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supersurgilator

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Jun 23, 2007
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453
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Indiana
I was wondering how each of you sort your loads. Just wondered if there were things that you kee separate from other clothes such as underwear, socks, jeans etc. What about sheets and towels, same load or separate?
 
I do towels, sheets, underwear and real light stuff in hotter water with a little bleach and the rest of the clothes in a darker load on warm. Rags, rugs, etc I wash seperately. I have very hard well water so to keep the whites white instead of turning orange, I add a little Iron Out in with the Downy for the rinse in the dispenser. That way I can get by with doing less loads as my Maytag uses over 40 gallons each load and I dont want to overburden the septic system.
 
I don't fuss much with sorting. I also don't sort till wash day. I try to keep it to as few loads as possible. I sort whites, colors, work uniforms, jeans, towels.

Whites and towels (separately) get hot water wash, everything else warm. Whites get a dash of chlorine bleach in the rinse.

My work uniforms are polyester and must be washed (or at least dried) separately from the rest of the colors because they will develop a horrendous case of static cling. Also if they are mixed with a big load of clothes, they develop wrinkles. Drying separately, I can hang them immediately without wrinkles.

Sometimes, I don't have much laundry and I will just throw everything in one load (excluding towels and jeans). It's not worth my time to sort out one or two garments that should be washed separate.

I wash jeans in a cheap mild detergent in an attempt to keep them from fading too fast. Everything else gets the heavy duty treatment with Mexican Ariel.
 
Sorting

Jeans/towels load - Hot wash, cold rinse with extra rinse, Tide and Downy.
Whites - Hot wash, cold rinse with extra rinse, Tide, Clorox and Downy.
Chef uniforms - Hot wash, cold rinse Tide and Downy.
Colors - Warm wash, cold rinse, extra rinse if large load, Tide
Delicates/sweaters - cool wash(ATC Cold) cold rinse, 1/2 dose of Tide.
Sheets - Hot wash, cold rinse Tide and Clorox as needed.
Oversize items - rugs Laundromat.
Nick WK78
 
I have five laundry piles:

1. Whites
2. Colors
3. Towels
4. Sheets and tablecloths
5. Hand-wash or delicate wash items

I can't keep track of anything more than that!
 
Whites (cotton underwear, sheets, towels) hot/cold
Jeans/colored sheets (hot/cold)
Other colored cottons/blends (socks, Brian's underwear, polos, ...) warm or hot/cold
colored synthetics (under armour, compression shorts, gym shorts, my underwear...I really like underarmour boxerjocks) warm/cold
white synthetics (under armour, jockstraps, gym wear) hot/cold...do these about every 3rd week

I really like Under Armour so take care of it by washing it separately.
 
Color, Weight, Soil

I sort by color and then weight.  Having a dryer with a sensor I load with items that all finish at the same time.  I want it to signal the end of the cycle when everything is dry and not have delicate items dry too long and heavy items still damp.  Then I sort similar color and weight by soiling to presoak and prewash as needed.  I do lots of over night soaking with kitchen towels and shirts that have cooking splatters to get out grease and protein based stains.  I seldom use bleach.  When the kids were all home I always had two sets of washers and dryer and often a wringer as well so one could be used for soaking and the other available for a random load.  I always make a wash day and then every single item is washed, dryed, folded, ironed and put away.  I cannot abide laundry lying in the dryer or piled on top of the machine.  I have lots of week end company so I often wash bedding and towels in addition to my personal laundry which takes a while to accumulate.  I am always overjoyed when kids and grand kids are home and the machines are humming away daily.  Most everything I wear gets ironed along with bedding and napkins.
 
for me--keep it simple,whites,underwaer,sheets,towels,Hot-other items-dark,warm.Don't like top do cold water loads-don't like the idea of "scode" growing in my machines.WP Imp90,Hotpoint BOL.When I get my drain lines snaked on the laundry-kitchen side of the house-may devide loads further.
 
I sort according to colour, fabric and thickness, and the level of soil. Generally I do a couple of loads a week (I'm alone after all) plus the occasional load of stuff that accumulates more slowly. I avoid using syntetic fibers so my wardrobe is 99% cotton with a touch of linen and some wool and silk.

Usually I do as following:

- kitchen rags, light coloured towels, bed sheets and underwear together at 60/90°C
- dark coloured towels and bed sheets, jeans and other "big" but sturdy garments get washed at 40/60°C
- everyday wear and dark underwear goes at 40°C, separated darks from lights, unless there are some grossly stained items, in that case the garment goes at 60°C but this seldom happens.
- courtains are washed at 30°C on the delicate cycle
- bath mats and rugs are washed at 40°C on delicate
- trainers and tennis shoes made in canvas/synthetic material are washed at 30/40°C on the "handwash" cycle.
- duvets, woollens and silks are sent out to the drycleaner
 
I am a bit neurotic about sorting... just a little bit...

