Taking the Mystery out of Sorting Your Laundry
Do you love the smell and feel of freshly washed, clean clothes? You want to avoid any mishaps and disasters that can ruin your brand new expensive shirt or a most cherished piece of clothing, right? Do you want to keep that particular green sweater green and not tie-dyed? One of the best ways to avoid ruining your clothing and make them last longer is by sorting your laundry before putting it in the washing machine. You’ll also want to set the correct temperature per the fabric type and color per the label instructions.
Keep reading to learn the correct way of sorting your laundry to keep clothes looking as good as new, with these helpful tips from the professionals at Gulf Coast Appliances.
Do you Need Repair Services?
First of all, you need to know if there any problems with your washer or dryer. Those issues need resolving upfront. Regularly scheduling a maintenance appointment will catch those little problems before they can damage the motor. If you have an appliance repair issue, contact a quality appliance repair company to get it working like new. Indeed, that is the first step to clean clothes.
The Benefits of Sorting Your Laundry
As high school or college students, most of us have taken the easy route and tossed all of our clothes into the same wash cycle. Now, as adults, you know to wash your clothing correctly for the best results.
Here are several benefits of sorting your laundry correctly before washing.
- Cleaner clothes: Separate out items heavily soiled, stained, or grease-laden items such as workwear from the delicate or moderately worn clothing. If you don’t take that step, your load will result in only half clean clothes or items stained from contact with the more heavily soiled items.
- Prevent color bleeding: By separating your clothing into different categories, you will eliminate any possible color transfer between bright, dark, and white-colored objects by sorting them appropriately. You don’t want them to come out tie-dyed or with a bright-colored splotch on a white piece. Set the washer at the correct temperature, and you will be all set.
- Less wear and tear: Damage can occur from friction from zippers, buttons, and heavy fabrics. Placing those items with others like them or with older towels will help preserve the life of more delicate items. Always wash like fabrics with their kind.
- Reduce Lint Build Up: If you toss your bath towels with jeans, dark pants, cotton shirts, or other items, it can result in an unsightly abundance of lint from the towels onto your clothing. Then you will spend hours removing the balls of lint from your favorite jeans. Nobody has time for that.
Furthermore, there are other factors when sorting your laundry. Be sure to consider each for the cleanest load possible.
The Item’s Care Instructions
Check the care label on all new or unfamiliar items to determine whether the clothing can be machine washed and dried or if it requires hand washing or dry cleaning. Are there any special instructions regarding water temperature, use of bleach, and dryer temperature? Be sure to follow the instructions for the best result.
Sorting Your Laundry According to Color
Often skipped over when in a hurry is color care. Sorting by color includes the following categories.
- Whites
- Darks
- Lights/Pastel colors
- Jeans
Consider the Fabrics
Once your laundry is sorted by color, go through each pile and sort by fabric and the garments’ weight. Wash your light-colored bedding separate from blouses, slacks, and underwear, and be sure to keep lint producing items such as towels separate from those that attract it. Always keep jeans on their own.
What is the Soil Type?
Heavily soiled items require pre-treating and should be laundered apart from other clothing. To prevent the transfer of debris, dirt, and odors, wash sports clothing together. You would never want fishing clothes in with nightgowns, etc. Infant clothing is it’s own type of soil and should be cleaned on its own as well.
Sorting Your Laundry According to Recommended Water Temperature
Here are the traditional standards of water temperature for your washing machine according to the color of clothing.
- Coldwater for dark loads and jeans
- Warm water for light-colored clothing
- Hot water for whites
Follow these guidelines, and you will keep your clothing looking new and lasting much longer.
Contact Gulf Coast Appliance Repair Anytime
Gulf Coast Appliance Repair is the local appliance repair company that you can count on. For 10+ years, our family-owned business has been serving customers in Pinellas County. We specialize in repairing appliances, including refrigerators, washing machines, dryers, stoves, dishwashers, and much more.
Contact our appliance and repair service to schedule your appointment and get your clothes smelling fresh again.
