Sorting laundry is one of those things people tend to disagree on. Do you separate your colors? Do you bother to look at the care instructions first? Allow us to set the record straight with the correct way to sort your laundry.
Remove Special Care Items
The first thing to do when sorting laundry is to remove any clothing that might get ruined in the washing machine. You should check the care tag for any items you’re unsure about. Typically, you’ll want to watch out for knits, wool, lingerie, bras, and anything else that seems too delicate for machine washing.
Separate by Color
If you’re not separating your clothes by color, you’re doing laundry wrong—sorry, we don’t make the rules. Not separating your laundry will lead to clothes that look dingy and dirty, even when they’re clean, and nobody wants that.
In general, you need to establish three color categories to correctly sort your laundry: lights, mediums, and darks. Lights typically include white, cream, yellow, and light gray. Darks are anything that could be mistaken for black in dim light. Mediums include everything else.
Remove the Reds
Red is a unique color in terms of laundry because it can ruin just about everything if it manages to bleed, and red often does. If you have any new red clothing or linens, make sure you remove them from your general laundry piles and wash them in their own load. If you have older red laundry items that don’t bleed, feel free to wash them with the darks or mediums.
Check All Pockets
Before you throw a load into the washing machine, the last step is to check pockets for anything left behind. This is an important step in using your washer and dryer safely, because you don’t want something like a pocket knife or forgotten tissues to damage your machines or clog your dryer’s lint trap.
Don’t Put Athletic Wear in the Dryer
People often forget to separate clothes when switching things from the washer to the dryer. Some items that can go in the washing machine shouldn’t go into the dryer, like athletic clothing, leggings, and certain fabrics that are best dried flat. Again, check the care label on any items you’re not sure about.
Sorting your laundry correctly may take up more time, but the results are well worth it. Your clothes and linens will last longer and look nicer if you take these extra steps.
