The American Cleaning Institute (ACI)

Laundry Basics

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Need some help taking extra care of your clothes? From washing frequency to sorting to detergents, folding, and more, check out the guides below to get started. Go from beginner to pro with our step-by-step how to do laundry list, a guide to fabric care symbols on label tags and what they all mean, and an overview on how often you should wash certain items to maintain their longevity.

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  • How to Do Laundry

    From sorting to detergents and beyond. Get your washday tips and keep your clothes clean and fresh.

    How to Do Laundry:

    • Follow the instructions on your laundry detergent. Use it safely and in the recommended amounts. More isn't necessarily better.

    • Follow the fabric care labels on your clothes. Those symbols contain a lot of useful information.

    • Sort your laundry by like colors and soil levels for best results.

    • Treat stains immediately and wash all clothing, towels and bedding regularly, whether they are stained or not.

    • Learn the washing machine and dryer settings in order to use them efficiently, including choosing cold water to wash and regularly emptying the lint trap in the dryer.

    Get more information about proper laundry tips, tricks and techniques:

    Sorting it out

    There's more to the sorting game than just keeping dark garments away from the gleaming whites. The secret is mixing and matching items into loads that need similar soaps or detergents, wash cycles and water temperatures. It's the time to check those garment care labels for special cleaning instructions. Without a doubt, smart sorting is the way of insuring clean results - wash, after wash, after wash.

    1. Sort by color

    laundry colors

    Wash all whites separately; pastels and medium colors together; brights and darks by themselves. Pay special attention to white and lightly colored synthetics; they can pick up dark dyes from other fabrics during washing. Check trimmings and decorations for colorfastness too.

    2. Sort for soil

    soiled

    Sort out those heavily soiled items away from the lightly soiled ones, since lightly soiled items can pick up the extra soil from the wash water. Whites will slowly get grayer or yellower; colors will become duller and duller.

    3. Specialty sorts

    specialty sort

    The Unmatched Set: Mix small and large items together in each load. This lets clothes move more freely, resulting in better washing.

    The Fabric Types: Consider the fabrics and how they are constructed. Separate loosely knitted garments and delicates from regular wash loads, then wash on the gentle cycle.

    The Lint Losers: Fuzzy sweat shirts, chenille robes, flannels and new towels have a tendency to share their lint with other garments during washing. Wash them in a load by themselves - away from corduroys and permanent press garments, which attract lint easily.

    The Fluorescents: Hot pinks, bright greens, electric blues are often much less colorfast than other fabrics. Wash them separately or test them first before washing with other colors. For safety's sake do not pretreat with stain removers unless you have tested them for colorfastness first on an inconspicuous area. Fluorescent colors may fade over time--------------

     

    laundry machines

     

    Removing Stains

    Take care to wash away any spots and stains on your washables. It helps to know exactly what type of stain it is for your best chance at removal.

    Stain Removal Process

     

    • Identify the spot. The more you know about what made the spot or stain, the more likely you are to treat it appropriately. This means you have a better chance to remove it, plus you are less likely to set it further by using the wrong treatment. When in doubt, rinse or soak in cold water before treating or laundering.
    • Treat the spot immediately! The sooner you attack the spot, the easier it is to remove. Get into the habit of checking freshly washed wet clothes for stains that don't wash away. Instead of drying them, pretreat the stains and wash them again. Drying can permanently set the stains.
    • Pretreat, plus Pretreating a stain before it is dried or set increases your chances for removing it. Use a prewash stain remover, liquid laundry detergent, or a paste made from a powdered laundry detergent and a little water. First, test for colorfastness by pretreating a seam or other inconspicuous area. Then, launder the entire garment with a detergent - plus a bleach that's safe for the fabric.
    • Blot it out! Sponge a stain - don't rub it. Rubbing only spreads it and may even damage the fabric.

     

    Stain Fighting Tips

     

    • Beverage stains: Beverages containing sugar, such as wine or ginger ale, may seem to disappear. But don't be fooled - they may still be there! Once the stain has been exposed to air, the sugar oxidizes and leaves an invisible stain, which ultimately turns yellow or brown. The stain never left .. it was there all along. To remedy? Treat even those light stains you can't see immediately - before they dry.
    • Using a bleach? Prevent uneven color changes by bleaching the entire garment - not just the stain.
    • Old stains rarely fade away- but it's possible! Try pretreating or soaking in a product containing enzymes, then launder.
    • Wash it away! After treating a stain, launder the complete garment to remove any residue left from the stain or stain remover.

     

    For detailed tips by stain type, check out our stain removal guide.

    About Laundry Detergents

    Always use the proper amount of detergent when washing. What's the right amount? Read the label and keep in mind that too much detergent or too little can leave your clothes less clean than using the optimal amount. Follow the fabric care instructions on your clothing.

