How to Do Laundry: A Step-by-Step Guide

Reading Time: 7 minutes

If you’re wondering how to do laundry, you’re not the only one. At some point, we’ve all stood in front of a washing machine with a pile of clothes, a bottle of detergent, and no clue what to do next.

But don’t panic. Once you break it down into a step-by-step process and learn just a few basics, laundry is simple.

This guide will show you exactly how to do laundry, from sorting your clothes to choosing the right wash cycle and drying them properly. Follow these steps and you’ll keep your clothes clean, fresh, and lasting longer—without shrinking your favorite sweater to a child’s size or turning your white shirts pink.

Step 1: Read the Care Labels

Start every laundry load by reading the care label; they’re the blueprint for getting it right. Those tiny icons tell you exactly how to wash, which water temperature to use, whether to tumble dry or air dry, and if chlorine bleach is a really bad idea.

Look out for the washtub icon, which means you can wash it in the first place, and then check for:

Dot inside the icon: That’s the temperature guide
Triangle: That let’s you know if you can use bleach
Square with a circle inside: That’s the dryer guidance

If you’re ever unsure, default to cold water and a delicate or permanent press cycle. Both of those options reduce the risk of damage. But on the other hand, those cycles do struggle more to clean stains.

Step 2: Sort Your Laundry

Sorting is important to prevent color transfer, protect delicate fabrics, and help the machine actually clean instead of just swish. You can sort them a few different ways, but if you can, then separate them further into sub-categories.

This may mean doing some half-loads, so only do this if you have a modern machine that adjusts the water and energy use accordingly.

Here’s how to sort your laundry:

By color: Whites, lights, darks
By fabric type: T-shirts and knitwear together, towels and jeans, and delicate items on their own
By soil level: Lightly soiled everyday wear vs. heavily soiled gym gear, uniforms, muddy items

Make sorting automatic with a three-section laundry hamper. It will make your life so much simpler when it comes time to actually do the laundry. Drop whites, colors, and delicates straight into separate bags, and laundry day takes care of itself.

Pro tip: Close zippers, fasten hooks, empty pockets, and turn printed clothes inside out. These can all snag, and your clothes will age prematurely and pull out of shape at these weak points. You can also put lace, lingerie, and delicate fabrics in mesh laundry bags to prevent snags and stretching in the machine.

Step 3: Choose the Right Detergent

You should always go for a good quality detergent. Detergent makes a major difference, and it also matters what kind you choose.

Liquid detergent: Dissolves fast and works well in cold water
Powder detergent: Excellent for heavily soiled loads and strong odors
Laundry Pods: These are fool-proof. Just use one for small to medium loads and two for large loads

If you own a high-efficiency (HE) unit, use HE detergent. Also, don’t try and compensate for heavy soiling by using more detergent, which is a classic beginner mistake. Too much detergent leaves residue, dulls fabrics, and can give people with sensitive skin problems.

Meanwhile, for tough stains, forget about doubling the dose of detergent. Instead, keep a spray stain remover within reach so you can pre-treat before they turn into a stain.

If you’re wondering about how to do laundry, you may have a question about bleach. When it comes to bleach, always check the label first. Use chlorine bleach only on bleach-safe whites and only when you need a brightness boost. Otherwise, use oxygen bleach on colors and prints.

Step 4: Pick the Correct Wash Cycle & Water Temperature

Cycles control agitation and soak time. Meanwhile, water temperatures affect cleaning power and color safety.

Here are the essentials that should make wash cycles easy to master:

Normal/Regular: Everyday tees, socks, cottons
Permanent Press: Synthetics and mixed fabrics; the cool-down helps prevent wrinkling
Delicate: Silk, lace, and anything easily stretched or snagged
Heavy Duty: Towels, bedding, workwear, and truly dirty items

Temperature basics:

Cold water: Preserves color and reduces shrinkage. It’s ideal for most loads and saves up to 90% on the energy costs
Warm water: Tackles body oils and light soil without being harsh
Hot water: Sanitizes and brightens whites. Use it for towels and sheets if labels allow

For a complete guide on the cycles and when to use them, bookmark this page: Your Complete Guide to Which Washing Machine Cycle to Use.

If you’re upgrading, a modern high-efficiency washing machine regulates temperatures and adjusts spin profiles to match load size, which helps fabrics last, saves money on energy bills, and takes some of the load off you when it comes to making decisions on how to do laundry.

Does your house or apartment have a hard water issue? You should think about a hard water-softener for laundry or switch to a detergent that is designed for mineral-rich water. This small change can make a massive difference to your finished laundry.

Step 5: Treat Stains Before Washing

Heat sets stains, so treat them before the laundry machine:

Grease and oil: A dab of dish soap, work it in, then rinse and launder
Wine and berries: Cold-water rinse, then oxygen-based pre-treat
Grass and mud: Let mud dry and brush off. Pre-treat grass stains with a quality stain remover
Coffee and tea: Cold rinse first, then wash warm with enzyme detergent

Next to your washing machine, keep a small caddy with Oxi-style stain remover, a soft brush, and cotton swabs. Treat, wait 5–10 mins, then wash. If you have any doubts about the stain remover reacting with the material, which can definitely happen with delicates, test it on an inside seam first.

Step 6: Load the Washing Machine Properly

Overstuffing traps dirt in the middle of the load and strains the motor, so aim for a drum that’s loosely full. Your clothes should tumble freely, and they need space to move.

