WITH school uniform costing a small fortune, it pays to make it last as long as possible.
Follow these tips on caring for their clothes and your child will always be a smartie pants.
AFTER-SCHOOL RULES: Make it a rule that your child changes out of their uniform as soon as they get home.
It cuts the risk of spills and stains and the kit will not have to cope with as much wear and tear.
IN THE BAG: If odd school socks are driving you round the twist, you need to wash them in a bag.
This will stop them mysteriously disappearing in the wash and allow you to peg them out in matching pairs.
You can get a twin pack of Korbond laundry bags from Tesco for £3.20 or £2.55 with a Clubcard.
Do not overfill the bags or they won’t wash properly.
GET IT WHITE: To keep white shirts, vests and bras sparkling, only wash them with other pure white items.
If you are washing white items with a colourful motif, you might need to use a colour catcher.
Get a pack of 30 Dr Beckmann colour collector sheets for £3 at Morrisons.
To keep your coloured clothes bright, try and wash on a 30-degree cycle and allow your laundry lots of space to move in the machine.
SPORTING CHANCE: To give PE kit a longer life, do not let your kids leave it to go musty in a bag.
Mildew can quickly develop, while mud and sweat stains will be harder to remove.
For very well-used kit, add half a cup of bicarbonate of soda to your detergent.
A paste of bicarb and white vinegar can help tackle sweat patches.
TOP MARKS: If clothes come home with stains, act fast.
Pour on laundry detergent and rub it in with an old toothbrush or your fingers.
Leave it to sit for 15 minutes before washing as normal.
For really stubborn stains, make a paste of bicarbonate of soda and work it into the material before washing.
THE Artisan 12-piece stoneware dinner set from John Lewis’s Anyday range is now half-price, down from £55 to £27.
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FILL your make-up bag with three Maybelline products for the price of two at Asda.
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CARRY your shopping home in retro style with the new range of bags for life at Poundland.
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STEP out in the Perceive black leather Chelsea boots from Dune, £140.
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PACK in five lunchbox faves for £5 at Iceland, including a Warburtons medium soft white loaf, £1.40.
FOR cereal savings, More card holders can get a 460g pack of Shreddies for £2 instead of £3 at Morrisons.
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CONVERT your clothes dryer into a heated one with the Dry Soon airer cover with heater from Lakeland, down from £59.99 to £39.99.
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