How To Use A Washing Machine (So You Look Like You Know How to Adult)
Everything you need to know when using a washing machine.
If you’ve got this far in life without ever putting a clothes wash on, then kudos to you. But now it’s time to take that big step into adult life and learn how to wash your own dirty underwear. Yep, we’re talking about learning how to use a washing machine.
It’s time to stop lugging your dirty washing home with you and take steps to learn this important life skill. While you might be worried about your whites turning pink or shrinking your favourite jeans, there’s really no need with our helpful advice.
Whether you’re putting on your first ever load of washing, venturing out to the laundrette for the first time, or are a little unsure on how to wash some of the more complicated items in your wardrobe, then we’re here to help.
You may even feel that your washing machine just needs a good clean but have no clue where to start. If you just thought, “Wait, washing machines need cleaning?!” then you are most definitely in the right place and we’ll get your clothes and machine sparkling clean in no time at all.
In this article, you’ll find:
- How to use a washing machine
- What are the 3 compartments in a washing machine drawer?
- Washing machine settings
- What do the clothes symbols mean?
- How can I save money on my washing?
- How often should you wash your clothes?
- How often should you change your bedding?
- FAQs on using a washing machine
How to use a washing machine
At home
We’ll start off with the home machine, but if you’re using a laundrette, be sure to check out our step-by-step guide further down the page as they can work a little differently. You’ll be glad to know that most home washing machines work in pretty much the same way — here’s what you need to do:
- Separate your washing into lights and darks (watch out for those pesky red socks that’ll dye your whites pink!)
- Separate any delicates or wool as these should be done on a separate wash to avoid damage or shrinking. If you’re unsure about an item, you’ll find instructions for temperature or whether it’s handwash only on the clothes label.
- Next, turn the machine on and open the door.
- Put your dirty washing into the machine and add in your detergent. If it’s a pod, this can go in directly with your washing and if it’s liquid or powder detergent, this can go into the drawer above where your washing goes in.
- Close the door — make sure this has properly clicked shut or the washing machine won’t start.
- Select your cycle — this will depend on what you’re washing so read our section on selecting the right cycle to make sure you get this right.
There are obviously a few bits that may have left you a little confused here, so we’ll dive into where to put your detergent and fabric softener and which cycle to select further down the page.
How to use a washing machine at the laundrette
You might find that your accommodation doesn’t have a washing machine like you’ve used at home. It could be that your university halls have a laundry room or if they use Circuit, you can find a washing step-by-step on their website for how to use their machines.
If you’re using a generic laundrette or university laundry room, here are some steps to help you get perfectly washed laundry.
- Make sure you save up some change. While most machines now take card, maybe take some coins along with you the first time so you’ve got all options covered. Pound coins and 50p pieces should be perfect.
- Don’t forget your washing powder. Some laundrettes will have this available on-site but you’ll most likely pay more for it than a whole box in the supermarket, so stock up before you go. You can also use liquid detergent but as most laundrette machines do a prewash cycle, you’d need to add this twice vs. just once with your powder.
- Sort your laundry before you leave. Just like with a home washing machine, you need to separate out your lights and darks and it’s much easier to do this at home rather than trying to do it in a busy laundrette.
- Pick your machine. Go for a machine that’s not currently in use and if you find a forgotten item, hand it in to the attendant or leave it on top of the machine. There will be different sizes of machines but don’t let this scare you away! All you need to do is pick the smallest machine that will fit your load of washing into as the larger the machine, the more you’ll pay.
- If you’ve got a couple of loads to do, it’s totally fine to use two machines at the same time so you’re not spending all day in the laundrette, however if it’s super busy you may just want to stick to one machine.
- Now you can add your washing to the machine and pour your detergent into the soap compartment and add your fabric softener to the compartment if you’re using it too.
- Next, you’ll need to pay up and select the right cycle depending on what you’re washing (e.g. colours, whites, delicates). Machines may differ slightly from place to place, so check out the instructions on the machine.
- Once you’re all set, shut the door and press “Start”.
- While your wash is on, you can run some errands or pop back home if you live nearby. Remember laundrette machines don’t take as long as the one you have at home, so make sure you’re back before your wash finishes.
- Once your wash is done, you can empty it and either use the dryer or take it home to dry.
What are the 3 compartments in a washing machine drawer?
You’ve separated your washing, put it in the machine, selected your cycle but wait… where the heck do you put your washing detergent? When you pull out the detergent drawer, you’ll find three separate compartments and depending on your washing machine, these might be in a slightly different order.
Take a look at the images above and find the ones that looks the most like your washing machine drawer. We’ve numbered each compartment so you know which is which while we explain below how to use them:
- Pre-wash – Got some super dirty, stained clothes? Then you need to be adding detergent to this drawer (often marked with a 1) and making sure you select a pre-wash on the machine. For any normal washing that just needs freshening up, you can ignore this drawer.