1) Fitted sheet and pillow covers (all white)
- Cotton 60° + “Stain” option (longer wash) + "Extra Rinse" option (2 extra rinses without intermediate spin)
- Enzyme detergent (liquid) + Sodium Percarbonate
- Citric Acid (in the first rinse)

2) Duvet covers (all light yellow outside and white inside)
- Cotton 50° + “Stain” option (longer wash) + "Extra Rinse" option (2 extra rinses without intermediate spin)
- Enzyme detergent (liquid) + Sodium Percarbonate
- Citric Acid (in the first rinse)

3) Towels and pillow protectors (all white)
- Cotton 40° + “Daily” option (shorter wash) + "Extra Rinse" option (2 extra rinses without intermediate spin)
- Enzyme detergent (liquid) + Sodium Percarbonate
- Citric Acid (in the first rinse)

4) Sweatshirts, trousers and jeans (all dark colours)
- Delicates 30° + "Stain" option (longer wash; see NOTE) + "Extra Rinse" option (2 extra rinses without intermediate spin)
- Delicate Detergent (liquid, without enzymes)
- Citric Acid (in the first rinse)
- Fabric Softener

5) Underwear and T-shirts (all white)
- Cotton 40° + “Sensitive” option (less tumbling and 1 extra rinse without intermediate spin)
- Enzyme detergent (liquid) + Sodium Percarbonate
- Citric Acid (in the first rinse)
- Fabric Softener

6) Coloured T-Shirts (separated by colour: grey / red / blue)
- Delicates 30° + "Stain" option (longer wash; see NOTE) + "Extra Rinse" option (2 extra rinses without intermediate spin)
- Delicate Detergent (liquid, without enzymes)
- Citric Acid (in the first rinse)
- Fabric Softener

7) Home use sweatshirts and jog pants and sport socks
- Cotton 40° + “Sensitive” option (less tumbling and 1 extra rinse without intermediate spin) + “Daily” option (shorter wash)
- Enzyme detergent (liquid)
- Citric Acid (in the first rinse)
- Fabric Softener

8) Socks (elasticised cotton, all dark grey or blue)
- Synthetics 40° + “Sensitive” option (less tumbling and 1 extra rinse without intermediate spin)
- Enzyme detergent (liquid)
- Citric Acid (in the first rinse)
- Fabric Softener

Never more than 3 washes per week: one is either 1), 2) or 3) and the other two are chosen between 4), 5), 6), 7) and 8)

NOTE: "Stain" option should not be allowed if temperature is below 40°, but there is a bug in the software of the washing machine and if you know how to exploit it…
 
My sorting of laundry loads are as follows
•Dark clothes = underwear, Socks, Work trousers, t-shirts, Jumpers, jeans, Hoodies
Are washed on a cottons 40 with water plus selected, powder detergent Ariel bio,

•Light clothes = underwear, trousers, t-shirts, Lounge wear, hoodies, Work Shirts
Are washed on a cottons 40 with water plus selected, powder detergent Ariel bio,

•White clothes = White Socks, White Underwear, White T-shirts, Work Shirts, hoodies
Are washed on a cottons 50 with water plus selected, powder detergent Ariel bio,

•Bedding – duvet cover, pillow cases, fitted sheet
Are washed on a cottons 60 with water plus selected, powder detergent Ariel bio,

•Kitchen clothes and towels, Dishcloths, T-towels, Cleaning clothes (Microfiber)
Are washed on a cottons 90 with water plus selected, powder detergent Ariel bio,

•Bathroom towels = Bathmats, Flannels, Bath sheets, Bath towels, Hand Towels
Are washed on a cottons 90 with water plus selected, powder detergent Ariel bio,

Don’t tend to use fabric softener that much as stuff comes out of the dryer smelling of nothing! Also I never use the short option standard cycle time is around 2hr 29mins
Northernmary
 
Clearly I Am More Neurotic Than I Thought

I mainly sort by the use of the item.

For instance, kitchen towels need to be sanitary, so they are always washed seperately, hot water, bleach, no fabric softener. I hadn't ever really given this type of load much thought until I was at the funeral of the previous owner of my house. They were talking about how clean she kept everything, and the perfect way she did laundry. "You don't want to dry your silverware with a sock that's been on your foot all day do you?" was apparently one of her sayings.

