Latest news with #fabricsoftener
The Sun
10 hours ago
- General
- The Sun
The ‘optimum temperature' to wash towels to get rid of germs and leave them super soft – and it's NOT 60 degrees
IF you want to ensure you are washing your towels at the right temperature to not only banish germs, but to also leave them feeling super soft, then you've come to the right place. While many of us will wash our towels at 60 degrees, it turns out that if you want to avoid 'crunchy' results, you'll need to lower the temperature. 3 3 3 Tom Drake, a DIY expert at Only Radiators, has shared his top laundry tips to keep towels 'soft' and 'fresh." Not only this, but he also revealed the "optimum temperature' for best results. Tom explained: 'Towels can feel hard and stiff due to the build up of soap and detergent which causes a less absorbent layer on your towels. 'You may think that a lot of fabric softener and a hot wash will keep your towels fresh, but this can actually have the opposite effect.' Instead, Tom stressed the importance of reducing the temperature when washing towels, which will make a huge difference to how long they last. He advised: 'You may think that hotter temperatures are better for cleaning clothes, but for towels the optimum temperature is between 30C to 40C. 'Warm water absorbs detergent better, in turn leaving less chemical child up on your towels, which makes them feel stiff.' As a result, the pro acknowledged: 'Although washing your towels at higher temperatures is the most efficient way to get rid of germs, 30C or 40C will still eliminate most of your bacteria and preserve your towel's fibres.' This can also be applied when washing bedding too, but always make sure to check the label to avoid damage. Not only this, but if you want to put the softness back into your laundry, Tom shared a simple and very cost-effective hack. Cleaning fan reveals the cheap, easy way to get clothes smelling 'beautiful' without shelling out on pricey dryer sheets 'Fabric softener will coat the fibres of the towel and build up over time which causes towels to feel hard and become less absorbent. 'Soften with towels in a load of just white vinegar once every few weeks to remove the soapy residue that causes your towels to feel hard. Laundry tips Catherine Green, sustainable cleaning expert at smol shared her laundry tips. How often should you be remaking your bed? When it comes to your bed, maintaining a hygienic sleep setup can actually improve your sleep quality, helping you start every day better. Most people shed 500 million skin cells per day and a lot of that ends up in bed for dust mites to feed on. And those with asthma or allergies might see symptoms worsen by sleeping on dirty sheets! You want to be washing your sheets once a week - or every 10 days if you don't suffer from allergies and wear nightclothes. Bedding builds up with sweat, skin cells and oils quickly, even if it doesn't look dirty. Using an effective detergent like smol's will still give you a great clean on a 20°C cycle - that's better for the planet and your energy bills! What temperature do smol recommend then? For your regular weekly washes I recommend washing most loads at 20°C for 30 minutes. It's gentler on fabrics, slashes energy use, and still delivers excellent stain removal with the right detergent. A colder wash can actually be more effective if you opt for a bio detergent as its enzymes need cooler water; too hot and they lose their ability to digest stains. A wash at 60°c (unless you have silk sheets) every now and again can help kill off dust mites and other nasties. What's the difference between bio and non-bio detergent? Bio detergents contain enzymes, which are especially good at breaking down tough stains like food, grass, or sweat. It's best used in mid to low temperature washes (ideally between 20-40°C) as anything hotter can cause them not to work effectively. Non-bio skips the enzymes, which in turn makes it more suitable for those with sensitive skin or allergies. Although non-bio doesn't contain enzymes, it's still great at removing stains and keeping your clothes clean, you just may need to use a slightly higher temperature setting to aid with the cleaning process. "One cup of white vinegar will be enough for this process,' he noted. As well as avoiding fabric softener, Tom recognised the importance of ditching tumble dryers to dry towels. He recognised that due to the hot heat within the appliance, towels may end up turning stiff and crunchy, as he continued: 'Line drying is the most environmentally friendly way to dry towels.' He also shared a two-second trick to ensure your towels stay fluffy for longer. 'If you're drying them this way, you should shake the towels once they've dried to fluff them up," Tom recommended.
