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Top tips for first time laundry doers

If this is your first time doing laundry, welcome to the adult world. Here are some beginners tips for you first time laundry doers. 

  • Plan ahead
  • Get the right equipment 
  • Separate your clothes
  • Read up about stains 
  • Don’t forget to dry your clothes
  • Fold straight away 
  • Don’t be afraid to ask questions
  • Leave it to the professionals

Plan ahead

When it comes to doing laundry it’s best to plan ahead. You need to have a rough idea of how much clothing and underwear you own so that you know when you will need to do your laundry without running out of things to wear. It’s best to evaluate your clothing situation and then assign yourself a day to do your laundry. This will help you motivate yourself to get your laundry done and help you plan your time around the task. 

Get the right equipment 

Before you even go near a washing machine you need to make sure that you have the appropriate equipment for doing your laundry. Consider what laundry detergent you want to use- do you want to use liquid or powder detergent? If you have sensitive skin, you need to find a detergent suitable for your skin type. Asides from detergent, make sure that you have fabric softener to maintain your clothing’s softness. There is no point in loading your washing machine with your dirty clothes if you don’t have the right equipment for your wash. 

Separate your clothes 

Once you’ve accumulated the equipment you need, you can then start separating your clothing. It’s important to know how to care for your clothing, so when you’re separating your clothes make sure that you’re checking the care labels on each item. You can separate by colour, fabric, or by washing temperature. It may take you a few washes to know which way is best for you to separate your clothes, but you will find a way that best suits you. 

Read up about stains 

It’s very easy to stain your clothing and, sometimes, not so easy to remove the stain. It’s always best to pre-treat a stain before putting it in the washing machine. To ensure that you pre-treat your stain in the best way possible, it’s always best to read up on the best stain treatments depending on the cause. 

Don’t forget to dry your clothes

Washing your clothes is only half the battle of doing laundry, you also need to dry them. Before you begin your laundry, make sure you have a way to suitably dry your clothing. This could be done using a tumble dryer, hanging your clothes on a washing line, or using a clothes horse. Whatever your method is, make sure that you have the equipment to dry your clothes in a speedy manner. 

Fold straight away 

It’s always best to get your laundry done as fast as possible, including folding and putting it away. It is very tempting to leave your clothes to dry for days on end whilst you complete other tasks, but don’t give in to this temptation. Not putting your clothes away straight away can lead items to crease and require ironing, which adds an extra task to your laundry list. 

Don’t be afraid to ask questions 

There is a lot to consider when you’re doing laundry- which laundry detergent to use, which fabric softener to use, how you are going to dry your clothes, what’s the best temperature for your clothes, etc. If you are unsure of any part of the laundry process, don’t be afraid to ask someone, or Google, for help. The more you know before doing your laundry the less risk you have of potentially ruining your clothes during the laundry process. 

Leave it to the professionals 

If you are still unsure about how to tackle your laundry, leave it to the professionals. At Laundryheap we have a multitude of laundry services for you to choose from. Whether you want your clothes washed and ironed, or if you want the full dry-cleaning service, we’ve got you covered. Simply head to the Laundryheap website, or download the free Laundryheap app, to book your service now. 

We are fully operational in London, Birmingham, Manchester, Coventry, Amsterdam, Doha, Kuwait City, Dublin, Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Singapore, Boston, New York City, Manama, and, most recently, Rotterdam, and The Hague.  


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How to manage your laundry

Image by Aqua Mechanical

If not managed properly, laundry can be a daunting task to take on. That being said, with these 10 useful tips your laundry can become simple, efficient, and a lot easier to manage. 

  • Choose a laundry day
  • Make sure you aren’t over-washing your clothes
  • Use two hampers
  • Buy an immediate laundry hamper
  • Invest in a lingerie bag
  • Treat stains straight away
  • Use an effective system
  • Do something productive whilst waiting 
  • Fold your clothes straight away
  • Use Laundryheap 

Choose a laundry day 

To begin managing your laundry its best to choose a specific day to do your laundry on. Firstly, this will give you a time scale of when you need all of your dirty laundry sorted by. Secondly, if you assign a specific day to the task then you know what will be going on that day and therefore have no excuses for not doing your laundry. 

