Do you sort your loads of laundry?
By Marie Coyle
@MarieCoyle (36478)
October 18, 2024 6:09pm CST
I was taught to sort the laundry when I was a little girl. We never washed lights and darks together, and reds were so wicked--usually they got washed by themselves. We read how to care for certain clothing by reading the tag. To avoid shrinking anything 100% cotton, we hung it on a hangar to dry or, the now unheard of clothesline was utilized.
It seems there is an entire generation out there that throws it all in together. They wash underwear with dish towels!! (That truly grossed me out!) They wash dark clothes with white T-shirts, then wonder just why the shirts are sort of just gray now. They have no idea how to use bleach, and it's evidently often just too much trouble to use a spot spray on bad spots. If it doesn't turn out right, they often just throw it away.
The ex husband learned the hard way when I was on a business trip one time...he decided to surprise me and do all the laundry--and he didn't sort it. Let's just say, his underwear, and both of our sons underwear, and everything he put in one load turned bright pink. His excuse was ''I was trying to save time.'' Didn't really save anything, because it took a lot of bleach to get the pink out of all that stuff. Oh, well, we got through it. Pink underwear are stylish, now. 
And who doesn't want to play ball in partially pink socks? 
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And who doesn't want to play ball in partially pink socks?
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24 responses
@allknowing (134944)
• India
19 Oct
The only sorting out I do is to put the heavier lot first in the washing machine and then the lighter ones. None of the clothes we have colours running
6 people like this
@allknowing (134944)
• India
19 Oct
@MarieCoyle Not following that rule has not affected our clothes in any way
2 people like this
@MarieCoyle (36478)
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19 Oct
@allknowing
Well, we all learn differently, I know. In my case, I think I would hear my grandmother's voice saying, No, No! That's not the way!
2 people like this
@MarieCoyle (36478)
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19 Oct
I still sort...blacks seem to fade if they get washed a lot with lighter colors sometimes. And whites and blacks sometimes do not have a good outcome.
2 people like this
@MarieCoyle (36478)
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19 Oct
Most definitely the reds, they were almost always the culprits of laundry disasters!
3 people like this
@rakski (119965)
• Philippines
19 Oct
@MarieCoyle true!! I had my fair share of curiosity as well when I was a kid though. One white shirt turned pink. Learned my lesson
2 people like this
@MarieCoyle (36478)
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19 Oct
@rakski
I remember my sister thought she would do laundry her own way...she threw a wool sweater in a washer full of hot water, and then dried it. It honestly could have fit a Barbie doll when she got it out of the dryer!! After that, she went back to Grandma's laundry methods
2 people like this
@MarieCoyle (36478)
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19 Oct
Oh, those stray red socks, they had a way with just hopping from load to load to get their jollies on...or so my daughters used to tell me!
3 people like this
@marguicha (222142)
• Chile
19 Oct
I earned about the evils of pink when I was 30. We went on a trip with my husband to my sister´s house. Up to then I washed a lot of garments by hand. I had a pair of new pink pants that became a little bit dirty. And I used my sister washing machine to wash them with our quite clean underwear. My husband was in a state of shock. He had only used white underwear in his whole life. Those were other times.
3 people like this
@MarieCoyle (36478)
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19 Oct
In my younger years, guys did not wear pink, it was always considered feminine. You're right, those were other times, Marga.
2 people like this
@much2say (55230)
• Los Angeles, California
19 Oct
The rooms in this house are small, so hampers are only in the laundry room . . . 2 - one for lights and one for darks/colors. I have everyone else sort their own stuff as they bring it in . . . when either hamper gets full, that's when I do a full load. Does it seem like long ago the reds ran more than it does now? The reds don't seem to affect the other colors . . . but still I won't dare wash reds with the whites.
3 people like this
@much2say (55230)
• Los Angeles, California
23 Oct
@MarieCoyle That is true. We stopped washing with hot water years ago . . . that just might have released certain dyes!
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (36478)
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19 Oct
I just keep all of the laundry in the laundry room, too. It's just easier that way.
