12 ways you’re doing your laundry wrong

Freya Graham
Freya Graham
Published February 6, 2025 4:00pm Updated February 6, 2025 4:00pm
Try as you might, dirty clothes will always pile up in your laundry basket. But doing the laundry properly isn't as straightforward as simply sticking your clothes in the washing machine. Easy mistakes can damage your clothes and even make them dirtier than before you started. Avoid these common laundry pitfalls to save on energy and make your clothes last longer – which is better for your bank balance and for the planet (stock image) (Picture: Getty Images)

1. Using too much detergent

Detergent is a pretty important part of doing the laundry – you need soap to wash the clothes, after all. But there can be too much of a good thing, and while many of us might think that more detergent equals cleaner clothes, the opposite is actually true. Using too much detergent can leave your clothes feeling stiff, sticky or waxy because the excess soap sticks to the fabric and doesn't get rinsed off. According to Patric Richardson, who hosts 'The Laundry Guy' on Discovery+, you need just two tablespoons per load (stock image) (Picture: Getty Images)

2. Not prepping clothes properly

If you're in a rush or if you're feeling lazy, it's easy to simply chuck whatever's lurking in your laundry basket straight into the washing machine. But be warned – you'll be missing a crucial step. Taking the time to prepare your clothes before washing them can help to prevent damage and make them last longer. Zip up any zips and unbutton any buttons to stop them from scraping against fabric and causing tears. Unroll your sleeves and cuffs too, to make sure the whole garment gets clean. And then check for one of the most common laundry mistakes – have you left anything in your pockets? There's nothing worse than taking out your clothes to find them covered in bits of disintegrated tissue (stock image) (Picture: Getty Images)

3. Choosing a short wash over a long one

Modern washing machines have lots of different settings. The short wash can come in particularly handy when you're in a pinch and need to quickly freshen up your clothes. But the time-saving setting can actually do more damage to your clothes because it often spins at a fast speed. This extra agitation can cause wear and tear. If you have the time, choose the slower setting. This will gently spin your clothes so they stay newer for longer (stock image) (Picture: Getty Images)

4. Putting different fabrics together

You might be separating by colours, but are you separating your clothes by fabric? Cotton, wool, polyester, cashmere, acrylic – our clothes are made out of lots of different materials, and each one has different care requirements. For instance, viscose, which is often used in tops and dresses, is a very absorbent fabric. That means it becomes especially delicate when it gets wet, and can easily be damaged by abrasion in the washing machine. Washing it in hot water can make the fabric shrink, too. Try putting your viscose items in a wash bag (or even a pillowcase) to protect them, and put the wash temperature on a low setting. For other fabrics, always check the label (stock image) (Picture: Getty Images)

5. Putting too many clothes in the washing machine

Stuffing all your clothes into the washing machine in one load might sound like the more efficient option, but it can actually make your clothes dirtier in the long run. That's because overloading the machine means there's no space for water and detergent to move around the clothes, so you don't get a thorough wash. According to experts at Ariel, the detergent company, you should be able to fit your hand into the drum alongside your washing. If you can't squeeze your hand in, you've overloaded the machine (stock image) (Picture: Getty Images)

6. Not putting enough clothes in the washing machine

However, be wary of going too far the other way – not putting enough clothes in the washing machine isn't good either! One of the ways that clothes get clean is by rubbing against other things to agitate and release any dirt. If there are not enough clothes in the washing machine, each item will simply swirl around without getting enough friction to pull the dirt out. It might impact the machine's ability to properly spin your clothes too, because there's not enough weight in the drum. That will leave your laundry drenched in dirty water. Plus, underloading can cause damage to the machine itself. Make sure you fill up the drum to at least halfway for every wash (stock image) (Picture: Getty Images)

7. Washing clothes too much

Nobody wants to get a reputation for smelling bad, but you don't actually need to wash your clothes after each time you wear them. Not only is it a waste of energy, but it can damage your clothes too because the movement of the machine causes fibres to shred and increases the likelihood of tears. 'Every time we put that garment in the washing machine, part of it is gone down the drain,' Cosette Joyner Martinez, an associate professor in the Department of Design, Housing and Merchandising at Oklahoma State University, told The Washington Post. 'Then we lose another piece of it in the dryer in the lint trap, so we’re disintegrating our garments.' While you should always wash underwear and socks after every wear, other items can be left longer. Things like tops, jumpers and dresses can last for three wears, and jeans can even go through 10 wears without needing to be cleaned – but if in doubt, give your clothes a sniff (stock image) (Picture: Getty Images)

8. Letting your washing machine get dirty

You can follow all the hacks you can find, but if your washing machine is dirty, there's no way that your clothes are going to get properly cleaned. You should clean your appliance every 30 cycles or so, according to Nelly Martinez, Whirlpool's senior brand manager. She told Today that you should start by running a complete cycle with no laundry in the machine. Use the hottest water setting you have to kill off any lurking bacteria. Then, you can get more thorough if you like, and wipe down the inside of the the drum and the door. Plus, you should always check that gunk hasn't built up in your filter, which is usually located in the lower front corner (stock image) (Picture: Getty Images)

9. Using too much fabric conditioner

Fabric conditioner might make your clothes smell nice at first, but be careful with it. TikTok creator and cleaning expert Ann Russell said that it can make your clothes more flammable, plus it can lead to more dirt. 'It builds up on clothes and when you've got it your clothes feel floppy, heavy, and greasy,' she said in a video. She added: 'If you use it generously in every wash you will find that your clothes get dirtier quickly, it smells funky and sour, and you can end up with weird patches on your clothes when you get them out of the machine.' To get rid of build-up, simply wash your clothes in sodium carbonate, which is also known as washing soda (stock image) (Picture: Getty Images)

10. Not taking care when drying

While putting towels in the dryer can help to make them extra fluffy, it's not such a good idea for most other garments. That's because the dryer can damage your clothes with unnecessary heat and friction. Instead, hang your clothes out to dry. Air drying stops shrinkage and prevents colours from fading. Shake out your clothes when they come out of the washing machine to prevent any stiffness as they dry, and then reshape them before you hang them on a line or a clothes horse. Knitted sweaters should always be dried flat, though, rather than hung. Also, make sure you don't overcrowd your clothes, as this could make the drying process longer (stock image) (Picture: Getty Images)

11. Using the same setting every time

76% of Brits use the same washing machine setting every single time they put on a load. The thing is, using the same cycle means your clothes aren't getting the treatment they need. Delicate fabrics and dark clothes should be washed in cold water, while cotton can handle warmer water. Save the super hot wash for things like tea towels and bedding (stock image) (Picture: Getty Images)

12. Closing the washer door after a cycle

Imagine the scene: you've finished the laundry and hung up all your sweet-smelling clothes to dry. You've done everything perfectly, you think, as you shut the washing machine door closed. No! There's one final mistake that people make when doing the laundry, and that's not leaving the washer door open to air out. Think about it: after you've done a wash, the drum is warm and damp, which is the perfect breeding ground for mildew and bad bacteria. If you want to avoid nasty odours, leave the door open for a couple of hours after you've finished the laundry (stock image) (Picture: Getty Images)
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