Make sure you aren’t over-washing your clothes

Before you put an item of clothing in your laundry hamper think about whether it actually needs to be washed. Items such as jeans, for example, don’t need to be washed frequently, and therefore should not be constantly in your laundry hamper. If your clothing is not stained and doesn’t smell bad consider why you are putting it in your laundry hamper and if there is an alternative way to clean the item. For example, if it’s covered in pet hair, use a lint roller to remove it. This method could cut down the amount of laundry that you need to wash and therefore the amount of time you will have to spend doing your laundry. 

Image by Aqua Mechanical

Use two hampers

One of the most time-consuming parts of doing laundry is separating your clothes into whites and colours. Save yourself from having to sift through a mountain of dirty laundry, and invest in two laundry hampers- one for white laundry and the other for coloured laundry. This will save you an abundance of time and make your laundry day as easy as possible. 

Image by Marco Verch

Buy an immediate laundry hamper 

If you want to make your laundry day even easier, invest in an immediate laundry hamper. This hamper is where you deposit all of the laundry that needs to be done ASAP- things such as underwear and stained clothing. Your immediate laundry hamper will let you know what clothing needs to be prioritised when it comes to washing and will save you from running out of essential clothing. 

Invest in a lingerie bag

Lingerie bags are commonly brought so that delicate underwear, such as those made from lace, are not damaged when washed. That being said, lingerie bags are also handy when washing socks. Put your socks inside the bag and put them in the washing machine with the rest of your clothes. The bag will prevent the machine from eating your socks and, if you’re doing a wash with other people, prevent you from being left with mismatched socks. 

 Treat stains straight away

For the best chance of removing stains, you need to treat them as soon as possible. Rather than putting your stained clothing in your laundry hamper and leaving it until laundry day, it’s best to treat the item as soon as you find it. This will not only give you the best chance of eliminating the stain but will also save you an abundance of time when it comes to doing your laundry. 

Use an effective system 

It’s useful to remember that not all clothing is effectively washed in the same way. Always read the care label of your clothing to deduce what will sustain your clothing for the longest. For example, it is always best to hand wash woollen jumpers and leave them flat on a towel to dry. Using the most effective cleaning method may slow down your laundry process, but it will ensure that your clothes stay looking new for longer. 

Do something productive whilst waiting

Washing cycles can take some time to finish, so do something productive whilst you are waiting. Hand wash some of your more delicate items of clothing, clean your house, catch up on some work, whatever it is that needs to be done utilise the time you have waiting for your laundry to be completed and get it done. That way, once you’ve completed your laundry you can completely relax for the rest of the day. 

Fold your clothes straight away 

Whichever way you decide to dry your clothes, it is very easy to leave them to sort and fold for another day. This should not be done. As soon as your clothes are dry you should fold them and put them in their rightful place. Not only will this avoid your clothes from wrinkling, therefore decreasing the time you will have to spend ironing, but it will also get the task out of the way. 

Use Laundryheap

If your laundry is piling up, then let us take the load off. Book your dry cleaning slot with us by heading to the Laundryheap website or by downloading the free Laundryheap app. 


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How to wash your underwear

Photo by 🐴chuanyu2015 from Pexels

If you’re wondering why the lace in your underwear is coming unravelled or why the elastic in your waistband isn’t doing its job anymore, it’s probably because you’re washing your underwear wrong. Have no fear, because we are here to rid you of ALL your underwear washing woes. 

  • Should you be washing underwear with normal clothes?
  • Killing germs
  • How to wash your delicates
  • How to wash cotton
  • How to wash bras
  • How Laundryheap can help

Should you be washing underwear with normal clothes?  

Unless you wash your clothing at a minimum of 60 degrees, the bacteria from your underwear can transfer to the rest of your load. You may now be wondering why we are advised to wash clothing at anything less than 60 degrees. Aside from the environmental benefits of a cold wash, cold water will CLEAN clothing but will not ELIMINATE microorganisms. Unless your clothing is particularly dirty, simply cleaning it will suffice. 

