By Deirdre Mundorf | Published Jun 16, 2022 2:02 PM

To sort, or not to sort? That is the question. Many people have strong opinions about sorting laundry. Some see it as an essential task and meticulously sort their clothes into multiple loads based on color and fabric type, while others simply toss everything together in the wash.

So, is sorting laundry even necessary? Does it have an impact on the condition or lifespan of your garments? Read on to learn more about whether you should reconsider your laundry sorting habits.

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Most laundry and cleaning experts agree that sorting laundry is important for a variety of reasons. Some of these reasons include:

While there are many benefits associated with sorting laundry, there are times when you can more safely get away without sorting a load of clothes. Cold-water washing a load of casual clothing that doesn’t contain any delicates, heavy items, or abrasive materials shouldn’t be a problem as long as you don’t do it often. However, if you make it a habit not to sort out these loads every time, then your clothes may begin to look dingier.

Use the steps outlined below to sort your laundry before washing it. Consider making your laundry room work for you by purchasing a laundry sorter to help make the process a bit easier.

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While you may think that you’re reducing electricity and water consumption by combining different loads of laundry together, it isn’t quite so simple. When laundry isn’t sorted and washed properly, its lifespan is shortened. This can cause landfills to fill up more quickly, which clearly isn’t good for the environment. Plus, it won’t be good for your wallet when you need to purchase new clothes to replace your worn out and unwearable items.

Moreover, overfilling your washing machine can also cause more wear on the machine. Extending the life of your washer—even by a few months or years—by sorting your laundry can reduce waste and save you money in the long run.

While there are many things you can clean in a washing machine, that doesn’t mean it should all be washed in the same load. If you don’t sort your laundry, you run the risk of ruining your clothes or significantly decreasing their lifespans. The results could be instant, such as your favorite white blouse turning pink after being washed with a red sock, or they might be more gradual, like your cotton shirts pilling from being washed repeatedly with jeans or other heavy items.

Either way, it is best to develop a laundry sorting routine and stick with it to protect the investment you made when picking out your wardrobe.

Regardless of whether those loads of lights and darks were accidentally or intentionally combined into one, opening the lid to see that darker dye transferred to the whites or lighter items can be crushing. While you may not be able to completely undo the damage, if you work quickly, there are a few things that could help minimize the effects on your garments.

Follow the steps below to see if you can salvage any of the damaged clothing items before setting the stains in the dryer—another one of the top laundry mistakes people make.

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