Even if you’ve been washing your clothes for years and think you know how to do laundry, these common slip-ups can cause unnecessary damage to fabrics, fit, and more. The following are some of the laundry mistakes, you didn’t know you are making.
1. Don’t just sort lights and darks
According to Martha Stewart Living, the more you sort the laundry, the fresher your clothes. Separate very dirty or muddy clothes apart from lightly soiled pieces, and heavy or abrasive fabrics like denim from more delicate ones. (For denim, turn inside out, wash in cold water on a gentle cycle, and dry at a low temperature to prevent fading.) To prevent sheets from twisting, wash each set separately.
2. Don’t put detergent directly on your clothes
Believe it or not, there’s a right and wrong way to load the washing machine. The best way is to add water first, then clothes, and then soap or detergent.
3. Don’t abuse your dryer
If you have time to air dry, do it. Not only do you save energy by not running the dryer, but it’s also gentler on delicate items and helps stretchy clothing, like yoga pants, to keep their shape. Whenever you do tumble-dry, don’t overload the dryer, or over-dry fabrics. Then fold or hang them immediately to prevent wrinkles.
4. Don’t mix socks with clothes
Tired of losing one sock every time you do a load? Try placing socks in the washer first, then adding everything else. This makes them less likely to attach to other garments, which often causes them to go missing.
5. Don’t leave zips open
Loosed zip can snag delicate clothing, as well as scratch the doors of front-loading washers. Make sure they’re all the way up before you toss in the machine. Also, unclipped bras can pull fabrics or damage the drum if they fly around loose. Invest in lingerie bags or an old pillowcase as a solution.
6. Don’t leave dress shirts buttoned
Yes, zippers should be fastened, but buttons should not. Washing a button-down shirt with the buttons fastened can damage the buttons and rip the buttonholes. And don’t forget about the cuff and collar buttons either!
7. Don’t forget a quick “bleeding” test
If you’re worried about that new redshirt the first time you wash it, do this easy test to find out before a mess happens. “Dampen a discreet spot, then blot it with a white cloth to see if the dye bleeds. If so, wash the item on its own until the colour stops running”.
8. Don’t skip the filter and hose when clearing the lint trap
Empty the lint filter after every cycle, because lint build-up can clog the duct and become a fire hazard. It’s also important to clean the filter about once a year. Scrub with a toothbrush dipped in detergent, then rinse and air-dry. Also, detach the hose from the back of the dryer about once a year (you’ll know it’s time when it takes more than an hour to dry a load), then snake a long brush through and push out lingering lint.
9. Don’t scrub stains
You may think the best way to treat a stain is to give it elbow grease, vigorously scrubbing the stain with detergent. But that’s not the best course of action, and it could even result in the stain spreading. Instead, gently dab the stain, working from the outside in and wash gently. And, of course, the earlier you treat it, the more likely it is to go away.
10. Don’t wash items that should be dry cleaned
If clothing has a “dry clean” label, proceed with caution. Some items don’t need to be dry cleaned; if you’re dealing with natural fibres, like linens and silks, it’s probably safe to hand-wash them and let them air-dry. But for items like leather, suede, and “structured pieces” (like blazers and suits), you’ll probably want to obey that label.