Skip to main content

The best ways to separate and organize your laundry

Separating your laundry before you begin washing can be more beneficial than you think. You might already be aware that colors bleed and therefore shouldn’t be washed with whites. But did you also know that different colors wash better at different settings than others? Did you know that certain fabrics require a unique washing setting? Or that some clothing items need to be air-dried or hand-washed?

Home organization strategies do not have to be limited to drawers, closets, bathrooms, and vanities. These could also include laundry. We’ll be discussing the best ways to separate and organize your laundry before you wash to make the whole process easier and more efficient while also being kind on your clothing.

Recommended Videos

Separate by color

Separating by color does more than just prevent bleeding. Certainly, pairing a white T-shirt with a brand-new red dress can turn your shirt pink, and blue jeans stain nearly everything during their first few washes.

Separating by color also helps to ensure you are washing your clothing at their proper settings to help maintain their vibrancy and longevity.

Whites need to be washed and dried at higher temperatures than colors to help maintain their bright color. Additionally, by washing your whites separately, you can add bleach or other brightening chemicals to ensure your whites stay white.

Jeans, on the other hand, require less-frequent washings and on lower settings for shorter periods. This is because, due to their material type, they are more prone to frays, tears, and overall degradation. Jeans last longer and maintain their vibrancy when washed on lower settings.

Laundry in wicker basket near washing machine
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Organize by fabric type

It’s common for people to try to save time by washing all of their clothing in as few batches as possible. However, down the road, this can be a considerable money-waster.

There are several kinds of fabrics involved in clothing from polyester, cotton, silk, lace, and jeans. The most common materials, like polyester and cotton, can be washed and run through a regular cycle. They don’t require any specific temperature or washing routines, which makes them easy to care for.

Silk requires a lot of care and should never be washed in the washing machine. Due to the delicacy of this fabric, it’s best to gentle hand-wash silk items in cold water. When drying silk, it’s best to allow the fabric to air-dry to preserve the material best. However, silk that has been washed several times can sometimes withstand a light tossing in the dryer at a low temperature.

Lace is another specialty fabric that requires hand-washing. If your washing machine has a hand-wash feature, however, you may use that. When washing lace, you need to fill a bucket with lukewarm water and a gentle detergent that doesn’t have too much coloring.

Soak your lace in the bucket for 10-15 minutes. You should never scrub lace when washing. Simply let it soak and then rinse. When your lace is rinsed out, lay it between two towels to dry. Don’t wring it out as that will damage the material.

Most materials will come with a fabric tag that will provide the proper instructions for washing to preserve the fabric. Be sure to read the label if you’re unsure on how to wash and dry an item correctly.

Separate larger fabrics from smaller ones

If you’ve ever lost a sock in the dryer, you can understand the frustration with losing smaller items in a load of larger items. Washing sheets, blankets, and towels separately from your clothing and smaller loads make doing laundry much more effective.

While you should always separate your laundry into darks, whites, lights, and colors, you should also separate your laundry by sheets and blankets, towels, jeans, everyday clothing, and delicates (you will also need laundry bags for delicates).

Sheets and blankets can be washed according to their instructions tag and can often be washed and dried together, provided they are not overfilling your washer or dryer. Towels soak up a lot of water and should be washed separately to ensure your sheets get a proper clean.

washer and dryer in a modern clean environment
Getty Images

Utilize washing instructions

As we mentioned above, utilizing the instructions tag on fabrics is one of the best ways to make sorting your laundry easier. It eliminates the stress of finding the right pile for your clothes and helps to prolong the lifespan of the fabric.

A few symbols that are important to recognize are the symbols for machine or hand-washing, the strength of the cycle, cycle heat, and drying. A quick online search can give you an in-depth guide on what each symbol means. For this article, we’ll cover the most basic symbols: Regular washing and hand-washing.

Suppose you see a symbol of what looks like a square bucket with water at the top — that represents a washing machine and means that your fabric is okay to be washed in that way. An image of a hand in that bucket means that your fabric should be hand-washed only. While these symbols can be tricky to memorize, most fabric tags include the words associated with the symbol nearby.

Washing your clothes can be a labor of love, but it’s worth it to see your clothes freshly laundered and lasting longer than ever. Follow these instructions for successful laundry days week after week!

Amelia Wilson
Amelia Wilson (author pen name Amelia J. Wilson) is a content writer in Greenwood, IN. She often enjoys topics on…
Daylight vs. soft white: The best lighting for your space
Get the right illumination for your space
Soft warm light bulb

When designing a home, lighting can make or break the ambiance of a space. One common debate is daylight vs. soft white lighting — which is better for your needs? Choosing the right light can impact everything from the mood of a room to how functional it is for certain activities. Let’s dive into the details and help you decide the perfect lighting for your space.
What exactly is color temperature?

Before jumping into the daylight vs. soft white discussion, it’s important to understand the concept of color temperature. Measured in Kelvin (K), color temperature determines how "warm" or "cool" a light source appears. Lower Kelvin values, like 2700K-3000K, produce warm, yellowish light, while higher Kelvin values, like 5000K-6500K, emit a bright, bluish-white glow.

Read more
Do air purifiers really help with dust?
Get cleaner air in your home for a healthier you
Woman sitting in yellow chair with a cat next to an air purifier

If you’re tired of battling allergies and other ailments due to dust in your home, you might be considering an air purifier. But do air purifiers help with dust? A dusty home can seem like an endless nuisance, especially when it accumulates on every surface and triggers allergies or asthma. Fortunately, the best air purifiers are powerful tools for improving indoor air quality and managing dust.

Let’s explore how these devices work and whether they truly live up to the hype when it comes to reducing dust in your home.
The importance of your home's air quality

Read more
How to paint a room: Here’s your step-by-step guide
Get a professional-looking finish with our go-to painting guide
Woman painting interior wall

Painting is one of the easiest ways to transform a dull space, like your basement or other room that needs it, giving it a fresh new look and feel without a massive budget. But if you’ve ever wondered how to paint a room properly, you’re not alone. It’s not just about slapping layers on the walls — preparation and technique are key to achieving professional-looking results. That's why we've put together this step-by-step guide to make your next painting project a breeze.
Make a plan

Before diving into your painting project, take a moment to create a solid plan. For example, choosing the right paint color is critical — consider the room’s purpose, lighting, and existing decor. You should also test some paint samples on your wall to see how they look at different times of the day.

Read more