6 laundry hacks you'll wish you knew sooner, from a cleaning expert (2025)

On average, Brits do around 270 loads of laundry per year – that’s about 5 loads a week per household – and that number is likely to double if you are a family of two adults and two children.

To help you feel less overwhelmed and get you excited to put on your next wash, we asked online cleaning expert Laura Mountford (aka @lauracleanaholic) to share six user-friendly tips from her book, Live, Laugh, Laundry, that will keep your clothes clean – and you happy.

Use a lint roller to remove dust and hair

A lint remover is a great little tool that can be used not only for removing lint from your laundry but I also love to use it all around my home. They are great for removing dust and hair from your sofa, curtains, headboard and lampshades.

Dry your whites outside in the sunshine

Allow your freshly washed and stain-treated laundry to dry naturally outdoors in the sunshine if possible. The sun’s UV rays act as a natural stain remover and will make your whites look brighter.

Decant your laundry products when travelling

When travelling, so that you don’t have to buy laundry products which may be difficult to find in small quantities, pack liquid detergent and fabric conditioner in the travel bottles usually used for shampoo, conditioner and shower gel. Store in either a washbag or a ziplock just in case they leak. With a little bottle of liquid detergent you can not only wash your clothes while travelling but you can use it to pre-treat and remove stains on the go too.

Use tumble dryer sheets to keep items fresh

The thing I absolutely love about tumble dryer sheets is that because they smell so amazing I also use them to keep other items fresh, in your suitcase when you travel, under the seat in your car and even in your shoes and slippers.

Pop delicates in the washing machine a mesh bag

You can purchase mesh bags to pop items in when washing them in the machine. They are really handy for small delicate items like tights and lingerie so that they don’t get tangled up or damaged.

Wash your pet’s beds and blankets with white vinegar

Regularly wash your pet’s beds and blankets. We love to snuggle up with the dogs and having plenty of blankets is an ideal way to protect your sofa. Pet beds and blankets can be the most common source of bad odours, so regularly washing them is an easy way to keep your home fresh. Pour white vinegar into your washing machine with a detergent to eliminate smells and give the beds and blankets a good shake and reshape when washed to keep them fluffy and cosy for your fur babies.

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