<aside> 🌿 Credit: The Spruce (this is an abridged version)

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1. Read the Labels: Check the care labels on your garments and linens.

   Place all clothes that are labeled “wash separately” or “hand wash” into separate piles. If the label says, “dry clean only,” place it in a bag to take to the dry cleaner.

2. Sort:

   • Whites, pastels, light grays, and white background prints will go in one pile.
   • Deep colored clothes—black, red, navy, brown, dark gray—go in another pile.
   • Heavily soiled clothes should be washed separately.

3. Sort again:

   Sort each pile one more time by type of fabric. For instance, in the whites pile, separate towels, and sheets from apparel. In the dark colors, separate t-shirts and jeans from lighter weight items like blouses and dress shirts.

   To reduce lint, never wash lint producing fabrics and lint attracting fabrics together!

4. Pick a detergent: Select an all-purpose laundry detergent. Read the directions to determine how much to use based on the size of the load. If your clothes have stains, pre-treat them before washing so it doesn't set in. Simply apply a stain remover or rub in a bit of laundry detergent. Add the detergent to the washer drum or dispenser before loading it. This will prevent residue on your clothing.

5. Pick a Water Temperature and Cycle:

   Washing in cold water will serve your needs and prevent most laundry disasters.

   The exception is cotton underwear and bedsheets that need hot water to remove body oil. Bed linens and towels need to be washed at the highest recommended temperature at least every other wash to sanitize them.

   No matter the temperature, always rinse in cold water.

   The "normal" cycle will be fine for most loads, but you may also need to use "permanent press" or "delicate" for certain fabrics. "Heavy-duty" is great for articles like jeans and towels.

6. Final check:

   Look for any stains and pretreat them. Certain types of stains require special techniques to remove them, while many can be handled with a spot treatment. There's also a proper approach for mystery stains when you're not sure what caused it.

   Also, check that all pockets are empty—no tissues or paper, either—to prevent disasters. Remove any accessories such as belts and jewelry. Close all zippers, VELCRO, and buttons to prevent them from catching the fabrics.

7. Load the washer:

   Load items into the washer one at a time, making sure they are not in a wad. Do not cram the washer too full. The clothes need room to move about in the water.

   To protect fabric finishes and reduce the “washed out” look, turn knitted items, corduroy, textured fabric, and dark colors inside out.

8. Unload the washer:

   Promptly remove wet laundry from the washer to lessen wrinkles and prevent mildew. Hang items to air dry, lay flat to dry, or place them in the dryer.

9. Load the dryer: If you did not separate loads by fabric type when washing, do it now before placing items in the dryer. It's important to dry all lightweight items together and all heavy fabric items together and choose the correct dryer temperature for each. This will help prevent shrinking and protect your clothing.

10. Hang or Fold and Store: As soon as your clothes are dry, you'll want to take care of them right away. Hang or fold each piece as it comes out of the dryer to prevent wrinkling.