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I'm a busy mum and a laundry expert: these are my top time-saving school uniform hacks
With over seven years of product testing experience, Rebecca knows exactly which laundry appliances will cut the mustard - or hopefully just remove it.
Since my daughter started primary school in September, grass stains, ink blots and muddy bottoms have become an increasingly frequent sight in my laundry basket.
She's my only child, but still the number of school uniforms we seem to get through is eye-watering – and that's not to mention the myriad of mysterious marks I'm tasked with making disappear.
Thankfully, years as Which?'s laundry expert mean I have a few tried-and-tested tricks up my sleeve to help me save valuable time on the washing each week.
Read on to discover some of my favourite hacks to prevent unnecessary washloads, reduce ironing time and ensure uniforms last as long as possible.
As the Which? laundry expert, I translate lab data into unbiased product reviews to find the best washing machines
1. Rotate uniforms to make them last longer
It might sound straightforward, but skipping this step when putting away your laundry could result in clothes wearing out much faster than you might like – especially around the collars, cuffs and underarms.
Putting clean uniforms at the bottom of the drawer ensures your child doesn't end up wearing the same handful of polo shirts day after day, neglecting the rest of the multipack that still look practically brand new.
I like to have a well-worn set of uniforms on standby for days when I know my daughter is going to be engaging in a particularly messy activity, like making fruit kebabs (hello, strawberry juice) or finger-painting the perfect Christmas card.
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2. Treat (some) stains well before washing
Not all stains are created equal, so while some won't do much damage if left to linger in the laundry basket, others can leave marks that are near-impossible to shift.
Remove things like felt-tip pens, Sharpies, and paint from fabrics as soon as possible. If your child is anything like mine, stains like these will be a very common occurrence, so working out how to deal with them will save you lots of hassle in the long run.
Get in the mindset of taking any stained uniform items off as soon as you get home, then you can spot-treat anything that looks particularly gnarly – especially if you're not due to put another washload on for a day or two.
It's always best to gently dab or blot stains rather than scrub them aggressively, as this helps lift the grime from the fabric instead of pushing it in and spreading it around.
My go-to stain removal routine:
- Add a small amount of liquid laundry detergent or washing-up liquid directly onto the stain, before rubbing in gently with your finger or a clean soft brush.
- Allow the mixture to sit for a few minutes (preferably 5-10, if you've got them) to let the magic happen.
- Rinse the stained area with cold water and, hopefully, the stain will have virtually disappeared. Cold water is best for ink stains and anything protein-based, like blood or any unknown marks, because heat can 'set' them. But warm or hot water is better for oil or grease-based stains.
- Add the item to your washload as normal, then hang it in direct sunlight to dry to help shift any remaining stubborn marks.
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3. Dry items hanging up to save on ironing time
Don't judge me, but I prefer to spend my precious free time on the sofa binge-watching my favourite TV series rather than long shifts at the ironing board. But I also don't want to send my daughter to school in a wrinkled polo.
Removing uniforms from the washing machine as soon as the program has finished ensures wrinkles don't have enough time to properly set in, so the first thing to do is get everything out of the drum and give each item a good shake.
I prefer to line dry where possible, as a good breeze helps to shake creases out too, but using hangers indoors is another good alternative.
Fastening the top buttons of shirts, polos and button-down dresses helps them better maintain their shape as they dry, so try to get in the habit of doing this as you hang them out.
Unwilling to give up crisp collars? Take a look at our best steam irons to see which models aced our testing. Plus, our best tumble dryers should eradicate a good number of creases.
4. Never mix white shirts with colours
Mixing white clothes with anything other than more white clothes is always a no-no, but that becomes increasingly important when trying to keep a white school shirt from turning a murky shade of grey by October half-term.
Try to save up all of your dirty white items until you have enough for a full (or half) load – even pale colours like beige or cream will make your whites lose their brightness over time.
It's also important not to overload the drum, because your clothes need space in the washing machine for the suds and water to circulate, ensuring that the detergent can reach the fibres to clean them, and also be rinsed away without leaving any residue or streaks behind. A good rule of thumb is to leave enough space for a hand's width between your laundry and the top of the drum.
Drying your whites outside on a sunny day can help to naturally lighten them, because UV rays help break down the chemical bonds in stains and residues. But it's best to bring them off the line as soon as they're dry enough to prevent any yellowing or other sun damage.
5. Wash smarter, not more often
Not every item of uniform needs to be washed after each wear. Unless your child is diving headfirst into muddy puddles on a daily basis, items like jumpers, cardigans and blazers can be worn at least twice before making their way into the laundry basket (with a bit of luck, they might even make it through the week without spills or mishaps).
Overwashing items causes them to wear out much quicker, not to mention the toll it can take on your weekly washing pile. Sometimes you can spot-treat smaller stains (especially on places like cuffs or collars) so your child can wear something again the next day.
If you're a sucker for the smell of clean laundry in the mornings – and I know I am – you can always run lightly soiled items through a quick wash cycle. Some machines also offer programs designed to 'refresh' garments rather than give them a full deep clean, using steam to press out wrinkles and give everything that 'just-washed' scent.
Our guide on how to wash clothes, towels and bedding helps take the guesswork out of your laundry basket.
6. Create a five-minute evening uniform reset
Finding spare time before the school run feels like an impossible task reminiscent of The Crystal Maze, so you'll really thank yourself for taking a few minutes each evening to organise what your child will be wearing the next day – and check it's all clean and ready to go.
It's also a good idea to check items for dirt and grime when your child takes their uniform off. That way you can see what needs to be chucked in the laundry basket and what they can wear again in the morning.
I'd also ask your child to empty their pockets – unless you particularly enjoy rooting hair clips, stickers, acorns and various other 'souvenirs' from the filter in your washing machine. I learnt this one the hard way.
I like to look at the weather forecast while my daughter is getting ready for bed and agree with her what she'd like to wear to school tomorrow (even down to the style of socks!). Then I hang it over the bannister outside her bedroom so nobody is rooting through drawers in a flap to find 'the right' uniform in the morning.
For further tips from another busy mum at Which?, read 'We're a family of six in a two-bed house – these are my top space-saving hacks'.
