Everyone wants to get the best results from their washing and to help you do this, we've put together a list of simple steps.

Just like everything else in life, laundry works best with a little preparation. Here then, are a few helpful tips to remember as you toss your dirty clothes into the washing basket.

Empty your pockets

Turn down cuffs on your shirts

Turn your jeans inside out if you don’t want them to fade as quickly

Close all zips, poppers and hooks, and tie strings together

When sorting laundry there are some basic steps which should always be followed:

Read and follow care labels!

Separate dark colours from light colours from whites.

Sort delicate fabrics from heavier ones.

Sort by temperature to ensure best results for individual garments and never exceed the temperature on the fabric care label.

Wash very dirty clothes separately (as dirt can pass on to less soiled clothes in the washing machine).

Sort by agitation to maintain the appearance of the garment

When you have a wash-load with mixed temperature and agitation garments you must select the lowest recommended temperature and agitation programme for the whole load.

Whenever you use a special method to remove stubborn stains, or have doubts about the colour of your fabrics it is advisable to test for colour fastness. Some dyes may only stay fast for a limited number of washes so they may suddenly start to run, particularly if there’s prolonged contact between the fabric and stain removal agent or washing solution.
To test for colour fastness:

Apply warm water to an inconspicuous part of the garment, such as the inside of a hem.

Place the damp fabric between two pieces of white cloth and press with a warm iron.

Examine the pieces of white cloth. If no colour has been transferred, the dye is fast and you can go ahead with your washing process.

However, if the colour has been transferred the dye is not fast, so extra care should be taken.

It can be tempting to put too many garments in the washing machine, but this will lead to problems.

Over-loading doesn’t allow clothes to tumble properly in the drum, thereby reducing the agitation. This will lead to reduced cleaning performance.

Over-loading also reduces the space in the machine, preventing powders from dissolving properly. This will increase the chances of powder residues, bleach damage and poor performance.

Always remember to follow the fabric care label on the garments and when washing a mixed load always choose the lowest temperature and agitation setting.

Wash water temperature directly affects cleaning and creasing. The correct choice of water temperature can also minimize dye transfer from unstable colours. Check your garment care labels for recommended wash temperature.

If care label advice is not available, use the following as guide:

Hot Water provides the quickest and best cleaning.

Use it for sturdy whites, colour-fast pastels and light prints, cloth nappies and similarly soiled baby items; heavily-soiled work and play clothes.

Warm water cleans, whilst minimizing dye loss and helps reduce creasing in the washer.

Use it for permanent press, all colour-fast dark or bright colours, synthetics made of nylon, polyester or acrylic and washable woollens.

Cold water may help protect sensitive dyes, minimize washer creasing and save hot water. However, it doesn’t clean as well as warmer temperatures. Use it for bright red and orange dyes that release colour without losing intensity; lightly-soiled fabrics and removal of some protein stains such as blood. Cold water is excellent for rinsing all loads, regardless of the washing temperature.

When the wash cycle has finished, the garments should be removed and dried as soon as possible. Leaving clothes damp can lead to problems such as bad smells or even mildew.

Using proper drying procedures protects fabrics and minimizes creasing. Most tumble dryers have delicate or permanent press cycles, which have lower heat settings to protect fabrics which might be damaged by high heat.

Check garment labels carefully for proper drying temperatures.

Remove clothing from the dryer as soon as the cycle ends. Hang or fold immediately to help minimise creasing.

Load your dryer so clothes can circulate. Over-loading can result in excessive creasing. Heat damage to clothing can also occur, if the dryer vent becomes blocked.

Another good laundry habit is to wipe the inside of the machine after use and even leave the door open for a while, to allow the inside of the machine to dry out. This will help to prevent bad smells and mildew forming in the machine.