Aarp smart guide to laundry | members only

You’ve been doing laundry for decades. The machines are more high tech and some of the products are different — hello, detergent pods — but laundry is laundry.  Or is it? “[Laundry] is

completely different,” says Patric Richardson, 52, host of _The Laundry Guy_ on Discovery+ and author of _Laundry_ _Love:_ _Finding_ _Joy_ _in_ _a_ _Common_ _Chore_. “The technology and

fabric is completely different … manufacturers of laundry products had to keep up [because] laundry has changed in a very significant way.” It’s not just the appliances and products that

have changed, though. As you’ve gotten older, your ability to carry heavy baskets of clothing or wrestle the childproof cap off of the detergent may have changed, too — and if you’ve moved

from a house with a washer and dryer to an apartment or independent-living facility with communal washers and dryers, laundry can become a real chore. But there are some big benefits to

doing the wash. Clean clothes are important for personal hygiene, odor control and personal appearance, of course, but laundry is also a form of light exercise, and it requires balance and

coordination that are important as you age. Here’s some advice on how to spruce up your laundry routine. Getty Images GET READY FOR WASH DAY SORT YOUR CLOTHES Sorting your laundry before

washing it takes extra effort, but it’s worthwhile, according to Richardson. “Sorting is going to make the clothes look better and last longer,” he says. Laundry should be sorted into three

separate loads: whites, medium colors, and bright colors and darks. It can also be sorted into more detailed categories, including fabric texture — separating heavier or rough items from

delicates to prevent snags, pilling and other damage, adds Kim Romine, fabric care scientist for Procter & Gamble. Romine also suggests sorting heavily soiled clothes into a separate

load to avoid making other items dingy. “[It] prevents dirt and grime from transferring and ensures each load gets the appropriate cleaning treatment,” she says. SET A SCHEDULE Some garments

should be washed after every wear, while others can be worn several times before they need to be cleaned. The American Cleaning Institute has a comprehensive list of how often common items

should be washed. Generally, socks, underwear and T-shirts should be washed after each wear, while jeans, dress shirts and pajamas can be worn up to three times before washing. “For

clothes, it depends on how likely they are to absorb sweat and body oils, which can lead to bacteria growth and odor,” says Jessica Ek, ACI’s associate vice president of strategic

communications. “This comes down to the fabric and how close it is worn to the skin.” READ THE LABELS Never toss an item in the washing machine or dryer without reading the label. “Reading

the care tag instructions and noting the laundry symbols on your clothing is an essential step to ensure that you avoid any damage to your garments,” says Michelle Piombino, principal

scientist at Henkel for Purex Laundry. “Care tag labels help you determine the best way to wash your clothes, including the correct temperature, the ideal drying process and more.”

Understanding the care labels and laundry symbols on your clothes can help prevent damage and “mishaps” like shrinkage, Piombino adds. Use the symbols to choose a garment’s proper

temperature and wash cycle — or to pull it from the hamper and take it to the dry cleaner instead. Video: These Laundry Myths Could Be Ruining Your Clothes PRETREAT STAINS Whether it’s blood

on your favorite jeans or spaghetti sauce on a white T-shirt, don’t wait until laundry day to treat a stain. “When stains set in, they become more difficult to remove,” Romine says. “It’s

best if you can wash within a few hours of getting a stain.” Most high-quality detergents are formulated to remove stains without additional pretreatment, but stubborn stains may require a

specialized treatment product, Romine says. To pre-treat a stain, apply a small amount of liquid laundry detergent directly onto the stain, taking care to cover the entire stain with

detergent; wait about five minutes to allow the detergent to penetrate the stain and then run your item through your regular laundry cycle. This process, she adds, “should make it

significantly easier for the stain to come off through the wash.” Many of the folk remedies to treat stains using household products like baking soda, vinegar, hydrogen peroxide and lemon

juice aren’t that effective and could damage fabrics. Baking soda, for example, has a high PH that can take a toll on wool, cashmere and silk, while the low PH in vinegar could weaken

cotton, linen and other fabrics. If in doubt, opt for cold water. "Cold water is generally effective for treating stains," Romine says. "In the case of specific stains like

blood, using warm or hot water can actually set the stain rather than remove it." Getty Images DETERGENTS, BLEACHES AND BEYOND PICK THE RIGHT DETERGENT Powders, liquids, pods, flakes.

The sheer number of detergent options can feel daunting — but it shouldn’t. “Pick whichever [form of detergent] you want,” Richardson says. “Just don't use too much of it,” she adds,

because that can cause your clothes to look dingy or feel crunchy. In general, Richardson believes that the recommended amount of detergent on the label is too much, adding, “We’ve made it

so much more concentrated; we just don’t need as much anymore.” Ek has a more nuanced approach. “If your clothes tend to get really dirty, a detergent with multiple surfactants and enzymes

can offer a lot of stain-fighting power,” she says. “If you have sensitive skin, a ‘free and gentle’ detergent can be a good choice. If you want a detergent with ingredients that are safer

for your family and the planet, then a detergent that has an EPA Safer Choice label can be a good pick. Look for a detergent from a brand you trust that features benefits you value.” There

is one caveat: Never use regular detergent in high-efficiency washing machines. HE machines use less water and regular detergent is too sudsy, which could clog the pump, cause the machine to

overheat, or increase the risk of mold and mildew. Using HE detergent could prolong the life of your washing machine. CONSIDER BLEACH AND WHITENING AGENTS There are two main types of bleach

— chlorine and non-chlorine bleach. Chlorine bleach, which Piombino calls “a great and powerful laundry tool, is ideal for keeping whites looking bright but shouldn't be used on

colored clothes. because it can leave bleach spots.  Oxygen bleach, also called color-safe bleach contains sodium percarbonate — an ideal ingredient for washing activewear and other

"performance fabrics," as well as items like bras, swimwear and shapewear. Steer clear of oxygen bleach on silk, wool or other animal-based fabrics because it degrades the fabric.

And remember, never mix bleach with other cleaning products, including ammonia, vinegar and hydrogen peroxide. It can cause a chemical reaction that produces dangerous gases. LEARN ABOUT

OTHER LAUNDRY PRODUCTS If detergent gets the job done, do you need fabric softeners and conditioners, scent boosters, color catchers and laundry sanitizers? It depends.  Romine is a fan of

using multiple products in her laundry routine: She uses detergent pods for cleaning, fabric softener to keep fabrics soft, rinse aids for odor removal, scent beads for added freshness and

dryer sheets for static control. Mixing and matching laundry products in each load, she says, help to “maximize the laundry process to get all of the benefits…in one wash.” Laundry products

can also be time savers. A wrinkle-release spray, for example, is great for removing wrinkles without hauling out the ironing board. Ek notes that these products can “help make the laundry

process easier and help your clothes look and smell their best.”