Load of Laundry: A Repeatable Care Routine

You want a repeatable laundry routine that gets the best results every time. Maybe your clothes aren’t coming out as clean as you’d like, you want to protect your clothes, or you want a system that’s easy to follow. A repeatable laundry routine keeps clothes clean, fresh, and well-maintained. Here’s a step-by-step guide for a load of laundry.

A load of laundry is a complete cycle of sorting, pre-treating, washing, rinsing, drying, and folding clothes. A repeatable care routine is a consistent set of steps that you follow every time you do laundry to get the best results and protect your clothes. The key is using the right products, the right settings, and the right order.

To do a load of laundry, sort by color and fabric, pre-treat stains with OxiClean or Dawn, add Tide Free and Gentle and baking soda to the wash, choose the right water temperature and cycle, add vinegar and Lysol to the rinse, dry according to the care label, fold promptly, and clean the machine monthly with affresh. Don’t overload, don’t use too much detergent, and don’t use fabric softener.

The Repeatable Care Routine

Step 1: Sort Clothes

Sort clothes by:

• Color: Whites, lights, darks
• Fabric: Cotton, synthetics, delicates
• Soil level: Lightly soiled, heavily soiled
• Special care: Hand wash, dry clean

Step 2: Check Pockets

Check all pockets for pens, lip balm, tissues, and other items that can stain or damage clothes in the wash.

Step 3: Pre-Treat Stains

Pre-treat stains before washing:

• Most stains: OxiClean Max Force Spray
• Grease and oil: Dawn Ultra Dish Soap
• Food and grease: Shout Advanced Grease Busting Foam
• Ink: Amodex Ink and Stain Remover

Let pre-treatment sit for 15 minutes before washing.

Step 4: Turn Clothes Inside Out

Turn clothes inside out to protect the surface and prevent fading and pilling.

Step 5: Load the Washer

Load clothes loosely into the washer. Don’t overload. Leave room for clothes to move freely.

Step 6: Add Detergent

Add 1 to 2 tablespoons of Tide Free and Gentle to the detergent dispenser. For small loads, use 1 tablespoon. For large loads, use 2 tablespoons.

Step 7: Add Baking Soda

Add half a cup of Arm and Hammer Baking Soda to the wash. Baking soda boosts cleaning power, deodorizes, and softens water.

Step 8: Choose the Right Water Temperature

• Cold (60-80F): Darks, delicates, protein stains
• Warm (90-110F): Most loads, everyday clothes
• Hot (130F+): Whites, towels, bedding, heavily soiled

Step 9: Choose the Right Cycle

• Normal: Most loads
• Gentle: Delicates, knits
• Heavy duty: Heavily soiled, towels, bedding

Step 10: Start the Wash

Start the wash cycle. Let it run to completion.

Step 11: Add Vinegar to the Rinse

Add half a cup of white vinegar to the fabric softener dispenser for the rinse. Vinegar removes detergent residue and deodorizes.

Step 12: Add Lysol for Disinfecting

Add Lysol Laundry Sanitizer to the rinse for disinfecting.

Step 13: Remove Clothes Promptly

Remove clothes from the washer as soon as the cycle ends. Don’t leave wet clothes sitting, which causes mold and odors.

Step 14: Dry According to Care Label

Dry according to the care label:

• Dryer: Use the appropriate heat setting
• Line dry: Hang on a clothesline
• Flat dry: Dry flat on a clean surface
• Air dry: Hang on a drying rack

Step 15: Clean the Lint Filter

Clean the dryer’s lint filter before every load. A clogged filter reduces airflow and increases drying time.

Step 16: Remove Clothes from Dryer Promptly

Remove clothes from the dryer as soon as the cycle ends. Don’t leave clothes in the dryer, which causes wrinkles.

Step 17: Fold or Hang Promptly

Fold or hang clothes promptly to prevent wrinkles. Button top buttons on shirts to maintain their shape.

