AIR WE GO
Your laundry will be crisp and feel sun-dried this winter if you use £1 item in washing machine now
Plus five top tips for air drying your clothes
WE all love that feeling in the summer months when we pull our fresh bed sheets and duvet covers off the washing line.
After basking in the heat and sunshine for hours, not only do they feel spotless and crisp but they're fresh and smell amazing.
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It's a little luxury that homeowners love to hold onto, but it can be hard to replicate that during the winter.
When temperatures plummet in the colder months, it's all but impossible to dry clothes outside.
This means most of us have to put our sheets on the radiators and clothes airers around the home.
Luckily, one laundry expert has revealed just how we can keep that feeling during the winter.
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Expert Deyan Dimitrov, CEO of Laundryheap, has shared his top tips on how we can have summer sheets all year round.
And all you need is one thing that might even already be in your kitchen cupboard - some white vinegar.
1. Choose the right material
You might not realise it, but making sure you have the right material of bedsheets is key.
Deyan explained: "The first step is to make sure you have good-quality sheets. Look for natural fabrics like cotton, bamboo or linen.
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"Be sure to avoid any that are blended with synthetic fibres. They can be more expensive up front, but it will pay off in the long run.
"Natural fibres last longer and won’t ‘pill’ like synthetic fibres. Plus, natural fibres breathe better, making for a more comfortable night’s sleep."
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2. Do a sheets-only wash
The next step is making sure that you wash your sheets and duvet covers in a separate wash.
The expert says: "Washing your sheets in a separate cycle will make a huge difference in how they feel once dried.
"Make sure you leave enough space in the washer for your sheets to be thoroughly cleaned.
"As a general rule, avoid filling the machine more than three-quarters full.
"Use a gentle detergent and opt for cool or warm water to prevent fading and damage to the fibres.
"Avoid mixing with other fabrics, especially heavy denim or towels, as the friction will damage your sheets over time.
"I recommend you aim to wash your sheets weekly.
"In colder months, when you might sweat less and the sheets take longer to dry, you could extend this to every 10 days to two weeks."
3. Add white vinegar
It can be pricey to keep having to pick up fabric softener and conditioner over time - but we all want that super-soft, fresh feeling.
But Deyan revealed that adding half a cup of white vinegar will do exactly the same job for a fraction of the price.
He explained: "The secret to getting the crisp summer feel is surprisingly cheap and simple - white vinegar.
"Rather than forking out extra cash on fabric softener, white vinegar is a great home substitute.
"It has the same conditioning properties and can also work at removing stains on your clothing.
"Unlike fabric softener, it also prevents a build-up of residue on sheets that can eventually make materials scratchy and dull their colour.
"Just add half a cup of distilled white vinegar to your washing machine's detergent compartment before you run a cycle."
Five top tips for air drying your clothes
SARAH and Kimberly have shared their top five tips for air drying your clothes.
1. Invest in a good clothes airer
“The best way to dry your clothes quickly in the home is using a good quality clothes airer.
"During the winter, heated clothes airers are a great option, especially for homes that tend to remain quite cold.
“It's best to place your clothes airer in a low-traffic room and ensure there is plenty of ventilation to prevent damp.
“Wall-mounted drying racks are great options as they don't take up any floor space and can be folded away.
"A retractable clothesline is another option that may work well, as this can be pulled back and put away when it's not in use.”
2. Use an extra spin
“Give your laundry an extra spin at the end of the cycle to extract some of the surplus dampness and water.
"When you remove the washing from the machine, give it a good shake for the best aeration.
"This will help your clothes dry much more quickly.”
3. Hang delicate items
“You should hang delicate items such as shirts and camisoles on coat hangers off the drying rack.
This will allow more clothes to dry at once and will allow these items to dry as crease-free as possible.
"Once they are fully dry, you can then put them straight into your wardrobe, making washing easier and more convenient.”
4. Hang clothes immediately
“You should avoid leaving your clothes in the laundry basket or washing machine.
"This can cause them to smell and may result in mould growth. Instead, you should hang your clothes on a clothes airer as soon as the cycle is finished.”
5. Hang outside
“During the summer months, the best way to dry your clothes is on a clothesline in the garden.
"If this isn't possible, you can place a clothes airer outside to help your clothes dry quicker and to prevent too much moisture from building up in your home.”
4. Dry fully, then iron
Lastly, Deyan recommends ironing your sheets once it is completely dry to get that sun-dried feeling.
He said: "Air-drying your sheets is the best way to achieve that fresh, sundried feeling of summer. However, during winter, this isn’t always practical.
"On cold and damp days, I recommend adding an extra spin cycle at the end of your wash to remove as much moisture as possible.
"If you have a dehumidifier, hang your sheets on a clotheshorse and place it nearby to help speed up the drying process.
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"If you need to use a tumble dryer instead, that’s fine too.
"Once your sheets are completely dry, give them a quick press with an iron (always check the care label first!) to recreate that warm, crisp summer feeling."
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