Is It Necessary to Organize Your Laundry Routine?
When you initially learned to do your laundry on your own, you were likely instructed to separate colors, whites, and possibly even lights to prevent darker hues from staining lighter items. The fear of a lone red sock turned an entire batch of whites pink is enough to make many people stick with this practice. However, is it completely necessary?
Modern technology has enabled washers to clean clothes just as effectively using cold water cycles. This not only saves energy but also reduces the risk of color transfer. So, if you have a contemporary washing machine, you might consider tossing all colors into one load without sorting. Nevertheless, fabric care specialist Sammy Wang from P&G has a different opinion.
"While laundry technology has advanced, there are numerous types of detergents, washing machines, and fabrics available, and accidents can still happen," Wang states. "Sorting your clothes is an excellent way to maintain control over the results of your laundry, achieve a better clean, and provide comfort in knowing that mishaps are less likely."
If you don't want to risk a disaster related to color transfer, it's probably best to continue (or initiate) sorting your laundry for each load. With Wang's assistance, we've compiled a detailed list of the advantages of sorting, the categories you should consider (beyond color), and everything else you need to know about separating your laundry to keep your items looking like new.
Advantages of Sorting Your Laundry
Wang explains why you should sort your laundry, beyond just dividing it by color. Learn why you should consider fabric materials and the amount of soil on your items when tackling your dirty laundry.
Prevent Color Bleeding
"When multiple colored garments are washed together, especially lights and colors, there is a risk of unwanted dye transfer due to color bleeding," Wang explains. "Sorting clothes into separate loads based on color minimizes this risk and helps preserve the original colors of your garments." She also points out that textile manufacturers often use rinse cycles with less water after the dyeing process to save resources, which increases the likelihood of color transfer.
Preserve Clothing Quality
Besides dividing by color, Wang suggests sorting laundry loads by material and their care instructions. "Different fabrics require different conditions, such as specific cycles," she says. "Mixing clothes with various textures and fabric types can lead to friction and wear during the wash cycle – think denim rubbing against a sweater." By separating delicate items and washing them on a gentle cycle, you can prevent pilling, snags, and other damage.
Enhance Cleaning Performance
If you want to push the envelope, you might consider sorting your clothing further by their level of dirtiness. "Separating heavily soiled items from lightly soiled ones prevents dirt and grime from transferring during the wash and allows for a more effective cleaning," Wang explains. "Doing this will allow you to adjust detergent levels or use a targeted product for a load of sweaty workout clothes or sports uniforms."
How to Sort Your Laundry
If you're ready to embrace the benefits of sorting and ensure your clothes and other linens receive the best clean, take note of Wang's recommendations.
By color: Separate colors into darks, lights, and whites to prevent dark colors from bleeding onto lighter ones. This also enables you to use bleach on white items if necessary. Since denim is prone to color bleeding, particularly on the first wash, Wang strongly advises washing a pair of jeans individually.
By material: Feel free to sort by material or cycle type (such as bulky or gentle) to prevent friction between delicate and rough fabrics. "If you don't want to sort by fabric texture, we recommend using mesh garment bags for delicate items like sweaters or sheer fabrics to protect them in the wash," Wang suggests.
By soil level: Prevent unnecessary dirt or sweat transfer between heavily soiled and everyday items by washing them separately.
By product preference: If you prefer to use certain products like fabric softener, scent beads, or specialized detergent on specific items, Wang suggests sorting your laundry accordingly.
Pet considerations: To keep pet odors, hair, and dirt from mingling with your laundry, consider washing pet blankets, beds, and towels separately.
Lint producers vs. receivers: According to Wang, some fabrics produce lint (such as cotton towels), while others collect lint (such as corduroy pants). "If you know that certain clothes shed a lot of lint and others tend to collect lint, you might want to separate these items into different loads to prevent lint from transferring," she says.
At the very least, Wang supports sorting colors and utilizing tools like a mesh bag for delicates or a dryer sheet to capture lint if you don't want to take the time to sort everything else on the list. "Many opt to wash all colors and fabric types together for convenience and accept the potential downsides of not sorting," she explains. "However, if you prefer to sort to prevent mishaps, there's no reason not to!"
Absolutely, regularly washing your clothes with smaller loads can enhance your satisfaction with their cleanliness and leave you feeling more refreshed. Wang explains that often, smaller loads result in better overall laundry performance since clothes aren't squished together as tightly in the machines, allowing them more space to properly clean up.
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In light of the advice provided by fabric care specialist Sammy Wang from P&G, creating Laundry Tips Checklists for different types of laundry can be beneficial. These checklists can include categories such as Laundry Linens, which should be sorted by color to prevent color bleeding, and Linens that require gentle care due to their delicate fabric material.bywashing them separately on a gentle cycle. Additionally, BHG homeowners who have contemporary washing machines may find it helpful to follow checklists that outline the advantages of sorting Laundry Linens based on their soil level, fabric type, and potential to produce or collect lint.