Killing germs 

There are several ways that you can rid bacteria from your underwear asides from a hot wash. Using an oxygen bleach detergent can kill the bacteria from underwear at as low as 20 degrees. After washing underwear in the washing machine, you should always clean your machine. The e-coli and bacteria from your underwear can stick to your washing machine and transfer to other loads of laundry. To wash your machine, simply add two cups of white vinegar and run an empty cycle. This will leave your machine sparkling clean and ready for your next load of washing. 

Running an empty cycle every time you wash your underwear is not very environmentally friendly. Rather than wasting water, energy and detergent try hand washing your underwear instead.

How to wash your delicates

Washing your delicate underwear is always difficult. Lace can become unravelled, silk can lose its silkiness and colours can fade. 

It’s always best to hand wash your delicates to avoid any unnecessary trauma to the material. Use warm water and a detergent without enzymes. Be careful not to use too much detergent as this will leave behind a soapy residue. Use a gentle plunging action when washing and avoid vicious rubbing. When drying NEVER hand-ring out residual water or use the tumble dryer. Instead, hang your underwear outside, but avoid drying in direct sunlight. This process will ensure that lace stays in tact and your silks stay silky. 

If you do want to use your washing machine to wash your more delicate underwear make sure you check the care label first. This will give you an indication of what cycle and temperature you should use. Additionally, put your underwear in a laundry bag or pillow case to avoid lace being snagged in the washing machine.

Photo by Emms x

How to wash cotton 

Unlike underwear made from silk or lace, cotton is a more durable material, and, therefor, is less likely to be damaged in the washing machine. That being said, it is still important to use a laundry bag or pillow case to ensure that your cotton stays soft. Additionally, don’t wash your underwear with jeans, towels or any other rough materials. Unlike with delicate underwear, you can use any detergent to wash your cotton underwear, just don’t overuse it as you will leave a soapy residue.

Photo by Eric Wüstenhagen

 How to wash bras 

Bras can be worn 2-3 times before they need to be washed. Regardless of if you hand wash or use a washing machine, its best to use a detergent that doesn’t contain bleach or alcohol. If you can’t find a detergent without either of these ingredients, use a small amount of baby soap for the same effect. 

To ensure that your bras stay in good shape it’s best to hand wash them. Hand washing is the best way to eliminate sweat and odours and prevents them from losing their shape. The best way to hand wash your bras is to leave them in warm water with a small amount of detergent. Leave them for 40 minutes to 1 hour before taking them out of the water and hanging them over your shower curtain pole, or leaving them flat on a towel to dry. Never tumble dry your bras as this will lead to them losing their shape. 

If you want to use your washing machine to wash your bras, use a delicate cycle setting and a laundry bag. Additionally, make sure you don’t wash your bras with any rough or heavy materials as this will break down the fibres of your bra and lead to their deterioration. 

Photo by Castorly Stock from Pexels

How Laundryheap can help 

If you don’t want to risk ruining your underwear, Laundryheap can help. Simply book your slot using our app and we will pick up, wash and deliver your underwear back to you within 24hrs. We now offer contactless collection and delivery, among other support services to limit physical interactions.


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How To Clean My Shoes? Top Tips For Fresh Looking Shoes

Unfortunately, there is just no way around getting your shoes dirty. No matter how much you try to keep them clean, walking around puddles or checking the weather forecast before leaving the house. Somehow, someway, they won’t stay clean.

While cleaning your footwear seems like a simple enough task, there are a few factors to consider. For instance, what type of material are your shoes made of, what cleaning product to use, and how you should apply the product. To help you figure this all out, we’ve put together this helpful guide. So, follow these handy tips to have your shoes looking box fresh once again.

  • Know Your Material Before You Start 
  • What You Will Need
  • Leather
  • Suede
  • Sheepskin Boots
  • Canvas Shoes
  • Running Shoes
  • White Sneakers
  • Don’t Forget The Laces

Know Your Material Before Your Start 

When thinking about how to clean your footwear, the crucial factor to keep in mind is what material they are made from. Cleaning leather is an entirely different operation than cleaning suede. Likewise, techniques for cleaning canvas footwear can vary from cleaning sheepskin boots. 

