In brief: The most common laundry mistakes are overloading the washer, choosing the wrong water temperature, and sorting clothes incorrectly. These mistakes can leave clothes less clean, use more energy, and cause fabrics to wear out prematurely. Avoid them by following care labels, filling the drum no more than two-thirds full, and using the right amount of detergent.
How to Do Laundry Right: Avoid Common Mistakes
Getting your clothes clean takes more than pressing a button. Washing them the wrong way can cost you money and energy and even ruin your favorite items. Here’s how to avoid common mistakes and get better results with a few smart laundry tips.
How do I sort laundry correctly?
Good preparation makes all the difference. Don’t toss everything into the washer together.
First, sort clothes by color. Whites and light pastel colors can go in the same load. Wash bright colors and darks separately. New colored clothes may bleed, so wash them separately the first time.
Next, choose the right water temperature. Lightly soiled everyday clothes can be washed at 30°C or 40°C. Items such as towels and bed sheets need 60°C. Always check the care symbols on the label.
Finally, consider the fabric. Delicates such as silk or wool need a gentle cycle. Durable items such as jeans and towels can handle a faster spin cycle. Rough items such as rugs can damage delicate fabrics.
Expert tip
Before washing, apply a little gall soap or prewash stain remover to heavily soiled areas such as collars or cuffs. This helps loosen grease and dirt during the prewash cycle.
Sorting your laundry correctly helps your clothes and your laundry baskets last longer. Use separate baskets or compartments for whites, colors, and darks.
What is the right water temperature?
Modern detergents work well at low temperatures, so hotter water doesn’t automatically mean cleaner clothes.
Choose 30°C for lightly soiled everyday clothes. This can save up to 60 percent energy compared with a 60°C cycle. For normally soiled colored laundry, 40°C is standard. Use the Eco program to save energy, even though it takes longer.
Wash towels, bed sheets, underwear, and dish towels at 60°C. This temperature reliably removes germs and bacteria. A 90°C wash is only necessary if someone in your household has an infectious illness or for heavily soiled work clothes.
Important note
Never mix chlorine bleach with other cleaning products or acidic substances such as vinegar. This can produce toxic chlorine gas. Use bleach separately and rinse the washer thoroughly afterward.
Wash delicates such as wool or silk on a special cycle at a maximum of 30°C. Look for the wool or hand-wash symbol. The same care applies to cozy children’s bed sheets made from soft materials.
The biggest energy savings come from lowering the wash temperature by 10 to 20 degrees. Modern color-safe and all-purpose detergents are designed to work at low temperatures.
How do I measure detergent correctly?
Using more detergent doesn’t get your laundry any cleaner. It can damage your clothes, your washer, and the environment.
The right amount depends on three things: your local water hardness, how soiled the clothes are, and how full the drum is. Ask your water supplier about water hardness or check it with test strips.
Use the measuring cup or cap that comes with your detergent. The markings usually show the amount for lightly, normally, and heavily soiled laundry with medium-hard water and a full load. For a half load, use half the amount.
Powder detergent works well for heavy soil and higher temperatures. Liquid detergent dissolves easily in cold water, making it a good choice for colored clothes and low-temperature washes. Laundry pods or capsules are convenient but often cost more.
How to measure detergent correctly:
- Check your water hardness (soft, medium, or hard).
- Assess how soiled the laundry is (light, normal, or heavy).
- Estimate the drum load (half, normal, or full).
- Check the packaging for the recommended amount for your combination.
Why is loading the washer so important?
An overfilled or underfilled drum can lead to poor results and more wear and tear.
Fill the washer to about two-thirds of its capacity. This leaves room for clothes to tumble and rinse properly. An overfilled drum won’t clean clothes evenly. They may come out badly creased, and the washer’s mechanism can become overloaded.
Washing too small a load can cause problems, too. Clothes bang unnecessarily against the drum, increasing wear on both the fabric and the washer. You also use a lot of water and energy for just a few items.
