Why do you have to separate lights for darks when washing your clothes?

Question

Is there any other rules for doing laundry I should know about? I've had my share of bad luck and would like to know everything I can do to make my clothes look the same from when I bought them.

Answer 1

Wash your jeans by themselves. They are heavy when wet. If you put anything else in with them it will come out a wrinkled mess. It isn't just about light from dark, but weight and kinds of fabric too. Don't over load the washer. Clothes will come out cleaner and with less wrinkles when they are not crammed in together.

I have paid a lot for my sweaters. I wash them each by themselves. This will prevent lent, and pilling on them. I lay them out to dry.

To keep your clothes at their best wash them in groups. Dress shirt load, t-shirt load, jeans, dress pants, underwear and socks,  towels, etc. Don't leave your clothes set in the washer or dryer. Take them out as soon as they are done. Yes it takes more time, but I find my clothes look better and last longer from doing it this way.

If you buy anything that is a dark blue or red wash and dry it the first time by itself to prevent bleeding onto other things.

Answer 2

Dark dyes can bleed onto light colors.  You often here stories of underwear turning pink... it was because it was washed w/ith something red.

Always check the tag before laundering to ensure proper temperature and drying instructions.

Use warm or cold water... .hot water will shrink or damage some fabrics.

Use the correct amount of detergent.  More is not always better.  Measure correctly and err on the side of less.

Remove clothes from dryer when they are just dry.  Drying too long and too hot can damage fabric and lead to pilling and shrinkage.

Answer 3

So the dark clothes won't "bleed" and cause the white colors to no longer be white!  Been there, done that!  Nothing like having your husband wear pink underwear!

Answer 4

golden rule to washing .when washing you re whites it means just that.only put you re whites in nothing else.you can tel by a persons white clothes how they have been washed if they look off white dingy or greyish we call it wishy washy.which means wish we had done a proper wash thats only putting whites together.

Answer 5

The dyes used in darker clothes can bleed into the water.  If whites are being washed with darks, the white clothes will be "dyed" by the darkened water.  Also, different clothes require different water temperatures and different agitation and spin speeds.  The labels on your clothes are the best indicator of what the garment requires.

Answer 6

Sometimes the dye from the darker clothes will rub, and stain the white ones. If you wash something red it will turn your white stuff pink. So, always seperate your clothes.

Answer 7

Dark clothes will make the light ones dingy and also some may "bleed" color onto the lighter fabric. Also alot of light clothes vs darks have different washing instructions for example one color may need cold and the other warm, so it is best to seperate them.

To keep your clothes looking new, don't dry sweaters even if it says you can, set them flat to dry. Also hand wash delicate things, especially underwire bras, and do not put them in the dryer it will ruin the wire and the shape.

Answer 8

General rule is to wash whites seperately from any other colored garments. Blacks, reds, & blues will tend to bleed the most and can dye your whites if washed together.

Answer 9

Seperate whites, lights, darks and colours as all are made with different dyes that can alter the colour of your other clothes, for example if you wash colours with whites you could end up with all colour! and if you wash darks with colours then your colours become duller thanks to the darker dyes!

Answer 10

Exactly what gardenia said

Answer 11

I do but unfortunately my husband doesn't