White, Light and Dark

We do jeans, dark colours Monday. Towels, flannels, sheets next day. Lights next day. Medium coloured last. Maybe jeans again on Friday, depends on the week.

I am with you Blondiescot. I would be in the same situation.

cc

Blondiescot

How does it not make any difference to the number of washes? If I put everything in one wash, that's one load. If I sort that same load out into lights, darks and whites, for instance - then that would be three washes.

You save up the washes until you have a full load of one type. So still the same number of washes.

Already pointed out that I don't actually own that many clothes to make that a practical option. I'd run out of things to wear before I had a full load of each.

Living alone, and not having an extensive wardrobe, it would be difficult - maybe impossible - to separate dark and light garments, so I don't. They share a 30 degree wash and over the years I've had no disasters. Bedding and towels go in at 40 and, again, I have had no problems.

I love this thread, I hope that people keep posting.
Apart from sorting washing, the thing that annoys me is when my daughter and DiL stuff the washer absolutely full so that everything comes out tangled together. I can't see how it can be clean. Then they bung the tangled heap in the dryer so it dries all tangled and crumpled.
I rarely use my dryer but one of the major bonuses is that everything comes out relatively crease-free.

Blondiescot

How does it not make any difference to the number of washes? If I put everything in one wash, that's one load. If I sort that same load out into lights, darks and whites, for instance - then that would be three washes.

You save up the washes until you have a full load of one type. So still the same number of washes.

Jaxjacky

I’m amazed at the multiple washes some are doing with energy price hikes, cutting back here.

I just save up the individual colours until I have a full load, so still the same number of washes. It doesn't happen often, but if I run out of anything I use a short economy wash for a half load. That would probably be for thin clothes in very hot weather and often a quick hand wash is all they need.

Floradora9

womblekelly

Dont bother with colour sorting but do wash sheets and duvet in a separate wash otherwise rverything gets stuck in the duvet cover.

If you close all the fastenings in the duvet cover it is fine .

Also, I always was my duvet covers inside out, so eventually anything that has been stuck inside will appear the next time you put that cover on. Ah, so that's where the missing sock went...

NotAGran55

Blondiescot

How does it not make any difference to the number of washes? If I put everything in one wash, that's one load. If I sort that same load out into lights, darks and whites, for instance - then that would be three washes.

You wait until you have a full load of each category before washing, that’s what I do.

Lol, I don't own enough clothes for that to work in our house! I'd run out of things to wear.

I do sort the washing even though there’s only two of us now. When it’s a good drying day I will mix loads and use this reusable colour catcher -

www.lakeland.co.uk/20647/30-wash-color-grabber-cloth-prevents-colour-runs

I love it- like a longish flannel facecloth, so it doesn’t slip and block the machine, and it turns from snowy white to yeuky grey quickly, so I know it’s working!

I may be a bit thick but how can it be an eco wash if it takes three hours five minutes? 😬

Exactly NotAGran. One weeks towels, plus bedding, knickers and pants is one big load

Blondiescot

How does it not make any difference to the number of washes? If I put everything in one wash, that's one load. If I sort that same load out into lights, darks and whites, for instance - then that would be three washes.

You wait until you have a full load of each category before washing, that’s what I do.

I used to but now there's just the two of us at home I use the 'mixed load' programme and chuck a Colourcatcher in

I wait until I have 3 large washes. Light, medium and dark. Same amount of clothes etc as if I washed all in 3 mixed colour washes. And much nicer cleaner looking laundry.

I do a very hot wash for my (white) bedding and towels, then sort the rest into light and dark for a 30 degree wash. I’ve never used a colour catcher and I don’t use conditioner. (I like crispy towels. 😁)

What has been an eye opener for me has been the discovery of laundry sanitiser. Over the years I have occasionally done wash loads for other people whose hygiene is less than optimum, with the result that I couldn’t get rid of ingrained bad smells on their clothing etc. I’d sometimes put things through the machine 2 or 3 times to try to get them to smell clean. Laundry sanitiser is brilliant at reducing or even eliminating bad odours from fabrics.

I do darks and then white/lights. I do like my white undies to stay white!! It does take a while to get enough whites for a load now Mr Riggie doesn't need business shirts.

How does it not make any difference to the number of washes? If I put everything in one wash, that's one load. If I sort that same load out into lights, darks and whites, for instance - then that would be three washes.

Blondiescot

Jaxjacky

I’m amazed at the multiple washes some are doing with energy price hikes, cutting back here.

That's exactly what I said earlier in this thread too! With two of us in the house, I try to do as few washes as possible. I certainly couldn't justify putting on different loads for different colours.

It makes no difference to the number of washes provided they are full loads.

We have PV panels on the roof and make our own electricity. Provided I wash in daylight hours it's practically free.

Water is another issue, of course. Our machine is new(ish) and therefore as economical with water as possible. However, I refuse to use the "eco" setting as I read that, even though you have set it to wash at 60°, the water is only heated to 27°. May as well not bother!

Jaxjacky

I’m amazed at the multiple washes some are doing with energy price hikes, cutting back here.

That's exactly what I said earlier in this thread too! With two of us in the house, I try to do as few washes as possible. I certainly couldn't justify putting on different loads for different colours.

I didn't know people didn't sort their washing. That doesnt make sense. I always have. So does my daughter and DiL's.

Bedding is done in a bedding wash. Towels separately. Underwear in a half wash now. PJ'S in a separate wash. Normal clothing separately from all the rest.

I split delicates and wools from synthetic wash. Jeans go in separately too.

I also use persil colour washing liquid. I don't have white clothing so that doesn't need to be separate.

Obviously when the youngsters were at school there white shirts were were washed separately.

That's how I wash. I don't do ironing though. No need. I can't remember the last time I got the iron out

Just pop the Colour Catcher or Whitening Sheet into a mesh laundry bag - no problem!

Lights, darks and colours here, with towels and bedding separately. DS and family of 6 don’t sort so all the children’s school shirts are grey. So sad!

Mine gets sorted into towels and flannels (60deg), bedding (40), clothes (40), delicates (40), always wait till I have a full load and do an off peak electricity time. Line dry if possible.