Even if you’ve been doing laundry for years, chances are you’re making at least one common mistake. (If only it were as easy as tossing in clothes and pressing “start.”) From choosing the right detergent to using the correct water temperature, here’s how to clean your clothes better, make them last longer, and protect yourself from unnecessary ingredients.
Sort your laundry—not just by color
Before you even touch the detergent, the way you sort your laundry can make or break how your clothes come out. Sorting helps your clothes last longer, gets them cleaner by improving wash performance, and reduces the risk of damage and accidents (like pink underwear that started out white).
Zachary Pozniak, owner of the luxury dry cleaner Jeeves NY and author of The Laundry Book: The Definitive Guide to Caring for Your Clothes and Linens, recommends always sorting by color. Separate lights, darks, and whites. Dark colors can bleed, especially in warm or hot water, and lighter fabrics are more prone to picking up that dye.
Read More: What Experts Use to Repel Ticks and Mosquitoes
“Then I like to sort by weight, as towels dry much, much slower than gym clothes,” says Pozniak. “After that you can separate by fabric type.”
He adds that towels and denim are much heavier than delicate items like lingerie or activewear. Washing them together can cause unnecessary friction and wear—think pilling, tearing, or stretched-out elastic.
If you want to level up your laundry game even more, consider creating separate piles for synthetics vs. natural fibers, or heavily soiled items vs. lightly worn ones. Washing similar items together is easiest on them.
Choose the right detergent
The best detergent for you depends on your fabric types, skin sensitivities, and the kind of washing machine you have.
For most everyday laundry, using about two tablespoons of high-quality liquid detergent is a safe bet, says Pozniak. It dissolves easily in all water temperatures and tends to be gentler on fabrics than powder. Pods are convenient, but they often contain more detergent than you need, which can lead to buildup or irritation—especially if you’re washing delicate fabrics or have sensitive skin.
And don’t forget to check if your washing machine requires high-efficiency (HE) detergent. Using the wrong kind can create too many suds, potentially damaging your washer or leaving residue on your clothes. When in doubt, go for a mild, fragrance-free option, which is ideal for delicates and for sensitive skin.
Take care with DIY and “natural” detergents
Homemade recipes use something called washing soda (sodium carbonate), baking soda, and castile soap. These can be gentle on the skin, but they may not clean as effectively as commercial options, especially in HE machines, says Dr. Neha Pathak, chief physician editor at WebMD, who focuses on environmental pollution and its impact on everyday life. “If you have hard water, they might leave a residue on clothes, which may actually irritate the skin,” she says.
Read More: The Surprising Health Benefits of Spicy Food
If you do decide to go the DIY route, test it on a few loads first and monitor for skin or fabric reactions. “Also, avoid borax in homes with small children, as it’s not recommended for use around babies or toddlers because they may suck on their clothes,” says Pathak.
Set the temperature
Cold water is often just as effective at cleaning clothes as warm or hot water, especially when using a name-brand detergent.
“Cold water protects fabrics, prevents shrinking, and helps clothes last longer—especially delicate items like silk, cashmere, or anything with bright colors,” Pozniak says. “Warm water can be a good middle ground for synthetic fabrics, lightly soiled loads, or garments worn close to the skin.”
Hot water is typically reserved for heavily soiled items like bedding, towels, or cloth diapers, but it can wear out fabrics faster and uses more energy. You can almost always get away with warm water, Pozniak says.
Use the 6-inch rule
When a machine is too full, clothes can’t move freely, which means detergent and water can’t circulate properly.
“Because of this, I recommend that there is about six inches of space from the top of the drum to the top of your load,” says Pozniak. “You should be able to fit your hand vertically in that space. Overloading can cause issues as some products may not get rinsed out thoroughly which can cause staining.”
Read More: The 9 Most Underrated Healthy Foods
If you’re washing bulky items like towels or bedding, it’s better to do a smaller load so that everything has room to agitate and rinse thoroughly. And always balance the load, which means washing things of similar weight together to avoid overburdening the machine. Washing one heavy blanket or a single pair of jeans can throw the drum off-kilter and strain the machine.
Pick the right settings
Use cold water for brights and delicates to prevent fading and shrinkage, and warmer temps for towels, sheets, and heavily soiled clothes to help break down oils and kill germs, says Pozniak. Delicate cycles are ideal for lightweight fabrics and anything with lace, mesh, or embellishments.
Don’t underrate air drying
While the dryer is fast and convenient, not everything belongs in there. High heat can shrink fabrics, fade colors, and weaken elastic over time. Air drying, on the other hand, is gentler and ideal for preserving the fit and finish of delicate or stretchy items like bras, leggings, and lightweight knits.
Pozniak does not recommend drying synthetic garments or protein fibers like wool, cashmere, or silk in the dryer, because the dryer can damage these delicate fabrics.
Read More: How Often Should You Really Go to the Dentist?
“High heat and tumble can cause a huge amount of stress on textiles and materials,” he says. “If you can, you should air dry your stuff.”
If that’s not practical, pay attention to the settings. “High heat” should be reserved for durable items like towels and bedding, while “low” or “delicate” is better for most clothing. The “air dry” or “tumble dry no heat” setting is perfect for fluffing up clothes that have already been air dried or for gently drying heat-sensitive fabrics.
And don’t forget to clean the lint trap every time. A clogged filter not only makes drying less efficient: it’s a fire hazard.
Skip dryer sheets
Pathak avoids these, since they can contain strong chemicals and can cause irritation. “I use wool dryer balls to reduce static,” she says, and adds a few drops of tea tree oil to the dryer balls to help freshen the clothes and reduce odors.
Fold and store your clothes to minimize wrinkles
Leaving clean laundry in a heap—whether in the dryer, a laundry basket, or on a chair—practically guarantees wrinkles. Instead, fold or hang items as soon as they’re dry and still warm, when fabrics are most pliable. This helps prevent deep creases from setting and saves you time with the iron or steamer later, says Pozniak.
For items like T-shirts, leggings, and casual wear, folding neatly along seams helps maintain shape and minimizes creasing. Flowy blouses, jackets, and dresses should be hung on sturdy, non-slip hangers.
“I highly recommend folding sweaters and putting them in fabric bags for off season storage,” says Pozniak. “You should never hang a heavier weight knit garment, as it will stretch out.”
If wrinkles still show up, a few minutes in the dryer with a damp washcloth or a pass with a steamer can freshen up most fabrics.
