Laundry without ruining clothes

What to know

1. Read the care label. The FTC's Care Labeling Rule requires manufacturers to attach care instructions to clothes. Source: FTC The label has to say whether to wash by hand or machine, give a water temperature if regular hot water would cause harm, and say "No bleach" if every bleach would harm it. Source: FTC
2. Sort by color. Wash whites separately, pastels and medium colors together, and brights and darks by themselves. White and light-colored synthetics pick up dark dyes easily. Source: American Cleaning Institute
3. Sort by dirt and fabric. Keep heavily dirty items away from lightly dirty ones, or whites slowly turn gray. Wash delicates and loose knits on the gentle cycle. Wash lint shedders like new towels and fuzzy sweatshirts apart from things that attract lint. Source: American Cleaning Institute
4. Treat stains first. Apply a stain remover or liquid detergent, testing it on a seam first. Blot a stain, don't rub it, because rubbing spreads it and can damage fabric. When in doubt, rinse or soak in cold water first. Source: American Cleaning Institute
5. Use the right amount of detergent. Too much or too little can leave clothes less clean. Most detergents are concentrated now, so use the cap or scoop that comes with them. Source: American Cleaning Institute
6. Pick the cycle. Normal for everyday cottons, towels and sheets. Delicate or gentle for fragile fabrics. Heavy duty for jeans and bedding. Quick wash for small, lightly dirty loads. Source: American Cleaning Institute
7. Before drying, check for stains that didn't wash out. Treat them and wash again instead of drying, because drying can set a stain permanently. Source: American Cleaning Institute Use low heat for heat-sensitive fabrics to help prevent shrinking. Source: American Cleaning Institute
8. Clean the lint filter before or after every load, and don't overload the dryer. Source: NFPA

If it doesn't work

• Clothes taking longer than normal to dry? The vent may be clogged. Clean lint out of the vent pipe, or ask your landlord to, at least once a year. Source: NFPA Check that the outdoor vent flap opens when the dryer runs. Source: U.S. Fire Administration
• Bleach left a spot? Next time, bleach the whole garment, not just the stain, to avoid uneven color. Source: American Cleaning Institute
• Old stain that won't budge? Try soaking it in a product with enzymes, then wash it again. Source: American Cleaning Institute Enzymes are especially good on protein stains like blood, grass, eggs and dairy. Source: American Cleaning Institute
• Clothes stiff, with a white powdery film? You may have hard water. Use slightly more detergent than the label says, or add a water softener. Source: American Cleaning Institute
• Neon shirt faded or ran? Bright fluorescents are often less colorfast. Wash them separately, and don't use prewash stain removers on them. Source: American Cleaning Institute

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