Ten practices in laundry that are damaging your garments:
Are you in the routine of chucking everything inside your laundry basket into the washing machine in one go, adding a capful of laundry detergent, then setting it to hot wash? Do you have a habit of tossing everything into the dryer without a second thought too?
Just because it's convenient to treat everything in your laundry basket as equals, doesn't mean it's the best approach. The time you save might be causing significant wear and tear, or even damage, to your cherished garments. If you want to keep your favorite sweaters and tees around for longer, it's time to shake off some bad laundry habits and treat laundry as the science that it is.
Here are the 10 bad laundry habits that could be ruining your clothes—and what to do instead:
- Overlooking Clothing Care Labels
Thanks to the U.S. Federal Trade Commission, clothing care labels are present on every item sold in the U.S. These labels provide all the necessary information on how to wash and dry the item. Although many might dismiss 'dry clean only' items as capable of being hand-washed, these labels should not be ignored. If an item's label suggests air-drying, try to comply. Disregarding these instructions could result in shrinkage, warping, or distortion of your clothes.
- Skipping Fabric Sorting
Even though most of us may occasionally toss shirts with jeans or towels, this practice should be avoided if you wish to preserve your clothing. The notion of washing whites, coloreds, and delicates together may appear to offer a speedier, hassle-free solution to completing laundry tasks quickly, but it's actually a big no-no that could result in dye transfer, pilling, and shrinkage. Instead, always sort clothes and colors to prevent any risk of damaging an item's fabric.
- Neglecting to Pre-treat Stains
Ideally, stains should be treated as soon as they occur. However, if you can pre-treat stains before the item goes into the washing machine, you'll still be doing well. Once an item is in the washing machine, the risk of the stain becoming permanent increases. Warm to hot water or a ride through the dryer can set the stain, making it incredibly difficult to remove it permanently.
- Forgetting to Button Shirts Before Washing
You might overlook whether your shirt is buttoned when you toss it into the washing machine, or think it's better to button everything up before tossing it in. But those buttoned-up buttons could lead to damage in the washing machine. The tension of the washing machine could pull on the buttons, potentially resulting in tears in the fabric.
- Using an Excess Amount of Detergent
More may seem like a better approach, especially when it comes to laundry, but that's not always the case. Using too much detergent can lead to detergent remaining in your clothes, causing them to become stiff and fade the colors. Over time, this can also lead to buildup in the washing machine, which will eventually transfer grime back onto your clothes. To prevent this, always follow the specific detergent recommendations for your washer and the type of load you're running.
- Overloading the Washer
Everyone wants to get laundry done as quickly as possible, but rushing through the process could potentially cause damage to your clothing. Overloading the washer prevents proper agitation, which means dirt and detergent cannot be evenly distributed or rinsed out. This not only fails to clean your laundry but also stresses the fabric, leading to wear and tear. Instead, carefully adhere to your washing machine's capacity guidelines and wash laundry in smaller loads, particularly when it comes to delicate or bulky items.
- Using Hot Water for All Items
While hot water may seem like the ideal solution for getting everything as clean as possible, this isn't always true. Hot water can damage clothing with a delicate weave, whether it's silk, cotton, or synthetic. Most modern washing machines should be able to clean your clothes sufficiently with the right detergent and a cold cycle.
- Leaving Wet Clothes in the Washing Machine
Many of us have thrown a load of clothes in the washing machine and forgotten about them until days later. While it happens, this should never become a habit. Leaving wet clothes in the washing machine for an extended period can lead to mold and mildew, which may stain your clothes and create unpleasant odors.
- Drying Everything in the Dryer
Some items should not go into the dryer, including cotton items that have not been preshrunk. Heat can damage and weaken the fabric, causing clothing to appear worn out faster. To minimize damage, hang delicate or items that you don't want to see worn out too soon to dry.
- Washing Clothes after Every Wear
Washing clothes after every wear may feel like a diligent practice, but in many cases, it's unnecessary. A quick rinse with cold water and hanging or air-drying on a rack can often be enough to keep clothing fresh and clean between washings. Additionally, some items, like sweaters or denim, can be spot-cleaned to extend their laundry cycles.
Understandably controversial, but it's not necessarily obligatory to clean garments after each use. Regarding items like denim pants or deluxe knits such as a cashmere pullover, you can typically extend their usage span by a few wears before needing to submit them to a laundry cycle. The longer the gap between washes, the less wear and tear the clothing item endures.
It's important to consult the care label of your cashmere pullover before washing, as overwashing can lead to premature wear and tear. Following the suggested care instructions can help extend the lifespan of your beloved cashmere garment.
To maintain Southern Living's high standards of cleanliness and sophistication, consider air-drying delicate items instead of using the dryer. If dried properly, your cashmere pieces will retain their softness and shape for future use.
