The Case For Not Separating Your Clothes Before Washing (& How To Do It Correctly)

Washing laundry is time-consuming enough. Who wants to spend more time separating clothes into categories? The extra task makes the entire process tedious and undesirable, forcing you to search for a laundry hack that makes sorting clothes easier. In some cases, it's better to separate your garments, but you may not really need to sort your laundry because upgrades in detergents and washers make the risk of color transfer and damage low. 

The traditional thought is that separating clothes by color can prevent bleeding dye that leaves lighter fabrics discolored or dull. It's the whole idea that a red sock will turn all your white t-shirts pink. While separating your laundry does make a difference, it is not absolutely necessary. You probably won't notice any negative effects if you wash a mixed load of clothes that have the same washing needs. That means garments made from similar fabrics that don't have any special wash requirements can all be laundered together regardless of their color. You can save yourself time and have perfectly clean clothes without the sorting.

While color transfer does exist, you can buy laundry products that minimize this issue and make it easier to wash without separating. Color-safe detergents reduce the amount of dye that comes out of clothing in the washing machine by stabilizing the color. There are also color catcher sheets, which attract and soak up any extra dye that might escape from your fabrics. Modern detergents also work well in cold water, which allows you to choose cooler wash settings that cut down on color bleeding while still getting effective results.

Further, sorting might not be worth the time and energy. If you categorize your laundry, you'll likely end up with several smaller loads that make the washing and drying process even longer to get through. Typically, a normal wash cycle lasts 50 minutes to an hour plus the drying time. If you sort your clothes into dark, white, and light piles, that's three loads of laundry or up to three hours of washing alone. Then, you might still need additional loads, such as delicates. Don't throw away your energy on laundry hacks that are a waste of time. When washing instructions are similar, you'll save time if you group the clothes together. It might not the best option if you have any special pieces that you want to preserve, but your loungewear, casual clothes, and everyday items can survive just fine. 

When washing your unseparated clothing load, use cold water and be careful not to overload the washer. The colder temps help minimize dye transfer and keep your light-colored clothes looking better. Cold water also tends to be gentler on clothes, so they might last longer than if they were washed in a warmer cycle. Plus, it's best to avoid permanent press cycles, which may also be called casual or wrinkle control, as it uses warm water for the wash.

For the soap, choose a color-safe detergent and only use as much as you need based on the soil level of the clothes. Using too much detergent is what everyone gets wrong when doing laundry. The extra soap could increase color transfer because of residue buildup. You can also add vinegar to the wash cycle to help prevent color bleeding. Further, when you dry your mixed load, choose a low-heat setting. Less heat protects the fabrics to make items last longer. It also prevents the dyes from breaking down, which could minimize color transfer in the dryer. 

Keep in mind, even if you're washing an unsorted load of laundry, you may still need to pull out certain clothing items. That includes towels, bedding, athletic wear, and new clothes that may have excess dye, such as denim and dark fabric. Since you'll be using a cold-water cycle, you may also want to separate clothing that requires hot water for adequate cleaning. Without these pieces, your unsorted load is safe to wash.