Dirty dunking
Published
With school costs already averaging £109 per child this year, replacing stained or shrunken uniforms is the last thing families need.
A study estimates that school uniforms cost parents £109 per child for the 2025/26 school year and will continue to rise, reaching £148 by 2030. The good news is that Beko’s appliance experts have some practical ways parents can make uniforms last longer and cut laundry costs.
Tackle tough stains straight away
For greasy spillages, white chalk is effective at absorbing grease. Before washing rub chalk over the stain to absorb the grease, then wash as usual. For pen marks, soak the clothing item in cold water on the same day and apply stain remover before washing. If your child comes home with food stains such as tomato sauce, dab with hydrogen peroxide as this acts as a mild bleach that can help restore whites.
Prevent fading and shrinkage
To keep uniforms looking crisp and avoid costly replacements, look on the clothing labels and you’ll find the correct washing temperature. Don’t exceed these temperatures, as this can cause shrinkage. Turn clothing inside out before washing to prevent friction damage and help colours last longer.
Use colour catchers in your wash, especially with gingham dresses, that combine white and coloured patterns. These can prevent white areas from developing a coloured tinge by half term.
Make drying more energy efficient
Tumble dryers offer convenience for busy households by drying clothes quickly, especially useful in the damp UK weather. They can also help prevent mildew that can develop when laundry is air-dried indoors without proper ventilation.
When shopping for a new model, heat pump tumble dryers are a good choice because they dry clothes at a lower temperature, offering gentler care for your laundry. You’ll find that drying times are longer, compared to condenser tumble dryers, but heat pump tumble dryers offer great energy savings.
For households managing multiple uniforms, Salah Sun suggests, "Fold uniforms as soon as they come out of the tumble dryer and leave them on top of the warm dryer to help remove creases naturally. By doing this you can reduce your time spent on ironing."
Visit https://www.beko.co.uk/appliances/laundry/tumble-dryers
