Doing laundry might seem straightforward, but getting the best results requires more than just tossing your clothes into the washing machine. Proper sorting can prevent colours from bleeding, ensure even cleaning, and protect your fabrics. If you’re looking for the best laundry practices in our Collingwood laundromat, follow this comprehensive guide to sorting your clothes for optimal washing results.
1. Separate by colour
Whites:
Gather all your white clothing and linens. Washing whites separately prevents them from becoming dull or discoloured by darker fabrics. This is especially important in a high-efficiency laundering to maintain the brightness of your whites.
Lights:
This includes pastels and light shades of pink, blue, green, yellow, and grey. Washing these together helps keep their colours vibrant and prevents them from absorbing darker dyes.
Darks:
Group all dark colours such as black, navy, red, and dark purples together. This prevents these colours from bleeding onto lighter fabrics, a common issue faced in many laundry days! Using the right type of detergent with cold water and turning some new items inside out will also help reduce this nasty result.
2. Sort by fabric type
Check the labels, if you’re not sure…
Delicates:
Separate delicate items such as lingerie, silk, and lace. These require gentle handling and a delicate cycle to avoid damage.
Cottons and linens:
These materials can withstand higher washing temperatures. Sorting them together allows you to wash them on a hotter cycle, ensuring thorough cleaning.
Synthetics:
Polyester, nylon, and other synthetic materials should be washed together. These fabrics often require a medium washing temperature and gentle cycle to avoid damage.
3. Consider bulkiness of items
Heavy items:
Towels, blankets, and jeans are bulky and require more space to move freely in the washer. Washing these separately ensures they get properly cleaned without overloading the machine.
Lightweight items:
T-shirts, blouses, and underwear can be washed together. These items dry faster and need less agitation compared to heavier fabrics.
Tips for washing different loads
Pre-treat stains:
Before washing, pre-treat any stains to improve the chances of removal. Use a stain remover or a small amount of detergent directly on the stain.
Use mesh bags:
For delicates and small items, use mesh laundry bags. These bags protect your clothes from getting tangled or damaged during the wash cycle.
Adjust water temperature:
For whites and heavily soiled clothes, use hot water. For bright colours and delicates, use cold water to prevent fading and shrinking.