A cheap laundry product costing just £1.50 can keep clothes and towels smelling fresh for a week or more, according to a journalist who tested the method. The Dr Beckmann fabric conditioner sheets, available at Tesco for Clubcard holders, are designed to be placed directly into the washing machine drum alongside regular detergent.
How the Sheets Work
Nicola Roy, a journalist at the Express, discovered the budget-friendly product after years of drying clothes indoors without a tumble dryer. She explained: 'I am unfortunately not lucky enough to live in a house with a tumble dryer, so it's very important to use the right products if that stale laundry smell is to be avoided.' She added that the sheets dissolve in the drum, leaving no sticky residue, and infuse the entire home with fragrance during drying.
Results and Availability
Roy reported that the scent persists for a week or longer, which is unusual for towels. The sheets cost £1.50 at Tesco with a Clubcard or from Amazon at the same price. They are used by simply placing one sheet in the drum with detergent, skipping fabric conditioner.
Alternative Cleaning Tips
In related advice, households are urged to use mouthwash in washing machines every three months for deep cleaning. Ian Palmer-Smith, appliance repair expert at Domestic and General, said: 'Your washing machine should be deeply cleaned every one to three months to prevent bacteria, mould, and detergent build-up.' He recommends pouring half a cup of alcohol-based mouthwash into the drum or detergent drawer and running an empty hot cycle to sanitise and deodorise.