- Detergent – This compartment is usually the biggest in the drawer (and often marked with a 2 or II) so that should make it easy to spot. It’s also the drawer you want to be using for every wash, so add your liquid detergent or powder to this drawer every time if that’s what you’re using.
- Fabric Conditioner – Fabric conditioner is what softens your clothes and leaves them smelling extra good. The drawer is the easiest to spot too as it’s often a different colour or shape (and is often marked with a flower or III).
You may find that your washing machine doesn’t quite match up with the images or the instructions above. In this case, you need to be checking the machine’s manual. If you don’t have a paper copy, then search online for the machine make and you should be able to find the manual with detailed instructions specifically for your machine.
Still can’t get on board with the detergent drawer? Then skip it all and just use pods directly in with your washing. They can be more expensive but will work just as well as powder or liquid detergent.
Washing machine settings
First off, let’s talk temperature. You don’t need to be churning it out on 90°C — this isn’t good for your clothes 99% of the time or the environment. For your average wash, go for a “mixed wash” or “mixed colours” which will be at 30-40°C. You may be able to change the temperature separately to the cycle you choose too so try the button labelled “temperature” or “temp” to see if this is possible on your chosen cycle.
The cycle you choose will depend on what you’re washing, so if you’re washing your woollies or lacey pants, go for “wool” or “delicates” and a low temperature.
You may also be able to alter other settings such as adding in a prewash, increasing the spins (we recommend you do this so your clothes don’t come out sopping wet), or shortening the wash cycle — a good one if you’re sharing the machine with housemates.
Have a play around with the settings using the guidance above and see what works best for you.
If you’ve got some items that you’re unsure about (we see you, wool jumpers), then you need to check the label on the clothing item before you choose a setting or throw it in with the rest of your washing. Read on to find out what these mysterious symbols mean…
What do the clothes symbols mean?
This infographic below should tell you everything you need to know, from what temperature to wash your clothes on to whether to tumble dry and iron. It even has instructions that your dry cleaner would use should you ever drop off an item with them.
Laundry symbols explained:
How can I save money on my washing?
The age old question, just what is the best setting to have your washing machine on to cut your bills? To save money on your clothes washing, you need to:
1. Wash your clothes at 30°C
It’s no longer true that high heat equals cleaner clothes. With advancements in both washing machines and detergents, you can wash your clothes at a temperate 30°C and still enjoy that fresh, clean laundered feel. This lower temperature isn’t just better for your wallet though, you’ll also be doing your bit for the environment as less energy is needed to heat up the water to a higher temperature.
You may need to up the temperature if you have an especially dirty or stained item but be sure to check the clothes label to make sure it can take the heat.
2. Use the eco-cycle setting
Almost all washing machines now have an eco setting which means a slightly longer wash, but less energy and water used overall. Using the eco setting should therefore help you see reductions in both your energy bills and your water bill if you’re on a meter.
The eco setting is great for your standard mixed load of washing and usually takes around 2 hours. As before, make sure you check the labels on your clothes to ensure they’re compatible with the temperature and spin cycle that your washing machine’s eco setting works at. You may be able to alter these depending on your washing machine make.
3. Clean your washing machine
Want clean clothes? You need to clean out your machine. That means the drum, the detergent drawer and the plug from the bottom of the machine. We’ll go into the details of how to truly spruce up your machine later on, but as a bare minimum you need to be wiping down the rubber seal to the drum and door every few washes and sticking some dedicated washing machine cleaner in there every so often.
Also, please leave the washing machine door open after you’re done — let the thing air out so you’re not left with a musty smelling machine.
4. Only run full washes
Stop washing a few socks and pack that baby to the max (without overfilling it obviously — check the front of the machine or manual for the maximum load). Not got enough for a full load of washing? Check in with your friends to see if they can add to your load. This way, you’ll all be using the washing machine a lot less.
5. You don’t have to separate out your whites
Look, if you want crisp whiter than white shirts then probably don’t do this, but if it’s a few pairs of pants or socks then stick your whites in with your coloured washing. If you’re going to mix loads, keep the temperature low and buy yourself some colour catchers to stop the colours leaching into your whites.
6. Air dry your clothes
It doesn’t take a genius to work out that tumble dryers use energy, so hang out your washing to dry instead. Line drying is also better for your clothes, meaning they’ll last you even longer. Even in winter, if you can get your clothes dry inside then do it.
Need some tips to get your clothes dry? Read our article on how to dry your clothes indoors without a dryer. We’ve also looked at the best heated clothes airers so you don’t have to.
7. Use less detergent
Like with most things, the more you spend, the longer it lasts. This is definitely true of liquid detergent. If you’re buying a higher quality liquid detergent, then you’ll most likely have to use a lot less to get the same clean and fresh outcome with your clothes.
