3 Laundry Mistakes Pros Want You to Stop Making (You're Doing More Harm Than Good)

Though simple in theory, laundry can often become a complicated process between laundry care symbols, finicky materials, and home remedies and recipes everyone seems to swear by. Things can easily go wrong, and sometimes it’s hard to figure out what even happened.

Since the best way to avoid making a mistake is to know the risks and plan accordingly, we turned to an expert to ask: What are the biggest laundry mistakes people make when it comes to washing, drying, and sorting their loads?

Here’s what we learned, as well as advice on how to fix them.

Mistake #1: Using the Wrong Stain Removers

According to Jonathon Reckles, vice president of marketing for CD One Price Cleaners, one major mistake his team sees is using certain household cleaners as stain removers. Yes, sadly, this includes both club soda and everyone’s favorite: white vinegar.

“Club soda does not help fight stains,” Reckles says. “In fact, the sugar in the club soda will do more harm than good. It may cause color loss on the fabric during the cleaning process due to oxidation.”

This is also true of white vinegar, which can also pull color and—worse yet—eat away at certain fabrics.

How to Fix It

There are other secret laundry weapons in your arsenal that won't damage your clothes that you might be overlooking: WD-40 and cream of tartar.

WD-40 works wonders to break down grease stains by getting deep into the fabric to loosen the oil molecules, Reckles explains.

Cream of tartar is also great for stain removal, but for white fabrics only. When combined with acid such as lemon juice, the cream of tartar will lower the pH of the liquid and simultaneously turn into a stain-fighting paste.

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Mistake #2: Drying Without Checking the Labels

Everyone with a dryer has had the experience of pulling out a garment and feeling frustrated that it doesn’t look the same as it did before. Reckles says this is often down to a few majorly common dryer mistakes:

• Drying at too high of a temperature
• Drying for too long
• Drying before a garment is fully clean

How to Fix It

Laundry labels are there for a reason, and Reckles says they’re important to consult because the dryer is not a one-size-fits-all machine.

Nine types of universal drying symbols can be found on care labels, and they’re not just for show. If you don’t want to face a shrinking, fading, or misshapen garment, be sure to pay attention.

Mistake #3: Overwashing Certain Garments

If you’re washing every single item you own after every single wear, Reckles says you might be causing needless wear and tear.

“For example, washing jeans too often will lead to faster deterioration of the fabric,” he says, noting that jeans or denim only need to be washed once for every ten wears, if not more.

This will preserve the shape, color, texture, and overall quality of your denim.

How to Fix It

The answer here isn’t to wash everything every once in a while—Reckles notes that under-washing can be a problem, too. This includes things like undergarments, activewear, and leggings.

Instead, assess your clothes before you toss them in the laundry. If they’re made of a hardier fabric and don’t seem noticeably dirty, smelly, or misshapen, wear them again until it’s time for a spin.