Before washing clothes, it's essential to prepare your garments to ensure a thorough clean, protect fabrics, and prevent damage or color transfer.
Essential Preparations for Laundry
Taking a few key steps before loading your washing machine can significantly improve the outcome of your laundry cycle. These preparatory actions help maintain the quality and longevity of your clothes.
Sorting Your Laundry
Proper sorting is the foundational step. While you might sort initially, it's beneficial to Sort, then Sort Again. This involves separating items not just by color (lights, darks, brights) but also by fabric type (heavy cottons, delicates, synthetics) and how dirty they are.
- Why sort? Every time you wash clothes, fabric dye releases into the water. Washing similar colors together minimizes the risk of dye bleeding onto other garments. Separating fabrics helps ensure you use the correct wash cycle and temperature for each load, preventing damage to more delicate items.
Addressing Stains
Don't let stains set in during the wash cycle. It's crucial to Treat, then Pretreat Stains before washing.
- Identify any visible stains and apply a suitable stain remover directly to the spot.
- Gently rub the stain remover into the fabric and let it sit for the recommended time according to the product instructions. Pretreating increases the likelihood of the stain being fully removed in the wash.
Preparing Garments
A few quick checks on each garment can prevent issues during washing.
- Cross Your T's and Dot Your I's: Before tossing items into the washer, take a moment to:
- Check and empty pockets to prevent damage from items like coins, tissues, or keys.
- Zip up zippers to prevent snags on other clothes.
- Unbutton buttons to reduce stress on the buttonholes during the wash cycle.
- Turn Clothes Inside Out: For items like jeans, dark-colored clothes, printed shirts, or delicate fabrics, turning them inside out can help protect the outer surface. This minimizes friction on the fabric's face, reducing fading, pilling, and damage to prints or embellishments.
Handling Special Items
Some garments require specific attention before washing.
- Treat Delicates Delicately: Items like lingerie, lace, or fine knits should be handled with care. Consider placing them in a mesh laundry bag before washing to prevent stretching, snagging, or damage during agitation. Use a gentle cycle and cooler water.
- Presoak When Necessary: For heavily soiled items or stubborn stains, presoaking can be highly effective. Submerge the garment in a tub or basin of water with a suitable detergent or stain remover for a period before putting it in the washing machine.
Summary of Pre-Wash Steps
| Action | Purpose | Key Consideration |
|---|---|---|
| Sort, then Sort Again | Prevent color bleeding, protect fabrics | Separate by color, fabric type, and soil level |
| Treat, then Pretreat | Remove stains effectively | Apply stain remover before washing |
| Cross T's, Dot I's | Prevent machine/garment damage | Check pockets, zip zippers, unbutton buttons |
| Treat Delicates | Protect delicate items | Use mesh bag, gentle cycle |
| Turn Clothes Inside Out | Protect outer fabric, prints, and reduce fading | Beneficial for dark colors, prints, delicates, jeans |
| Presoak | Tackle heavy soil or stubborn stains | For heavily soiled or stained items |
By following these steps, you're setting your clothes up for a successful wash cycle, leading to cleaner, better-preserved garments.
