How to do laundry without ruining anything
The short version
Read the care label, sort by colour and fabric weight, wash most everyday clothes at 30 to 40°C on a normal cycle with the dose of detergent the pack recommends, and only tumble dry what the label allows. Heat is what shrinks and fades clothes, so when in doubt, go colder.
Nobody is born knowing this. Here is the whole routine, once, in order.
Step 1: Read the care label
Every garment has a label with up to five symbols: a tub (washing), a triangle (bleach), a square (drying), an iron, and a circle (professional cleaning). A cross through any of them means "don't". Numbers and dots tell you the maximum heat.
Don't know a symbol? Search it in the laundry symbol decoder.
Step 2: Sort the pile
Make separate loads for:
- Whites and light colours
- Darks and brights, especially anything new, red, or dark denim that might bleed
- Heavy stuff like towels and jeans, which can batter delicate items
- Delicates that say hand wash, wool, or delicate cycle; put small items in a mesh bag
Empty pockets. Zip zips, close hooks, and turn printed T-shirts and dark jeans inside out.
Step 3: Pick temperature and cycle
| What you're washing | Temperature | Cycle |
|---|---|---|
| Everyday clothes, darks, brights | 30°C (cold) | Normal |
| Lightly soiled whites | 40°C (warm) | Normal |
| Towels, bedding, sportswear that allows it | 40 to 60°C | Normal or cotton |
| Synthetics, shirts | 30 to 40°C | Synthetics / permanent press |
| Wool, silk, lingerie | 30°C or cold | Wool / delicate or hand wash |
Never go above the number on the label.
Step 4: Dose the detergent
Use the amount on the pack for your load size and water hardness. Overdosing leaves residue on clothes and in the machine. If your washer is high-efficiency (HE), use HE detergent. Add fabric softener only if the label allows; it can reduce towel absorbency.
Step 5: Don't overload
Clothes need room to tumble. A good rule: fill the drum loosely, leaving about a hand's width at the top. Overloading means things don't get clean and wrinkle more.
Step 6: Dry it right
- Tumble dry only if the label shows the square with a circle. Dots mean heat: one is low, two is medium.
- Air dry anything with a crossed-out dryer, plus most activewear and anything you want to last.
- Dry flat knitwear, so it doesn't stretch.
- Clean the lint filter every time. It saves energy and is a fire safety habit.
Common disasters, and how to dodge them
- Pink everything: a red item got into a white load. Wash new reds alone the first few times.
- Shrunk sweater: heat plus agitation. Use the wool cycle or hand wash, then dry flat.
- Stiff, scratchy towels: too much detergent or softener. Use less of both.
- Musty smell: wet laundry left in the drum. Move it to dry promptly and leave the washer door open between loads.
Limitations
Machines and detergents vary. The care label and your machine's manual win over general advice. Next up: boil an egg, because you deserve a snack.