I separate the loads. I do wash my whites in hot water, cold rinse, with bleach and detergent, dryer sheet. My clothes do not go in the dryer, so when I wash light colored clothes I use fabric softner. I have for almost a year now, washed my towels and white clothes together with bleach and detergent.My towels started to smell musty and now they smell like warm sunshine. I hang the laundry out when the weather is good..I am now waiting on my husband to put in new lines...maybe this weekend?? I also, only use my dryer on off peak hours for drying...it does cut down the cost immensely...I iron all my clothes, even my jeans, not my husbands jeans, but for sure his shirts (even work shirts) and dress pants. That's my 2cents worth..