So, before you start cleaning your beloved new boots, make sure you know if they are leather or suede. Similarly, make sure you know the difference between your canvas’ and your running shoes. Having this knowledge will allow you the best possible chance of restoring your footwear to their former glory.

What You Will Need

Before you start the cleaning process, there are a few things you should have available before starting. A dry brush is useful for almost all types of shoes. If you don’t have access to an actual soft-bristled shoe brush, don’t fear. An old toothbrush should do the trick just fine. But, when cleaning suede, we would advise using a suede brush, as this material is more delicate than others. 

Also, access to some laundry detergent and vinegar will prove helpful depending on what type of material you are cleaning. 

Leather Shoes

Leather shoes are an essential part of most peoples work attire. Consequently, keeping them clean is necessary for people hoping to look smart at work. 

When cleaning leather, start by removing any debris by wiping a solution of equal parts water and vinegar over the affected area. Once the leather is dry, rub with a soft cloth. Likewise, when trying to remove scuffs, use a wet cloth dipped in baking soda. After this, wipe your shoes off, then buff them again once they’ve dried. 

Suede Shoes 

Cleaning suede often strikes fear into most peoples hearts. But, try not to panic, there is an art to cleaning suede, that can leave you with fantastic results. 

Start by finding a nailbrush or suede brush. Once you have one of these, work in one direction to gently buff away stains. Now you have removed the surface dirt from the suede, start adding pressure, going back and forth with the brush to work at the harder to remove stains. For the extremely stubborn stains, use a white washcloth to rub either white vinegar or rubbing alcohol onto the affected area. Don’t worry this won’t leave a watermark, but it will give your suede a new lease of life. 

Sheepskin Boots

Sheepskin is a material similar to suede, which means extra care is needed when dealing with it. Like with suede, use a nailbrush or scrub brush, to gently wipe off any dirt at the surface of the boots. After that, wipe the outside of the boot with a damp cloth. Make sure it is not too wet, as you could ruin the material. Next, using a mixture of equal part’s cold water and vinegar, gently rub the areas that need spot cleaning. Finally, finish by wiping the mixture off with a damp cloth and leave to dry.  

Canvas Shoes

People often use canvas shoes for playing sport or in their everyday activities. Because of this, they require cleaning more regularly than the other types of shoes already mentioned in this guide. 

Start cleaning by wiping dirt off the canvas shoes with a clean toothbrush. Next, make a paste of equal parts baking soda and water. Administer this paste onto the soles of the canvas trainers using the toothbrush to remove any unwanted dirt. Finally, run the gentle cycle on your washing machine with cold water, adding roughly half the amount of detergent you would usually use and toss in your shoes. Make sure you leave them out to dry, using the dryer could shrink your shoes and no one wants that! 

Running Shoes

Running shoes bring there own unique issues when it comes to cleaning. One of the major ones being the smell from the sweat produced when using them for sport. 

Start with removing loose dirt off with a toothbrush, then clean the brush after. Once the brush is clean, dip it into a teaspoon of laundry detergent mixed with a cup of water. Now use the brush on the fabric, mesh and rubber areas of the shoe. After this, use a wet sponge to wipe off the excess solution. Lastly, leave outside to dry in the fresh air to remove any unwanted odour picked up on your runs. 

White Trainers

White trainers are often the ones we want to preserve the most. Nothing compares to the look of a fresh white pair of trainers but keeping them that colour is often an uphill battle. 

To try and restore that pearly white colour your trainers was when you first purchased them, start with applying a small amount of nail polish remover to a cotton ball. Then use it to wipe away any stains you see on the white shoes. However, if the stains persist and you feel the need to resort to bleach, make sure you dilute it first, you don’t want to end up with discoloured shoes. Use a toothbrush to scrub the trainers with a solution of one part bleach to five parts water. Finish off by rinsing with warm water. 

Don’t Forget The Laces

Keeping your shoelaces clean is an imperative aspect of maintaining that fresh out of the box look. Often people will clean the exterior of their shoe but neglect their shoelaces, leaving them with an unflattering contrast of clean and dirty.

