The ultimate laundry guide: laundry tips for white clothes, jeans, delicates and more

There’s real pleasure in getting a wash just right – soft towels, bright whites, that perfect fresh smell. But we all lead busy lives, and it can sometimes feel unachievable. Clothes can still lose their brightness and shape over time. Delicates can be damaged. Some stains appear impossible to remove.

However, armed with some expert tips and the right products, you can achieve that perfect wash again and again.

In the Dr. Beckmann Ultimate Laundry Guide, we’ll run through some essential tips and recommended laundry products for those who take pride and satisfaction in every wash.

 

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WHITES

Laundry tips for white clothes

White clothes are a joy when they are new, but it can be hard keeping them that way.

Separating whites from colours is a basic that many of us learn the hard way, especially when you are new to laundry. The more seasoned of us are well past the rogue-red-sock stage, and sorting is second nature. But we’ve all experienced the disappointment of a greying cotton t-shirt.

Greying whites do not mean they are dirty or worn. Whites go grey because of two invisible culprits:

  • First, whites are made to look brilliantly white using optical brighteners, which reflect blue. Over time, greyish soil and detergent residue redeposit on the fibres and the brightness dulls, so a white looks grey even when it’s perfectly clean.
  • Second is a build-up of washing powder or liquid. When detergent can’t hold loosened soil in suspension, a fine film of it settles straight back onto the fabric.

If you’ve noticed a yellowing around collars and cuffs, that’s sebum (your body’s natural oil), not dirt. A cool wash never quite shifts it, as body oils don’t fully emulsify in cold water. If you dutifully wash everything at 30°C to save energy, run whites a little warmer now and then, as a hotter wash resets them.

How to make whites white again

Don’t dismay, as there is a way to bring back that shop-fresh whiteness. Dr. Beckmann Glowhite tops up those brighteners and lifts yellowing in one go, so your favourite white shirt looks as clean as it really is.

Also try a product with oxygen bleach, which is safer for fabrics than chlorine and is excellent at removing stubborn oils without the harsh smell.

 

DENIM

How often to wash jeans

The single biggest thing you can do for your favourite jeans is wash them less. Every wash cycle loosens a little of the indigo, and they end up with a faded look.

Unless jeans are properly dirty, air them out and spot-clean between wears. Hang them in a steamy bathroom for ten minutes and most of the day drops out of them.

How to wash denim clothes

When jeans and other denim clothes need a proper wash, turn them inside out and use a cool temperature. Cold keeps the dye molecules locked into the fibres to prevent fading, which is essential for dark indigo and black jeans. Use a mild detergent and skip the fabric softener as it can make denim lacklustre and limp.

When you buy a new pair of jeans, wash them on their own for the first few times, or with a Dr. Beckmann Colour Collector sheet in the drum, because fresh indigo spreads onto other clothes. Once they’re broken in, you can wash your jeans with similar colours, in cold water. Avoid placing them straight in the drum with delicate items, as the heavy fabric can damage them.

If you’re a fan of raw denim, the drill is to wear them in, wash rarely, and the fade becomes personal to you.

Seen social media posts about freezing jeans to clean them? It’s a myth. A night in the freezer does nothing to remove dirt, oils and sweat.

 

HANDWASHING

How to perfect your handwashing technique

The secret to handwashing clothes isn’t hard work; it’s time. So if you have fine fabrics that can’t go in the machine, be sure to give them the attention they deserve to keep them looking their best.

Step-by-step guide to handwashing clothes

The thing to keep in mind when handwashing is ‘gently does it’.

  1. Fill a clean sink or tub with cool or warm water, never hot water. Always check the label first.
  2. Add a small amount of mild detergent and swish it through. If you’re on the go, Dr. Beckmann Travel Wash is a great choice, but if you can, use a specialist cleaner designed for your fabric.
  3. Fully submerge the clothing in the soapy water and leave it to soak for 10 to 30 minutes. Press now and then to move water through the fabric, remembering to be gentle. Dirt lifts by diffusion, so a decent soak does far more than scrubbing, which is good news for your hands as well as your fabric.
  4. Drain, then rinse in clean water at the same temperature until all the soap is gone. Note that it must be the same temperature, especially for woollens: a sudden change makes the fibre scales clamp together and felt.
  5. Remove excess water by pressing it gently against the side of the sink, then roll the garment in a towel. Don’t wring.
  6. Always use the right drying process: hang dry woven fabrics like silk and lace. Lay knitted fabrics like wool flat, since the weight of the water can pull them out of shape.

 

DELICATES

How to wash delicate clothes safely

Delicates like silk, lace and fine knits are an investment, and require regular TLC.

