How to Sort Laundry by Colors

Download Article

Co-authored by Marty Stevens-Heebner, SMM-C, CPO® and Madeleine Criglow

Last Updated: March 4, 2022 References

Download Article

Play Video

|

Q&A

Sorting laundry may be a little bit of a pain, but it's a great way to keep your clothes looking snappy. If you don't want your tie-dye t-shirt to ruin your favorite white dress, sorting your clothes by color is what you've gotta do. Here are some helpful tips to organize your laundry and make the process run smoothly. Your pristine wardrobe will make it all worth it.

1

Whites

Download Article

{"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/4\/4d\/Sort-Laundry-by-Colors-Step-1-Version-4.jpg\/v4-460px-Sort-Laundry-by-Colors-Step-1-Version-4.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/4\/4d\/Sort-Laundry-by-Colors-Step-1-Version-4.jpg\/aid655685-v4-728px-Sort-Laundry-by-Colors-Step-1-Version-4.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":259,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":410,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\">\u00a9 2024 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc. \n<\/p> \n<\/p><\/div>"}

The clothes shouldn't contain any designs, labels, or patterns. These clothes can be bleached with chlorine bleach, as they don't contain any other colors and won't be damaged in the process. ^{[1]
X
Research source} Wash your white clothes on hot to kill germs and brighten the fabric. Hot water won't fade whites like it does other colors. Dry them on high heat. ^{[2]
X
Research source}

2

Light colors

Download Article

Put white items with labels or designs in this container. Include pastel colors like light yellow, light green, pink, and yellow. Wash these items in warm water. Avoid washing them in hot water, as this can cause the colors to fade. Dry them on medium heat. ^{[3]
X
Research source}
- Throw in khakis and light blues in this hamper, too!

3

Dark colors

Download Article

Include red and orange (unless you want to separate bright colors from dark colors). Wash these in cold water, as colder temperatures are more gentle on the fabric. That way the colors won't fade! ^{[4]
X
Research source} Dry them on low heat. ^{[5]
X
Research source}

4

Bright colors

Download Article

These items are the most likely to bleed during the washing cycle, so it's a good idea to wash them separately if you have the time. Wash these items in cold water to ensure the colors stay bright. Dry them on low heat. ^{[6]
X
Research source}

5

Denim

Download Article

Denim tends to bleed during the first few washing cycles. Wash denim clothes like jeans, jean jackets, and other pieces to ensure that there's no dye transfer. Put all of your denim clothes together and wash them in cold to warm water. When drying, dry them on medium heat. Hotter temperatures can wear down and fade the denim. ^{[7]
X
Research source}
- Wash your jeans inside out to prevent the color from fading. You don't want those chic dark-wash jeans to become light-wash jeans after a few washes!
- To really preserve the color of your denim clothes, hand wash and air dry them.

6

Delicates

Download Article

{"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/a\/aa\/Sort-Laundry-by-Colors-Step-6-Version-4.jpg\/v4-460px-Sort-Laundry-by-Colors-Step-6-Version-4.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/a\/aa\/Sort-Laundry-by-Colors-Step-6-Version-4.jpg\/aid655685-v4-728px-Sort-Laundry-by-Colors-Step-6-Version-4.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":259,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":410,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\">\u00a9 2024 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc. \n<\/p> \n<\/p><\/div>"}
This also includes anything with trim, beading, or sequins. Be sure to check the label before putting these clothes in the washer or dryer. They may need to be hand-washed. If not, choose the delicates cycle if your washer has one. Sometimes delicates need to be air-dried. Check the label, and if they don't, dry them on low heat. This helps prevent damaging the fabric. ^{[8]
X
Research source}
- Include crochet fabrics and pantyhose in this pile.
- Consider using a delicates bag to give your clothes extra protection in the washer and dryer. ^{[9]
 X
 Research source}

7

Stained items

Download Article

Some clothes may need special cleaning solution before washing. If you recently spilled breakfast cereal on your favorite shirt and got grass stains on your jeans (it happens to the best of us!), make a separate pile for stained clothing while you sort. Spray the clothes with stain removal spray or apply a stain remover pen. After, put each clothing item in their designated pile (whites, light colors, dark colors, etc.). ^{[10]
X
Research source}
- You can also remove stains using vinegar or a mixture of 4 tablespoons (59 mL) baking soda and ¹ ⁄ ₄ cup (59 mL) of water.

8

New garments

Download Article

Wash and dry new clothing items on their own to see how they react. Clothing items like brightly-colored sweaters or a new pair of jeans may bleed or damage other clothes in the washing and drying cycle. They may not, though! Test out how they react by washing and drying them on their own. ^{[11]
X
Research source}
- For example, let's say you just got a cute white blouse with a purple design on the front. Wash it alone and check if the water turns purple or becomes discolored. If it doesn't, that shirt is probably safe to wash with other light colors!

Community Q&A

Search

Add New Question

Question

I have a cotton dark blue top with white stripes. Do the white stripes signify that the blue in the top is colour fast?

Madeleine Criglow

Community Answer

Try washing the top on its own first. Check if the blue stripes cause the water to turn blue or become discolored. If it doesn't, wash the shirt with other dark clothing!

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 0 Helpful 1
Question

How do you wash an item that is equally white & bright or white & black & keep it looking good?

Madeleine Criglow

Community Answer

If a clothing item is white but has a pattern that contains bright colors, it's best to wash it with other bright colors. Alternatively, you can wash the item on its own or hand wash it. This can be a good alternative if you're concerned about the white portion of the clothes getting damaged. This same advice applies to a white and black clothing item as well.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 0 Helpful 3

Ask a Question

200 characters left

Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.

Submit

Video

Read Video Transcript

Tips

Pre-treat any stained items before adding them to the washing machine. Check to ensure the stain is gone before drying, as the heat sets stains and makes them harder to remove. ^{[12]
X
Research source}

Thanks
Helpful 1 Not Helpful 0
Try breaking your weekly laundry to-do list into smaller tasks so it's not as overwhelming. For example, you can wash whites on Sundays, darks on Mondays, and linens on Tuesdays. ^{[13]
X
Expert Source

Marty Stevens-Heebner, SMM-C, CPO®
Certified Professional Organizer & Senior Move Manager

Expert Interview. 14 January 2020.}

Thanks
Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0

Submit a Tip

All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published

Submit

Thanks for submitting a tip for review!

You Might Also Like

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]

[9]

[10]

[11]

[12]

[13]

Expert Source

Marty Stevens-Heebner, SMM-C, CPO®
Certified Professional Organizer & Senior Move Manager

Log in

How to Sort Laundry by Colors

Steps

Whites

Light colors

Dark colors

Bright colors

Denim

Delicates

Stained items

New garments

Community Q&A

Video

Tips

You Might Also Like

References

About This Article

Reader Success Stories

Did this article help you?

Quizzes

You Might Also Like

Featured Articles

Trending Articles

Featured Articles

Featured Articles

Watch Articles

Trending Articles

Explore Categories