Sorting laundry: handy tips to get it right

Why sort laundry?

Sorting laundry may seem like an extra chore, but your laundry comes out cleaner and stays looking good for longer. Dyes can run during the wash, especially with new clothes. As a result, white or light laundry can change colour. The type of fabric can also cause problems: a towel rubs against delicate clothes and a wool sweater can shrink on a cycle that's too hot. Without sorting, you're more likely to end up with dingy whites, shrunken clothes and damaged fibres.

By sorting your laundry you also choose a wash cycle and a temperature that suit the whole load. That way you get a better wash result and can save energy.

How to sort laundry?

You sort your laundry on four points: colour, type of fabric, temperature and how dirty it is. You don't need ten piles, but you do need enough to prevent problems.

Sorting laundry by colour

Sorting by colour is the first step for most people. Make three piles: whites, colours and darks. The whites include truly white clothes, socks, towels and sheets. The colours include coloured and light clothing, such as pastels. Cream and ecru are best put with the colours, because those shades can quickly dull white. The darks include black, navy, charcoal and dark jeans.

Be extra careful with new clothes. They can lose colour during the first few washes, especially if they're red, black, navy or denim. That's why you should wash new clothes separately the first time, or together with similar colours.

Sorting laundry by type of fabric

Sorting by colour isn't enough. A towel, a wool sweater and a sports top all need different treatment. By also sorting by type of fabric, you prevent wear, loss of shape and fluff. The type of fabric also determines which wash cycle you choose.

• Cotton: cotton is strong and can usually handle a sturdy wash cycle well. Think of T-shirts, underwear, pyjamas and a lot of bedding. Choose the cotton wash cycle at the temperature on the care label.

• Synthetic fabrics: polyester, nylon and acrylic dry quickly and crease less, but need a gentler cycle. Choose the synthetic wash cycle, usually at a lower temperature. Preferably don't wash synthetic clothes with heavy fabrics such as towels, because that causes extra friction.

• Mixed laundry: have little laundry and don't want to sort it? Then choose the mixed wash cycle for cotton and synthetics together.

• Wool and delicate fabrics: always wash wool separately, using the wool wash cycle and a special wool detergent. If the label only shows a hand wash symbol, the garment doesn't belong in the machine. Silk, lace and lingerie are fragile too. Wash them separately in a wash bag, at a low temperature or by hand.

Sorting laundry by temperature

Also sort your laundry by the temperature on the care label. Not everything can handle hot water. For a mixed load, always choose the lowest temperature shown on the labels.

At 30°C you wash lightly soiled everyday clothes, dark laundry, many synthetic fabrics and delicates. 30°C is often the safest choice if you're unsure, and it saves energy. At 40°C you wash clothes that are a bit dirtier, such as shirts, trousers and socks. At 60°C you wash towels, bedding, underwear and tea towels. Always check the care label for the right temperature.

Sorting laundry by how dirty it is

When sorting, also take into account how dirty your laundry is. Heavily soiled laundry, such as sportswear, workwear or children's clothes with stains, can pass dirt, grease and smells on to cleaner laundry. Don't put that laundry with the rest of your washing, but wash it separately. Treat obvious stains first, before the laundry goes in the washing machine. That way you don't have to wash it again.

Which laundry can be washed together?

Nobody wants to run a separate wash for every item. You can combine sensibly, as long as colour, fabric and temperature match. Dark T-shirts, trousers and socks can usually be washed together at a low temperature. The same goes for light everyday clothes made of a similar fabric and for sportswear with other sportswear. Cotton underwear and towels can also go together, if the label allows the same temperature.

Better not to wash together: whites with coloured or dark clothes, towels with delicate fabrics, wool with cotton or heavy fabrics, heavily soiled laundry with lightly soiled clothes, and new clothes with the rest of your laundry.

Handy tips for sorting your laundry

Sorting gets a lot easier with a few fixed habits.

• Use several laundry baskets to presort. For example, set up one basket for dark laundry, one for whites, one for colours, one for delicates, and one for towels and bedding. Not much space? Then use three baskets to sort by colour. If you throw your clothes into the right basket straight away, you've already done most of the sorting. You only decide on the temperature at the machine, based on the care labels. You can read more tips for a fixed laundry routine in our tips for the perfect laundry routine.

• Put baskets in every bedroom. Living with a family? Put three laundry baskets in each bedroom to sort by colour: one for whites, one for colours and one for darks. Add a fourth basket for delicates. That way everyone sorts their clothes right where they take them off. Put a basket for towels in a shared space, such as the bathroom.

• Label your baskets. If more people live in your home, not everyone automatically knows which basket is for what. A sticker or label saying white, colour, dark or delicate shows right away where each item belongs. That makes it less likely that a red sock ends up in the white basket.

• Use a wash bag for lingerie and delicate clothes. That reduces the risk of stretching or damage.

Frequently asked questions

Still have a question about sorting your laundry? Below you'll find the answers to a few frequently asked questions.

Do you always have to sort your laundry?

Not every load needs to be sorted in detail, but washing without sorting increases the risk of colour run and wear. The more delicate, newer or dirtier the clothes are, the more important it is to sort your laundry.

Can you wash light colours with whites?

Washing light laundry with whites isn't usually a good idea. Light grey, beige and pastel colours look harmless, but they can dull white laundry. So keep truly white laundry separate.

How to sort laundry when you don't have much space?

If you don't have much space, use a laundry basket with several compartments or hang a few wash bags in a cupboard or corner. You can also sort quickly into temporary piles just before washing.