UK households must 'never' use fabric softener in their washing machine

UK households have been warned by a l aundry expert that there's one thing you should never put in washing machine. The household chore expert and washing machine guru said there are some things you should never use the appliance for.

A specialist from Which? has taken to TikTok to reveal the things she would never do when washing her own clothes. "I would never use fabric softener" the expert explains, "it can leave a layer of residue on your clothes, reduces the absorption of towels, plus it can irritate sensitive skin."

Kathryn Kellogg, founder and blogger at Going Zero Waste, said: "Fabric softener isn't needed in your wash. It doesn't wash or clean your clothes, so it's better left out entirely. It's not going to remove stains or lingering odours." She said: "Fabric softener is supposed to soften your fabrics, but it doesn't necessarily do that over time. It helps with wrinkles and static, but there are more eco friendly fabric softener alternatives."

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The expert continued: "I would never use powders for dark or bright colours, as this can make them duller, instead stick to capsules or liquids and save the powder for whites." They said: "Most people wash all their clothes at 40 but that can actually be quite hard on delicate items.

"Modern detergents generally wash well at lower temperatures, so why not try a 20 or a 30?" Leather and suede are two materials that should never be put in your washing machine, as it will damage them, and may render clothing unwearable, other experts have said.

"Water and agitation will ruin them," says Matt O'Connor, co-founder of NoScrubs Laundry Delivery and cleaning and laundry expert. The warning comes as the Which? alert went viral on TikTok, with viewers rushing to have their say and backing the expertise.