a lot of common laundry advice is unnecessary for everyday households, and following it blindly can waste money, time, and energy without making your clothes noticeably cleaner. Most of us are over-washing, over-buying products, and overcomplicating something that actually works fine when kept simple.
The biggest laundry myths that cost you money
Myth 1: You need multiple “specialist” laundry products
Fabric softener, scent boosters, laundry sanitiser, antibacterial sprays…
It’s easy to think laundry needs a whole shelf of extras. Packaging makes it feel like detergent alone isn’t enough.
Why people believe this:
Marketing fills in a fear gap: smells, germs, stiffness, “not quite clean.” Add in social media routines and “laundry resets” and suddenly basic washing feels inadequate.
What actually matters:
For most households, detergent + correct wash cycle + drying properly does the job.
Fabric softener can make towels feel nicer short-term, but it also coats fibres and can reduce absorbency over time. Sanitiser is rarely needed unless you’re dealing with illness, cloth nappies, or heavily soiled items. Scent boosters add smell, not cleanliness.
When it’s worth it:
- Sanitizer: sickness, shared sports kit, care work
- Softener: stiff water areas if you like the feel
- Scent boosters: if scent genuinely helps your routine (not because you feel you “should”)
Myth 2: More detergent = cleaner clothes
This one costs money and causes problems.
Why people believe this:
Bigger loads feel like they need more product. And detergent caps are misleadingly large.
What actually matters:
Too much detergent doesn’t rinse out properly. It can trap odours, make towels go stiff, and cause build-up in your machine — which then leads people to buy more products to fix it.
Using less detergent often improves results, especially in modern machines.
When it’s worth it:
Only for genuinely filthy loads — mud, grease, heavy workwear — and even then, an extra rinse often works better than extra detergent.
Myth 3: Everything needs hot water
Hot washes feel safer. Cleaner. More “proper.”
Why people believe this:
Older advice, older machines, and fear around germs.
What actually matters:
Modern detergents clean effectively at 30–40°C. Hot washes cost more in energy and wear clothes out faster.
Most everyday laundry — clothes, towels, bedding — does not need high heat every time.
When it’s worth it:
- After illness
- For bedding occasionally
- For greasy or heavily soiled items
Otherwise, lower temperatures are fine.
Myth 4: Towels need fabric softener to stay soft
This myth leads to repeat buying and disappointing results.
Why people believe this:
Softener gives instant softness — at first.
What actually matters:
Fabric softener coats towel fibres, making them less absorbent and more prone to smell. Over time, towels feel worse, not better.
Stiff towels are usually caused by:
- Too much detergent
- Hard water build-up
- Overdrying
When it’s worth it:
Almost never for towels. If softness matters, try less detergent and skip the softener altogether.
Myth 5: You need to wash clothes after one wear
This myth quietly doubles your laundry costs.
Why people believe this:
Social expectations, “freshness” culture, and fear of smelling bad.
What actually matters:
Many items don’t need washing every time:
- Jeans
- Hoodies
- Jumpers
- Pyjamas
Overwashing wears clothes out faster and increases energy, water, and detergent use.
When it’s worth it:
- Underwear
- Gym clothes
- Anything sweaty or visibly dirty
Everything else can often be aired and reworn.
Myth 6: Separating every load is essential
Lights, darks, colours, delicates, towels — it adds up fast.
Why people believe this:
Old dye issues and inherited habits.
What actually matters:
Modern clothes are generally colourfast. Washing everything together on a cool cycle is often fine.
When it’s worth it:
- New, dark items
- Whites you truly want bright
- Delicates
Otherwise, fewer loads = less cost.
Myth 7: The tumble dryer ruins clothes, so you must air-dry everything
This one costs money in a different way — time and stress.
Why people believe this:
Warnings without nuance.
What actually matters:
Overdrying damages clothes, not sensible drying. Using the right setting and removing items promptly reduces wear.
Air-drying saves energy, but it’s not always practical — and damp clothes indoors can cause other issues.
When it’s worth it:
- Delicates
- Items you want to last longer
Otherwise, a balanced approach works best.
What actually saves money in real households
You don’t need perfection. You need fewer unnecessary habits.
What helps most:
- Use less detergent
- Skip products that only add scent or softness
- Wash at lower temperatures
- Run fewer loads
- Don’t overwash clothes
- Clean your washing machine occasionally (build-up causes “mystery smells”)
When spending extra does make sense
There are times when laundry extras earn their keep:
- Illness in the house
- Babies or cloth nappies
- Physically demanding jobs
- Hard water issues you’ve already ruled out
The mistake is treating these as everyday needs instead of exceptions.
A calmer way to think about laundry
Laundry myths that cost you money usually come from trying to do everything “right.” But clean enough is usually enough.
If your clothes smell fine, feel fine, and last longer — you’re doing it right. You don’t need every product, every cycle, or every rule.
Most laundry savings don’t come from buying something new. They come from doing less, more deliberately.
And if you’ve felt behind or confused by laundry advice, that’s not a personal failure — it’s the result of a lot of noise around something that should be simple.
