Separating clothes for washing means sorting garments by colour depth, fabric/weight (and lint behaviour), soil level, and care labels before you start the machine. Done right, it reduces dye transfer, lint cling, uneven cleaning, and premature wear—exactly how professional laundries protect clothing every day.

At Hamlet Laundry Ltd (London), we see the same issues repeat: a new red top turning whites pink, towels linting up black leggings, delicates stretched by heavy denim. This guide is the system we’d want you to follow at home—simple, realistic, and backed by reliable sources.

Quick Steps (best for busy days)

1. Sort by colour depth: whites / lights / darks
2. Pull out “dye bombs” (new jeans, deep reds, heavily dyed items) and wash them separately for the first few washes
3. Separate lint-givers from lint-takers (towels from synthetics/knits)
4. Put delicates in a mesh bag (or wash separately)
5. Split very dirty / sweaty items from lightly worn everyday clothing

If you only do one thing: don’t mix new dark/bright items with lights/whites.

The Hamlet Laundry Sorting Table (print this or save it)

Step 1: Separate Clothes by Colour (Whites, Lights, Darks)

Most people know “don’t mix whites and darks.” The professional upgrade is colour depth:

Whites

Keep true whites together. They show dye transfer quickly.

Lights

Pastels, pale neutrals, light grey. These are the easiest to “dull” by accident.

Darks

Black, navy, deep grey, dark brown. Washing together helps avoid stray dyes hitting lighter items.

The “Dye Bomb” Rule (new jeans + reds + saturated colours)

If an item is new and deeply coloured, treat it like a dye bomb and wash it separately for the first few washes. Tide’s own sorting guidance highlights separating deeper colours and paying attention to heavy, colour-rich items.

Why this is real (not superstition): dye transfer and redeposition in laundering is a documented problem in textile science, and “dye transfer inhibitors” exist specifically to reduce the redeposition of dyes released from darker fabrics onto lighter ones.

Hamlet Laundry tip: if you’re unsure, do a quick “damp rub test” on an inside seam with a white cloth. If colour lifts, wash it alone first.

Step 2: Separate by Fabric, Weight, and Lint Behaviour

Colour sorting prevents the obvious disasters. Fabric sorting prevents the slow damage—pilling, fading, stretching, and lint cling.

Towels: wash separately (especially from synthetics and knits)

Whirlpool’s washer guidance repeatedly advises separating lint-takers from lint-givers (for example, synthetics/knits picking up lint from towels).

Real-life problem we see: towels + black leggings = grey fuzz that never fully leaves.

Delicates: protect them from friction

Use mesh garment bags for small/delicate items and prevent tangling/snags—again consistent with Whirlpool’s guidance.

Heavy/rough items: denim, hoodies, zips, buttons

Tide recommends separating by fabric type and notes heavier items (like towels) should be washed separately from lighter items to prevent abrasion and damage; similar logic applies to heavy denim and anything with hardware.

Step 3: Separate by Soil Level (dirt + sweat + grease)

This is where “genuine help” lives.

• Heavily soiled (mud, grease, workwear): needs stronger cleaning
• Sweaty gym wear: odour can linger and transfer
• Lightly worn everyday items: don’t need to be punished with the harshest cycle

Cleaning pros emphasise sorting by soil level and care needs, not just colour.

Hamlet Laundry rule: if it smells different or looks visibly dirtier, it belongs in a separate load.

Step 4: Care Labels + Temperature (the safest “universal” rule)

Modern fabrics are mixed: cotton-poly blends, elastane, technical synthetics. The safest guidance is: follow the care label, and don’t assume all “darks” or “whites” can take the same temperature. Whirlpool explicitly reminds users to read and follow fabric careinstructions.

