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Original poster

Is separating laundry colours dated practice?

211 replies

willywallaby · 18/09/2024 20:26

When I moved out and started doing my own laundry I separated light and dark colours but then gradually I stopped doing it when I realised nothing bad ever happened if I mixed everything together. For most of my life though I've been quite careful about keeping brand new dark items away from white items until they'd been washed a few times. A few months ago I accidentally washed a new red t-shirt in with some white things and they stayed white. And we got some new dark things recently and because of the experience with the red t-shirt I didn't separate anything and still everything is fine. Have dyes modernised or something so that they don't run and you don't actually have to do this anymore?

OP posts:
Evilartsgrad · 19/09/2024 07:44

I separate just to be on the safe side. Some dyes may not transfer, others may, you can't rely on them. That time you were lucky.
Think - what's the payoff, a few minutes work or several spoiled garments?

alpacachino · 19/09/2024 07:44

alpacachino · 19/09/2024 07:43

Bedding
Towels
Kitchen Towels
Cleaning cloths
White clothes
Everything else
Occasionally a delicate wash but I rarely buy delicate clothes

Oh and sometimes I hot wash my husbands pants

alpacachino · 19/09/2024 07:43

Bedding
Towels
Kitchen Towels
Cleaning cloths
White clothes
Everything else
Occasionally a delicate wash but I rarely buy delicate clothes

alpacachino · 19/09/2024 07:42

Namechanger385u4p · 18/09/2024 20:59

I do the following...
Darks
Lights
Reds
Light delicate
Dark delicate
Light towels
Dark towels

Organised

Puddypuds · 19/09/2024 07:37

I washed a pale pink dress with white bed sheets. I kid you not when I say the bedsheets are now Barbie pink. I'm not even sure how it was possible. Honestly you would need to see them to believe them. Never mixing loads ever again!

Newname71 · 19/09/2024 07:32

I separate:
whites
colours
darks
work scrubs
towels
bedding
DH chucks it all in together even though I’ve asked him 46544577 times not to!!
He’s adamant nothing runs these days even though he’s ruined a new white too and all my new white knickers!!.He turned them all chewing gum grey 🤬

MouseofCommons · 19/09/2024 07:27

I separate. Clothes do look grotty after a while you don't separate colours.

I was wearing a 2013 sponsored run top to the gym the other day and my teacher was fascinated that it was still white, it's been worn most weeks for a decade.

SpringleDingle · 19/09/2024 07:26

I do whites, lights, darks, towels (no softener). Your whites go grey if you mix.

DilemmaDelilah · 19/09/2024 07:25

I do whites, darks, reds, lights, delicates.

TossedSaladandSE · 19/09/2024 07:23

I separate into white, dark and bright colours

I know that certain Clothes won't run so I often add the odd black to the colours and vice versa

My whites always come out lovely and bright which gives me great joy

BettyBardMacDonald · 18/09/2024 23:10

I still separate strictly. My clothing lasts a long time and stays looking fresh and bew.

AmeliaEarache · 18/09/2024 23:06

Clothes are definitely more colourfast than they were in the 80s. I can mix everything but whites , whereas my mum had to separate all colours because they ran something rotten.

When we had a twin tub you could see how much dye ran.

DryBiscuit · 18/09/2024 23:01

Whites and ‘Everything else’

SingingSands · 18/09/2024 23:00

I did an entirely pink/red wash today 😄

MissBridgetJones · 18/09/2024 22:57

Whites/lights/ brights/darks - only tend to do 4 clothes washes a week +towels and bedding (60 degrees)

mondaytosunday · 18/09/2024 22:57

My DD mixed hers when away for the first time and now has very pale pink shirts.
I separate lights and darks. I have enough of both to do a full load. Sheets and towels go on a hotter wash separately.

Wtafdidido · 18/09/2024 22:47

When I can I do
whites/v lights
coloured
darks
towels and bedding
lingerie

SauvignonBlanche · 18/09/2024 22:24

I do Whites and towels separately, everything else is thrown in together.

LadyRoughDiamond · 18/09/2024 22:24

I always do whites separately because I chuck a glowhite sachet in with them. Essential to prevent my son’s school polo shirts becoming a permanent record of what he had for lunch.

Tickyandtackyandjackiethebackie · 18/09/2024 22:14

My husband and I do our own washing. He doesn't separate anything and all his lighter coloured clothes look grey or grubby!

bumbledeedum · 18/09/2024 22:14

My son does karate so they're in all white kit, it's 100% noticeable the families that don't separate whites from colours.

snoopyfanaccountant · 18/09/2024 22:12

I separate washing into whites/offwhites, red/purple/pink, darks, fleece (an expensive volunteering uniform fleece was ruined by being washed with non-fleece), delicates, bedding and towels. I have a Kallax unit in my utility room to separate the loads and when a tub is full, I do a wash

TouringTheTearooms · 18/09/2024 22:07

I really can't be arsed to separate whites.

If any whites start looking dingy I stick them in a bucket with scalding water and a good splash of bleach for a couple of hours, then wash as normal and they're back to as good as new.

Rewis · 18/09/2024 21:55

I don't own enough white sutff to do a separate load so I just mix. I don't mind is some pants turn a bit grey-ish.

Yellowbananasarebetterthangreen · 18/09/2024 21:53

I always separate ours into darks, coloureds, whites or just darks and lights.

When I havent the white stuff has ended up with marks/stains on. Its happened recently when I stupidly thought "nah I neednt bother"
Two of us in our household - on average I do 2-3 loads a week.

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