Always check the label to see if your item is suitable for machine washing or requires a hand wash. If so, use a pre-programmed wool, handwash, or delicate cycle setting. If there isn’t one, choose a cool temperature setting (20° or 30°) and a slow spin, as a fast spin cycle creases and stresses fine fabric.

Be sure to fasten every hook and zip first to avoid snagging. Turn embellished or beaded pieces inside out, and place them in a roomy mesh bag rather than cramming it full.

Use a mild laundry detergent made for delicates, and a Dr. Beckmann fabric conditioner sheet if you want softness without overloading fine fibres.

 

STAINS

Tackling stains

The golden rule with stains is speed: the fresher a mark, the easier it lifts. Blot it gently, since rubbing only works it deeper. Only use cold water on protein stains like blood or egg, because heat sets them for good.

Always use a stain remover before placing the item in the washing machine or tumble dryer, as the heat will help set it and it will become far tougher to get rid of.

For older stains, a good soak with stain remover before washing is a good move.

Use the right product for the stain

For the best chance of success, use the right stain remover for the job, as grease, tannin and dye all behave differently. Dr. Beckmann Stain Devils are each formulated for a wide range of common stains including coffee, wine and ink.

Get more stain removal tips here and use the Dr. Beckmann Stain Clinic to find the right product.

 

COMMON PROBLEMS AND FIXES

Common laundry problems and solutions

  • Clothes come out dull, stiff or slightly tacky.
    This is often caused by too much detergent. The excess doesn’t rinse out, and the residue dulls fabric and even attracts dirt.

    • The fix: measure to the dose on the pack, not by eye, and only nudge it up for a full or heavily soiled load or if you have particularly hard water. To take the guesswork out, Dr. Beckmann Laundry Detergent Sheets have exactly the right amount of detergent for a typical 4.5kg wash.
  • Scratchy towels. If your towels have been washed many times, this is usually caused by a buildup of fabric softener, which can make them less absorbent and unpleasant to the touch.
    • The fix: Instead of using fabric conditioner on older towels, tumble dry them on a low heat setting. The action will fluff them up, and a couple of dryer balls helps.
  • Whites and colours never look quite clean, however you wash them. In a hard water area, an eco-minded small dose can’t work through the minerals.
    • The fix: bump the dose up for hard water, and descale the machine regularly so limescale isn’t blunting every wash.
  • A fresh load smells musty before. It may have been sitting damp in the drum too long.
    • The fix: get washing out and onto the airer within an hour of the cycle finishing.
  • Clothes and the washing machine drum smell damp. Your machine needs a deep clean. Limescale, grease and old detergent build into a biofilm inside the drum and seals, turning mouldy and giving everything that unpleasant musty odour.
  • My wash just isn’t clean enough – why?
    If clothes come out of the machine and they don’t look or smell clean, it’s usually one of these culprits:

    • You’re overloading the drum. Clothes need room to move so water and detergent can circulate. Leave roughly a hand’s width at the top.
    • The dose isn’t right. Too little (especially in hard water) can’t lift the soil; too much leaves residue that dulls fabric. Match it to your load size, soil level and water hardness and always read the label.
    • The wash is too cool for the job. Oil doesn’t fully dissolve at 30°C, so grubbier items need a warmer wash.
    • The machine itself is dirty. It’s time for a deep clean, using the advice above.

Make every washing day a win with Dr. Beckmann

If you take pride in washing clothes, you’ll appreciate having the right kit to hand. The Dr. Beckmann laundry range has everything you need for everyday laundry wins and tougher jobs.

Not sure what you need? Our Laundry Legends bundle is our pick of the essentials you need to face each wash with confidence.

FAQ's About Getting Laundry Right

It’s best to wash whites after every wear to avoid sweat yellowing them over time. And on a sunny day, dry them outside, as UV breaks down the yellow compounds.

Tumble drying is a no-no for denim as high heat causes shrinkage (if you’re struggling to do up your jeans, maybe that’s the culprit after all!).

Air dry denim inside out on a washing line or airer, out of direct sunlight to avoid bleaching. We’re all caught short sometimes – if you’re desperate and your jeans have to go in the tumble dryer, always choose a low heat setting and keep checking them at regular intervals.

The trend for laundry stripping involves soaking sturdy fabric like towels in hot water, borax and washing soda for hours. The leftover murky brown water that’s left behind is not just dirt: it’s also a buildup of detergent, fabric softener and hard-water minerals. Experts agree the process is rarely necessary and that using the right dose of detergent and softener, along with cleaning your washing machine regularly, is all that’s needed.

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