    Detergents

    detergent icons

    Liquids
    All-purpose laundry detergents that are especially effective on food, greasy and oily soils. Since they are liquids, they are good for pretreating spots and stains.

    Powders
    All-purpose laundry detergents which are ideal for general washday loads. Especially effective on lifting out clay and ground-in dirt, thus ideal for children's play clothes.

    Ultra Detergents
    Most liquid and powder detergents are now concentrated. They come in much smaller packages - yet offer the same amount of cleaning power as the familiar products in larger packages. You need less ultra detergent than with an unconcentrated product, so follow the label instructions and use the measuring cap or scoop that comes with the product.

    Combination Detergents
    One detergent that does two jobs. Look for: Liquid or powder detergents with built-in fabric softeners Powders detergents with color-safe bleach

    Fragrance or Dye-Free Detergents
    Many laundry products are now fragrance-free and/or dye-free. Read product labels for specific details. Liquid detergents with bleach alternative.

    Detergent Packets
    Single-load liquid laundry packets are a relatively new laundry innovation containing highly concentrated detergent. Learn more about liquid laundry packets and about our #PacketsUp safety initiative.

     

    Light Duty Detergents

    Laundry Liquids and Powders
    Designed for hand or machine washing those lightly soiled items and

    Dishwashing Liquids
    Designed for washing dishes, but some can be used for handwashing delicate fabrics. Do not use in automatic washers!

    Bleaches

    Benefits
    Convert soils into colorless, soluble particles which are easily removed by detergents, then carried away in the wash water. Brighten and whiten fabrics; help remove stubborn stains.

    Types
    Sodium hypochlorite bleaches (also called chlorine or liquid household bleach) are the more powerful laundry bleaches; they disinfect, as well as clean and whiten. They work on many whites and colorfast washables - but not on wools or silks. Oxygen (color-safe) bleaches are more gentle, working safely on all washable fabrics. They work best in maintaining whiteness, not in restoring it.

    Techniques
    For Sodium Hypochlorite Bleach, read the label and dilute as directed. For best results, add 5 minutes after the wash cycle has begun to agitate in order to avoid destroying enzymes and fluorescent whiteners in the detergent.

    For Oxygen Bleach, add directly to the wash water before the clothes are added. Do not pour powdered bleach directly on wet clothes. Most effective in warm-to-hot water.

    IMPORTANT: Have doubts whether a garment is safe to bleach? Don't guess - you may be sorry! Read the garment's care label for specific instructions. Test first for colorfastness in an inconspicuous area by following the instructions on bleach package label. 

    Learn more about how to use bleach in laundry.

    Enzyme Presoaks

    Benefits
    Especially effective in removing protein stains, like baby formula, blood, body fluids, dairy products, eggs and grass. When added to the wash water, they also boost the cleaning power of the detergent.

    Type
    Powders

    Technique
    Presoak laundry in the washer, sink or a pail before washing. Follow the label directions.

    Fabric Softeners

    Benefits
    Decrease static cling, which is especially useful when washing permanent-press and synthetic fibers. Make fabrics softer and fluffier... reduce drying time ... reduce wrinkling ... make ironing easier.

    Types
    Liquid fabric softeners go into the final rinse water; one type can also be used on a cloth and tossed into the dryer. Follow the label directions.
    Softener sheets go into the dryer.
    Packet-type softeners attach to the fin of the dryer drum.

    Techniques
    When adding liquid softeners to the rinse water, be sure to dilute first. Do not pour directly on fabrics, because this may cause staining or spotting.

    IMPORTANT: Fabric softeners may reduce the effectiveness of flame retardancy on fabrics, like those used in children's sleepwear.

    Prewash Soil and Stain Removers

    Benefits
    Effective in pretreating heavily soiled and stained garments, especially those made from polyester fibers. Work well on oil-based stains like animal fats, body soils, cooking oils, cosmetics and motor oils. Soap bars work well on fabric softener, perspiration and tobacco stains.

    Types
    Liquids, sprays, gels, sticks and soap bars

    Techniques
    It's best to treat the stain as quickly as possible. Use liquid, gel and spray removers just before washing the garment. If the stain still remains, apply a second treatment, rubbing directly into the stain.

    When using the stick type, immediately rub the stick on the fresh stain, then set it aside and wash later - even as much as a week later.

    IMPORTANT: Do not use prewash soil and stain removers on neon and fluorescent colors. The colors might fade or run.

    Starches, Fabric Finishes and Sizing

    Benefits
    Give body to fabrics ... make fabrics more soil-resistant ... make ironing easier.

    Types
    Powders, liquids and sprays.

    Techniques
    Use starches on cottons and cotton blends ... use fabric finishes and sizings on synthetic fabrics.

    Water Softeners

    Benefits
    Help detergents do their job better by inactivating calcium and magnesium minerals which make water hard.

    Types
    Powders and liquids.

