How to wash cotton clothes
Keeping cotton clean is easy, especially if you follow these basic instructions. Remember: when in doubt, check the label for further instructions.
| Before you wash your clothes
Air out your clothes
Save your clothes a few trips to the hamper, and you’ll save money, water, time and the environment. Hang them outside or by an open window to air them out after wearing, and only wash them when they really need it.
Keep a clean washing machine
Wipe it down with a solution of half a cup of white vinegar, half a cup of baking soda and 1 quart of hot water once a week. Kill bacteria by running a hot wash cycle with one cup of bleach and no clothes once a month. Always leave the door open after emptying out your laundry to prevent mold.
Sort your clothes
Because of varying times and temperatures, the laundry room isn’t the place to mix and match fabric. Always sort by:
- TYPE (knit vs woven)
- WEIGHT (heavy denim vs light blouses)
- COLOR (lights vs darks)
| Washing your cotton clothes
Don't overload your washing machine
When a washing machine is stuffed to the brim, clothes don’t get cleaned or rinsed properly. Stains will stay put, and you could wind up with a work, ripped, or pilled wardrobe and a broken washing machine. Make sure the load size is less than 3/4 full.
Turn clothes inside out
When fabrics rub together in the wash, it creates fuzz that can knock the color right out of your clothes. Keep color in its place by turning clothes inside out before you toss them in the wash.
Use less detergent
Using too much detergent is actually worse than not using enough because it speeds up the wear and tear of our clothes and sends your money down the drain. Take the time to read the directions and measure the proper amount of detergent required for your load.
| Drying your clothes
Air-dry on your dryer
Speed up the air-drying process by borrowing some heat from the dryer. Place delicates and other air-dryables on top of the dryer when it’s in use.
Goodbye overdry
Overdrying your clothes is a real thing and it’s time to put a stop to this time-sucking, energy-wasting, fuzz-creating habit. Instead of setting a drying time, use an auto-dry setting that will turn your dryer off once the clothes are dry. If your dryer doesn’t have this setting, make sure you remove your clothes while they’re still a little damp.
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