What It Means
Laundry sorting is dividing dirty laundry into loads that can go through the same wash without harming each other. The American Cleaning Institute (ACI) sorts by color, by how dirty things are, by whether a fabric sheds lint or attracts it, and by the detergent, cycle and water temperature each item needs. Where the piles leave a question, the care label answers it.
Try It: Sort Five Items Into the Right Pile
Pick the pile for each item, following ACI's sorting advice. Each answer checks itself.
White cotton undershirts
Right. Whites get a load to themselves.
ACI washes all whites separately.
Light pink blouse
Right. Pastels and medium colors wash together.
A light color belongs with pastels and medium colors.
Navy corduroy pants
Right. Darks go together, away from fuzzy items, since corduroy picks up lint.
Navy is a dark. It goes with brights and darks.
New fuzzy bath towels
Right. New towels shed lint, so ACI washes them alone.
New towels shed lint onto everything else. Give them their own load.
Muddy sports uniform
Right. Heavy dirt stays apart from lightly worn clothes.
The dirt can travel through the wash water onto everything else. Wash it apart.
How It Sounds at Home
- "Don't throw my red shirt in with the whites."
- "New towels go on their own, they shed everywhere."
- "Who put the muddy jeans in the delicates pile?"
The Breakdown
How to sort, step by step
- Read the care labels first. Pull out anything marked for hand washing or dry cleaning, and anything whose bleachChlorine bleachHousehold bleach made with sodium hypochlorite that whitens, removes stains and disinfects, but can fade colors and damage some fibers. See more instruction differs from the rest of the load.
- Split by color: whites on their own, pastels and medium colors together, brights and darks together. ACI warns that white and light synthetics easily take on dye from darker fabrics.
- Set aside anything heavily soiled, since the wash water can carry its dirt onto lightly worn clothes.
- Keep lint givers, such as fuzzy sweatshirts, chenille robes, flannel and new towels, away from lint takers like corduroy and permanent press.
- Combine piles that need the same detergent, cycle and water temperature, so each load is full.
Try it today. Put three baskets side by side, labeled whites, lights and darks, and keep a separate spot for anything muddy or new and fuzzy.
Reading the label symbols. The FTC's guidance lists five basic symbols shared by the ASTM and Ginetex systems:
| Symbol | What it covers |
|---|---|
| Washtub | Washing; a hand in the tub means hand washHand washing clothesWashing garments in a basin or sink with gentle detergent and slow, careful handling, for items whose care label says hand wash or that a machine could stretch or damage. See more |
| Triangle | Bleaching |
| Square | Drying; a circle inside means machine drying |
| Iron | Ironing |
| Circle | Dry cleaning |
Good to Know
The bleach wording on a label affects how you sort. Under the FTC's Care Labeling Rule guidance, "Only non-chlorine bleachOxygen bleachLaundry bleach that uses hydrogen peroxide or a similar oxygen-releasing ingredient instead of chlorine, sold as color-safe or non-chlorine bleach. See more, when needed" means chlorine bleach would harm the item with regular use, "No bleach" or "Do not bleach" means every type of bleach would, and a label that doesn't mention bleach at all means any bleach is safe for regular use. Keep "Do not bleach" items out of any load that gets bleach.
FAQ
Can you wash whites and colors together?
ACI keeps whites in a load of their own. White and light synthetic fabrics in particular can pick up dye from other clothes in the same wash.
What are lint givers and lint takers?
Givers are fabrics that shed fibers in the wash, such as fuzzy sweatshirts, chenille robes, flannel and new towels. Corduroy and permanent press collect those fibers, so ACI washes the two groups apart.
Should heavily soiled clothes be washed separately?
Yes. ACI keeps them away from lightly worn items, because dirt loosened into the wash water can settle on the cleaner clothes.
Do It in Buhata
Household Rewards
Make "Sort the laundry" a Household Rewards chore in Buhata so whoever sorts the hampers gets credit for it.
Open BuhataRelated Terms and Categories
- Chlorine bleach
Household bleach made with sodium hypochlorite that whitens, removes stains and disinfects, but can fade colors and damage some fibers.
- Oxygen bleach
Laundry bleach that uses hydrogen peroxide or a similar oxygen-releasing ingredient instead of chlorine, sold as color-safe or non-chlorine bleach.
- High-efficiency detergent
Laundry detergent made to clean with low suds in the small amount of water a high-efficiency (HE) washer uses, marked "HE" on the package.
- Hand washing clothes
Washing garments in a basin or sink with gentle detergent and slow, careful handling, for items whose care label says hand wash or that a machine could stretch or damage.
Sources
American Cleaning Institute, "Laundry Basics: Sorting it Out"; Federal Trade Commission, "Clothes Captioning: Complying with the Care Labeling Rule"; ASTM Guide to Care Symbols, published by the FTC
- www.cleaninginstitute.org/cleaning-tips/clothes/laundry-basics/sorting-it-out
- www.ftc.gov/business-guidance/resources/clothes-captioning-complying-care-labeling-rule
- www.ftc.gov/system/files/documents/rules/care-labeling-textile-wearing-apparel-certain-piece-goods/astm_care_symbols_chart.pdf
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