Is Sorting Still A Necessary Part Of Laundry? Here's What Our Expert Says

One of the most tedious laundry day tasks is sorting clothes into individual piles so that they can be washed in separate loads according to color and fabric type. It adds even more time onto an already time-consuming chore. Sometimes you just want to toss all your laundry items into the same load and hope for the best. However, you should avoid this unless you don't mind damaging your fabrics. According to Jean Calleja from The Eco Laundry Company, laundry still needs to be separated prior to washing. 

"Ah, sorting laundry — the age-old debate!" Calleja said while speaking exclusively to House Digest. "Is it still necessary? Yes, absolutely! Sorting might seem old-school, but it's the secret to keeping your favorite wardrobe pieces looking fresh and fabulous." Although it can sometimes be a hassle, this chore will prevent you from ruining your fabrics and having to repurchase the items you destroyed. "Colors and fabrics have their own personalities and they don't always get along in a crowded washer!," Calleja explained. "Sorting keeps the vibrant colors from ruining your crisp whites (you know, the pink sock tragedy!)"

It's important to know how to sort laundry properly so that you don't accidentally mix fabrics or colors that shouldn't be washed together. Luckily, Calleja explained how to do this like a professional. While speaking exclusively to House Digest, he first broke down the way colors should be divided. "Lights with lights, darks with darks, and reds — well, reds get their own little corner with very dark colors," Calleja shared. Fabric type is also something to pay attention to when sorting clothes. "Keep delicate items like lingerie separate from jeans or towels," Calleja said of this step. Otherwise, you might end up with damaged pieces. "It also helps preserve the integrity of delicate fabrics and ensures heavy-duty items don't overpower the dainty ones," the expert shared as well.

The final thing you need to take into consideration when sorting laundry is how soiled each item is. "Gym clothes and muddy pants?," Calleja said. "Wash those together but apart from your 'barely worn' tees." Now that you know how to sort your clothes, linens, and towels the right way, laundry days should run a whole lot smoother. Another optional tip you might want to consider is the three bin system to make laundry day less intimidating. Just toss your items into the appropriate bin to avoid having to separate everything when it's time to wash.

While speaking exclusively to House Digest, Calleja laid out some tips to make laundry sorting easier. The first piece of advice is somewhat related to the aforementioned three bin laundry sorting hack. The expert explained that you can invest in divided hampers to sort your fabrics as you set it aside prior to wash day. Consider purchasing a product like the Simple Houseware Heavy Duty 3-Bag Laundry Sorter Rolling Cart to use for this purpose.

This makes it easier to sort as you go, which is Calleja's next tip. "Toss items into their designated section the moment they're ready for the wash," the expert shared. His final word of advice is to protect certain items with laundry bags. "Use mesh bags for socks, delicates, or anything prone to getting lost in the chaos," Calleja explained.

If you still insist on skipping laundry sorting, consider taking a few steps to protect your fabrics. According to Calleja, you should use cold water to wash pieces that aren't sorted so that colors do not bleed together. You could also use a color catcher sheet to keep your whites safe from dye that leaks off of other items. The Shout Color Catchers are an option worth considering. However, keep in mind that separating your clothes properly is still the best way to protect them from color bleeding. The last tip for protecting laundry that hasn't been sorted is to place items with zippers or hooks into mesh bags so that they do not tear through other pieces.