You may have learned the hard way what happens if you mix your reds and your whites… but when the laundry starts piling up, it’s so tempting to combine all your clothes together and hoping for the best. Here’s some incentive to keep your laundry separated – not sorting your clothes can lead to washing machine damage!

Sorting your laundry will help you achieve the primary goal of adequately cleaning your clothing without causing damage to your clothes or your washer. When loads contain mixed fabrics and colors, it’s hard to find the right setting to prevent strain on the washing machine’s motor. Sorting your laundry also promotes smaller, more size-efficient washer loads.

Tips for sorting your laundry:

1. Sort by color – Whites with whites, reds with reds, darks with darks. This is basic laundry etiquette since it prevents darker colors from running on lighter clothing. Wash new items that will most likely bleed the first time separately, and use cool or cold water whenever possible to reduce color bleeding.
2. Sort by fabric – Sort based on your washer settings, fabric weight and whether the fabric leaves lint or not. Wash towels together to prevent them from leaving lint on your other clothing: Wash delicate items in one load and heavier items in another. Always wash things like blankets, flannels and different heavy fabrics alone.
3. Sort by Soil Type and Amount – Lastly, sort by how dirty they are or the type of dirt is on them. When clothing is especially dirty or soiled with oil, gasoline, or mud, special care should be taken. Wash these items separately to keep them from spreading that soil to other garments when being washed.

If your washing machine is broken, do not hesitate to call Westside Appliance Repair!