How to do laundry: a comprehensive guide

Much like washing dishes, laundry is one of those household chores that you can’t put off for too long. Whether you’re living alone for the first time, or maybe you’re just looking to improve your laundry routine, there’s always room to learn and up your laundry game to make everyday life easier.

I have always loved doing laundry since I was a child. Whether it’s taking warm clothes out of the dryer on a cold day or folding t-shirts while watching my favorite TV show, laundry day has always been a relaxing and productive ritual. While I understand this may not be the case for everyone, I figured you deserve to know the best tips and tricks to maybe make “laundry day” your favorite day of the week.

I visited Clorox scientist and cleaning expert, Mary Gagliardi, also known as Dr. Laundry, for her invaluable advice on how to do laundry, plus a few tips and steps from yours truly, so laundry day never has to feel like a chore.

Before you actually start washing (and drying) your laundry, it helps to know the basics – from the difference between washing machines to which laundry products to use to the importance of care instructions.

You might think it’s a washing machine only washing machinebut it’s important to understand the two main types so you can optimize your laundry day.

Top load washing machines tend to be easier to clean, maintain and load (no crouching required and your clothes don’t fly out when you put something in mid-wash). However, they require more water, have agitators that can wear out your clothes, and are more likely to accumulate mold and mildew.

Front loading washing machines are often more efficient, require less water and detergent and can handle larger loads. However, they tend to be more expensive and door seals and gaskets require frequent cleaning to avoid mold.

Laundry detergent is the most important product you’ll need when doing laundry, so it’s important to choose the one that’s best for you. Although all detergents have the same purpose, they come in different forms with slight differences. It includes liquidwhich is effective at all water temperatures; tablets or podswhich are convenient because they do not require measurement; powder, which is usually the most convenient option; and laundry linen, which are usually environmentally friendly and prevent excessive use of detergent. You can also choose from free and clear detergents that do not contain perfumes and dyes and HE (high efficiency) detergents that are formulated for high efficiency washing machines.

Gagliardi says the use of products like fabric softeners and dryer sheets can depend on several factors, including personal preference and the region in which you live. Dryer sheets are also quite controversial, so if you’re looking for an equally effective alternative, wool dryer balls are a laundry must.

“Dryer sheets can reduce static cling so they may not be needed in wetter climates,” she says. “As for fabric softeners, towels and sportswear, manufacturers don’t recommend it because it can inhibit absorption and moisture absorption.”

If you’re sensitive to odors but still want to make sure your laundry stays soft, you can choose from several fabric softener alternatives such as white vinegar and ice cubes. Finally, Gagliardi recommends investing in bleach (which not only cleans, whitens, and disinfects laundry, but also other non-porous surfaces), as well as a powerful stain remover.

Maybe you’ve memorized all the care and fiber labels, or maybe you didn’t even know they existed. Either way, Gagliardi says understanding these symbols and instructions will help you keep your laundry in tip-top condition.

“The best time to check the care label is at the point of purchase—that’s when you know what’s allowed and what’s not, especially if you want to avoid certain items like dry-cleaning only,” she says. “Please note that if you buy online, the care instructions may be incomplete. Also, many garments have care labels in two different places: the fiber content on one label on the neckline and the washing instructions on the side seam, so be sure to check both places.”

In my previous apartment, there was an incident where my washing machine did not drain, which immediately prompted me to file a maintenance request. When the maintenance manager arrived the next morning and was working on the washing machine, he pulled one of my socks out of the hose. He recommended that I get a mesh laundry bag to prevent this problem and never lose my socks again. I never do laundry without these bags.

Mesh laundry bags are great for socks and underwear, as well as other small items such as cloth face masks, headbands, tissues, baby clothes and bandanas. Best of all, you can use them as laundry bags when you travel.

Follow the step-by-step guide below to do your laundry.

Gagliardi explains that while separating your laundry is a challenging and time-consuming practice to embrace (“Who doesn’t want to do just one load of laundry?” she says), it’s necessary to avoid dye transfer.

“You don’t want your whites to turn a dirty gray over time or suddenly have a lot of pink laundry after adding a red item to the wrong load,” she says. “Something else to keep in mind is that whites should be separated into two loads: bleach-safe whites like cotton or polyester should be washed separately from spandex whites because they can’t be bleached.”

