The Golden Rules
- Separate darks from lights. One red sock with white shirts is a rite of passage nobody wants.
- Check the label. Every item has a care label. When in doubt, 30°C is almost always safe.
- Don't overfill the machine. Clothes need space to move to actually get clean.
- Close the door of the machine before you leave. Mould smell in a shared machine is everyone's problem.
Temperature Guide
| Temperature | When to Use |
|---|---|
| 🧊 30°C – Cold Wash | Delicates, wool, anything you're not sure about |
| 🌡️ 40°C – Standard | Everyday cotton clothes, t-shirts, underwear, socks |
| 🔥 60°C – Hot Wash | Bedding, towels, gym kit — not for coloured clothes |
Care Symbols Explained Simply
- Bucket symbol = washing instructions. The number inside is the max temperature.
- Triangle = bleaching. Crossed out means never bleach it.
- Circle = dry cleaning. Most student clothes won't have this.
- Square with circle inside = tumble dryer. Crossed out means air dry only.
- Iron symbol = ironing. Dots indicate max temperature (1 dot = low, 3 dots = high).
Classic freshers mistake: Washing everything on 60°C because it feels more thorough. Woollen jumpers, sports kit, anything viscose or silk — hot water shrinks or destroys them. When in doubt, 30°C.
The Sorting System That Takes 30 Seconds
Get two laundry bags. One for darks (black, navy, dark grey, dark colours), one for lights (white, cream, pastels, light colours). Chuck stuff in as you take it off. When a bag is full, that's a wash load. Done. No thinking required at the machine.
Shared Machine Etiquette
In halls especially, shared machines cause more arguments than almost anything else. The simple rules: never leave wet clothes in a machine for more than 30 minutes after it finishes, don't use someone else's detergent, and clean the filter if the machine asks you to.
Money tip: Washing at 30°C uses significantly less electricity than 40°C or 60°C. Over an academic year it adds up, especially if you're paying for coin-operated machines.
Drying Without a Tumble Dryer
Most halls rooms aren't set up for drying clothes efficiently. A compact drying rack is the single best purchase for a student room. Position it near a window or radiator. Avoid drying large loads in an unventilated room — it causes damp and mould.