More tips for loading your washing machine:

Mix large and small pieces for better movement
Add detergent to the correct dispenser, while pods go straight into the drum
If you’re washing delicate items, keep them in mesh bags and select delicate or hand-wash

Step 7: Drying Your Laundry

When it comes to drying, your care label will tell you exactly what’s safe:

Tumble dry low/medium: Most cottons and blends
Air dry: Sweaters, activewear with elastane, lace, and heat-sensitive prints
No heat/air fluff: Freshens without risk of shrinkage

Remove items as soon as the cycle ends to prevent wrinkling. That small pro tip will save you a ton of time with the ironing later, and it’s one of those tricks that you just don’t know until you do.

Two additional tips for drying your laundry include:

Use wool dryer balls to reduce static and soften without heavy fragrances
For sweaters and delicates, skip the heat completely and just lay them flat on a folding drying rack to keep shapes intact

Shrink alert: If something feels delicate or the label is unclear, always air-dry it. There’s nothing worse than buying expensive clothes only to take them out of the dryer and realize you’ll never fit into them again.

Step 8: Folding, Ironing & Storing

To finish strong, don’t forget about storing your freshly laundered clothes. Wrinkles set as fabrics cool, so don’t leave a messy laundry pile and fold your clothes quickly.

For a successful last step:

Fold and hang: Fold tees, knits and sweats; hang shirts, dresses, and jackets
Iron: Only when needed and match the iron setting to the fabric. Steam is gentler on prints and synthetics, and it’s good to iron the reverse side where you can, especially with vinyl prints
Storage: Keep clean clothes in a cool, dry space. Use breathable bins, cedar blocks, and a moisture absorber if your closet runs humid

Step 9: The “Perfect Load” Checklist

Run through these quick checks before you press Start:

Have you read the care labels?
Is your laundry sorted by color, fabric, and soil level?
Have you emptied the pockets, closed the zippers, and fastened all the hooks?
Have you put delicates in mesh bags?
Have you added the right amount of the right kind of detergent?
Did you choose the correct cycle and temperature?

This 30-second audit prevents 90% of laundry mishaps.

Extra Laundry Tips & Tricks

New clothes bleed color: Wash them separately once, especially reds, blues, and dark denim
Inside out saves prints: Turn graphic T-shirts and leggings inside out to reduce abrasion
Avoid overloading the dryer: Air can’t circulate, so the cycle runs longer and fabrics cook
Skip fabric softener on performance gear: It coats fibers and traps odor. Use a vinegar rinse instead
Clean the washer monthly: Run a hot empty cycle with a washing machine cleaner to remove residue and odor
Mind micro-snags: Hook-and-loop fasteners can shred knits. Stick them together or bag them up
Odor reset: Soak athletic gear in cool water with a bit of oxygen bleach or vinegar, then wash cold
Lint management: Clear the lint screen every cycle. Aa clean vent dries faster and saves energy

Troubleshooting Common Problems

There are some common issues with laundry and you just have to know the right answer to deal with them.

The most common problems include:

Clothes Smell Musty After Washing

Cause: An overloaded machine, too much detergent, or a dirty drum
Fix: Do a quick cleaning cycle, use less detergent, and open the door to air the machine out between loads

Darks Are Streaked or Look Dusty

Cause: Too much detergent, undissolved powder, or hard water residue
Fix: Go for a liquid detergent, reduce the amount, and add a water softener. A warmer cycle can also work, but be careful

White Tees Are Gray or Yellowing

Cause: Mixed loads, temperature is too low, or body oils are leaving stains
Fix: Wash whites separately in warm or hot water, add bleach where you can, and pre-treat collars and armpits

Everything Is Wrinkled

Cause: Normally it’s over-drying or leaving clothes in the drum too long
Fix: Use permanent press, switch to a lower heat, don’t leave them in the machine, and try dryer balls if all else fails

Expert-Level Sorting (When You’re Ready)

Once the basics feel easy, try a more nuanced sort:

Lint makers vs. lint magnets: Towels and fleeces shed like shaggy dogs. Wash them separately from black leggings and fine knits, which pick up lint
Heavy vs. light: Heavyweight jeans seriously beat up lightweight T-shirts. Keep them separate when you can
Fabric families: Keep cottons and synthetics together, and separate from each other. That will give you a consistent wash cycle and spin

These tweaks reduce pilling, fading, and fuzz. They’ll give your clothes a fresher look and a longer life and you’ll suddenly feel you know how to do laundry.

Quick Reference: Water Temperatures & Cycles

Cold water: Dark colors, delicates, stretchy fabrics, most everyday loads
Warm water: Mixed loads, body oils, kids’ clothes
Hot water: Whites, towels, and bedding. Only if the care label allows
Permanent press: Synthetics, blends, and wrinkle-prone shirts
Delicate: Silk, lace, and pieces that snag or stretch
Heavy-duty: Towels, denim, canvas, and heavily soiled items

Drying Symbols at a Glance

Circle in a square: OK to tumble dry. Dots show recommended heat levels
Square with lines: Air dry. One line is line-dry, three lines are drip-dry, and a flat line is lay flat
Circle with X: No dry cleaning
Iron icon: Dots indicate heat level; crossed-out steam means no steam.

When in doubt, go for the coolest option and finish with a short warm tumble to soften.

How To Do Laundry the Easy Way

Now you know how to do laundry the right way, and, really, it’s simple. Read the care labels, sort by color and fabric, pick the right laundry detergent, match wash cycle and water temperature to the load, and dry with care.

Add a little pre-treatment, just a few smart tools, and regular machine maintenance, and your clothes will look better, smell fresher, and last longer.

Keep this checklist nearby for a few weeks. After that, you won’t need it. How to do laundry will become second nature, and just one of those life skills you magically master.