To start with, remove the laces from the shoes, this will make cleaning the laces easier for yourself. Next, use a toothbrush to loosen any dried dirt or grime, this should come off with relative ease. After this, you can start mixing a solution of 3 tablespoons of bleach to 1 gallon of water in a sink or basin. Once the solution is ready, place the laces in a small mesh laundry bag and soak in the cleaning solution for several minutes. Be sure to wear gloves as you don’t want the bleach to irritate the skin. Finally, place the laces in the washing machine, then launder with detergent and a 1/2 cup of bleach. You can then hang the laces outside to air dry for fresh, clean laces.

If you are having a bad case of laundrophobia and don’t want to clean your shoes, we are here to help. Laundryheap offers a same-day laundry & dry cleaning collection with free next-day delivery. 


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How To Do Laundry When Camping

If you have ever been camping before, then you will be familiar with the feeling of running out of clean clothes after day two. A disastrous situation ordinarily, this can be made even worse if you have children with you. Of course, there is nothing wrong with getting a bit smelly when camping. If, however, the smell has got to a critical level, then this list will help you get your laundry done even in the most rustic of camp spots.

  1. Hand wash your laundry
  2. Clean your dirty clothes in a plastic bag.
  3. Find a bathroom sink. 
  4. Make sure you pick your detergent wisely.
  5. Come prepared to dry.
  6. Use your campfire as a washing machine.
  7. Use camping facilities. 
  8. Take the easy way out and enjoy your camping time

Hand Wash Your Laundry 

Probably the most obvious, yet painful suggestion on this list. A bit of old fashioned elbow grease is all you need to wash your dirty clothes. Instead of always relying on campsite facilities, why not bring the products you need for hand-washing your laundry?

Washing your clothes by hand is one of the simplest, fool-proof ways to ensure your clothes stay clean despite your dirty surroundings. All you need to bring is plastic washing bowls, detergent, and water. The process is as simple as heating some water on the campfire, putting the clothes and detergent into a washing bowl, and then get to scrubbing! 

Clean Your Dirty Clothes in a Plastic Bag 

Despite this sounding slightly odd at first, but a plastic bag can be a campers best friend when they need to clean their clothes. All you need for this handy laundry hack is a sturdy trash bag, some soap, and water. 

Fill the bag with the dirty clothes, then add soap and water, making sure you only fill the bag partially. Your role in all of this is to act as the washing machine, shake and spin the bag around, mimicking a spin cycle. Do this until you tire yourself out and then you know you have done enough. Finally, rinse your clothing of the soap, and hang items to dry. If you take one thing from this list, let it be bringing a clean trash bag with you camping. 

Find a Bathroom Sink

This is the most obvious of the suggestions on this list. If you are camping in campsite chances are you have access to a bathroom sink. Once you locate this essential instrument, simply add your clothes and laundry detergent and leave to soak for an hour. Lastly, rinse your clothes and hang to dry.

Make Sure You Pick Your Detergent Wisely 

You have to be careful when camping to ensure you are not harming the environment. You don’t want to be the person who destroyed any natural life, so be aware of the ever-growing list of brands that provide Eco-friendly detergents. When purchasing detergents to bring camping, try to look out for signs saying ‘suitable for septic tanks’. Also, try to remember to pour any dirty laundry water away from streams or rivers.

Come Prepared To Dry 

Drying your clothes when camping should be easy enough, after all, you are outside. Assuming it hasn’t been raining then all you need to do is bring your own line to string up a washing line for hanging your clothes. Make sure you clean it up once you are done, as someone’s used washing line isn’t something the next group of campers want to greeted with upon arrival. 

If you want to go down a slightly more luxurious route, bring some foldable drying racks. If you know you will have some laundry to do at some point on your trip, then these are cheap and convenient tools to have with you. 

Use Your Campfire As a Washing Machine

Not many people know that wood ash is actually a natural detergent. Many people wash their dirty pots and pans with fire, and it works just as well with laundry!

