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Winter laundry makeover: master the art of washing and drying in chilly weather



Doing the laundry can seem like a monotonous task, that is never changing and, sometimes, never ending. But did you know that as the seasons change, so should your laundry habits? The water temperature, the length of the wash and even the drying time should be amended to accommodate heavier fabrics and the lack of sunlight and warmth during the day.

“Many people don’t change their laundry habits when winter starts and continue as usual. But the truth is the change in fabrics, the amount of washing and environmental factors plays a role in how to get the optimal results from your laundry,” comments Bronwyn Ragavan, brand manager for laundry detergent Personal Touch.

Ragavan explains that there are several reasons as to why you should consider changing your laundry habits as the weather gets colder, and offers tips on how to change them during this time:

  • Winter clothes are generally made from heavier materials and may require special care to maintain their quality. Using cold water to wash these clothes could make them stiffer, so consider using warm or hot water to help them stay soft. Always confirm with the clothing label on what temperature the water should be.

  • During the colder months use a gentle detergent as this will keep your clothes in good condition. Personal Touch Washing Powder sheets is a lightweight product that provides an effective clean to all winter fabrics. When it comes to storing enough washing powder this winter this eco-friendly, South African first is available in a 90g A5 box which offers 18 washes – making it easy to store when the winter laundry piles up, taking up minimal space.

  • There is no need to wash certain winter items after every wear if they are still clean.

    • Jeans can be worn more than once before washing.

    • When a shirt is worn under a jersey, this shirt will absorb your body’s moisture, and therefore your jersey can be worn a few times before needing to be washed.

    • Pyjamas can also be worn more than once as with less heat your body will not sweat less.

  • As the air is colder the time to air dry your clothes will decrease, which means that your laundry schedule needs to be adjusted to allow for extra time drying time. If your schedule or the loadshedding schedule does not allow you to wash earlier to take advantage of the sun and therefore need to dry your clothes inside, hang them in the bathroom where moisture is not a problem or in a well-ventilated large room to avoid the build-up of mould.

  • Try to avoid using a dryer when drying winter fabrics such as wool as these items tend to lose their shape. It is recommended to air dry these items only.

  • Do not overload your washing machine to avoid doing another load. When a washing machine becomes overloaded, the extra weight of the heavier clothes can make it more difficult for the machine to operate effectively and can decrease its life span.

  • Winter items such as hats, gloves and scarves can be placed in a mesh bag when washed to avoid getting tangled with other items. They can also be washed once a week if not stained or dirty.

“When it comes to washing your clothes during winter, care needs to be taken to remember that the fabrics and the weather have all changed which makes sense as to why your habits should change as well,” comments Ragavan. By making a few changes to your laundry habits to accommodate all that winter brings, will provide you with clean clothes and an easier time when washing.

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