Cleaning expert shares ‘one hand rule’ you should stick to when doing laundry to ensure clothes come out stain free

WASHING can be a chore, but according to this cleaning expert, the key to getting it right is a simple rule.

While there are many reasons why laundry can go wrong, overfilling your washing machine is one that you may not have taken into account.

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Talking to Express.co.uk Alex Lucas frim Bosch explained why the one-handed rule can be a game changer for your clothes.

“You may want to pack your drum with as much laundry as possible, but overloading the machine will reduce washing performance and can even cause damage to your appliance,” he says.

The professional explains that clothes cannot move freely when they are stuck in the drum.

This means that detergents cannot clean clothes effectively, which means stains are harder to remove and odors can linger.

He added: “It can also increase the pressure inside the drum, especially when spinning at high speeds, which can cause damage.

In fact, stuffing clothes into the drum can make them smell even worse, experts at Ariel told Express.co.uk

This is because the clothes will absorb the water, but there won’t be enough space for the bleach to dissolve properly.

It also means that you can also leave terrible detergent stains on your clothes, they note.

Of course, you also don’t want to overfill the machine because it’s not very economical.

That’s where the one-handed rule comes into play – simply measure the width of your hand at the top of the washing machine to make sure there’s enough space.

And if your hand doesn’t fit in the tub, that means you should take some clothes off for the next wash cycle.

“It is also important to sort clothes by fabric and color to avoid possible damage,” the expert said.

“Arrange your laundry into these groups and always read care instructions labels for your clothing items.”