15 Outdated Laundry Habits That Are Ruining Your Clothes (And Your Sanity!)
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“Today’s fabric care products are innovatively designed to tackle just about any laundry-related chore you can think of,” says Brian Sansoni, ACI Senior Vice President of Communications. But, many of us unknowingly stick to outdated routines that cause wear and tear on our clothes and create unnecessary frustration.
According to Energy Star, Americans do about 300 loads of laundry yearly, consuming large amounts of water, energy, and detergent. Poor laundry practices can add up, damaging clothes and driving up utility bills.
Simple changes can help preserve your wardrobe and ease your laundry routine. Read on for 15 outdated laundry habits that are ruining your clothes (and your sanity)!
Using Too Much Detergent
“With any detergent, you want to use what’s recommended and not go over that because you’re wasting money, and it’s harming your clothes and making your washing machine work harder than necessary,” says Becky Rapinchuk, an expert in laundry and home cleaning.
Too much detergent leaves residue on fabrics that can make them feel stiff or sticky; over time, the buildup causes fading. The residue also traps dirt and oils, meaning your clothes won’t be clean. The recommended amount should be used based on the size of the load and the type of detergent in use.
Overloading the Washing Machine
Have you ever stuffed your laundry basket full, hoping to knock out a big load in one go? Overloading your washing machine can lead to poor results, both for your clothes and the machine itself.
Clothes packed too tightly don’t get the space they need to agitate, so they won’t get cleaned effectively. Spend more time separating larger amounts into smaller batches to protect clothes—and your washing machine.
Washing Clothes in Hot Water All the Time
The Natural Resources Defense Council found that around 10% of a typical home’s electricity goes to washing and drying clothes. Hot water may sound like the perfect method to sanitize your laundry, but it is not always required and can be detrimental to certain fabrics.
Hot water causes shrinkage, fading, and deterioration of fabrics like wool and silk. Washing clothes in hot water more frequently can wear out the fibers, making them look older quickly. Most modern detergents are designed to work just as well in cold water and save energy.
Not Sorting Laundry by Color
Throwing all your laundry into one load without sorting by color can lead to disastrous consequences, such as bleeding or fading. Dark clothes, especially new ones, can release dye during the wash, potentially staining lighter clothes.
Even if you’re not washing new clothes, colors can transfer over time, making whites look dingy. Sorting your laundry into dark, light, and white helps keep your clothes vibrant and each piece treated as it should be.
Air-Drying Everything
While air-drying can save delicate items, overdoing it can create more work for you and result in a less-than-pleasant laundry experience. Clothes that are left to air-dry for too long may become stiff, misshapen, or even prone to mildew, especially if left in humid conditions.
Poorly air-dried items may also take up more space than necessary or result in wrinkles. It’s a good practice to air-dry only specific items—such as wool or silk—and tumble-dry others that are more resilient.
Leaving Wet Clothes in the Washer Too Long
One of the most frustrating laundry mistakes is leaving wet clothes in the washing machine. This is an ideal environment for growing bacteria and mold, which could cause an awful smell and damage to fabrics.
“One way you can kind of tell is if it smells all right. That mold and that bacteria that starts to grow on damp clothes and environments, that’s very pungent,” says Martha Stewart.
The longer clothes stay in the washer, the more they become prone to getting musty. This is when even successive washing will not altogether remove the odor. In that regard, set a timer or switch them into the dryer or the drying rack the minute the cycle ends.
Drying Clothes on High Heat
High heat applied to drying can be a two-edged sword. Seemingly the quickest method of having your laundry dried, this is one of the ways through which fabrics wear out quicker. High heat leads to shrinkage, discoloring, and loss of fibers over time.
Heat can degrade elastic fibers in your clothes, which may cause stretching, sagging, and other forms of misshaping. Avoid this by putting on a medium or low heat setting, especially on sensitive fabrics, and air-dry those most prone to damage.
Not Treating Stains Until It’s Too Late
We’ve all been there-spilling something on our favorite shirt and telling ourselves, “I’ll deal with it later.” But the longer you wait to treat a stain, the more time it will take to remove it.
Stains set in and become more difficult to remove once they have dried, especially those made up of proteins, resulting in permanent discoloration or fabric degradation. Set in stains immediately with a stain remover or by running the affected area under cold water.
Using Fabric Softener on Every Load
Fabric softener is often considered a must-have for soft, fresh-smelling laundry. “The fabric softener can break down the fibers in these materials,” warns Laurie Fulford, a laundry expert with Poplin.
It works by coating fibers in a thin layer of chemicals, making fabrics feel smooth but eventually reducing the absorbency of towels and athletic wear. It also builds up in your washing machine, making it function less efficiently.
To avoid the adverse effects, “the softener must be poured into water pockets to avoid staining,” notes Rechelle Balanzat, a laundry expert with Juliette Cleaners. Use fabric softener sparingly and only on specific loads like sheets or towels, never moisture-wicking fabrics.
Using the Wrong Detergent
Using the wrong detergent can wreak havoc on your laundry routine, causing fading, damage, and ineffective cleaning. Some detergents are specifically designed for specific fabrics, such as delicates or athletic wear.
Using an all-purpose detergent on items that require a gentler approach can cause irreversible damage. High-efficiency washing machines also often require certain types of detergent to keep them running at their best.
Not Zipping Up Zippers
You may feel it is harmless to leave the zippers undone, but this can lead to the snagging and tearing of your clothes or others’ in the wash. They can catch on fabrics while pulling on delicate fibers. Wash them with zippers up exposed, and they will sometimes scratch the inside of a washing machine drum.
Zipping all zippers, buttoning buttons, and closing fasteners before washing saves your clothes from these problems. Take a minute to close up your garments before throwing them in, and your laundry routine will run much smoother.
Not Cleaning Your Washing Machine
It is easy to assume that your washing machine is always clean, but it does need a deep clean occasionally to keep it running smoothly. Detergent residue, mold, and bacteria can build up inside the drum, especially in areas like the door seals and detergent dispensers.
This can eventually lead to disagreeable odors, even transferring to your clothes and giving them a musty scent. “We recommend cleaning your washing machine about once a month or about every 30 cycles to prevent buildup and soils,” advises Nelly Martinez, a senior brand leader for Whirlpool.
Washing Clothes Too Frequently
While the urge to wash clothes after one wears them is great, doing so will only damage your wardrobe in the long run. Washing your clothes too much, mainly jeans and sweaters-will exhaust the fibers of a given material, causing discoloration, stretching, or fraying.
Sometimes, washing clothes directly after wearing them is unnecessary, particularly for jackets, jeans, or sweaters. This saves time and contributes to maintaining clothes’ longevity.
Not Using a Mesh Bag for Delicates
If you’ve ever tossed your delicates into the washing machine without protection, you risk unnecessary damage. “Placing delicate items like washable silk, wool, or lace inside a mesh laundry bag can save them from damage during the machine wash cycle.” explains Kendra Cosenza.
A mesh bag is a simple and effective way to protect delicate items while allowing them to retain shape and structure. This is an important step to take, especially for clothes you want to last longer.
Not Following Instructions on Care Labels
How often do you read care labels? They contain valuable information that can help you care for your garment for its lifetime. The ACI’s 2019 survey found that 35% always read fabric care instructions, 42% sometimes do, and 23% rarely or never check.
For example, delicate fabrics can shrink, discolor, or even break when they are washed in hot water or thrown in the dryer. If you read the labels carefully, you can avoid unnecessary mistakes and take better care of your clothes.
Disclaimer: This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information.
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