Step 18: Clean the Machine Monthly

Clean the washer monthly with affresh Washing Machine Cleaner to prevent mold, odors, and residue buildup.

Daily Laundry Habits

Sort as You Go

Use separate hampers for whites, lights, and darks. This makes sorting easier on laundry day.

Pre-Treat Immediately

Pre-treat stains as soon as they happen. Fresh stains are easier to remove than dried stains.

Don’t Overload

Don’t overload the washer or dryer. Overloading reduces cleaning and drying performance.

Remove Promptly

Remove clothes from the washer and dryer promptly to prevent mold, odors, and wrinkles.

Use Less Detergent

Use 1 to 2 tablespoons of Tide Free and Gentle. Excess detergent leaves residue.

Don’t Use Fabric Softener

Use white vinegar instead of fabric softener. Fabric softener leaves residue and feeds mold.

Leave the Door Open

Leave the washer door open between loads to allow the drum to dry and prevent mold.

Weekly Laundry Schedule

Day	Task
Monday	Whites (hot water)
Tuesday	Darks (cold water)
Wednesday	Towels and bedding (hot water)
Thursday	Delicates (cold water, gentle cycle)
Friday	Everyday clothes (warm water)
Saturday	Heavy items (jeans, sweatshirts)
Sunday	Machine cleaning with affresh

Products Guide

Detergent

Tide Free and Gentle is the best all-around detergent. It’s free of dyes and perfumes, works in all water temperatures, and is gentle on clothes.

Stain Removers

• OxiClean Max Force Spray for most stains
• Dawn Ultra Dish Soap for grease
• Shout Advanced Grease Busting Foam for food stains
• Amodex Ink and Stain Remover for ink

Boosters

• Arm and Hammer Baking Soda for deodorizing and boosting
• White vinegar for rinsing and deodorizing

Disinfectant

Lysol Laundry Sanitizer for killing bacteria and odors

Machine Cleaner

affresh Washing Machine Cleaner for monthly machine cleaning

What Not to Do

Don’t overload the washer. Overloading reduces cleaning performance. Load loosely.

Don’t use too much detergent. Excess detergent leaves residue. Use 1 to 2 tablespoons.

Don’t use fabric softener. Fabric softener leaves residue and feeds mold. Use white vinegar.

Don’t leave wet clothes sitting. Leaving wet clothes causes mold and odors. Remove promptly.

Don’t use hot water on protein stains. Hot water sets blood, sweat, and dairy stains. Use cold water.

Don’t put stained clothes in the dryer. Dryer heat sets stains. Check first.

Don’t close the door between loads. Closing the door traps moisture. Leave it open.

Don’t skip monthly cleaning. Monthly cleaning with affresh prevents mold and odors.

FAQ

How do you do a load of laundry? Sort by color and fabric, check pockets, pre-treat stains, turn inside out, load loosely, add Tide Free and Gentle and baking soda, choose the right water temperature and cycle, add vinegar and Lysol to the rinse, remove promptly, dry according to the care label, fold or hang promptly, and clean the machine monthly.

How much detergent should you use per load? Use 1 to 2 tablespoons of Tide Free and Gentle per load. For small loads, use 1 tablespoon. For large loads, use 2 tablespoons. Don’t use more than 2 tablespoons.

What temperature should you wash clothes? Use cold water for darks, delicates, and protein stains. Use warm water for most loads. Use hot water for whites, towels, bedding, and heavily soiled items.

Should you use fabric softener? No. Fabric softener leaves residue and feeds mold. Use white vinegar instead, which removes residue and deodorizes.

How often should you clean your washing machine? Clean your washing machine monthly with affresh Washing Machine Cleaner. Run an empty hot cycle with one tablet to prevent mold and odors.

References

1. Tide. “Laundry Guide.” tide.com.
2. The Spruce. “How to Do Laundry.” thespruce.com.
3. Good Housekeeping. “Laundry Guide.” goodhousekeeping.com.
4. Energy Star. “Laundry Guide.” energystar.gov.