How to Wash Light Colors

Doing laundry is a breeze until you come to the light-colored clothing. Some are white while others are white with patterns. You'll also find light beige or pastel colors. Of course, clothing comes in all fabrics as well, so clothes sorting and machine-control setting can get complicated. Find out whether to hand or machine wash and whether or not to use bleach to keep light colors clean.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Sort Light Colors by Fabric Type

1. Gather light colors and fabrics that you consider delicate. Choose undergarments, sheer, washable socks or stockings, lightweight shirts and blouses.

2. Collect medium weight, light-colored clothing, such as synthetic or cotton trousers, shirts, blouses or dresses.

3. Get your light colored or white towels, sheets and pillowcases together. You can include socks that you want to wash in hot water in this group.

4. Set aside wool or other "dry clean only" items, such as light-colored sweaters or dresses. Follow the advice on the care tags to ensure the safety of your garments.

Wash All Your Light Colors of Clothing and Linens

5. Choose cold water for your most delicate, light-colored clothes. Select the correct water level for your amount of clothes and choose the gentle or delicate cycle. Don't use bleach for this load.

6. Wash the medium-weight clothes in warm water, on the normal cycle. These can include cottons and synthetics. You may use color-safe bleach, depending on the fabric. Check the care tags.

7. Get all your towels and linens clean in hot water. It's okay to mix white and very light colors that don't bleed. Set the washer for the normal or heavy cycle, depending on how many heavy towels you have.

8. Dry cottons on high and synthetics on medium, or dry them according to their care tags.

9. Dry towels separately and on high to avoid lint transfer.

Tips & Warnings

• Wash light colors separately from darks, so that the dark dye won't leach into the lighter fabric.
• Find the tags. Care tags are sometimes sewn into the inner-side seam, not the neck, of a garment.
• Treat light colors like whites when it comes to washing them with reds.
• Light colors pick up dark lint like crazy. Always dry lights and darks separately.
• Like red, other colors can bleed, especially those colored with cheap dyes. If you suspect that a dark or red item might bleed onto other clothes, simply set the item in some standing water for a few minutes. If you see color in the water, wash that item separately.

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