Water temperature: Cold to warm (30-40°C or 86-104°F)
Wash cycle: Normal to gentle
Dryer temperature: Medium heat
Turn inside out? Yes
The large majority of your clothes may likely fall into this section. For common garments like basic T-shirts, cotton-based button-down shirts and pants, tank tops and bedding, it’s best to use cold to warm water, according to Saifi. Be sure to use the normal or gentle cycle if your washer has one and dry in medium heat. In addition to a gentle detergent, Saifi recommends using a color catcher, such as the Shout Color Catcher Sheets, which prevents colors from bleeding into one another. Also, if your clothes attract a lot of hair or dust, use a quality dryer sheet, such as the Bounce Pet Hair and Lint Guard.
Water temperature: Cold
Wash cycle: Gentle or hand wash
Dryer temperature: Low heat (with a mesh bag) or air dry
Turn inside out? Yes
Items such as underwear, bras, shapewear and tights are often considered delicates, since they’re made of either thin and/or fragile fabric that can tear easily, such as silk, chiffon and satin. If your underwear is made from more durable cotton, they should be fine to add in with the T-shirts and tank tops, otherwise wash delicates in cold water or hand wash them. NBC Select associate updates editor Zoe Malin uses the Soak Scentless Laundry Detergent to wash delicates. “When I started writing about bras in 2021, an expert told me about Soak and I’ve been buying it ever since,” she says. “I use it to hand-wash my sports bras, bralettes and regular bras, and you can also use it with a laundry machine.” If you plan on adding delicates to the dryer, use low heat and place them in a mesh bag.
Water temperature: Warm (30 to 40°C or 86 to 104°F)
Wash cycle: Normal
Dryer temperature: Medium heat
Turn inside out? Yes
While socks come in a variety of thicknesses and flexibilities, it’s best to wash them in warm water, in a normal cycle using medium heat, according to Saifi. This will help clean them thoroughly, while also getting rid of the odors they often hold onto from sweat. Malin also uses Dropps Activewear Biobased Laundry Detergent Pods to clean clothes that commonly come in contact with sweat, such as yoga pants. “I’ve been using Dropps active wash laundry detergent pods for about four years, and they work incredibly well,” she says. “I love that they’re made from sustainable materials rather than harsh chemicals, which is great for my sensitive skin, too.”
Water temperature: Cold
Wash cycle: Normal
Dryer temperature Low to medium heat (or air dry)
Turn inside out? Yes
Many people have some form of denim pants in their closet, you should be sure to wash them carefully to preserve their color and shape. Saifi recommends washing jeans in cold water only in a normal cycle and using little to no heat to dry them. In fact, it’s often better to air dry jeans, according to Saifi, because the heat can cause them to shrink, fade or become misshapen. Also, similar to printed T-shirts and clothing made from synthetic material, such as activewear, you should turn jeans inside out before washing them. This prevents them from being damaged or piling, according to Saifi.
Water temperature: Cold
Wash cycle: Gentle or hand wash
Dryer temperature: Low heat or lay flat to dry (dryer not recommended)
Turn inside out? Yes
Sweater, cardigans and pullovers are usually made of wool,cashmere or occasionally fleece, according to Saifi. You should wash them in cold water on a gentle cycle (or hand wash if possible) and let them air dry by laying them flat on a surface (don’t hang them in general, especially to dry, as they’ll stretch) or use the lowest heat setting on your dryer. You should also turn them inside out before washing them to prevent pilling, which is common in wool and cashmere garments. Plus, you’ll want to use a dryer ball to help get rid of any lint or hair stuck to the clothes.
Water temperature: Cold to warm (30-40°C or 86-104°F)
Wash cycle: Normal
Dryer temperature: Medium
Turn inside out? Yes
To wash more casual garments like sweatshirts and hoodies, use cold to warm water, on a normal cycle with moderate heat. You should also turn them inside out before washing them. They’re typically made of cotton or some of the same materials used to make sweaters, given their insulating properties. If you’re washing clothes in this category that have particularly bright colors or graphics, consider using the Carbona Color Grabber to make sure the colors don’t run.
Water temperature: Hot (60°C or 140°F)
Wash cycle: Normal to heavy-duty
Dryer temperature: High heat
Turn inside out? N/A
While they’re not technically clothing, towels take up a good amount of room in our laundry hampers, and they often are the most odorous. That’s because they frequently come in contact with moisture, sweat, hair and dead skin, which means they’re a hub for bacteria and unpleasant smells. This is why Saifi recommends washing towels in a hot water cycle. Additionally, use a normal or even heavy-duty cycle to get towels thoroughly clean. The Oxiclean Odor Blasters Stain Remover powder is effective in cleaning and eliminating odors, and it’s both chlorine-free and color-safe, according to the brand.
Cory Fernandez is a commerce editor at NBC Select, where he covers cooking, cleaning, wellness and other lifestyle-related content. He’s written multiple cleaning guides for the site, including how to white clothes without bleach, how to clean a reusable water bottle and how to clean a mattress.
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