You also don’t really need fabric softeners, scent boosters or anything else like that. A good washing liquid, powder or pod will get your clothes clean and fresh without the added cost of essentially a bit of perfume.
8. Wash less often
Does it really need washing or could you freshen it up another way? We’re not talking here about rewearing your underwear several times, but freshening out your t-shirts or trousers could save you washing so often. Think about whether airing them out instead (either outside or inside) would freshen them up enough. Hang up garments in a sunny window if you don’t have access to an outdoor washing line.
More on this in the next section…
How often should you wash your clothes?
We’ve already mentioned that you can probably get away with washing some clothes less than you currently are, but just how frequently should we wash our clothes? This totally depends on the garments, for example Levi’s actually recommends only washing your jeans every 10 wears.
For most items, including t-shirts, shirts, blouses, dresses and pyjamas, it’s suggested you wash them every 2-3 wears. The exact number will depend on what you’ve been doing in the clothes — that speed walk to your lecture can work up quite a sweat.
I hope it goes without saying that gym kit should be washed after every workout to avoid a build up of bacteria from sweating. Ew.
How often should you change your bedding?
Your bedding should be washed every 1-2 weeks. For a full article on why and how to wash your bedding for the perfect night’s sleep in fresh sheets, read our article on how often you should change your bed sheets.
FAQs on how to use a washing machine
What setting do I use for washing trainers?
Your trainers need to be washed on a delicate and cold cycle to avoid damaging them. Ensure that the spin cycle is turned off to avoid damaging your trainers and consider tying the laces together or putting them in a pillow case or special trainer washing bag to reduce the impact to the trainers from the machine.
What setting do I use to wash towels?
Your washing machine may have a towels and bedding setting which will work great for your towels. Otherwise, just a normal cycle with warm-ish water (check the labels on your towels) should do the job. You may wish to sanitise these further on a higher temperature if the fabric allows for this.
What setting do I use for washing bedding?
Again, a bedding setting on your machine will be the best to use when washing your sheets as this will set a good temperature and ensure the bedding gets a decent spin cycle. You can find more details in this article on how to wash your bed sheets.
How do I clean my washing machine?
Cleaning a washing machine shouldn’t take you longer than a few minutes, plus a quick cycle to clean it through.
1. Clean the machine machine drum
If your machine comes with a drum cleaning setting then it’s best to use this. If not, you can add baking soda directly into the drum or distilled white vinegar to your detergent drawer and put the machine on a hot cycle to give it a good clean out and break down any limescale.
You may also wish to use a specific washing machine cleaner. There will be plenty of options in your local shop and then you simply need to follow the instructions on the packet.
2. Clean the door seals
the rubber seals around the door and door frame on your machine need a regular wipe down every few washes. Simply grab some cleaning spray and a damp cloth, pull them apart so you can get in all the crevaces and give it a good wipe down. This will prevent a build up of mould and other gunk that can lead to a smelly machine.
3. Clean the detergent drawer
Open up the drawer and give this a good wipe down every month or so to remove the build up of detergent residue which can get smelly if left too long. Some drawers you’ll be able to remove completely to give it a good wash all over in a tub of hot soapy water, but check your machine manual before you go pulling things apart.
4. Clean the washing machine filter
Your washing machine filter is usually hidden away behind a flap below the main door to your washing machine. This filter is designed to catch any small bits that come out in the wash so you’ll need to check it around every month or so if you’re using the machine frequently.
Make sure your machine is turned off and grab a towel or dish to catch the water before unscrewing the filter as some water may come out. Wash the filter in hot soapy water and replace it. Job done.
How do I treat a clothes stain?
Spilled coffee or squirted tomato all down your front? We’ve all been there. First, take it off immediately and throw it in a bowl of cold water. Then, it’s time to treat the stain.
It’s always a good idea to have a stain remover in the cupboard just in case and we’d recommend using this first (follow the instructions on the packet) before to try any homemade methods.
If you don’t have any stain remover, then washing up liquid is your best friend. Get a clean cloth, wet it and then squirt some washing up liquid onto it, being sure to rub it through the cloth until it’s saturated. Then you want to gently dab the stain — DO NOT RUB IT — before leaving it to soak for at least a couple of hours.
You can also try baking soda in a similar way by sprinkling it over the stain and dabbing with a damp cloth before soaking. Once you’ve soaked it, throw it in the washing machine and wash on the highest temperature that the item will allow (read the label).
By now, you should be a washing machine pro, being able to do everything from selecting the right machine cycle to ensuring your machine stays spic and span. If you need other great advice as you enter adult world, like working out what those recycling symbols actually mean, be sure to check out our freshers guide for everything you need for your first few weeks of uni and find out which uni has been crowned the filthiest of them all.