Yes, I think colors did used to run more than they do now. But also, very few people seem to wash clothes in hot water anymore, too. I wonder if there is a connection somehow.
1 person likes this
@xander6464 (43724)
• Wapello, Iowa
19 Oct
I sorted laundry when I was married but not since. There's just no demand for it now.
3 people like this
@MarieCoyle (36478)
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19 Oct
Well, maybe you need someone to demand it? Just kidding...
3 people like this
@snowy22315 (179440)
• United States
19 Oct
Most things are color fast these days..but ido not wash reds with whites, or things that might have special washing instructions don't get tossed in unless I forget.
2 people like this
@MarieCoyle (36478)
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19 Oct
I try hard to be careful how I wash things, so that I don't unintentionally ruin something. Clothes are expensive!
@abhi_bangal (5174)
• Ahmednagar, India
19 Oct
We didn't ever sort our laundry. As you said, you were taught to sort laundry when you were a little girl. But we didn't have any such custom in our household for years together and we still don't have.
But I've a few practical remarks. We have a washing machine at home. It's 6kg capacity.
If we were you sort laundry as you said, it'd be difficult to wash clothes that way. Firstly because light and dark laundry wouldn't get to that capacity. Secondly, we would need to wash our twice. That would be more time consuming. Thirdly, if there's lesser weight, the washing machine won't work. For these reasons, it's not feasible for us to sort the laundry at your described.
Yes, it'd be possible only if the clothes are given outside in a laundry service. But then that would cost more.
Just my remarks Marie! Because I never analysed my own laundry like that before 
@abhi_bangal (5174)
• Ahmednagar, India
19 Oct
@MarieCoyle What I know is that washing loads for washing machines are counted in KGs here. And there is a specific range. And it also needs at least minimum load to function.
Yes, we also run it empty for the sake of maintenance, as we have been advised by the company.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (36478)
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19 Oct
Most washing machines here have settings for very small loads to very large ones. You could wash one single thing if you wanted to (not that I do that, but you know what I mean) and the washer will work. You can run it on empty, for that matter. It doesn't need weight. Often I have to do a load of dark colors that is a smallish load, but it works for me.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (36478)
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19 Oct
@abhi_bangal
Yes, mine was recommended to be run empty with some white vinegar once per month, so I do that. This is supposed to keep it clean.
1 person likes this
@kaylachan (68196)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
19 Oct
In school I was tought to, but we really didn't at home. However, I also wash everything in cold water. Never had that kind of issue. Can't use bleach. So I don't.
1 person likes this
@kaylachan (68196)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
19 Oct
@MarieCoyle We don't even own bleach. Plus now that I have to pay water and eletricity, I find cold water more effective and everything gets just as clean.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (36478)
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19 Oct
I only use bleach on something as a last resort, which is rare as I am good to chase down spots and pre-treat them when needed. I cannot wear clothing that has been bleached unless it's rinsed umpteen times, so it's not worth it.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (36478)
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19 Oct
@kaylachan
I am very, very fortunate in that my water is included here. So that eliminates one bill I don't have to pay.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (36478)
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19 Oct
Most definitely. My grandmothers both insisted on sorting laundry. I learned, and I taught my kids.
2 people like this
@Juliaacv (50944)
• Canada
19 Oct
@MarieCoyle I am amazed at how well my hubs does the laundry.
Every Saturday morning while I am out at the grocery store, he runs a load of darks, most of which are his clothes, and he will hang out my yoga pants that shouldn't be dried, and hangs out his big hoodies as they can take too long in the dryer and will dry in good time hanging. He is very good at helping me, he even makes the bed on the weekends. That sounds trivial, but is so helpful.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (36478)
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19 Oct
@Juliaacv
What a great thing to do, you work as a team which is the way it should be.