Underwear also needs to be sanitary (I am completely wigged out about having clean tidy whities at all times). Always hot, always bleach, and usually fabric softener. Of course, I have to replace underwear frequently because the elastic waist band won't hold up to the heat.

Bedding and towels are the next item. Seems like my house is a hotel with people coming and going all the time. Hot water, bleach (I like white sheets and towels), and fabric softener. Towels are always washed seperate - I hate fuzz from other items on my towels.

Everything else is cold. Unless I know something bleeds, I will wash darks, whites, and lights together. Haven't ever had but one or two problems, and I have been doing it this way since I was in college.
 
Whites - Hot/Warm Wash, Low Dry. Softener, detergent, borax, OxiClean, and STPP. Alternate bleach/ammonia with bluing.

Towels & Sheets - Hot/Warm Wash, Hot Dry. Detergent, no softener.

Jeans & Pants - Warm/Cold Wash, Low Dry. Softener, detergent.

After that its separate out whatever else. Usually sort into warm colors and cool colors, and if there is a lot of synthetics they get washed separate. Warm/Cold Wash, Low Dry with Detergent and Softener.
 
Wow...some of you guys have 3 or 4 loads a week!......thats a lot of wash!......unlike us with kids, who can have 2 to 6 loads a day....LOL!....which kinda throws a curve ball into it a little bit....

Whites.....anything that is white, can take a hot wash with bleach, is usually washed together....and I buy these items in white for this reason, underwear, socks, towels and washcloths, sheets, kitchen towels......

to keep items seperated thru the laundry.......and yet matched sets together, theres seperate loads of boys colored clothes, and girls colored clothes, theres my clothes, and my partners clothes.....for the most part, no real issues with dark and lights, unless something extreme like new jeans that will bleed...

dogs blankets/sheets and toys are washed together

Comforters Quilts, and Blankets.....for the most part....the comforter, sheet set, pillow case, and any accessory for that one bed is a seperate load on its own, when done in the dryer, this complete set goes back to that persons bed....nothing to fold, and nothing lost.....each person responsible for their own bed.....

but there is always for the most part a minimum of 2-4 loads a day, dogs blankets, and whites/towels......and then you can rotate around an every other day program, one day is Jack clothes and the boys clothes, the opposite day is my clothes and the girls clothes......beds stripped every weekend....

its just a matter of what works for you , and fits your needs.....just thankful for several machines.......one set would be killed to keep up, and run morning until night.......
 
Towels - teatowels, white socks, white underwear, dishcloths - Cottons 60*c + Extra Rinse or if they are really mucky I will use Intensive & Stain 60*c wash + Extra Rinse (1 Daz tablet or 2 if they are very mucky)

Sheets - Cottons 60*c + Quickwash (1 daz tablet)

Whites - Cottons 40*c + Quick wash button (Normally Soiled) or full length wash if very dirty (Daz Tablets + conditioner)

Colours - Synthetics 30*c + Quick wash, these are all mixed together, Darks included (use a colour/gel detergent + conditioner)

Delicates - Woollens Cold/40*c (depending on soiling) or i use the Handwash 30*c wash with a silk and wool liquid and conditioner - This includes woollen items, wool jumpers etc etc

Quick wash - like when i need to get laundry out the way if its not very dirty, i shall wash whites and colours on synthetics 30/40 + quick wash, that way I can get it on the line quickly so it can dry.
 
Gosh Yogi, thats a ton of wash to do. How many people are in your household? There was a family the next street from me that had 18 kids and the rule was when you heard the machines stop to go back in the basement and throw another load in the washer and dryer. They had 2 bins by the washer for whites and colors and another bin beside the dryer where all the kids were responsible for taking their clothes and putting them away. They wore out several different pairs about every 2 years but never bought Maytags. I dont ever remember as a kid ever hearing those machines resting when I was there and all winter long their dryer vent was constantly exhausting the steam.
 
Tim

your not familiar with my situation........I have a partner, and 3 adopted kids(11yo twins-boy and girl, and a 10yo boy), at the moment....planning on 1 or 2 more to adopt as permanent......

We also foster care, and I have had upwards to 10 kids total at one time.....the ages varied from 4months to 12 years old.....right now its only a 7yo boy....

kids don't touch my machines....lol....but they do sort into bins, and each has their own pop-up hamper(this also works when they hide candy wrappers and such, I know which one it is, haha).....kids fold all towels and wash cloths, and responsible for all their own clothes, unless their too young.....I take care of Jack's and mine......

plus 2 siberians, and 3 daschunds......and a bunny........

so yes....I got laundry.....sometimes I will skip a day, but it really seems like I have a weeks worth.......

