A century ago, doing the laundry was hard graft and toil. But when the first washing machines were developed at the beginning of the 20th century, this time-consuming chore was revolutionised forever.

The knowledge that has been gained over the past 100 years in the area of laundry care has been brought together in this guide, and together with numerous tips for stain removal, it contains valuable advice for both the experienced launderer and the novice. Whilst there is no guarantee that a stain will disappear or that you will always have perfect results, it is still reassuring to have advice to hand on the best ways of caring for your clothes.