Laundry Experts Reveal the Mistakes That Are Ruining Your Clothes
These missteps may be wearing out your wardrobe.
No one wants to pull a load of laundry out only to realize that items have been damaged or stained in the washer and dryer. We tapped experts to fill us in on the laundry mistakes that ruin clothes, from not emptying pockets before starting a load to not protecting delicates in a mesh bag.
Modern washing machines and dryers are generally pretty sturdy. But some laundry mistakes, like leaving coins and other items in your pockets or not zipping your jeans up before tossing them in the wash can actually damage your appliances as well.
Another factor to keep in mind is understanding how to use your machine's settings. Some settings use higher heat, which can damage delicate fibers. Getting into the right laundry habits, like separating your lights and darks in the washer and dryer, can also keep your items in good condition and help your appliances run more efficiently.
Keep reading to see the laundry mistakes that make experts cringe. If you're looking for more tips to help you optimize your laundry routine, read up on our favorite laundry hacks, a clever laundry tip that can help you save money, and a jeans-washing tip experts want you to know.
Not emptying pockets
Leaving your pockets full can not only damage your clothes, but also the washing machine itself. Items like pens, tissues, makeup and coins can cause rips, tears, stains and hard-to-remove residue. The smaller items can even clog the washer's drum, hose or filter, while the larger ones will likely bang around inside the washer drum, potentially damaging the washer’s interior.
Leaving wet clothes in the washer
While it's always a good idea to transfer your wash to the dryer ASAP, there's a little more wiggle room than you might think. Generally, a few hours to overnight isn't that big of a deal. But, if items sit longer than that, they may start to dry and will likely be stiff and hard instead of soft and fluffy. The whole load may even start to smell a little stale.
If you notice any of these issues, it's best to do a quick rewash in a short cycle (look for a "lightly soiled" option on your machine) with detergent.
Not putting delicates into a mesh laundry bag
Put delicates — both intimates and gentler fabrics – inside a mesh bag before washing to prevent damage. Fabrics like lace, silk and fine knits are prone to damage from friction, while items with long straps or strings — bras included — can tangle and stretch. A mesh bag also helps prevent snags or tears from zippers, buttons and other rough items in the wash.
Not turning certain items inside out
Turn items prone to pilling — leggings and sweaters — or fading — denim and black tees — inside out before washing them. This protects more delicate fabrics from abrasion and snagging on hardware, plus helps preserve those dark colors. And, yes, your clothes will still come out nice and clean — there's plenty of soil inside too.
Not zipping zippers or buttoning waistband buttons
Unbuttoned or unzipped hardware can lead to unnecessary wear and tear — to both your clothing and your machine. That's because it can snag on other clothes or parts of the drum, causing pilling, snags or even rips and tears.
Buttoning waistbands and zipping zippers can also help maintain the shape of your clothes and prevent unwanted wrinkling or stretching.
Not addressing stains before washing
The faster you tackle stains, the better chance you have of getting them out. Use a quality stain remover formulated to tackle a wide range of stains on all kinds of fabrics. These products get to work before the wash cycle even begins.
Overloading the machine
Regularly cramming too many clothes into the washing machine can not only strain the motor and various parts of the appliance but also prevent your clothes from getting cleaned properly and even damage them over time. Clothes, water and detergent need room to move around.
Here's a quick trick to ensure you don't tip the scales: Whether you're using a front-loader or top-loader, you should be able to fit one hand in the drum and still have a little room to move it around. This will allow you to wash a nearly full drum but still allow enough room for clothes to circulate in a pool of water and detergent that will get them as clean as possible, plus prevent damaging abrasion.
Using too much detergent
While it might seem like more detergent equals cleaner clothes, it's important to measure. Too many suds can leave residue on your clothes and even trap soil. Consider how big your load is and how dirty your clothes are, then follow the guidelines on the detergent’s packaging.
Not separating lights and darks
You probably already know that sorting your light and dark clothes before washing can help avoid color bleeding, but you should also separate colors when drying. There can still be some loose dye that rubs off from darks onto lights as they tumble dry. Light items can also deposit lint onto dark items, making them look dingy. What's more, doubling up the loads in the dryer after washing can overload the machine, decreasing efficiency and causing unnecessary abrasion.
Using the wrong temperature
Hot water may be great for removing stains, but it can also shrink, fade or damage delicate fabrics. Generally speaking, cold wash cycles are most suitable for delicates, colored and lightly soiled clothing; warm water is best for more soiled clothing and whites; and hot water is ideal for very soiled clothing or for removing germs and allergens from items like underwear and towels.
Not following laundry care labels
If there's any laundry rule you should commit to memory, it's this one. Every garment comes with a care label that provides instructions on how to best wash and care for it — everything from making sure you pick the right temperature and heat setting for the machine to knowing what garments should never be bleached or dry cleaned. And while they might be tricky to decode, ignoring them can lead to ruined clothes.
Brigitt is a writer, editor and craft stylist with nearly 15 years of experience. She specializes in lifestyle topics, including home, health, parenting, beauty, style, food, entertaining, travel and weddings. She has written for Glamour, People, Good Housekeeping, Women's Health, Real Simple, Martha Stewart, Apartment Therapy, The Spruce, and more.
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