IF YOU want your clothes to last, it's important to make sure they are being washed the right way.
Cleaning pro Ivy Odom took to Southern Living's social media recently to share the common mistakes you're probably making when doing your laundry without even realising it.
The first mistake to avoid is leaving anything with a zip open, the cleaning whizz says that all zips should be closed because the sharp edges can damage delicate fabrics.
Any hooks, like those on the back of bras, should be hooked together before cleaning for the same reason.
The only exception to this laundry rule are buttons, which should always be undone.
This is because the harsh movements in the machine makes it easy for button threads to become lose and break, leaving your jeans looking old and cheap.
The home hacker says that many people forget to add baking soda to their laundry.
The secret ingredient is a "great addition to any load", she says, because it can help deodorise any nasty smells as well as work as a handy stain remover.
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Most importantly, it will save you so much money on expensive branded detergents.
The last mistake to always avoid is washing your clothes at the wrong temperature, this is a big no-no according to the pro.
According to the laundry expert, you should use cold water for bright colours and warm for whites.
Viewers of the useful tips agreed: "Yes! always zip and clip everything"
A seconded added, "I add baking soda into each wash, it's also great for the washing machine!"
Other viewers of the useful tips and tricks were not convinced. One said: "I just throw everything in on one load an have never had an issue."
Another added: "Ugh the amount of work just watching this is exhausting."
In other cleaning news, this is how you should be loading your dishwasher so your silverware comes out sparkling clean
And: I have a family of 10 – everyone used to fight over the washing machine until I created a cheap, fool-proof solution
Finally, don't waste your time on these popular cleaning hacks, try these instead
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