1 person likes this
@sallypup (60696)
• Centralia, Washington
19 Oct
@MarieCoyle I would be doing probably four small loads instead of one. I'm not doing that.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (36478)
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19 Oct
Oh, dear...no guilt trips intended, Lenore! I know I do several small-ish loads but sometimes I have to. Mostly, all the loads are fairly full.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (176077)
• United States
19 Oct
Towels are washed as a load as are my clothes. We don't have much laundry since my husband's 2nd cousin takes his laundry from the rehab facility and does it at home for him. Have a good weekend.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (176077)
• United States
19 Oct
@MarieCoyle Yes it is. Otherwise his clothes end up getting lost even though they have his name in them.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (36478)
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19 Oct
@LindaOHio
All the years my Aunt was in the nursing home, I just took her clothes home and washed them and took them back.
1 person likes this
@thislittlepennyearns (61700)
• Defuniak Springs, Florida
19 Oct
Everything gets washed together unless there is specific care instructions. I wash everything on cold.
1 person likes this
@thislittlepennyearns (61700)
• Defuniak Springs, Florida
20 Oct
@MarieCoyle I don't wash with hot because it shrinks things. LOL
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (36478)
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20 Oct
@thislittlepennyearns
I honestly don't own that many things that will shrink. I always think of the dryer being the bigger culprit of shrinkage...I hang the few things that could shrink up to dry on the drying rack, works for me.
@MarieCoyle (36478)
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20 Oct
Hot water is harder on clothing than cold water. Today's detergents are pretty much for any temperature of water, now.
@pumpkinjam (8740)
• United Kingdom
19 Oct
I don't sort washing but that's because my husband does it I don't know if he sorts things but most of out clothes are dark so there isn't an issue with colours. When I did do the washing, I would sort it into darks, white, and colours. I'd also wash underwear separately.
I don't know if he sorts things but most of out clothes are dark so there isn't an issue with colours. When I did do the washing, I would sort it into darks, white, and colours. I'd also wash underwear separately.1 person likes this
@pumpkinjam (8740)
• United Kingdom
19 Oct
@MarieCoyle I wouldn't say he helps but I help him sometimes! He's househusband so he does most of the household chores. He's retired and I work, he is also better at most of the housework than I am
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (36478)
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19 Oct
The fact that you have a husband who has anything to do with laundry at all is impressive. Nice that he helps.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (36478)
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19 Oct
@pumpkinjam
That’s nice that he gets it done, eases pressure on you since you still work.
@RasmaSandra (79209)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
19 Oct
I wear at home clothes and can get away with doing laundry like once a month. I just put it all in a machine and it gets the job done.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (36478)
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19 Oct
No way could I ever go that long without doing laundry. I would run out of undies, socks, shirts, etc. in and out of doctor offices and the treatment center exposes me and my son to anything catching, I go home and wash up and change afterwards, too.
1 person likes this
@NJChicaa (119288)
• United States
19 Oct
@MarieCoyle Its just me so I don't have enough clothes to separate colors when I do the laundry each week.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (36478)
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19 Oct
@NJChicaa
I do not have a large wardrobe, so sometimes I set it on a smaller load size and it's fine.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (36478)
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19 Oct
I think a lot of people do that now. I am not as picky about separating like I used to be, but I still do it.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (36478)
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19 Oct
It seems we have more sorters than I thought we would!
1 person likes this
@LovesEverybody (3750)
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19 Oct
I don't have many things that I have to wash that would give color to other items most of my clothes and towels are so old-- I have had some for 16+ years when Daddy was still alive
However, I have to ask my sister how to wash my two new winter pairs of winter jammies. I got them on sale a few weeks ago and are light pink and blue so I don't want them to get other colors on them
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (36478)
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20 Oct
I am sure they will be easily washed. If they are fuzzy like made of fleece, wash them away from other things that lint could show up on.
@RevivedWarrior (1903)
• India
19 Oct
I still sort out my clothes. Darks together and lighter another. The undergarments goes together . And it is for exact reason , you have mentioned colour changes! Do not have time to bleach and redo everything. With automatic washing machine , it is easy and there is nothing much to be done. So , it s just proper loading. Also , I ensure the clothes are cleared every 2 days in a week , so that we are not out of clothes in an emergency. Plus, like you I believe sorting before laundry is the right way to start washing. Well, enjoy the weekend!
@MarieCoyle (36478)
•
19 Oct
Sounds like you are very well organized with your laundry. You have a good weekend, too!
1 person likes this