You should divide your laundry into these categories:

I use a double basket to separate my colors and whites, which saves me a lot of time until laundry day, but use whatever laundry basket works best for you – whether it’s a collapsible one or a four-sort one. If I have to do more laundry than expected, I will separate black/dark clothes and light/light clothes so I don’t overfill the washer. I also check the pockets for things I don’t want to lose or destroy in the wash (change and bills, receipts, etc.).

The point of laundry is to get everything clean, so you want to focus on treating items that are particularly dirty or stained. You can pre-treat stains by soaking them in a tub or sink filled with cold water to loosen the stain before washing, apply a stain remover and let it sit (some brands recommend a few hours, while others can leave for up to a few days) ; or soaking the stained items in a tub or sink filled with warm water and laundry detergent, which is Gagliardi’s recommendation. For those who prefer natural ingredients, you can gently rub the stain with a 50/50 mixture of baking soda and water before washing.

“Pretreat stains and any small white areas like logos or embroidery on dark items with a stain remover before washing,” she says. “I have a few navy sweatshirts with white trim that have to go on a dark load, which isn’t great for the white parts. Pretreatment prevents the white from becoming dirty. You can also do that with white collars on colorful rugby-style shirts.”

I personally like OxiClean stain remover for tough stains like oil and grease. If you’d rather opt for a natural stain remover, Nellie’s Wow Stick is gentle on your hands but effective on light to moderate stains.

Now that it’s time to wash (be sure to add detergent before clothes), it’s important to familiarize yourself with your washing machine’s settings. Not all loads are created equal, so you want to make sure you’re getting the optimal cleaning without causing damage. If the care label on your delicate items (such as underwear and silk ties) indicates that they can be washed on a delicate cycle, select this option.

Other wash settings include:

Cold water washing may be controversial, but the myths surrounding it not being able to remove stains have been largely debunked. According to Gagliardi, hot water is optimal for certain loads such as cleaning cloths, pet items and heavily soiled items, but is not always necessary for everyday clothes. When it comes to the water level, she explains that this is usually something to consider for older, deep-load washers, but it’s still best to use the setting that matches the size of your load.

“Clothes must circulate freely through the washing water; “overloading the washing machine will limit this and inhibit the washing machine’s ability to properly agitate and clean the laundry,” she says. “HE washers automatically adjust the amount of water added based on the size of the load, but clothes still need to be free to move in and out of the wash water, so even they shouldn’t be overloaded.”

For dryer temperatures, Gagliardi says to first confirm that tumble drying is allowed for an item by checking the care label. Note that high heat levels can cause some fabrics, especially cotton, to shrink.

“Newer dryers can measure the moisture content of the material as it dries and adjust the temperature and drying time accordingly,” she says. “If you have an older dryer, start with a shorter drying time and increase it as needed if the clothes are not drying. Also, be sure to empty the dryer’s lint filter each time before drying a large load of laundry. It really comes down to the experience you build by doing one load at a time.”

It’s never too late to start hand washing your clothes, even if you’ve never done it before. Certain fabrics, such as wool, lace and chiffon, will retain their quality longer when washed by hand. Start by checking the care label, pretreating any stains, and then cleaning the sink, tub, or sink. Some care labels may indicate water temperature, but if not, it’s best to use warm water. Submerge the garment and add a few drops of detergent or delicate formulas such as Woolite. For a long time, I associated the sight and smell of Zote soap with my grandmother, aunts and mother. Fortunately, it is also very effective for hand washing delicate items.

Gently wash the clothes with your hands only and let them sit for about half an hour. Drain the dirty water, rinse with clean water and rinse gently (I usually press any garment I hand wash against the sides of the sink or tub to avoid wrinkling). Finally, lay your items out to dry on a towel or hang them on a clothesline to keep their shape.

It is best to use the dryer on medium to high heat for items such as towels and linens and on low to medium heat for everyday clothing. While some items such as delicates require air drying, Gagliardi recommends it, in general, to limit shrinkage and preserve quality.

“Warm water temperatures clean better, but can also contribute to shrinkage, so air drying instead of a hot dryer can offset this,” she says. “It’s definitely a technique I (and my tall kids!) use to keep our clothes from shrinking and still clean.”

Last but not least, it’s time to give your washer and dryer some much-needed TLC. This can often be overlooked as these devices clean but require regular maintenance. I use a packet of OxiClean Laundry Detergent once every three months to refresh my washer, and I always make sure to remove lint from every crevice in the dryer after drying the laundry. About once a week I also clean the outside of each machine and around the neck using my favorite surface cleaner and a microfiber cloth.