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One of the lesser-celebrated benefits of fine weather - when it eventually arrives - is the opportunity to hang your washing outside. It's cost-effective, faster than drying indoors, and leaves your clothes, bedding and towels with a wonderfully fresh scent.

However, there's a common blunder that numerous people make during this process. According to clothing specialists at Superdry, this mistake could ultimately ruin your much-loved garments. The team has put together some useful guidance on proper clothing care to extend their longevity, while drawing attention to surprising factors that may be causing damage. When it comes to drying clothes, one crucial approach is to "harness the power of nature" by taking them outside - though perhaps ditch the clothes pegs and put your drying rack outdoors instead, reports The Mirror.

The experts explained: "This helps extend the lifespan of your clothing by minimising wear and tear caused by heat exposure. Sunlight offers natural antimicrobial properties and acts as a gentle whitening agent for fabrics.

"Take caution when using clothes pegs, as they can leave unsightly and potentially permanent pressure marks on delicate fabrics. To protect delicate items, avoid using clothes pegs altogether, and be careful not to leave items outside in the wind, as they could be blown away."

They continued: "Additionally, you can enhance the whitening effect further by lightly spritzing clothes with white vinegar before hanging them outdoors, helping the sun to keep your whites looking fresh.

"However, some fabrics will become stiff if dried in this way, especially those made from natural fibres like cotton. To avoid this, trying partly drying outside and finish off with a few minutes in the tumble dryer."

Gently reshaping garments before hanging them out or placing them on a drying rack is another effective method of eliminating creases - significantly reducing the amount of ironing needed, which is always a welcome bonus.