Despite laundry being one of the most regular household chores, it turns out not everyone knows how to properly use their washing machine. Capital FM DJ Roman Kemp, son of musician Martin Kemp, took to Twitter last week to reveal that despite being 29, he still doesn't understand how to use the three trays in the drawer of his machine.
And he is not alone. Thousands of people have admitted they're in the same boat and haven't really been sure what they've been doing this whole time. Alongside a snap of his washing machine drawer, baffled Roman confessed: "I’m Roman. I’m 29 years old; and I still have no idea what I put in each of these…"
His tweet has racked up more than 51,000 likes - with a cleaning expert explaining how it works and what households should do. The post was shared on the Family Lockdown Ideas Facebook Group by one mum, who revealed she had been using hers incorrectly for the past 30 years.
Get the news you want straight to your inbox. Sign up for a Mirror newsletter here.
She wrote: "Had to share as just discovered that I’ve been putting the detergent in the pre wash drawer for the last 30 years [laughing face emoji]".
"Always thought it illogical to put the fabric conditioner in the middle but always put the detergent to the right, never once thought it could all be backwards
"*goes to shop to buy pods, adulting is harder than it looks…..".
Another woman admitted that she puts detergent in all three, saying: "I just put a little bit of something in all of them and hope for the best!
"I’m just grateful I’ve put the wash in and hope I don’t forget about it."
One mum explained that for her machine, washing powder goes in the left tray, fabric softener in the middle, while the right is for a 'pre-wash' - which confused Facebook users even more.
"I’ve just realised I’ve put the fabric softener in the pre-wash for years!!!" one person responded.
Others suggested buying 'straight to drum' liquids and capsules, while a few others advised people to check their instruction manuals for answers.
Roman's viral post caught the attention of cleaning expert Laura de Barra - author of Gaff Goddess: Simple Tips and Tricks to Help You Run Your Home.
She outlined her tips on Twitter to give the radio presenter, and the rest of the nation, a helping hand.
Laura replied: "Ok. Listen up:
"There are usually 3 compartments: prewash, detergent, softener. Not knowing what is what can make clothes smellier, scratchier and actually not last as long or do what they should.
"Also, how doesn’t the machine wash all there down at same time?? Let’s learn…
"Sound manufacturers make it easy. L-R in order. So L is prewash, middle is detergent, R is softener. But as it’s not always the case… it’s also imperative that the right sh*t hits your clothes at the right time…
"Pre wash will have more surfactants to help remove heavy soiling so will need a lot of rinsing to remove, she needs to enter early doors.
"Softener is designed to linger, so needs only a rinse stage and detergent would never come off & clog fibres if it wasn’t followed by rinses
"Many machines aren’t in order. So suss your symbols! You’ll have symbols like @romankemp image, see them above the compartments? I (sometimes 1) is prewash. II (2) is detergent and the flower (3) is softener."
Do you have a story? Please get in touch at webfeatures@trinitymirror.com
