Laundry Myth: More detergent equals cleaner clothes.

When you’re washing those muddy baseball pants or dirty yard work clothes, you might be tempted to throw in some extra detergent for more cleaning power. But actually, going beyond the recommended amount can have the opposite effect. “Using too much detergent frequently leads to excessive suds, buildup or remnants on fabric, and more difficulty removing stains,” says Abraham.

Laundry Myth: Hot water cleans clothes best.

You’ve probably heard that hot water sanitizes germs, so why not always use the hottest water for laundry? Well the truth is, the right water temperature depends on what you’re washing. “Cold water is best for colorful clothing to prevent bleeding or color transfer; whereas hot water is ideal for white clothing to keep them bright,” says Abraham, “Some stains dissolve best in hot water like grass and grease, while others dissolve best in cold water like blood and toothpaste.”

Laundry Myth: Large laundry loads save time and energy.

If you’ve got a mountain of dirty laundry to deal with (I know the feeling!), washing extra large loads seems more efficient. Unfortunately, stuffing the washer to capacity might actually create more work for yourself. The clothes won’t have enough space to agitate. “Overloading a washer or dryer can reduce cleaning and drying performance, potentially creating the need for a re-wash or re-dry in addition to the original load,” says Abraham.

Laundry Myth: Fabric softener and dryer sheets are everyday laundry staples.

As someone who uses dryer sheets every day, this one came as a surprise to me. Both fabric softener and dryer sheets are okay for certain fabrics, but some laundry experts suggest skipping them altogether. “These products leave a waxy coating on the fabric (and your machine). This weighs down fibers and makes fabric look dingy,” says Ceconi. “The damage to bath towels is particularly bad. Fabric softener builds up and coats the fibers, causing them to be less absorbent.” Instead, use wool dryer balls or add 1/2 cup of distilled white vinegar directly to your washing machine’s fabric softener dispenser.

Laundry Myth: You don’t need to sort laundry. Just throw it all in.

I’m guilty of this one, too! You might get away without sorting every single load, but it’s best to separate certain items. “You should sort laundry by color and weight. For example, wash same or similar color towels in a dedicated load,” says Ceconi. “Also, don’t wash heavy items (like denim or heavy sweatshirts) with delicate clothing, even though they are in the same color family. Sorting will prevent color transfer and damage.”

Laundry Myth: Bleach is best to whiten clothes and linens.

I remember my grandma adding bleach to every load of white sheets or towels. However, chlorine bleach is not always the best choice. “Never use chlorine bleach on colors. And I don’t recommend it for whites because the harsh chlorine can yellow fabric (especially synthetics or blends). The exception would be items that need to be sanitized, like cloth diapers or white athletic socks,” says Ceconi. Try hydrogen peroxide or color-safe oxygen bleach instead.

Laundry Myth: You can ignore the “Dry Clean Only” tag.

I’ve been known to throw a “Dry Clean Only” item in the washer, with mixed results. Who has time to go to the dry cleaners? Turns out those tag instructions are pretty important, however, there is some wiggle room. “The ‘dry clean only’ label in particular, should be handled by professionals; whereas items labeled ‘Dry Clean Recommended’ may be cleaned at home by hand washing, steaming or dry cleaning kits,” says Abraham.

Laundry Myth: A regular wash cycle will remove mildew.

When clothes are left in the washer too long or stored in damp conditions, they’re sure to adopt that dreaded musty mildew smell; and a regular wash cycle probably won’t get rid of it. “I recommend pretreating stained areas with an enzyme stain remover, then washing them in warm water with a cup of white vinegar (no detergent), repeat the cycle with a half-cup of baking soda,” says Ceconi. “The vinegar breaks down and removes buildup; the second wash with baking soda restores freshness. Follow up with a wash on a regular cycle with detergent.”

About the Experts

• Tom Ceconi is the President of Heritage Park Laundry Essentials; a brand dedicated to creating safe, gentle, and eco-friendly laundry solutions. Under his leadership, Heritage Park prioritizes protecting your clothes, your skin, and the planet.
• Amanda Abraham is an Integrated Brand Manager for Maytag Laundry at Whirlpool Corporation. With a sharp focus on consumer insights and cross-functional leadership, she drives meaningful product value while reinforcing Maytag’s legacy of dependability.

The post 8 Laundry Mistakes That Are Slowly Ruining Your Clothes appeared first on Family Handyman.