I would say I’m just a bit particular about hygiene. It is certainly not to the extent of contamination OCD or germophobia, but dealing with hygiene was surprisingly my biggest challenge as a first-year student. Yes, more than academics or social life, I was battling the disgust I felt from wearing unwashed clothes and feeling dirtier after doing laundry, because I couldn’t stop thinking about how many people had used the washing machine before me. With laundry costing £2 per wash, I couldn’t clean my clothes as often as I wanted. I might sound paranoid, but I eventually overcame all of this issues by simply deciding to embrace all the filth- it wasn’t going to kill me, and, after all, I am not a small Victorian child! More importantly, I figured out a way to keep my clothes fresh without entirely draining my bank account on university washing machines. Now, I believe these tips will be useful for any university student who is responsible for their own laundry and hygiene.
- Get a lint roller.
My first tip is to get a lint roller from IKEA. It costs just 75p for 7.5 metres, and you can get four refills for £2.50. It’s an absolute lifesaver for removing dust, lint, and hair from your clothes. In winter, our coats and sweaters collect a lot of dust, making them look messy. Before you leave your flat, just go over your clothes with a lint roller, and you will look fresher than ever. If you wear a lot of dark clothing, this is essential.
- Get Fabric Freshener.
I hate to suggest another purchase, but this one is worth it. A bottle costs £2.50 at Lidl, Aldi, or Poundland and lasts at least a term. You can also get a 2-for-1 deal at Sainsbury’s or Waitrose for £3. For best results, spray your fabric freshener on the surface of your clothes about 10 times. I usually try to use less than the recommended amount because I believe companies encourage overuse to boost sales, but in this case, I’ve tested it out, and spraying fewer than 10 times is noticeably less effective. Be sure to read the instructions, however, as it’s not suitable for materials like leather, suede, or silk.
- Don’t get lazy with hanging or folding your clothes.
It is tempting to toss your clothes onto your chair or bed, but this makes them wrinkled–and wrinkles are not flattering. Make sure that every morning, when you open your wardrobe, everything is neatly hung or folded. I know this can be challenging with limited space, but my advice is: buy fewer clothes, take better care of them. Have just the right amount so you’re not cramming everything in. If you get extra racks to hang more clothing outside your wardrobe, dust will settle on them, and you will end up spending more money on one of those lint rollers. Clothes are meant to be kept in a wardrobe, so manage your space wisely.
- Remove stains immediately with dishwashing liquid.
Even small stains make your clothes look dirty. Washing-up liquid is highly effective for removing food stains, makeup stains, or anything oily. The key is to act fast–if you let a stain sit for too long, it may not come out even after washing.
These tips will help your clothes look and smell clean, but they won’t disinfect them – so, of course, you still need to wash your clothes regularly. That said, they will help you appear less like an obviously struggling uni student. But to be honest, I do all of this and still, sometimes, look like a mess!