‘Harmless’ laundry habit could be why your clothes are coming out of the machine worse than they went in

Doing the laundry is one of those chores most of us would like to get over as quickly as possible, so it’s very tempting to pack as much in the washing machine as possible. It’s equally enticing to toss in towels with clothes and light coloured items with dark ones.

But as harmless as those things seem, they’re not doing your garments, the machine, or your utility costs any good, according to an expert. Susan Toft, Laundry Lady CEO and founder, told nine.com.au load size, in particular, is worth taking your time with.

“Your washing machine needs room to do its job. Clothes get clean when they can move freely through the water and detergent, rubbing against each other and tumbling or swishing around the drum,” she said. 

“Get the load size wrong in either direction, and you’re wasting water, energy and detergent, and you can end up with clothes that aren’t properly clean.”

When laundry loads are too big clothes, sheets and towels will be partially cleaned, have detergent residue and come out extra creased. It’ll also be hard for excess moisture to be removed during the spin cycle, so drying will take longer.

Small loads aren’t as much of a concern as loads that are too big, but Toft recommended changing the settings.

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“Use a half-load, quick or eco setting if your machine has one, or set a lower water level on a top loader. Most importantly, cut back on detergent. Too much detergent in a small load is a recipe for residue and stiff clothes, and it can contribute to mould and odours in the machine,” she said.

The ideal load size for your machine is usually found in your washing machine manual, but the capacity of your appliance is also a good guide.

“That figure is the maximum dry weight of clothes, and it's normally based on the cotton cycle. For synthetics, delicates and wool cycles, the recommended load is usually much smaller, so check your manual for each program,” Toft said.

If you’re still not sure, you can use the hand test. This involves putting your hand inside the drum and holding it above the load and if there is still room to move your hand you’re good to go, if there isn’t room to rotate your hand 90 degrees, then you’ll need to take some items out.

As for sorting laundry loads into whites, dark colours and light colours, it might not seem like a big deal to mix them up, but it really can cause problems.

“Throwing everything in together can lead to colour bleeding, damage to delicate items, and uneven cleaning,” Toft said. 

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“New or brightly coloured items, especially reds and denim, can release a lot of dye in the first few washes, so keep them with darks or wash them separately until you know they're colourfast.”

It’s not just colour that needs consideration – loads should also be separated by fabric type and weight. But if in doubt, check the fabric care instructions on the label for best practice.

“Heavy items like towels, jeans and hoodies need a different wash from lightweight shirts or activewear, and heavy fabrics can rub against and wear down finer ones. Towels also shed lint, which clings to synthetics and darks,” Toft said. 

“Delicates like lingerie, hosiery, silk and lace should go on a delicate cycle, ideally in a mesh laundry bag. Wool usually needs a gentle wool cycle in cold water because hot water can shrink it.”

Now your loads are sorted correctly, there are a few things you should do as you pop them in the machine.

Emptying pockets is particularly useful to prevent having to deal with bits of tissue all over your clothes later, and to stop harder items like coins damaging the appliance and your garments.

Zips and hooks can damage other items if not done up so it’s best to check those before you pop them in. Drawstrings, meanwhile, are best tied up to stop them wriggling out during the wash.

Some experts also recommend turning clothes inside out for better cleaning and to keep prints and colours looking their best for as long as possible. This can also set you up well for when you hang them on the line to dry to prevent colours fading in the sun.