How-to

Sort Laundry in Six Steps by Color, Fabric and Care Label

Sorting only whites from denim is not enough. Check care labels, shades, fabric weights and fasteners to reduce dye transfer and abrasion. This practical approach follows Tide and the American Cleaning Institute.

4 min read2026-10-23

Tide's original sorting tutorial; also check care labels and fabric weight.

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OriginalOfficial guidance on sorting by color, weight and fabricTide / Original publisher

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01

What you need

Clothes and their care labels
At least three sorting spaces or baskets
Washer instructions and detergent measuring aid

02

How to

1. Lay out the laundry and read each care label. Set aside anything marked do not wash, hand wash only or wash separately before making color groups.
2. Group machine-washable items into whites, lights and darks. Treat new indigo denim and deep-red pieces as possible dye bleeders and keep them away from pale loads.
3. Separate lace and delicate knits from rough towels or heavy denim. Tide notes that mixing heavier and lighter fabrics can wear delicate pieces through friction.
4. Check exposed zippers, hooks and rigid trims for snag risks. Consider separating heavily soiled pieces from lightly worn items as well.
5. Split even similarly colored clothes when their care labels specify different temperatures or cycles. Cold water alone cannot guarantee that colors will never transfer.
6. Choose a label-compatible cycle, dose detergent correctly and avoid cramming the drum. Remove the load promptly and check each garment's drying instructions.

One more tip

A hand-wash, do-not-wash or separate-wash label overrides general color sorting. Keep new indigo denim and deep reds away from pale garments, and separate items requiring different temperatures or programs even if their colors match.

Sources and media

K-fashion · winter fleece care · November 20268 min

Two KOLON SPORT FW26 Fleeces, Two Care Labels: Six Practical Checks

A Korean outdoor label's wool-blend hooded fleece and colorblock stand-collar jacket need different care. Compare verified fabric compositions, everyday styling and wash instructions before choosing.