Do you always wash your whites separately?

[maslex]

Do not use bleach on your bras and do not put them in the dryer! They will last MUCH longer!

Yeah, that's what I heard. So since I'm about to order myself some new bras, I think I will also get one of those "lingerie bags" and toss them in there and make sure NOT to bleach them or throw them in the dryer. I took two of my bras out of the clean laundry basket last night and I noticed the back band of them are basically disintegrated. No wonder they're not holding up the girls as much anymore. And I believe it's been less than 6 months since I've bought them.

So yeah, no more bleach or dryer for my bras. Let's see how much longer they last. And since I pay between $40-$50 for each bra, I don't really feel like replacing them as much as I have been.

 

[deedeetoo]

Whites are separate but no bleach. I've never used bleach in laundry and am actually a little afraid of what it would do to the fabrics. Darks are also separate. I probably do two loads a week of each.

We seem to wear a lot of red/pink/purple/orange/maroon in this house. I frequently have enough "reds" that I do a separate load of that.

Bras go in the washer with the regular clothes but I don't put them in the drier.

Towels are separate. About once a week I gather up all the towels and wash them. My kids both use stuff on their acne that tends to bleach colors out of the towels and I don't want to get any of that on the clothes.

Sheets are separate also. I don't like other stuff getting wrapped up in them in the drier so I just will strip all the beds and do a load of sheets.

 

[JVL1018]

I don't have any whites except a couple pairs of underwear each for my daughter and I, and my socks. Oh and my husbands undershirts.
The guys socks are all black and underwear are all black or gray.

I do wash all underwear and socks alone in hot water.

Jeans and darks that won't shrink in warm/cold. Dried in the dryer.

Darks that can't be washed in warm(basically all mine and my daughter's shirts), my sons and husbands sily under armour type shirts in cold.
Colors in cold-darks and lights togerher, there, if I don't have enough for separate dark color and light color loads, but usually I do.
All of those are hung.
Bras are washed in cold in the hand wash cycle and hung up.

Towels alone, mainly because there's always enough for a full load.
Sheets alone, usually, but if there's a few random clothes in the hamper, I'll throw them in sometimes.

I never use bleach.

 

[Bluestars]

I put everything in the same load except for things that need to be washed in cold water. I have a high performance washer, so maybe that helps because I never have a problem with whites being washed with everything else.

 

[ronandannette]

I am not a meticulous housekeeper - far from it, but decades ago I adopted a tip I read in a home-makers magazine. It suggested decorating your bathrooms and bedrooms in such a way as to accommodate using only white sheets and towels. Not only did it make shopping easier, but between sheets, towels, socks and underwear I've always got enough for full loads in hot with bleach. Fairly "idiot-proof" and it keeps them looking good.

DH wears a lot of very colourful dress shirts - we send them out to a service for laundry and pressing. Best $15/week I ever spend. Everything else gets shoved in together and generally washed only in cold. Bras and the odd piece of knitwear get hand-shaped and dried flat. DS has been doing his own laundry for a couple of years now and I'd like to pin a sign on him that identifies that fact!

 

[tennisfan]

I wash whites and darks separately. I also wash towels separate. I tend to do a dark load once a week and whites every 2-3 weeks depending if I have use white sheets for bedding.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

I separate, sort of. Light & dark. The light is mostly white, but can include beige, tan, pink, yellow, or other really light colors (no bleach). Most times the dark pile is too large for one load so I also separate out the lighter darks (darker pastels) from the darker (dark blues and black). Towels are typically separate, while sheets go in whatever pile the color dictates.

The only time I've every used bleach with my laundry was when I was doing cloth diapers (and those were a separate load unto themselves).

 

[Christine]

So yeah, no more bleach or dryer for my bras. Let's see how much longer they last. And since I pay between $40-$50 for each bra, I don't really feel like replacing them as much as I have been.

I'm almost embarrassed to say how long I wear my bras--probably longer than I should but it is WAY longer than 6 months and they definitely don't disintegrate but I'm fairly gentle with them.

 

[sophiagymgall]

Towels + sheets in hot water, normal cycle.
Whites + light colours in cold water, delicate cycle (including bras, which never go in the dryer).
Dark colours in cold water, delicate cycle.

