Like using animal fat as detergent, separating clothing by color was once considered a laundry-day essential. But thanks to technological improvements, we’ve realized this habit may no longer be the necessity it once was for our parents and grandparents. Sure, there are plenty of us who still separate our loads into lights and darks —…
The textiles we surround ourselves with today are a lot different from those of previous generations. Because many modern garments are colorfast or prewashed, dye bleeding is rarely a concern. Detergent formulas have also evolved, making separating laundry almost entirely unnecessary — especially if you wash in cold water. While laundering whites with darks can still cause fabrics to dull over time, it’s no longer the hard-and-fast rule it once was.
Mastering the Mixed Load
Before you throw everything into a single load, here are a few important things to keep in mind:
Stick to cold cycles: Washing on cold is the best way to reduce color transfer and prevent garments from fading. Plus, it safeguards against fiber damage and shrinking.
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Use a color-catcher: Color-catching sheets, such as Shout Color Catchers, are an effective fail-safe against bleeding or fading, and they’re so much easier than physically sorting your laundry.
Wash whites separately: If you’re worried about specific white garments getting dingy, wash them separately. But don’t fuss over the small stuff like socks, underwear, or sleepwear.
Sort by fabric, not color: Instead of separating clothing by color, it’s often more beneficial to sort by fabric. Materials like cotton, silk, and terry cloth have specific washing needs that are easily overlooked when we’re too focused on the color of the garment.