The 30-second prep checklist (saves clothing)

Before washing:

• close zips, fasten hooks, tie strings
• turn knits inside out to reduce pilling
• use mesh bags for delicates
• treat stains early (don’t tumble dry if stains remain—heat can set them)

A Modern Reason to Sort: Microfibre Shedding (what the research actually says)

If you wash a lot of synthetics (sportswear, fleece, some blends), here’s a scientifically grounded reason to be a bit more thoughtful.

A peer-reviewed PLOS ONE study measured microfibre loss during domestic laundering across many textile samples over multiple cycles, finding wide ranges of mass loss and estimated fibre counts per wash depending on textile type and conditions.

And research continues to examine how washing parameters influence microfibre release. For example, a recent Springer paper focuses specifically on the influence of washing conditions on microfibre release.

Practical, non-preachy takeaways:

• Avoid extreme underloading (too much fabric-to-water friction can increase wear)
• Put synthetics in a gentler cycle when possible (and don’t over-wash lightly worn items)
• If you’re motivated, consider a fibre-catching solution (optional—not required)

You don’t need to obsess. Sorting is simply a low-effort way to reduce avoidable wear and “laundry chaos.”

If You Only Have Time for 2 Loads, Do This

1. Whites + lights
2. Darks + colours

Exception: wash new, deeply coloured items (especially jeans/reds) separately for the first few washes.

This “two-load rule” is the best balance of effort and protection for real life.

Common Sorting Mistakes We See (and how to rescue them)

Mistake 1: Towels with athleisure / synthetics

Result: lint cling and dull-looking fabric.
Fix: wash towels separately (lint-giver vs lint-taker rule).

Mistake 2: New red/indigo with whites

Result: pink whites, uneven staining.
Fix: rewash immediately before drying; next time, quarantine “dye bombs.”

Mistake 3: Delicates thrown into a heavy load

Result: stretched straps, snagging.
Fix: use a mesh bag and gentler load composition.

Mistake 4: Stains go into the dryer

Result: stain sets permanently.
Fix: don’t dry stained items until the stain is gone (Whirlpool notes heat can set stains).

A London Reality (and a subtle solution)

In London, sorting can be harder than the advice makes it sound: smaller flats, limited drying space, shared machines, and busy weeks. If you’re time-poor, the “two-load rule” keeps you safe most days.

And when life is chaotic—work deadlines, school runs, winter coats, bedding piling up—that’s where Hamlet Laundry Ltd fits naturally: we handle the sorting logic, fabric care, and consistency so your clothes come back clean, protected, and ready to wear.

Laundry Sorting FAQs (PAA-style)

Do I really need to separate colours if I wash cold?

Cold can reduce risk, but it doesn’t eliminate it—especially for new, deeply dyed items. Quarantining “dye bombs” is still smart.

Can I wash towels with clothes?

It’s not ideal. Towels are lint-givers and heavier; they can transfer lint to synthetics/knits and behave differently in the wash.

Should I wash towels and bedding together?

If both are similar colour and fabric weight, it can work—but towels are lint-heavy. For best results, separate lint-givers from lint-takers and follow care labels.

How many washes should new jeans/reds be separated?

There’s no single number for every garment, but brand guidance commonly recommends washing deep colours (like jeans) separately for the first few washes.

What’s the professional way to sort laundry?

Pros sort by colour, fabric/weight, lint behaviour, care labels, and soil level—plus prep steps like zipping, turning inside out, and using mesh bags.

What if I mixed colours by mistake?

Don’t dry the affected items. Rewash promptly. Heat can set stains, so treat and rewash before drying.

Final Words from Hamlet Laundry

If you remember nothing else, remember this:

• Colour depth protects colour
• Lint behaviour protects appearance
• Fabric/weight protects shape
• Soil level protects cleanliness
• Care labels protect everything

Sorting isn’t about perfection. It’s about preventing the problems you’ll regret later.

And if you’re in London and want the “professional process” without the time cost, Hamlet Laundry Ltd is here—quietly doing the sorting, care, and consistency that makes clothes last longer.