Basically all my clothes are delicate, so I rarely use hot water - bleeding is thus very unlikely. However, I also have enough clothes that I need to do two loads, so it makes sense to separate them by colours. If I haven't done laundry in a long time, I might do three loads - whites and very light, somewhat light, and dark. I've never ruined any of my clothes yet, hopefully I can keep my streak going

 

[aprilgail2]

I break all the laundry rules! I don't separate anything, it can all go in together for all I care. I usually do at least a load everyday so I will go around to all the kids rooms, bathrooms ect. gathering up enough clothes to make up a full load. I'll wash the sheets from one of the kids beds with their clothes and I'll wash towels with clothes ect. I didn't learn this from my mother though, she always separates and I admit her whites look a lot whiter then mine. However I barely have anything white anyways so I don't worry about it.

Same here- everything gets tossed in the same washer. In morning when I get up for work I shower then toss that towel along with towel my daughter used the night before, pajamas from that night and whatever clothes are dirty in the washer and head out to work. Usually do that every other day so there will be my two shower towels and her two plus 2 days worth of clothes.

 

[ronandannette]

I'm almost embarrassed to say how long I wear my bras--probably longer than I should but it is WAY longer than 6 months and they definitely don't disintegrate but I'm fairly gentle with them.

Me too. But it's just so darned hard to get ones I really LOVE; I'll patch 'em up and stitch 'em back together to avoid having to break in a new one.

 

[MSSANDRA]

I wash less often and with more separation. Towels, all colors, are washed alone in hot water and with a cheaper detergent and get dried on hot. Sheets are all washed together, in hot with the cheaper detergent and dried on hot. The other clothes, the ones we wear, get washed in tide, everything on cold. Everything except jeans get dried on the lowest cycle. Jeans get a level or two hotter in the dryer. I have a load of whites, but will throw in my occasional pink or pastel item. I have a load of khaki, brights, darks and jeans. For some reason my DS bought a bunch of these new shirts that are a dark color and white stripped! Drives me nuts, but they are washing up fine. He does his own laundry a lot of the time, but if I am washing I often tell him to just put his stuff in the laundry room and I mix it in with ours. Saves water, energy and detergent. DH will help anytime I ask, but i really prefer to do it myself

 

[Poohforyou]

I wash dh's undershirts, boxers and white socks along with any other white clothing with oxyclean. I wash sheets and towels together. I then separate light darks and dark darks. I don't use bleach. I find oxyclean does a better job and is color safe.

 

[Disney Doll]

OP again.

What about bras. I'm about to order myself probably 3-5 new bras. I have ALWAYS washed them in with the other clothes. I've never done a separate "delicate" load nor have I ever washed them by hand. AND if they're white (which most of them have always been) I've always thrown them in with my white load and bleached them, which I hear is a no-no. Probably why I've always had issues with them not lasting very long.

How do you wash your bras? And do you throw them in dryer or hang them? I've always put them in the dryer. I know, smack my hand.....

I wash them with the regular clothes and throw them in the dryer.

 

[MomofKatie]

We do 3 loads per week- whites and really light colors like light khaki and yellow; pinks and reds; and blues, greens, and darks. Towels get sorted by color and are mixed in with the other clothes. Everything is washed on warm with a cold rinse, Gain detergent and softener (love the scent!). I use bleach very rarely.

 

[North of Mouse]

Always cold water, one load, pretreat any known stains, and everything comes out great in my front loader - bras in lingerie bag - any other clothing slightly delicate, in larger net bag.

 

[John VN]

Unless there is a chance of running, I do not separate. Hang everything outside unless inclement weather. Today's load was hung out to dry but the afternoon showers rolled in before everything dried so I popped things in the dryer for a short time.

 

[SulleysMonkey]

I was taught to sort sort sort! Whites, blues/purples, reds, lights(other) darks(other, towels sheets, and general other.
However, i do sheets, towels and then everything else generally gets tossed in together.I was always told that towels need to separate and washed differently or they wouldn't work as well.

 

[ronandannette]

I was taught to sort sort sort! Whites, blues/purples, reds, lights(other) darks(other, towels sheets, and general other.
However, i do sheets, towels and then everything else generally gets tossed in together. I was always told that towels need to separate and washed differently or they wouldn't work as well.

They do absorb better if you don't use fabric softener, but who wants scratchy bath towels without the great, fresh smell? I do my kitchen towels and dish cloths without it though.

 

[Poohforyou]

They do absorb better if you don't use fabric softener, but who wants scratchy bath towels without the great, fresh smell? I do my kitchen towels and dish cloths without it though.

Try using a cup of white vinegar when washing towels. It makes them soft and absorbent without the need for fabric softener.