Can you mix colors and whites in dryer

While it may seem OK to mix the different types of fabrics and different colored clothes to wash your laundry, doing so is actually not a good idea. Dark and light colored clothes should be washed separately in cold water. Washing clothes in cold water will mostly prevent color bleeding between clothes. So why not just combine the whites with the lights then? The age-old laundry question, one that has been debated for years, is it really necessary to separate your lights and darks?

The reason there is such an ongoing debate is that there is no clear-cut right and wrong, or light and dark answer, it is more complicated than that. One of the main reasons this question is so complicated is because clothes themselves are so complicated. Washing machines have different washes cycles for a reason! Of course, clothes are all sorts of different colors, so it is generally recommended to separate clothing by color, especially light and dark clothing.

As you can see, washing your white and colorful clothes is a bad idea more often than not. If you absolutely have to mix these loads, only do it with extremely light or pastel colors. Also, always keep them separate in the dryer to avoid color staining or bleeding. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

November 6, 7 Mins Read. October 29, September 28, How Hot Does a Dryer Get? Enough to Kill Germs and Bacteria? October 8, What is the symbol for do not tumble dry? A circle in the square symbolizes a clothes dryer. One dot requires drying at reduced temperature and two dots for normal temperature. The crossed symbol means that the clothing does not tolerate machine drying. In the U. Which is hotter permanent press or colors? Generally speaking, the hotter the water the cleaner your clothes will be, but you don't always want to just crank up the heat.

Durable white clothes should go on hot wash, cold rinse. Durable colors generally go on warm wash and cold or warm rinse. Permanent press generally goes on cold wash and cold rinse. What colors bleed in the wash? For clothes that may bleed, like blue jeans, wash them in a load with similarly colored clothing. Do not rely on detergents and color catcher cloths that promise to trap dye. They are not reliable and you may still end up with pink underwear.

Use cold water when washing and rinsing to help colors last longer.