The cost of living crisis is set to bite families even harder in the coming months as energy bills will surge by a staggering 80% in October. Branded as a 'humanitarian crisis' by the NHS, many people are already struggling with the surging costs of bills, fuel and household necessities as inflation also hit sky-high rates earlier this month.
After an expensive summer, plenty of parents and carers will be left scrambling to afford new school uniforms, lunch boxes and PE kits for a fresh term. To alleviate some of this financial pressure, a new law protecting parents from pricey uniform demands will come into effect this month.
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The law will do away with compulsory clothing branded with school logos, in order to help parents shop around for the best discounts or make the most of hand-me-downs.
This will be music to the ears of parents forking out hundreds of pounds for mandatory uniform sold by schools, but that doesn't stop energy bills racking up from the constant washing of school uniforms each week.
Unfortunately, our washing machines are one of the worst culprits for guzzling electricity. This is particularly true for big families with endless loads of washing.
As we look to creative ways to reduce our energy bills this winter, Paula Quazi - cleaning expert and co-founder of cleaning brand Smol - reveals a range of money-saving hacks to keep school uniforms clean without using the washing machine.
Shake the day away
Parents will be all to familiar with how grubby kids can be when they meet you at the school gates come home time. After chasing their friends around the play ground, it's surprising how much dirt their clothes can pick up.
Quazi says that your first port of call for keeping uniforms in tip top shape throughout the week is to give clothing a good shake when they return from class.
"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," she tells The Mirror.
If you've got any pesky fumes to tackle, "hanging by an open window to allow faint smells to fade even quicker," according to the expert.
Shower power
Many of us will relish any excuse to avoid wheeling out the ironing board, and this surprising trick will not only leave school uniforms looking freshly pressed, but feeling cleaner too.
Most of us will be brainstorming ways to utilise the energy we use around the house to our best ability, and Quazi's tip does just that.
Revealing the unusual place you can freshen up the kids' clothes, she says: "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!" Quazi adds.
Savvy spot cleans
Sometimes clothes are just too filthy to avoid a full-on wash, but for the most part, a spot clean will do the job. Cleaning expert Quazi recommends parents keep an eagle-eye out for small stains and spillages before adding to the washing pile, as chances are you can tackle them without adding to the load.
"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 says, before adding that "hot water will set the stain".
Preventing the pongs
Much like spot stains, school clothing may pick up subtle scents throughout the week that can be tackled without a full wash. Quazi urges parents and carers to consider alternative methods before chucking clothes in the washing machine.
While she concedes that "giving kids’ clothes a quick sniff test is an easy way to see if they need a wash or not," sometimes it's best not to immediately resort to the energy-sucking appliance.
"Items made of hardier fabrics (e.g. not silks) can even have a quick mist of essential oils and water to refresh them for another day’s wear," the cleaning expert shares, helping you stretch time between washes.
Make friends with your machine
According to Quazi, the tip that makes the biggest difference is ensuring you're really familiar with the settings and features on your washing machine, as plumping for the most cost-effective wash can save you some serious pennies.
"A bit of research to find the most efficient cycle for your machine could save you lots in the long run," she explains.
When it comes to selecting the best setting, the cleaning expert says that "you want the shortest, coolest, lowest water cycle possible" but insists that this cycle "isn't always called eco".
To avoid being caught out, it's always "worth digging out the old manual," according to the brand co-founder.
Say goodbye to half loads
Equally, it's important to break up with your half-load habits, as every wash counts when bills are skyrocketing.
"Sometimes a mid-week wash might be unavoidable but running multiple half full loads is a sure-fire way to run up your energy bill and also waste water and detergent," Quazi explains.
If you find you're accidentally cramming too much in to your machine, the cleaning expert shares a simple way to test the capacity of your washer.
"You should be able to fit a palm’s width between the top of your laundry and the inside of the drum; more space than the width of your palm then you know you’re not fully-loaded, any less and the washing won’t have room to clean", she reveals.
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