How to Do Your Laundry Like a Pro in 6 Steps

Dye transfers. Shrinking clothes. Dingy whites. The first step to preventing these and other laundry problems is to properly sort your laundry by:

• Color: Separate laundry by whites, light colors, similar bright colors, and dark colors.
  
• Fabric Type: Protect delicate fabrics like laces, lingerie, and washable silk by washing them separately. And wash lint-giving fabrics like chenille and terry separately from lint-attracting items such as corduroy and permanent press.
  
• Soil Content: Heavily soiled work or play clothes should be washed separately from lightly soiled clothes.

Note: As you sort, empty out pockets, close buttons, and zip zippers to prevent snagging and other damage. And be sure to check your clothes’ care labels for instructions on washing, bleaching, and drying. 

Now that your laundry is sorted, wash them in the hottest water each garment will allow. A general rule of thumb: use hot water for white cottons, and cold water for bright colors. Read the care labels for more instruction. 

To see if your garment will retain color when washing or pre-treating, find a hidden area (like the inside seam) and apply a concentrated dose of detergent. Rinse and if color remains, it’s safe to wash.

Fresh stains are easier to remove than old ones, so pre-treat them before you wash them — and be sure to test for colorfastness in a discreet place.

How can you get rid of blood, grass, and other tough stains? Find out now.

Laundry detergents have a big job to do, but if you want a little more cleaning power, these additives work with your detergent to help out:

• Laundry Boosters enhance your detergent’s performance by adding extra cleaning power, or by softening the water to help detergent work more effectively.
  
• Scent Boosters freshen and deodorize laundry — and add a long-lasting scent.
  
• Chlorine Bleach Boosters and Color Boosters: One works to boost the whitening power of chlorine bleach, the other is a color-safe bleach that helps brighten colored garments. 

For a natural additive that cleans, deodorizes, whitens and brightens, use ARM & HAMMER™ Baking Soda. Add ½ cup of baking soda along with your bleach to whiten whites, and ½ cup to your wash cycle to brighten colors.

Once you’ve washed your clothes, these tips will help you finish strong:

• Check those treated stains before going into the dryer to see if your pre-treating worked; dryer heat can set stains permanently. 
  
• Don’t overload your dryer; clothes need to tumble freely to dry efficiently. And, it helps prevent wrinkles. 
  
• Toss in a dryer sheet to soften your clothes, reduce static cling and lint, and smell fresh.