Sorting can be a difficult task for some and an easy task for others...depending upon your family size! There are some homemakers who suggest washing it all based on lights/darks or other simple ways. However, to keep you clothes looking nice and lasting long there are certain "rules/guidelines" that must be followed.
Basic Beginnings:
- Read the care instructions on the tags. Place all dryclean only items, handwash items, and other special care items into to piles of their own.
- DRYCLEAN Clothing: I don't take things to the cleaners unless they need a REAL hard pressing because the crease has worn away OR it is my husband's Military Dress Uniform. I use DRYEL for the regular dry cleaning.
- REACH INTO EVERY POCKET! Don't settle for a simple pat down, you CAN miss something.
- INSPECT: A) for repairs needed: ripped seems, loose or missing buttons, etc & B) STAINS
- TURN items inside out that need it. Unless the instructions say to turn the item inside out it will wash just fine without turning inside out. BUT many housewives agree that turning items inside out prevents fading, wear from friction, snagging and piling.
Sorting:
You can either sort by color, clothing type, or family members
COLOR SORTING: Sorting by color assure that colors won't fade on to lighter colors. Typical sorting of colors includes the following catergories-assuming the clothes have colorfastness! These may seem like alot of loads, but we don't wear something from every catagory everyday so it can take a while to build up a load of laundry.
- SOLID WHITES: These are all white items that are typically underwear, undershirts, socks, etc. These are the items that you can use pure bleach on.
- LIGHT WHITES: Light colored socks, underwear, undershirts. These may have other colors or prints on them.
- REDS: Reds are notrious for bleeding and turning other clothing pink. Reds can be mixed with BRIGHT oranges and pinks.
- PASTELS: These are typically the spring time colors or baby colors. As long as the item has colorfastness and they have the same washing care these colors can be mixed together.
- TOWELS: Because towels have so much lint, they always need to be washed seperately from the other types of clothing.
- SHEETS: Because of the size of sheets I recommend washing sheet sets as one small/medium load.
- BABY: Baby blankets, sheets, burp blothes, bibs and clothes can be washed together. I put baby items as one catagory because sometime these clothing needs special detergents, unless they are dark colors or reds
- BLACKS: Wash black together inside out to prevent fading and piling.
- MED-DARK BLUES: These include denims and dark purples.
- BRIGHT BLUES: These include bright purples too. (Light purples should be washed with pastels)
- DARKS: Some will combine ALL dark colors into one pile and this works well too.
- DIAPERS: For those who use cloth diapers and cloth wipes, these should always be washed seperately from other clothes.
CLOTHING TYPE SORTING:
- Towels & Lint Givers
- Sheets
- Jeans/Denim
- Khaki
- T-Shirts
- Dress Shirts/ Dressy Clothing
- Undergarmets
- Baby Clothing
- Heavy Weight Fabrics
- Light Weight Fabrics
- Uniforms
FAMILY MEMBER SORTING:
Sorting according to each family member. Some prefer this method because it make putting away easier. It will work if all fabric is able to be washed and dried at the same temperature. I don't personally like this method.
The Way I Do It:
I use a mix of color sorting and fabric type. This way the fabrics won't wear each other out and the colors won't fade.
