How to separate your laundry for optimum washing

Laundry is a regular chore for all of us. Often, we take shortcuts by cramming as many items as possible into the washing machine to save time. However, separating your laundry has several advantages. It reduces the risk of damage to your clothes and streamlines the process, ultimately saving you time.

In this guide, we explore how to maximise your washing efficiency and achieve optimum results through preparation and separating your clothes.

Why should you separate your washing?

Separating your clothes before washing is more than a good habit – it’s essential for maintaining the longevity and appearance of your garments. This proactive approach stops colour bleeding – no more instances where your favourite white shirt has turned pink – fading and shrinking. It also ensures that different fabrics receive the specific care they require, washing them at the correct temperature and preventing damage.

Pre-sorting your laundry also streamlines the process. Imagine having separate baskets for whites, darks and towels. When laundry day rolls around, you can grab the relevant basket and toss its contents into the washing machine. No more sifting through a mixed pile trying to find the right clothes.

What categories should you separate your laundry into?  

How can you separate your laundry? There are a few categories you can split your clothes into, including:

  • Colours

    Throwing all your different-coloured clothes into the washing machine together can lead to issues like colour bleeding. However, you can prevent this by sorting your laundry by colour.

    But which colours can be washed together? Can you wash grey with white? It’s best to follow these guidelines:

    • Dark clothes: This category includes blacks, greys, navies and reds.
    • White clothes: These should be plain white without any designs or labels.
    • Coloured clothes: This group comprises pinks, yellows, light greens and light blues. You might be wondering if you can wash whites with colours – you can, as long as the white clothes include designs and labels.

    Having a lights and darks laundry basket is a good way to organise your washing. It also speeds up the process since clothes are already sorted ahead of the cycle.

  • Fabrics

    It’s also important to separate fabrics to prevent damage. Different fabrics have specific washing requirements, and mixing them can lead to negative outcomes. Consider the following categories when separating your fabrics:

    • Delicates: Items like silk, satin and lace should be washed separately in cold water to prevent damage.
    • Denim: Denim can bleed colour, while zips and buttons can damage other clothes. So, it’s best to wash denim separately.
    • Cotton: Wash cotton items separately on a cooler setting to avoid shrinking.
    • Wool: Keep wool separate and wash below 30 degrees to prevent shrinking.

    Some fabrics don’t need to be washed after every use. Cashmere, denim, leather, suede, and wool can be washed less regularly. Handwashing is best for mohair items to avoid shrinking. Additionally, some clothes – such as suits – may require dry cleaning only.

  • Care Symbol

    Another method for determining which clothes you can wash together is checking their care symbols. These symbols provide manufacturer instructions on how to clean items of clothing, with temperature being one crucial factor.

    Our comprehensive guide explains the meaning of each care symbol, which can assist you in sorting your clothes before a wash cycle.

Tips for pre-wash care

When your laundry piles up, it’s tempting to toss everything into the washing machine and hit start. However, this approach can cause problems, such as damaging your washing machine and clothes. To maintain the longevity and appearance of your garments, consider the following pre-wash tips:

Check your pockets

You should always check your pockets before washing your clothes to ensure they’re empty. By emptying your pockets, you prevent unexpected items (such as coins, pens or keys) from damaging your clothes during the washing process. Loose objects can get caught in the fabric, causing rips, tears and snags.

Rogue objects in your pockets can also harm your washing machine. These items may bounce around during the wash cycle, damaging the inner drum, outer tube or glass door. Over time, this can lead to leaks or malfunctions, affecting the machine’s performance and the cleanliness of your laundry.

Turn graphic tees inside out

Keep your graphic t-shirts in great condition by turning them inside out before washing them. This helps prevent designs from distorting, cracking or fading, ensuring they stay looking their best for longer. You can also keep your graphic tees fresh by washing them at colder temperatures.

Washing something for the first time? Keep it separate

When you add new clothing items to your wardrobe, it’s a good idea to wash them separately first before including them in your regular laundry load. This initial separate wash helps remove any excess dye and prevents the risk of staining other fabrics. You may need to run multiple separate washes if the rinse water contains colour from the clothes.

Wash towels and sheets separately

Always wash towels in a separate load from your regular clothes. This prevents bacteria from transferring between your dirty towels and the rest of your laundry. Towels also require a hotter wash setting for optimum results, and keeping them away from your clothes reduces the chances of snags and colour fading.

You should also treat your bed sheets the same way, washing them separately from other laundry items. Like towels, bed sheets require a hotter wash for an effective clean. Plus, by washing sheets on their own, they have more space in the drum, which also helps ensure a thorough clean.

Investing in your new washing machine

When it comes to investing in a new washing machine, AEG offers a variety of options, each equipped with fantastic features to ensure high-quality laundry results.

Explore our 6000 series models for ProSense Technology. This energy-efficient feature automatically adjusts your cycle time and water usage based on the size of your load.

Shop our 7000 series models for ProSteam Technology. The Steam Refresh cycle neutralises odours and reduces wrinkles on garments, including delicates, in just 25 minutes, whilst consuming just 2l of water.

With models from our 8000 series range, your clothes will be clean and cared for. These washing machines include the PowerCare feature, which premixes detergent and fabric conditioner before they enter the drum and evenly distributes them on your laundry.  

Finally, our 9000 series washing machines include the ground-breaking SoftWater Technology. This function keeps your clothes naturally softer for longer. It stops colours from fading by filtering and purifying the water it uses while also allowing detergent to work at its best.

Check out our washing machine buying guide to find the right design for you.