The Sun
02-06-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Asda shoppers rush to buy 65p household essential dupe that's better than big brand name
SHOPPERS are flocking to Asda after spotting a household essential for just 65p - and they say it's better than the brand version that's much more expensive. Excited shoppers took to Facebook's Extreme Couponing and Bargains UK group to rave about Asda's Tropical Paradise Fabric Softener. It's usually priced at £2.38 for a 1.998L bottle, but is now reduced to just 65p in some stores. Shoppers say it smells just like Lenor, but for a fraction of the cost – and they're rushing out to buy it. One fan wrote: 'Wow, thank you!' while another said, 'This is such a great bargain.' The find comes just days after another eagle-eyed shopper shared their mega savings spree at Asda. Shoppers claimed to have picked up Fairy laundry pods for £1, big bottles of Lenor for 70p, and bottles of Asda's Pure Cotton Sensitive Fabric Softener for just 68p each, rather than the usual £2.48. Posting to the same Facebook group, the bargain hunter wrote: 'I just picked these up in Asda,' along with a snap of their stacked trolley. Fellow group members were left gobsmacked, with one writing: 'Wowsas, brilliant find!' Fashion fans are running to Asda for 'amazing value' holiday jewellery - including must-have £3.50 claw clips 'I wish this would happen to me lol, never does,' someone else said. While another added: 'Some people are lucky!' So if your laundry stash is running low, it's worth swinging by your local Asda. Its worth bearing in mind prices and product availability differs between stores so you might want to call ahead to check if your local store is stocking this bargain buy. While these low prices might seem too good to miss, it's always worth checking and comparing prices before diving in. Just because something's on offer, it doesn't mean it's always the best deal. There are loads of price comparison tools that can help make sure you're not overpaying. Google Shopping lets you search and compare prices across the web just by typing in the product name or number. PriceSpy shows price history from over 3,000 retailers including Amazon and the major supermarkets, while Idealo ranks shops from cheapest to most expensive for the item you're after. So before you stock up, take a few seconds to do a quick search – it might save you even more cash in the long run. How to save at Asda Shop the budget range Savvy shopper Eilish Stout-Cairns recommends that shoppers grab items from Asda's Just Essentials range. She said: " Asda's budget range is easy to spot as it's bright yellow! Keep your eyes peeled for yellow and you'll find their Just Essentials range. "It's great value and I've found it has a much wider selection of budget items compared to other supermarkets. Sign up to Asda Rewards The savvy-saver also presses on the importance of signing up to Asda's reward scheme. She said: "Asda Rewards is free to join and if you shop at Asda you should absolutely sign up. "As an Asda Rewards member, you'll get exclusive discounts and offers, and you'll also be able to earn 10% cashback on Star Products. "This will go straight into your cashpot, and once you've earned at least £1, you can transfer the money in your cashpot into ASDA vouchers. We've previously rounded up the best supermarket loyalty schemes - including the ones that will save you the most money. Look out for booze deals Eilish always suggests that shoppers looking to buy booze look out for bargain deals. She said: "Asda often has an alcohol offer on: buy six bottles and save 25%. "The offer includes selected bottles with red, white and rose options, as well as prosecco. There are usually lots of popular bottles included, for example, Oyster Bay Hawkes Bay Merlot, Oyster Bay Hawkes Bay Merlot and Freixenet Prosecco D.O.C. "Obviously, the more expensive the bottles you choose, the more you save." Join Facebook groups The savvy saver also recommends that fans of Asda join Facebook groups to keep in the know about the latest bargains in-store. Eilish said: "I recommend joining the Latest Deals Facebook Group to find out about the latest deals and new launches in store. "Every day, more than 250,000 deal hunters share their latest bargain finds and new releases. "For example, recently a member shared a picture of Asda's new Barbie range spotted in store. "Another member shared the bargain outdoor plants she picked up, including roses for 47p, blackcurrant bushes for 14p and topiary trees for 14p."