This method is quite risky for first-timers, once mastered, it works like a dream. We do advise you use caution when trying this the first few times, and recommend only washing clothes you wouldn’t mind ruining the first few times. To do this, you will need to get small bits of copse ash and mix it with warm water. This will turn the mixture into a grey paste that is not quite soapy. Add a small drop of oil to turn to get that soap-like texture. You will then need to apply the now soapy paste to your dirty clothing and leave for a couple of minutes before rubbing and rinsing. This method is most effective on stains that might be hard to get out if left alone for a few days.

Use Camping Laundry Facilities 

 This is useful for keeping in mind when looking for campsites to visit. Lots of campsites have washing facilities on-site for you to use. Usually, the campsite will have several different machines to use and detergent ready to buy on site. 

Take the Easy Way Out And Enjoy Your Camping Time

If the suggestions on this list seem too complicated, why not just wait till your home and get professionals Laundryheap to help. We can collect your clothes in 30 minutes and have them returned to you within 24 hours. 


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How to Stop Your Raw & Selvedge Denim From Fading

Denim jeans have been an essential item of clothing since the 19th century. Before the 1950s, most denim jeans were crafted from raw and selvedge denim. In the decades since the way jeans were produced changed drastically with the implementation of new cost-cutting technologies and manufacturing in developing countries. 

Raw and Selvedge denim remains available at a slightly higher cost and has recently seen a resurgence in demand. Even though most raw denim enthusiasts are obsessed with achieving fades on their jeans, there are still a small community of people who want to preserve the dark indigo colour their jeans are when they purchase them. There are a few approaches for maintaining that dark colour, much to the dismay of some raw denim devotees. 

  1. Soak in water and white vinegar
  2. Iron sporadically
  3. Wash with specific denim care brands
  4. Refrain from strenuous activity when wearing the jeans
  5. Buy non-fading denim
  6. Have your jeans dry cleaned (professionally)

Soak in water and white vinegar

You may have seen this hack featured on our blog before in the How To Remove Stains With Viniger post. Luckily for you, vinegar has lots of incredible uses that don’t include fish and chips, like being used to set the indigo dye in your jeans. 

Once mixed with water (about half a cup for a tub full), soak the pair of jeans in the mixture to limit any further fades. This is also a good cleaning option for denim heads who don’t want to wash there jeans at all. 

Iron regularly to stop creasing

Parts of your jeans that crease are often the first places that you will find fading; the crotch, knees and the seat are the most prominent areas for fading. 

Ironing out these creases after every wear will help minimize fading in the areas mentioned above. This isn’t the most time-efficient method and will require a high level of dedication from the wearer. So it all depends on how dedicated you are to minimizing those fades.

Wash with specific denim care brands

There are a host of reliable brands that have been tried and tested by the raw denim community to ensure the best care for your jeans. However, it is important to bear in mind if you want to limit fades, avoid the washing machine at all costs.

One common brand used to clean raw denim is Woolite Dark washing detergent. A small amount of Woolite Dark mixed with water provides an excellent soaking environment to soak your denim in. Alternatively, brands like Mr Black Garment Essentials produce ‘Denim Refresh’ products, a biodegradable solution designed to clean, refresh and extend the life of your beloved raw denim jeans. 

Refrain from excessive activity 

Without a doubt, the most depressing option on this list, refraining from wearing your new raw denim is probably the last thing you want to think about right now.

Having several different pairs of selvedge jeans can mean spacing out how much you wear each pair, leading to less fading in the long run. This option is obviously dependant on your budget and how desperate you are to maintain that dark indigo look. 

Buying non-fade denim 

This one has to go down as the easiest tip on this list and that is to just buy jeans that don’t fade. Unfortunately, raw denim that doesn’t fade comes at a hefty price and aren’t commonly found. 

Some traditional denim brands like  Pure Blue Japan have recently started making raw denim that won’t fade. PBJ sells a pair called NC-005. The “NC” stands for ‘No Change’, referring to the fabric holding its colour. These jeans will still show signs of wear, but will not fade to a lighter shade like other raw selvedge denim.

Have your jeans dry cleaned (professionally)

Taking your jeans to specialists like us here at Laundryheap ensures your denim will get the best care possible. Our service is reliable, professional and takes just 24hours. Did we mention that it’s also free next day delivery? What are you waiting for!