With sky-high energy bills, it's no wonder that many are seeking out clever ways to save on their laundry.
However, there are a number of so-called 'money-saving hacks' which the British Skin Foundation cautions against. What's worse, the social media tricks may not even help you get your clothes clean more effectively.
Hacks such as using washing-up liquid instead of laundry detergent and adding bicarbonate of soda to your wash should be avoided, as both can irritate the skin.
This is according to the consumer watchdogs at Which? who also found that neither hack did a good job of getting clothes clean either.
The experts also tried a refillable laundry Ecoegg, designed to cut down single-use plastic and cut costs. However, it didn’t manage to remove stains from clothes.
Ele Clark, Which? Money Expert, said: "Washing clothes is an essential expense, and the annual cost of running a washing machine has now risen to nearly £80.
"However, Which? has identified a few simple ways to cut laundry costs.
"By making changes such as washing your clothes at off-peak times, ensuring you’re filling your washing machine almost to the top, and opting for a decent detergent, you could shave money off your laundry costs."
The experts specifically found that the most energy-efficient way of washing clothes is to fill up the drum to about 80 percent full,
Quick programs – or speed-up buttons – slightly reduce how much energy is used, but not as effectively as doing bigger normal washes less regularly.
Don’t overload the washing machine either as this could lead to clothes having a limited amount of space to move around and less room for the detergent to disperse.
And if using a washing capsule, manufacturers recommend placing them at the back of the drum and then placing the laundry on top. This prevents the capsule travelling to the front of the machine, where it could get stuck to the door seal and not dissolve properly.
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