9 Common Laundry Mistakes That Just Leave Your Clothes Dirtier
When we toss your clothes in the wash, we assume they’re coming out cleaner than they went in, but that’s not always the case. A lot of us are making little laundry mistakes without realizing we’re making our clothes dirtier. If your fresh laundry still smells a bit off or your whites aren’t looking quite so white, a few simple changes in your routine might make all the difference. Here are the laundry mistakes that you didn’t realize you were making, and what to do instead.
Using Way Too Much Detergent
More soap doesn’t necessarily mean cleaner clothes. In fact, using too much detergent can leave a filmy residue on your laundry. It traps dirt and bacteria right in the fabric, especially if your machine isn’t great at rinsing it all away. Less is more here, and most loads don’t need nearly as much detergent as the label suggests. Try using the smallest recommended amount first and see how your clothes feel. You might be surprised at how much fresher they come out. And if you need more, just add a little for your next load.
Overloading the Machine
Admit it, we’ve all crammed one more towel in so we don’t have to run a second load. But stuffing your washer too full doesn’t leave enough room for water and detergent to circulate properly. That means your clothes are rubbing up against each other without really getting cleaned. If your jeans come out still smelling like last week’s campfire, overcrowding might be to blame. Leave some space in your washer so the clothes can move and the water can actually do its job.
Washing in Cold When You Shouldn’t
Cold water is great for bright colors and delicate fabrics, but it doesn’t always break down oily stains or kill bacteria. If you’re washing dish towels, gym clothes, or anything extra grimy, a warm or hot cycle might be a better choice. Otherwise, you’re just giving those germs a gentle rinse and calling it a day. Think about what kind of mess you’re washing before you hit start. Cold water isn’t always the answer, unless you’re worried about dyes bleeding.
Letting Wet Laundry Sit Too Long
We all know that smell. You forget a load in the washer, come back hours later, and suddenly everything has that damp, funky odor. Leaving wet laundry sitting too long gives bacteria and mildew time to grow, and no amount of dryer heat will fix that. If you can’t dry your wet laundry right away, at least hang things up to air out. Just don’t leave it in the washing machine. Otherwise, you might just have to wash the whole load over again, and nobody has time for that.
Skipping a Regular Washer Cleaning
Your washer cleans your clothes, but what’s cleaning your washer? Soap scum, lint, and even mold can build up inside the machine, especially in front-loaders. If your laundry never smells quite clean, the washer might be the problem. Run an empty hot cycle with white vinegar or a washing machine cleaner once a month to freshen it up. It only takes a few minutes, but it can make a huge difference in getting your clothes to come out cleaner than they went in.
Using Fabric Softener on the Wrong Items
Fabric softener might make your towels feel fluffy, but it also coats the fibers with residue that can make them less absorbent. It can also mess with performance fabrics like activewear or anything labeled moisture-wicking, making them less effective. Softeners work best on sheets and some cottons, but aren’t made for every fabric. If your workout clothes seem to cling to odor no matter how much you wash them, check how you use fabric softener. You might be better off skipping it altogether on some items.
Ignoring Care Labels
It’s tempting to treat all laundry the same: just sort by color, toss it in, and hope for the best. But care labels exist for a reason. Washing something delicate on a heavy-duty cycle or drying it on high heat can wear down the fabric fast. Pay attention to those little tags, even if it feels obvious. Following them can keep your clothes looking new for longer and prevent problems like shrinkage, fading, or mystery holes.
Not Sorting by More Than Color
Sorting by color is a great start, but don’t forget to also separate your laundry by fabric type and soil level. Heavy items like jeans or towels can damage lighter fabrics during the wash, and dirty work clothes shouldn’t be washed with lightly worn items. If you toss everything in together, the clean stuff can end up just as dirty as the dirty stuff that went in. Taking a little time to sort smarter can help your whole load come out cleaner.
Forgetting to Shake Out Your Clothes
It seems minor, but giving your clothes a good shake before tossing them in the wash helps loosen dirt, pet hair, and anything else that might be hiding in the folds. Shaking them out again before throwing them in the dryer helps cut down on wrinkles and speeds up drying time. It’s one of those easy habits that can make your laundry come out just a little bit cleaner every time, and it only takes a few extra seconds.
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Laundry doesn’t need to be complicated, but getting it right takes more than just tossing your clothes in and walking away. A few of these small mistakes can quietly add up over time, leaving your clothes dull, smelly, or worse when you want them to be clean and fresh. The good news? All these mistakes are easy to fix. By paying a little more attention and starting a few new habits, you can help your laundry come out fresher, cleaner, and ready for whatever comes next, without the mystery odors.
Bliss Donahue-Power
