Doing Laundry: What Works and What to Avoid
Doing Laundry: What Works and What to Avoid
You’ve been doing laundry the same way for years. You sort by color, throw everything in the washer, use the same cycle, and hope for the best. But your darks are fading, your whites are graying, and your delicates are losing their shape. You think you need a new washing machine, but the problem is your routine. Doing laundry seems simple, but common mistakes ruin clothes over time. Here’s what works and what to avoid.
Doing laundry is the process of washing, drying, and maintaining clothes. Good laundry care prevents fading, shrinking, tearing, and wrinkling, and extends the life of clothes. The right routine involves sorting, treating stains, choosing the right settings, using the right products, and drying correctly.
To do laundry correctly, sort by color and fabric type, treat stains before washing, use 2 tablespoons of enzyme detergent, choose the right water temperature and cycle, skip fabric softener, transfer clothes promptly, and dry according to the care label. Don’t overload the washer, don’t use too much detergent, and don’t leave wet clothes in the washer.
What Works
Sort by color and fabric type. Separate whites, darks, lights, delicates, and heavy items. Sorting prevents color transfer, fabric damage, and ensures each load gets the right settings.
Treat stains before washing. Check each item for stains and treat with the right product before washing. Dawn Ultra Dish Soap for oil, OxiClean Max Force Spray for food, Shout Advanced Grease Busting Foam for grease.
Use the right amount of detergent. 2 tablespoons of Tide Free and Gentle per normal load. The lines on the detergent cap are 3 to 5 times larger than needed.
Choose the right water temperature. Cold for darks and delicates. Warm for everyday cotton. Hot for whites, towels, and bedding.
Choose the right cycle. Normal for everyday items. Delicate for silk and lace. Heavy duty for towels and bedding. Perm press for synthetics.
Add baking soda for odors. Half a cup of Arm and Hammer Baking Soda for smelly loads.
Add vinegar to the rinse. Half a cup of white vinegar to soften clothes and remove residue. Replaces fabric softener.
Transfer clothes promptly. Move to the dryer or drying rack within 2 hours. Wet clothes left in the washer grow bacteria and mold.
Dry according to the care label. Use the right dryer setting or air dry. Clean the lint screen before every load.
Fold or hang immediately. Prevents wrinkles and keeps clothes looking fresh.
Clean the washing machine monthly. Use affresh Washing Machine Cleaner to prevent odors and residue.
What to Avoid
Don’t wash everything together. Mixing colors, fabrics, and soil levels causes color transfer, fabric damage, and poor cleaning. Sort every load.
Don’t use too much detergent. Excess detergent leaves residue on clothes and in the machine, feeds mold, and reduces cleaning effectiveness. Use 2 tablespoons.
Don’t use fabric softener. Fabric softener coats fibers with a waxy film that reduces towel absorbency, traps odors, and feeds mold in the machine. Use vinegar instead.
Don’t overload the washer. Clothes need room to move. Overloading prevents cleaning and rinsing. Fill no more than three-quarters full.
Don’t leave wet clothes in the washer. Wet clothes grow bacteria and mold within hours. Transfer within 2 hours.
Don’t use hot water on everything. Hot water fades darks, shrinks delicates, and sets protein stains. Use the right temperature for each load.
Don’t put stained clothes in the dryer. Dryer heat sets stains permanently. Always check and air dry first.
Don’t use dryer sheets. Dryer sheets leave a waxy coating on clothes and the dryer lint screen. Use dryer balls instead.
Don’t ignore the care label. Care labels tell you the safest way to wash, dry, and iron each garment. Ignoring them can cause shrinking, fading, and damage.
Don’t close the washer door between washes. Closing the door traps moisture and grows mold. Leave it open.
Comparison: What Works vs. What to Avoid
| Action | Effect |
|---|---|
| Sort by color and fabric | Works (prevents damage) |
| 2 tablespoons detergent | Works (cleans without residue) |
| Right temperature and cycle | Works (prevents fading and shrinking) |
| Vinegar in rinse | Works (softens, removes residue) |
| Transfer promptly | Works (prevents mold) |
| Fold immediately | Works (prevents wrinkles) |
| Wash everything together | Avoid (color transfer, damage) |
| Too much detergent | Avoid (residue, mold) |
| Fabric softener | Avoid (waxy coating, reduces absorbency) |
| Overload washer | Avoid (poor cleaning) |
| Leave clothes in washer | Avoid (bacteria, mold) |
| Hot water on everything | Avoid (fading, shrinking) |
| Dryer for stained clothes | Avoid (sets stains) |
| Closing washer door | Avoid (mold) |
FAQ
How do you do laundry correctly? Sort by color and fabric type, treat stains before washing, use 2 tablespoons of enzyme detergent, choose the right water temperature and cycle, add baking soda for odors and vinegar for the rinse, transfer clothes promptly, dry according to the care label, fold immediately, and clean the machine monthly.
What is the most common laundry mistake? Using too much detergent. The lines on the detergent cap are 3 to 5 times larger than needed. Excess detergent leaves residue on clothes and in the machine, feeds mold, and reduces cleaning. Use 2 tablespoons.
Should you use fabric softener? No. Fabric softener coats fibers with a waxy film that reduces towel absorbency, traps odors, and feeds mold in the machine. Use half a cup of white vinegar in the rinse cycle instead.
How often should you clean your washing machine? Once a month. Run a hot cycle with affresh Washing Machine Cleaner to remove residue and prevent odors. Also wipe the rubber seal on front loaders after every wash.
How much detergent should you use per load? 2 tablespoons for a normal load. 1 tablespoon for a small load. 3 tablespoons for a large or heavily soiled load. The lines on the detergent cap are 3 to 5 times larger than needed.
References
- Tide. “Laundry Guide.” tide.com.
- The Spruce. “How to Do Laundry.” thespruce.com.
- Good Housekeeping. “Laundry Guide.” goodhousekeeping.com.
- Whirlpool. “How to Wash Clothes.” whirlpool.com.
