You don't need much by way of supplies to hand-wash a garment: Laundry detergent, a clean towel and a space large enough to fully submerge the garment in water — such as the kitchen or utility sink, the bathtub, or a washing bucket — are all that are required.
There are four important groupings when it comes to sorting laundry: Whites, Colors, Blankets/Towels, and Specialty.
Then, for best results and maximum color longevity, separate each pile into three smaller piles: white or light clothes, dark clothes, and colors. For patterned items (such as stripes, plaids, polka dots, and florals), sort based on the dominant color.
Always wash your whites separately to avoid colour transfer. Light grey clothes, for example, are safe to wash with light colours, and you should put your dark grey garments in the dark pile.
Can you wash your sheets and blankets together? Yes — but avoid washing soiled dish towels and underwear with your bedding. Towels and underwear are items that get especially dirty and need to be washed separately in hot water to remove bacteria.
Linens, a lighter weight, will dry faster than towels, which are obviously thicker. This means either towels won't dry fully–which could lead to the formation of mold or mildew–or sheets will be over-dried resulting in damage and shortening their lifespan.
Step 2: Sort by color
Most people know that sorting laundry begins by separating white clothes from dark ones. However, some experts think that you should go even further and organize clothes by shades. Start by putting together a pile of clothes: Whites – no patterns or embroidery.
Your washer employs pre-programmed settings called "wash cycles" to complete its work. One wash cycle includes a washing cycle in the beginning, followed by a resting, rinsing, and spinning phase to dry your clothes. Some settings offer multiple rinses and spin cycles to guarantee that your clothes are clean.
If you have a regular top-loading machine, it's best to fill your washer with water first, then add your detergent, then add your clothes. This helps evenly distribute the detergent in the water before it hits your clothes. Remember that the nicer you are to your washer and dryer the longer they'll last.
With regular top-loading machines, it's best not to add detergent on top of your laundry. Otherwise the detergent may not dissolve properly and leave unpleasant residue on your clothes. Instead, first add a little water followed by the detergent and then your laundry.
Pour detergent in the dispenser or, if there isn't one, directly into the tub before adding clothes. Always follow the instructions on the packaging when measuring. If your washer is High-Efficiency (HE), only use HE detergent. Learn more about HE detergent with this quick guide.
Washing your sheets with other clothes one time isn't going to ruin them, but we don't recommend getting into the habit of it.
Most people should wash their sheets once per week. If you don't sleep on your mattress every day, you may be able to stretch this to once every two weeks or so.
Wash sheets in cold water, as the default. Use the “normal” cycle (also called “regular” or “permanent press”). Do not overstuff the washing machine; sheets need room in the drum of the washer in order for water and detergent to fully penetrate the fibers.
We recommend washing your socks separately if you prefer to use warm or hot water for your clothing items. However, if you're washing socks with clothes that also require a cold cycle, laundering them together is fine!
White clothes should generally be washed using hot or warm water. Using higher temperatures for whites can effectively help remove stains and bacteria.
Try to group colors together – wash pastels in one group, then separate reds, oranges and yellows from green, blue or purple items with darker hues. If your brights are brand new, wash them separately for the first few washes to help keep them from bleeding dye onto other clothes.