According to Agnes, the first issue to tackle when it comes to our clothing is over-washing. Not only is it wasteful, but it can ruin the fibres of garments, particularly if they are made from delicate materials like silk, lace or wool.

"If something has dirt that you can see or that you can smell then clearly it needs to be washed," she says. "If something might need a little freshen up, that's a different thing."

If you want to freshen up something previously worn, simply hang it outside on a dry day and allow the material to breathe.

Not sure if your jumper is ready for a wash? Smell the armpits.

"If there's an odour emanating from it then it needs to be washed," she says, before adding that a singular mark can easily be spot cleaned with a clean white tea towel and a dab of water.

Claire added that she mixes some vodka and water in a spray bottle and gives her clothes a spritz when the clothes need a refresh. Used in tandem with a steamer, the alcohol will evaporate quickly and the smells should go with it.

When it comes to washing your clothes, be sure to keep the type of garments you have in mind. For example, underwear will need to be washed frequently but jeans can go six to 10 wears without seeing the inside of the washing machine.

Speaking of our machines, when it comes to keeping costs low, Agnes says that a 'low and slow' approach of 20 degrees is best - but a deep clean may require a higher temperature.

"If it was for underwear or bed linen I would be using a higher wash," she says. "Most people would use the 30-40 degrees wash, but if someone has been ill in the house and the bed linen could generally go in at 60 degrees and a good bit of detergent to ensure you're removing the viruses and some of the bacterial spores that might be in place."

If you are washing at a low temperature, Agnes recommends using a liquid detergent as powder detergents may not break down as well without heat.

"Use the correct product for the machine that you have," she insists.