How do I wash clothes properly?

Modern detergents work well at low temperatures, so the old assumption that hotter is cleaner no longer holds. What does still matter is mechanical action: clothes need space to move through the water. That single factor explains most disappointing wash results.

Step by step

1. Sort by colour, and separately by fabric weight.Whites, darks and colours; then heavy items like towels and jeans separately from light shirts and underwear.
2. Check care labels for anything new or delicate.The number in the tub is the maximum temperature; the symbols cover drying and ironing.
3. Empty pockets and close zips and hooks.Zips catch and tear other garments; tissues in pockets are a well-known disaster.
4. Turn dark and printed items inside out.It reduces fading and protects prints from abrasion against the drum.
5. Wash most loads at 30–40°C.Modern detergents are designed for it, it saves substantial energy, and it's gentler on fabric. Reserve 60°C for towels, bedding and anything genuinely soiled.
6. Use less detergent than the packaging suggests, especially in soft water.Dosing instructions assume hard water and heavily soiled loads. Excess doesn't rinse out and irritates skin.
7. Fill the drum no more than three-quarters full.You should be able to fit a flat hand on top of the load. Any fuller and it won't wash or rinse properly.
8. Remove the load promptly and dry it fully.Damp clothes left in the drum smell within hours, and the smell needs a hot wash to remove.

Tips

• Wash delicates, bras and anything with straps in a mesh bag. It prevents tangling and stretching for very little effort.
• A 60°C wash occasionally — towels, bedding, or a maintenance wash — keeps the machine itself from developing a smell.
• Air clothing rather than washing it after every wear. Most outer layers don't need washing each time, and washing is what wears them out.
• Wool and silk need a specific detergent; standard biological detergent contains enzymes that damage protein fibres.

Common mistakes

• Overfilling the drum — Clothes can't move, so they don't wash or rinse properly. The most common laundry mistake.
• Too much detergent — Residue in the fabric, irritation on skin, and build-up in the machine.
• Washing everything at 40°C including bedding and towels — Those specific items benefit from 60°C for hygiene and to prevent build-up.
• Using biological detergent on wool or silk — The enzymes break down protein fibres, which is what wool and silk are.

Questions people ask