So.... your course is going great, you’ve settled in fine…

Problem is, Mum and Dad are nowhere to be seen and you’re finally facing the reality - you have to wash your own clothes. Luckily, we’re on hand to help.

• Invest in a laundry basket and some detergent!  It doesn’t need to be pricey, if it smells nice and won’t bring      you out in hives (ask your mum), you’re good to go.  ‘Non-bio’ basically means there are fewer chemicals so it’s   less harsh on skin, but ‘bio’ is slightly stronger. So it’s up to you.  Don’t forget fabric softener too, to make the clothes nice and soft...obviously.

• Labels in clothes don't just tell you size/brand!  Although most laundry instructions are pretty generic, look out for ‘Dry Clean Only’ – before you make a huge mistake!

• There are ways of salvaging something ‘damaged  beyond repair’.  If you act quickly, red wine on your new cream dress can be gone in a flash – just pour on salt.  Coat reminds you of an ashtray? Steam out smoke in the shower. Chewing gum on your hoodie? Stick it in the freezer and wait for it to harden so  you can snap it off.

• Separate light and dark clothes. If you can’t be bothered, at least don’t stick red jeans in with white underwear, okay? Trust us. If you’re going to ignore that advice, at least try using a colour catching sheet, found in pound shops.

• Pop in the clothes, but don’t overload the machine!  Pour your detergent and conditioner in the correct slots, following instructions. Washing at 30 is generally the way! 

• Keep an eye on the time.  Take your stuff out as soon as the load is done.  It's polite, and great for your piece of mind to know your clothes are safe. Besides, damp clothes can get pretty gross.

• Use the dryer provided, cleaning out the lint first.  Make sure your delicate stuff is suitable and won’t shrink!  Otherwise, invest in a clothes–horse –  great for saving money  and energy.

• Don’t overload the dryer – it will take forever.  Be sensible – if you know your drying is going to take ages, try not to annoy everyone waiting.

• Hang things up – or at least fold them neatly, that way there’s no need to iron them.

You survived! What to do if it all goes wrong? Dip-dye, anyone?