Step 1
Read every care label
Check wash, bleach, dry and iron symbols. Set aside hand-wash, dry-clean or non-washable items and ask the employer if unsure.
HW009 · Laundry and garment care
How to Sort Clothes Before Washing
Check care labels, then separate by colour, fabric and soil level
Overview
Sorting is not one rigid household rule. It helps reduce colour transfer, wear and lint transfer. Check each care label and the employer’s instructions before grouping items that can safely be washed together.
Tools needed
- Laundry baskets or a clean sorting area
- Garment care labels
- Laundry mesh bags
- Clean white cloth for stain work
- Small container for pocket items
Cleaning steps
Step 2
Separate light and dark colours
Keep dark and new bright items away from whites and pale colours, especially for the first wash when colour transfer is more likely.
Step 3
Group similar fabrics and weights
Keep heavy towels or denim away from light, delicate or snag-prone items. Separate lint producers from fabrics that attract lint.
Step 4
Separate by soil level
Keep heavily soiled, oily or muddy items away from normal laundry. Treat stains only according to garment and product labels; do not improvise chemical mixtures.
Step 5
Empty pockets and protect small items
Remove tissues, coins and keys, close zips and undo buttons. Put underwear and small items in a suitable mesh bag.
Step 6
Check the final load
Confirm the items have compatible care requirements and remain within the washer manual’s capacity before washing.
4 common mistakes
✕ Avoid
Sorting only by colour and ignoring fabric weight.
✓ Correct actionCheck care labels, fabric, weight and lint together.
✕ Avoid
Washing a new dark item with whites.
✓ Correct actionSeparate new dark or bright items for their first wash.
✕ Avoid
Leaving items inside pockets.
✓ Correct actionCheck every pocket and remove hard objects and tissues.
✕ Avoid
Mixing heavily soiled clothes into a normal load.
✓ Correct actionSeparate them, treat stains by the label, and choose a suitable load.
Safety notes
- If you are unsure whether an item may be washed, bleached or dried, stop and ask the employer.
- Do not put clothing contaminated with flammable liquids or unknown chemicals into a normal washer; isolate it and tell the employer.
Tips for helpers
- Use a few permanent sorting baskets to reduce repeated work.
- Keep matching socks and small pieces together in one mesh bag.
Tips for employers
- Point out special-care, non-machine-washable or colour-bleeding items.
- Record household-specific sorting rules in the Employer Custom Note rather than presenting them as universal rules.
Completion checklist
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