Laundry is one of those tasks that people learn the most by doing. If you have never done laundry all that much, then you probably rush right through the task of doing your laundry and break all the “laundry rules” that should apply. Getting in and out of the laundromat efficiently and in time to watch your favorite show on television may be your biggest concern. The more you do laundry, the more you will realize there are mistakes that you can make that will cost you dearly. Save yourself some time and money by learning all the tips and tricks on how to do your laundry.
I learned so much by doing my laundry throughout high school and college. For instance, I learned that there are quick ways to get certain stains out of specific types of clothing, and it’s best to apply that certain solution during the first wash, rather than after you’ve tried many things that don’t work. I also quickly learned that sorting laundry was not just a clothing manufacturers suggestion. It is crucial to washing your clothing properly and keeping each piece looking as pristine as possible. Here is what you need to know about sorting laundry, and why it is important.
Sort by Color
Clothing should be separated by color and washed together. First, sort your clothing by lights, darks, and reds. If a piece of clothing has a variety of colors, consider the fabric it is made of next. If the colors are ultra-saturated, you may want to wash it all alone by itself. Clothing that has never been washed before should be washed by itself to keep its colors from bleeding out onto other colors. This is true for a new red shirt. You do not want to wash the new red shirt with other red shirts, because the color could bleed onto the other red shirts and change the way that they look. You may be thinking to yourself, “Do I really have to sort by color, if I am washing clothes on the coldest water cycle?”. The answer is, depending on the fabric and color, you should not be washing your clothing on the coldest cycle anyway.
If you are washing a new article of clothing, you should wash it by itself a few times and throw in a color absorbing cloth. These cloths will absorb some of the clothing dye from the brand-new clothing. Certain types of dye bleed more than others.
If you try and skip this step you will eventually ruin a piece of clothing. It just happens and usually when you least expect it. Save yourself the heartache of making your crisp white shirt come out looking pink like Rainbow Brite would have worn.
Fabrics Are Not All Equal
There are multiple different types of fabrics and blends of fabric. They vary in degree of texture and weight. You should not lump them all together because one may have a rough texture that rubs up against a software fabric, causing piling. When drying clothing, you should consult the care guide on your clothing tag, with regards to dry heat and time. Some fabrics are not meant to be dried or are meant to be dried on a cool setting. You can put holes in a piece of clothing by not paying attention to the proper care advice given on the clothing tag.
Certain Details Make or Break
Some of your clothing may have drawstrings, fringe attached, or have a zipper. These items should be washed by themselves as to not damage any part of the extra detail. Zippers can snag other articles of clothing; drawstrings notoriously get caught on other things and pulled out and fringe details are stretched.
Sort by Level of Dirtiness
You should spend time sorting out articles of clothing that are soiled more than others. For instance, if you spend all day gardening and you have mud and dirt all over a pair of your pants that are in the laundry, you may want to wash the pants alone as there will be a significant amount of dirt that comes out of them. The amount of dirt in the soiled water that drains out before the rinse cycle can impact the level of dirtiness of other clothes being washed with that extremely dirty pair of pants. Some clothing may require a few washes to completely get dirt and mud out. Certainly, you might have to wash the dirty pants on a warmer cycle or extended cycle. If you wash all of your clothing in this same manner, then you could damage the other pieces that don’t require all of that extra washing. To keep from having to wash the other clothing again as well, you could simply pull out the extremely dirty pants and pre-wash them in some water or choose to wash them by themselves.
Best Wash has the best washers and dryers (many free!) for your washing and drying needs. Quickly clean your clothes and laundry at any of our Illinois- or Missouri-based laundromats, or have it picked up and delivered! Read about us or look up locations.