Additional advice
For small loads, use your washer’s economy or half-load program, if available. It reduces water and energy use. You can also wait until you have a full load.
A well-organized household can use practical laundry baskets such as the
, or stylish storage solutions such as the or . These make it easy to sort laundry until you have an ideal load ready for the washer.
How do I care for my washing machine?
A clean washer cleans clothes hygienically and efficiently. Neglecting routine care can lead to unpleasant odors and germs.
Leave the door and detergent drawer open after each wash. This lets the seal and interior dry completely and helps prevent mold. Wipe the rubber door seal regularly, since lint, hair, and leftover water can collect there.
Clean the washer every four to eight weeks. Use a washing machine cleaner or household products such as citric acid to remove limescale or baking soda to help eliminate odors. Run the cleaning cycle or a short cycle at 60°C without laundry.
Don’t forget the lint filter. It’s usually behind a flap near the bottom of the front panel. Turn off the washer and place a container underneath, since leftover water will drain out. Rinse the filter under running water.
One third of all washing machine breakdowns are caused by poor maintenance, especially limescale-covered heating elements and clogged pumps. Regular cleaning and occasional descaling can significantly extend a washer’s service life.
Which mistakes can damage special fabrics?
Not all fabrics can handle regular wash cycles. Special care helps preserve their quality.
Wool and silk: Use a wool or delicate cycle with a special detergent. Spin at the lowest setting or skip the spin cycle altogether. Place wet items in a towel and gently press out the water. Never wring them out.
Performance and sportswear: Wash these items at 30°C or 40°C with liquid color-safe detergent. Fabric softener and bleach can clog breathable membranes, reducing their performance. Lay them flat or hang them to air-dry; don’t put them in the dryer.
Bedding and towels: Hygiene matters here. Wash them at 60°C. This helps preserve towels’ absorbency. For attractive bedding with beautiful designs or bedding available for immediate delivery, use a bleach-free heavy-duty detergent to protect the colors.
Jeans: Always wash jeans inside out to protect the color. Use cold water or a maximum temperature of 30°C to help prevent fading and shrinkage. Air-dry them.
These tips help you avoid the most common pitfalls. Your laundry will be cleaner, your textiles will last longer, and you’ll save energy. The right helpers, such as a set of
make the job easier. Pay attention to care labels and consider the needs of different fabrics.
Frequently asked questions
- What temperature should you wash towels at?
- Wash towels and bath mats at 60°C for the best hygiene. This temperature reliably kills germs and bacteria, removes dead skin cells, and dissolves oils from the fibers. For pure cotton towels, 60°C is ideal. For blended fabrics or colored towels, 40°C with a bleach-free heavy-duty detergent may be enough.
- How should I sort laundry before washing?
- Sort laundry by three main criteria: color (white, colored, dark), temperature (delicate, regular, hot wash), and fabric type (delicate, durable). Separate heavily soiled items from lightly soiled laundry. Wash new, brightly colored items separately. Sorting this way helps prevent colors from bleeding and ensures the wash cycle is suited to the fabric.
- How often should you clean your washing machine?
- Clean your washing machine every one to two months. Run an empty cycle at 60-90°C with a special washing machine cleaner or a household remedy such as citric acid. Wipe the rubber seals and door rim dry after every wash, and leave the drum and detergent drawer open so moisture can escape.
- Can you use too much detergent?
- Yes, too much detergent can cause problems. It may not rinse out properly, leaving residue on your laundry and irritating your skin. Using too much also harms the environment and can eventually clog the machine. Measure detergent according to water hardness, soil level, and load size. A measuring cup can help.
- Is fabric softener necessary?
- Fabric softener isn’t necessary; it’s a matter of personal preference. It makes textiles softer, reduces wrinkles, and adds fragrance. It’s not suitable for performance clothing, towels (because it reduces their absorbency), or baby clothes. Alternatives include adding a splash of vinegar to the fabric softener compartment (it gently helps remove limescale) or using dryer balls to loosen the fibers.
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