Everyone enjoys wearing bright, spotless clothing, so it’s crucial to know how to take care of your family’s favorite apparel.
It might be time-saving to toss everything in the washer and let the clothing wash and dry simultaneously. However, drying your garments improperly might shorten their longevity.
This can cost you both time and money in the long run. Similarly, most people ask whether you can dry white clothes with colored clothes.
Putting white and colored clothes in the same dryer can cause color bleeding or discoloration. White clothing can pick up dye or stain from dark clothing or even slightly moist dark clothes.
Continue reading to find out what happens if you dry white and colorful clothes together.
Can You Dry White Clothes With Colored Clothes?
No, whites and colors must not be dried together due to colorfastness and color bleeding. Whites and colors shouldn’t be dried or washed together because damp clothes can leak dyes that stain your white clothes.
To avoid bleeding, dry your whites and colors separately. Also, white fabric that comes in contact with zippered items can cause damage. Sorting your clothes on wash day is important for more than just preventing color loss.
Separating different color groups and fabric kinds is a good idea. Dense fabric materials, like denim, may degrade lighter fabrics, such as T-shirts, after laundry and drying due to friction.
Similar to drying whites and colors individually, drying colors, lights, and darks together requires sorting, washing, and drying each item separately.
When wet, the dyes on your dark and colorful clothes might bleed and stain your light-colored garments. Read the care directions on the garment label if unsure how to wash and dry colored items.
Normally, the label will provide the best cleaning methods for the item and the washer and dryer temperature settings.
Sort Your Different Colored Clothes Before Drying
Sorting clothes by color before drying them is an important step in laundry care to prevent colors from bleeding and staining other clothes. It helps to keep your clothes looking their best and prevent any damage to your laundry.
- Clothes should be sorted into separate piles, including white, dark, and colored items.
- Whites can be washed together at the highest temperature, while darks and colored items should be washed at a lower temperature or with a mild detergent.
- Delicate items such as white silk and lace clothes should be washed separately and on a gentle cycle to prevent damage.
- It is also a good idea to turn colored clothes inside out before washing to protect the color from fading.
- When drying clothes, it is important to follow the care label instructions and use the appropriate setting for the type of fabric.
- Delicate items should be air-dried or dried on low heat to prevent shrinkage or damage.
By sorting your clothes before washing and drying, you can ensure that your clothes look their best for longer and save time and energy by avoiding re-washing or re-drying clothes that have been stained or damaged. And also it will be more organized and easy to find your clothes.
How To Dry White Clothes In A Dryer?
Whites should be line-dried to get fresh air and sunlight. However, several alternatives may be as beneficial.
You may dry your whites in a variety of ways. Drying clothes outside on a line is a common practice among many people. This technique works best if you have access to a bright day and want to avoid using the dryer while still getting some fresh air.
Laundry racks are an alternative to a clothesline and a sunny day drying out laundry. It is also a fantastic choice for those who want to save money on their energy costs by eliminating the use of electric and gas-powered equipment.
Consider utilizing a lower heat setting when selecting a drying cycle for your whites. The greater the temperature of your dryer, the more probable it is that your garments may shrink and lose color.
It is also crucial to remember that some white garments, such as silk, lace, and embellished garments, should be air-dried to prevent damage. Carefully check the care label before drying your garments.
What Happens If You Don’t Separate Whites From Colored
If you don’t separate whites from colored clothes before washing them, there is a risk that the colors from the colored clothes may bleed onto the whites. It can cause discoloration or staining on the white clothes, which can be difficult or impossible to remove.
Additionally, washing whites and colors together in a high-heat setting can cause shrinkage or damage to the colored clothes.
Another potential issue is that if one of the colored clothes has a stain that hasn’t been pre-treated, it can transfer onto the whites. It can be especially problematic if the stain is oil-based or particularly stubborn, as it can be hard to remove from white clothes.
By separating your white and colored clothes before washing them, you can ensure that your clothes look their best and avoid any potential damage or discoloration.
Can You Wash Whites With Colored Clothes?
First, you can’t do it if you’re washing brand-new clothes. The bulk of freshly colored garments emits extra dye.
How often this happens depends on things like the fabric, the detergent, and how hot the water is in the washing machine.
If you want to ultimately wash newly colored garments in the same load as whites, it is advised that you wash them separately a few times first.
Sorting laundry is a good idea when using steam settings for laundry. Warm water increases the chance of color fading (whether new or old).
Whites should be washed using detergent designed specifically for whites. Typically, surfactants designed exclusively for whites include bleach.
Consequently, they cannot be used with colored garments. When whites are washed using ordinary detergents, they lose their brilliance over time.
Some Tips To Prevent Color Bleeding
Here are some tips to prevent color bleeding when washing colored clothes:
Sort clothes by color: Sort clothes into separate piles of white, dark, and colored items. It will prevent potential color bleeding from the colored clothes onto the whites.
Use cold water: Use cold water to wash colored clothes, as this can help to prevent colors from bleeding. Hot water can cause colors to fade or bleed.
Use a gentle detergent: Use a gentle detergent specifically designed for colored clothes, as this can help to protect the color and prevent fading or bleeding.
Turn clothes inside out: Turn colored clothes inside out before washing them to protect the color from fading or bleeding.
Use color catchers: Color catchers are sheets that can be added to the wash to prevent color bleeding. They absorb any loose dye that may be present in the wash, helping to keep your clothes looking bright and vibrant.
Pre-treat stains: Before washing, pre-treat any stains on colored clothes to prevent them from transferring onto other clothes during the wash.
Avoid overloading the washer: Don’t overload the washer, as this can cause clothes to rub together and cause color bleeding.
By following these tips, you can help to prevent color bleeding and keep your clothes looking their best for longer.
Conclusion
Keep in mind that it is not advised to dry white clothes with colored clothes. Sort your clothing into four piles: whites, light colors, white colors, and darks. Moreover, if necessary, you may wash white clothes alongside dark colors.
Read the care instructions on your clothing label if you have any questions about how to dry white and colored clothing correctly.
Hopefully, this article has helped you find the solutions you need and understand the technique behind the laundry sorting process.