I have 4 Neptunes in the basement, and a frigidaire set in the upstairs bathroom...plus a few vintages one to play with....seriously, one set would be running morning, noon, and night!
 
The usual routine is:

Towels and underwear.... sanitary cycle with bleach just to make sure all the nasties are gone
Sheets, pillowcases .... Whitest whites with bleach
Shirts/pants .... Casual
Comforters/quilts .... Bulky
Jeans and other really dirty stuff get the heavy duty cycle.

If the cats have hacked up something on something (and shed season HAS started) the soak or prewash is added to any of the cycles.

Occasionally one of the other cycles such as quick for a couple of pants/shirts that I need in a hurry.

I inherited a lot of handmade stuff from my Grandmother and Mother that gets the hand wash with no spin.

Active wear ... summer beach stuff

I do not use cold wash for anything but always cold rinse.

Washer is a Whirlpool Duet HT with matching gas dryer ... about 5 years old and no problems with them.

Harry
 
Three hampers in the master bath:

Whites (underwear, gym socks, kitchen towels, etc)
Shirts and pants (colors)
Bath towels

The whites get washed about once a week in the Miele 1918A, set to 160F, then tumble dried. Usually in a powder (Sears boosted with STPP). 1600 rpm spin.

The colors (shirts and pants) get washed in hot setting (130F) perm press cycle in Neptune 7500. I used to use the warm (105F) setting but found that it didn't remove work dirt from jeans. The hot does. Usually these get tumble dried as well, although the pants might go out on the line on a warm sunny day. Usually in a powder (Sears boosted with STPP). Regular spin (800 rpm).

Fine dress shirts/slacks or delicates might get washed separately on warm.

The bath towels get washed in the Neptune on a regular soil hot cycle. Usually with mild liquid HE detergent, like Green Works. Best softness comes from drying on regular heat, although sometimes can dry partially on line and finish in dryer for nearly as soft results.

Others:

Bed sheets get washed in either the Neptune on hot or Miele W1065 on 140+, using perm press on Miele or wrinkle free spin in Neptune, usually with a good powder (Sears/STPP). Usually these get line dried.

Washable throw rugs, bath mats: Neptune 7500 on warm, with mild liquid (Green Works), no fabric softener. Usually these get line dried unless too rainy, then they go on low heat in dryer.
 
 

<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: Roboto;">I sort into several loads:</span>

 

<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: Roboto;">White underwear, socks – 120F to 140F,  Detergent with oxygen bleach and Optical brighteners</span>

 

<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: Roboto;">Whites for sanitize -  190F, Detergent with oxygen bleach and optical brighteners</span>

 

<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: Roboto;">Bright blues, yellows, greens – 105F, Detergent  for colors without oxygen bleach or  brighteners</span>

 

<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: Roboto;">Dark browns , reds, greens – 105F, Detergent for colors without oxygen bleach or brighteners</span>

 

<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: Roboto;">Medium  blues – 105F, Detergent for colors without oxygen bleach or brighteners</span>

 

<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: Roboto;">Gym clothes - 85F, with sport detergent, no fabric softener</span>

 

<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: Roboto;">Blacks – tap cold,   Detergent for darks</span>

 

<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: Roboto;">Casual pants light - 105F Detergent with brighteners no fabric softener</span>

 

<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: Roboto;">Casual pants dark - tap cold, Detergent for darks no fabric softener</span>

 

<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: Roboto;">Silk – tap cold, detergent for delicates, using silk cycle</span>

 

<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: Roboto;">Fleece shirts and pants – 85F, detergent for delicates using delicates cycle</span>

 

<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: Roboto;">Towels: white towels – 120F, Detergent with oxygen bleach and optical brighteners, dark towels – 105F,  Detergent without oxygen bleach and optical brighteners. </span>

 

<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: Roboto;">Sheets: white or bright – 120F, Detergent with oxygen bleach and optical brighteners, Dark and flannel – 105F, Detergent for colors without bleach or brighteners.</span>

 

<span style="font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Jeans - 105F, Detergent for darks using Jeans cycle</span>

 

<span style="font-family: Roboto; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Some of these loads accumulate for more than one week  until they are large enough to wash.</span>

 
 
DaveAmKrayoGuy's Washing System (& Truths and Myths abou

My sorting is similar to the way most of you sort...

However, I usually don't have enough delicates to dedicate to one load & so far have never damaged anything washing it w/ a Slow Wash/Normal Spin...

My wife's apron, though, I wash with our clothes, but working w/ food really should mean washing it with our kitchen/cleaning towels...--Usually some debate there; I think it best to find a way to wash w/o our dirt, though, but can't stand a load with only one thing (two, counting her cap)...!

-- Dave
 
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