Jess Hardiman
A woman has left social media users stunned after educating us all on the correct way to use the washing machine drawer.
Spoiler alert: you’ve probably been getting it all wrong.
While there are a few approaches you can take these days – liqui-tabs, washing balls and so on – most washing machines come with a drawer above the drum where you can pour in washing detergent.
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But as the drawer is usually split into three compartments, it often leaves people scratching their heads about where to put what.
Should the detergent go in the part sometimes marked with one line, or the biggest one? What about the one with the flower?
One confused TikToker recently posted a video to share their frustration, asking: “Can I just confirm that nobody knows which one to put the washing detergent in, yeah?”
Another TikToker then stepped forward to explain the situation, proving it’s a little simpler than it looks – if you know what each is for, of course.
Ann Russel (@annrussel03) stitched the original video, then said: “They’re marked.
“The one with the flower on it is fabric softener.
“The one with the I [one] mark on it is pre-wash, and the one with the II [two] mark on it is for the main wash.”
She added: “You won’t use the pre-wash very often.
“And if it’s very different, look at your manual or look online. But yeah, they’re marked.”
Naturally, this appeared to be a revelation to A LOT of others, with many commenting to admit they’d all been making the same mistake.
One wrote: “Oh... Well then. I’ve never main washed any of my clothes.”
Someone else said: “Oops I’ve been putting it in pre wash.”
A third added: “Omg I’ve been pre washing it all. No main wash for us hahaha.”
A fourth also commented: “I thought 1 line meant ‘first scoop’ and the 2nd line meant ‘put another one in if you’re feeling rich’.”
Another also called for Ann to ‘be our next prime minister’, while one also thanked her for the ‘incredibly helpful’ advice.
Others, however, didn’t have much sympathy for anyone who wasn’t sure.
“This is literally the same for any washing machine I’ve ever come across,” one person fumed.
“How do people not know this?”
Another agreed: “People’s inability to read and follow basic instructions in mind boggling.”
While some were confused by the idea of a ‘pre-wash’, someone else asked Ann if they even needed to use fabric softener, saying they hated the ‘slimy feeling’ on clothing.
“Nope,” Ann replied.
“I very rarely bother.”
Drawer II it is, then!