Sorting laundry, how to keep it simple

Short answer: Three baskets are enough. One for darks, one for lights and one for anything that needs a cold wash or a laundry bag. That way clothes are sorted as you take them off, and laundry day goes faster.

Three baskets instead of one pile

If you sort as you go, you never face a big pile and an hour at the machine. Three baskets cover almost all the clothes in an ordinary household. When one is full, a load is ready and there is nothing more to think about. This goes for everyday clothes and the light bamboo tops for women.

Darks and lights apart

Colour runs mostly in the first few washes, and dark colours can stain light ones. A white garment quickly turns greyish if washed with black. So keep darks and lights apart every time. That includes bestsellers for men in dark shades such as black, navy and grey.

The third basket for delicates

Bra tops, socks and fine underwear belong in a laundry bag on a gentle cycle. They need a calmer wash than jeans and towels. If they go in the third basket from the start, you do not have to pick them out of the other piles later. See the bamboo bras.

Where to put the baskets

Baskets help most where clothes come off, usually in the bedroom or bathroom. Placed side by side, they make it easy to drop each item in the right spot straight away. Label them if several people in the household use them, so everyone knows what goes where.

Empty pockets as you sort

Sorting is a good moment to empty pockets. Paper, coins and lip balm cause a lot of extra work if they go through the wash. Close zips and undo buttons so they do not rub other clothes. Turn printed or soft surfaced garments inside out before they go in the basket.

What about mid tones

Not everything is either dark or light. Mid grey, light blue and muted colours can often go with the lights once they have been washed a few times and no longer run. Red and strong colours should stay in the dark basket. If in doubt, put the item with the darks. Then nothing can go wrong.

New clothes need a little extra

New clothes release the most colour in the first washes. So wash new dark items on their own at first, or with clothes of the same colour. Read the care label before anything goes in a basket. If it says something special, such as a low temperature or hand wash, it belongs in the third basket.

A fixed routine makes it easy

Three baskets give you a steady routine. Many people wash whichever basket fills first and the rest when they are ready. That means full loads, fewer half empty washes and less sorting on laundry day. Clothes are also treated the same way every time, which is good for both colour and fit.

Frequently asked questions

Should you sort by temperature

Not necessarily. If you wash most things at 40 degrees, colour is the most important sorting. Items that need a lower temperature belong in the basket for delicates.

Can new dark clothes go with the rest

For the first two or three washes they should go on their own or with clothes of the same colour. After that they usually stop releasing colour and can join the dark basket.

What about towels and bedding

They are washed separately because they need more room in the drum and often a different temperature. Towels also shed lint that can end up on smooth fabrics.