Beginner’s guide: How to sort laundry

Step 1: Separate by color

The first step in sorting laundry is to separate your clothes by color. This means dividing them into different piles. We recommend four piles: Dark clothes (navy, black, brown, and similar), light colored clothes (beige, light grey, and other muted tones), white clothes, and vibrant colors (red, pink, orange, and similar).

If you wash dark-colored clothes with light-colored clothes, the darker colors can bleed onto the lighter ones, leaving them stained and discolored. By separating your laundry by color, you can avoid this problem and keep your clothes looking vibrant and fresh.

If you have children or a big household and need to do laundry often you may think four piles sounds quite a lot. A good tip is to invest in our Color Absorber sheets that make it possible to wash colored and lighter textiles together without the risk of discoloration. These small sheets work like magnets, absorbing loose color pigments that spin around in your washing machine and preventing them from being transmitted to other garments. 

Step 2: Sort by fabric type

After separating your laundry by color, the next step is to sort your clothes by fabric type. This means dividing them into two separate piles: delicate and regular. Delicate items include clothing made from delicate fabrics such as silk, wool, or lace items. Regular items include everything else, such as cotton, polyester, and denim.

Sorting by fabric type is important because it helps prevent damage to your delicate clothes. Delicate fabrics require a gentler hand wash cycle and lower temperature than regular fabrics. By separating them from your regular clothes, you can ensure that they receive the appropriate treatment.

Step 3: Check for stains

Before washing your clothes, it’s important to check for stains and treat them accordingly. Most times it is enough to just treat the stain separately instead of washing the whole garment. But if you need to wash the whole garment, make sure to pre-treat it before washing to prevent it from setting in. Different types of stains require different treatments, so be sure to check the care label on your clothes or consult a stain removal guide.

Step 4: Choose the right cycle, temperature, and detergent

Once you have sorted your laundry by color and fabric type and pre-treated any stains, it’s time to load the machine. Choose the appropriate wash cycle, temperature, and laundry detergent for your clothes. This will vary depending on the fabric type, so be sure to check the care label and choose your cycle accordingly. Using the wrong cycle or temperature can cause damage to your clothes.

Overall, sorting laundry might seem like a boring task, but it’s an essential part of doing laundry and it can make a big difference in the outcome of your wash. By sorting your laundry correctly, you can prevent color bleeding, fabric damage, and ensure that your clothes come out clean and fresh.