but always put the detergent to the right, never once thought it could all be backwards.
"*goes to shop to buy pods, adulting is harder than it looks…..".
Another woman admitted that she puts detergent in all three, saying: "I just put a little bit of something in all of them and hope for the best!
"I’m just grateful I’ve put the wash in and hope I don’t forget about it."
One mum explained that for her machine, washing powder goes in the left tray, fabric softener in the middle, while the right is for a 'pre-wash' - which confused Facebook users even more.
"I’ve just realised I’ve put the fabric softener in the pre-wash for years!!!" one person responded.
Others suggested buying 'straight to drum' liquids and capsules, while a few others advised people to check their instruction manuals for answers.
Roman's viral post caught the attention of cleaning expert Laura de Barra - author of Gaff Goddess: Simple Tips and Tricks to Help You Run Your Home. She outlined her tips on Twitter to give the radio presenter, and the rest of the nation, a helping hand.
Laura replied: "Ok. Listen up: There are usually 3 compartments: prewash, detergent, softener. Not knowing what is what can make clothes smellier, scratchier and actually not last as long or do what they should.
"Also, how doesn’t the machine wash all three down at same time?? Let’s learn… Sound manufacturers make it easy. L-R in order. So L is prewash, middle is detergent, R is softener. But as it’s not always the case… it’s also imperative that the right sh*t hits your clothes at the right time…
"Pre wash will have more surfactants to help remove heavy soiling so will need a lot of rinsing to remove, she needs to enter early doors.
"Softener is designed to linger, so needs only a rinse stage and detergent would never come off & clog fibres if it wasn’t followed by rinses
"Many machines aren’t in order. So suss your symbols! You’ll have symbols like @romankemp image, see them above the compartments? I (sometimes 1) is prewash. II (2) is detergent and the flower (3) is softener."
