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Emma Guinness
As the cost of living crisis continues to tighten its grip, many people are looking to cut back on the amount of washing they are doing.
Now, an expert has shared handy tips to keep one of the most frequently washed items in your home – the school uniform – clean without washing it.
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Paula Quazi, who is the founder of the cleaning brand Smol, said there's a number of tricks parents can use to keep their kids' uniforms cleaner for longer.
To begin with, she recommends giving school uniforms a good shake when your children get home from school.
Explaining the logic behind the hack, she told the Mirror: "When they get home from school, encourage your children to take off their uniforms and shake them out before hanging them up to air for the next day."
If you notice that your child's uniform isn't smelling its best, she recommends hanging it by a window and letting the natural air work its magic.
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However, this will only be effective for 'faint smells'.
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Quazi said that you can also make the most of the energy you are using by hanging up school uniforms in the shower after you've washed.
She said that the steam created by the shower is a great way to freshen them up.
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"Make the most of your shower and hang clothes up in the bathroom after you’ve showered
"Steam is an easy way to freshen up previously worn items and this tip is also a great way to ensure no energy goes to waste!" the expert explained.
She added that spot cleaning is of the utmost importance if you're really wanting to cut down on your washing, and said it's important to tackle small stains fast.
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The expert said it's also important not to use hot water if you see a mark on your child's uniform as it will only 'set the stain'.
"Act quickly to remove as much of the stain as possible by scraping off any excess solids with the back of a knife and using cold water over the area to loosen the stain," she advised.
But while these tips can keep uniforms fresher for longer, she said that when the time for a wash does come, the best way to save money is to know how to get the most out of your washing machine.
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"A bit of research to find the most efficient cycle for your machine could save you lots in the long run," the expert said, encouraging parents to find their washing machine manuals.
She explained that when it comes to uniforms, you should be looking to chose the 'shortest, coolest, lowest water cycle possible', however, it 'isn't always called eco'.