A SAVVY mum-of-11 has spilled the beans on how she keeps the kids’ shirts pristine white ”all year”.
With children back at school now, it often feels like the pile of clothes and shirts to chuck inside the washing machine is never-ending.
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Someone to know a little about this is mum Joanne O’Rourke who has a whopping 11 children and used to struggle with the washing load – until her friend shared a game-changing method.
Before the pal revealed their go-to hack, Joanna used to leave 32 shirts in a bucket to soak this kept them ‘’bright and white’’.
Not one to gatekeep the simple trick that makes doing laundry a breeze, Joanna also took to TikTok to spill the beans in a recent video.
She began the ”brilliant” and hassle-free method by putting all the white garments into the drum of her washing machine.
After that, she threw in washing pods and added in ‘’few scent boosters for good measure’’.
To complete the additions, the cleaning fan explained in the clip, she used Vanish Oxi Action (£4 at Tesco) , as well as fabric conditioner.
When it comes to switching the perfect setting on, Joanna said she turned the temperature to 40 degrees and puts in on for 60-minute cycle.
Joanne said: “What I do now, I leave that machine on, on a Saturday night, for the first 15 minutes so it gets really soapy and really foamy.
”And then what I do, I pause the machine, then I leave the machine on pause for the whole night so the whites then sit there, and they sit there in the Vanish and all the bits that I’ve put in there.
”So it’s just like an overnight soaking, so when I get up on Sunday morning, I then press un-pause and the wash will continue.”
The savvy parent, who posts under the username @orourkesmaddnesandmayhem, called it a ‘’quick way to ensure the white clothes stay white while smelling amazing”.
Although the effective washing machine hack worked a charm, sceptical social media users questioned Joanna about her electricity bill.
How to dry wet washing inside, in winter
Drying rack or airer
Load up your airer with wet washing and place near a heat source – like a radiator or direct sunlight – to help distribute air around your clothes.
Dehumidifier
Plug in a dehumidifier in a room with clothes hanging to dry quickly and prevent dampness and mould. Many now have a laundry setting.
Tumble dryer
A tumble dryer can heat moisture out of wet washing, saving time and can be used in any weather.
Heated airer
Many brands and shops now sell heated airers for as little as £30. The racks heat through electricity and can speed up drying time.
Open a window
Choose a spare room or unused room for keeping your washing and crack open a window, but close the door behind you.
Using curtain poles
Hang wet washing on radiators then hook them onto curtain poles with radiators below. The heat will rise and dry the items. Alternatively, if you have a shower curtain pole, hang your clothes in the bathroom with a window open.
The mum admitted that it does make it go up ‘‘but it works for me’’.
Joanna confirmed that soaking the garments in the machine ensures ‘’it’s all out the way’’.
Viewers took to comments, with one person replying: “I wish I knew this years ago when mine were in school!”
Another person chimed in: “Oh amazing! I’ll defo try this! Thank you.”
The brilliant trick was loved by others too, with one TikTok user adding: “I do this and I thought I was a weirdo which is why I didn’t share.
”Hated having to soak in a bucket to then transfer to the machine.”