    Techniques
    Add powders to the wash or rinse water. Add liquids to rinse water only.

    IMPORTANT: Soft water aids cleaning. Hard water contains minerals (mostly calcium and magnesium) which react with soap to form a curd. This soap curd can show up on clothes as a white powder, make fabrics feel stiff and attach to the inside of washing machines. The forming of the curd uses up some of the soap and reduces its cleaning power.if you are doing laundry in hard water, even a detergent needs some help. Add slightly more detergent than the product label directions recommend. The extra detergent will help soften the water and allow the remaining detergent to do its cleaning job. You can also add a water softener or detergent booster to the wash water to increase cleaning power.

    Do you have hard water? Your local water company, public utility consumer service department or Cooperative Extension Service office can provide this information or refer you to someone who can. You probably have hard water if white residue forms around faucets and drains or if fabrics feel stiff, not fluffy.

     

  • Guide to Fabric Care Symbols

    Your guide to how to read the tags that are on all of our favorite clothes.

    Don't guess - read the product label. These fabric care symbols offer the best advice for caring for the garment - wash, after wash. There's more on the label than you might think. Here are some important clues to look for.

     

    Download the guide

     

    Garment Key

     

     

     

    Washing

    Cycle

    Machine Wash Normal
     
    Machine Wash Permanent Press
     
    Machine Wash Delicate or Gentle
     

    Temperature

    Machine Wash 80F
     
    Machine Wash 105F
     
    Machine Wash 120F
     
    Machine Wash 140F
     
    Machine Wash 160F
     
    Machine Wash 200
     

    Other

    Do Not Wash
     
    Hand Wash
     

    Bleaching

    Other

    Bleach When Needed
     
    non-Chlorine Bleach When Needed
     
    Do Not Bleach
     

    Dry-Cleaning

    Other

    Dry-Clean
     
    Dry-Clean Any Solvent
     
    Dry-Clean Any Solvent Except Trichloroethylene
     
    Dry-Clean Petroleum Solvent Only
     
    Do Not Dry-Clean
     
    Short Cycle
     
    Low Heat
     
    Reduced Moisture
     
    No Steam
     

    Drying

    Cycle

    Tumble Dry Normal
     
    Tumble Dry Permanent Press
     
    Tumble Dry Gentle
     

    Heat Setting

    Dry Normal Low Heat
     
    Dry Normal Medium Heat
     
    Dry High Heat
     

    Other

    Do Not Tumble Dry
     
    Line Dry
     
    Drip Dry
     
    Dry Flat
     
    Dry in Shade
     
    Do Not Dry
     
    Do Not Wring
     

    Ironing

    Temperature

    Iron 230F
     
    Iron 300F
     
    Iron 390F
     

    Other

    Do Not Iron
     
    Iron Any Temperature Steam
     
    Do Not Steam
     
  • Do I need to Wash this?

    ACI breaks out how often should you wash your favorite items.

    The sniff test may tell you if you wore enough deodorant, but does not always work when deciding if you need to wash your clothes. What you do, the fabric type, the wear and the weather can play a deciding factor. The American Cleaning Institute offers these tips to help determine if it’s time to wash those bed sheets, jeans, shirts, socks and underwear.

    View the List

    Clothing

    Basics

    Pajamas
    Wash after 3 or 4 wears (if you shower before bed, you may be able to wait a bit longer).
    Underwear
    Wash after each wear.
    Bras
    Bras can be worn 2-3 times before washing. Be sure to give your bra a rest day in between wearing to give the elastic a chance to regain its shape.
    Socks
    Wash after each wear.
    T-shirts and Tank Tops
    Wash after each wear.
    Jeans
    Can be worn 3 times before washing.

    Dress Clothes

    Suit
    Typically can be worn several times during normal use before dry cleaning (3-4 times for wool and 4-5 times for synthetics).
    Camisoles
    Wash after each wear.
    Dress Shirts
    Can be worn a few times before washing unless soiled by stains, dirt or sweat.
    Slacks and Skirts
    Can be worn a few times before washing unless soiled by stains, dirt or sweat.
    Tights
    Should be washed after every wear to get rid of the baggy knees.

    Other

    Bathing Suit
    Wash after each wear.
    Leggings
    Should be washed after every wear to get rid of the baggy knees.
    Coat
    Wash once or twice per season.

    Bed & Bath

    Linens

    Bed Sheets
    Wash every two weeks, more often if you sweat a lot at night.
    Bath Towels
    Towels should be hung to dry between uses and washed after 3-5 normal uses.
    Blankets and Bedspreads
    Wash monthly.

    Exceptions

    Other

    Whites
    Whites are prone to discoloration and should be cleaned after every wear.
    Silks
    Silks are prone to discoloration and should be cleaned after every wear.
    Stained Clothes
    Wash, spot clean or dry clean as soon as possible.