Laundry Mistakes You Might Be Making—And How to Fix Them

Laundry is one of those household chores that seems simple enough—just toss clothes in the machine, add detergent, press a button, and you’re done, right? Not quite. Despite doing laundry week after week, many people unknowingly make small mistakes that can ruin their clothes, shorten the lifespan of their washing machines, and even pose safety risks.

But don’t worry—we’re here to set the record straight. Here are the top laundry mistakes you might be making and how to avoid them for cleaner, fresher, and longer-lasting clothes.

1. Using Too Much Detergent

It’s tempting to think that more detergent means cleaner clothes, but that’s far from the truth. Overloading your wash with detergent can actually do more harm than good. Instead of rinsing away completely, excess detergent leaves behind a soapy residue that traps dirt and bacteria, making your clothes feel stiff and sometimes even smell musty.

On top of that, the buildup of soap scum in your commercial washing machine can lead to mold and mildew growth, clogging up internal parts and making your machine work harder than it needs to. This shortens its lifespan and might even lead to costly repairs down the road.

The Fix:

• Always follow the detergent instructions on the bottle—less is more!
• Use a measuring cup rather than eyeballing the amount.
• If you have a high-efficiency (HE) washer, always use HE detergent and avoid overloading the soap dispenser.
• If your clothes feel stiff or have an unpleasant smell, run an extra rinse cycle or wash them without detergent to remove residue.

2. Not Sorting Laundry Properly

Mixing all your laundry together in one load might save time, but it can also ruin your favorite clothes. Dark-coloured fabrics can bleed dye onto lighter clothes, and rougher fabrics (like denim) can cause friction damage to delicate items.

Sorting laundry isn’t just about colors, though—it’s also about fabric weight and soil level. Washing heavy towels with lightweight shirts can lead to uneven drying and improper cleaning while mixing heavily soiled clothes with lightly worn ones can spread dirt around instead of cleaning effectively.

The Fix:

• Sort by color:
• • Whites (e.g., socks, t-shirts, underwear)
  • Darks (e.g., jeans, black tops, navy sweaters)
  • Bright colors (especially new clothes that may bleed dye)
• Sort by fabric type:
• • Delicates (e.g., lace, silk, thin fabrics)
  • Heavy items (e.g., towels, hoodies, denim)

• Sort by soil level: Avoid washing heavily soiled gym clothes or workwear with lightly worn everyday clothes.

3. Overloading the Washer

We’ve all been there—stuffing as many clothes as possible into the machine to cut down on the number of loads. Unfortunately, this method does more harm than good. When your washing machine is overloaded, clothes don’t have enough room to move around properly, which means they won’t get cleaned thoroughly.

Overstuffing can also strain your washing machine’s motor and drum, leading to more wear and tear over time. Plus, in extreme cases, an overloaded washer can become unbalanced and stop mid-cycle, forcing you to readjust the load and start again.

The Fix:

• Stick to the two-thirds full rule—never fill your machine beyond this level.
• If you’re washing bulky items like blankets or duvets, wash them separately to avoid straining your washer.
• If your clothes come out still dirty, you’re probably overloading—reduce the load size next time.

4. Ignoring Care Labels

Care labels are there to guide you, yet many people ignore them, leading to accidental damage like shrinkage, fading, or fabric deterioration. Delicate fabrics like wool, silk, or cashmere require special handling, and ignoring their washing instructions can ruin them in a single cycle. For example, washing a wool sweater in hot water can cause it to shrink several sizes, while using a high spin cycle on silk can break down the fibers and leave permanent wrinkles.

The Fix:

• Always read the label before washing—symbols can be confusing, but a quick online search can help you decode them.
• Sort clothes by care requirements—grouping delicate fabrics separately prevents accidental damage.
• When in doubt, go gentle—using a cold water, gentle cycle minimizes the risk of shrinking or weakening fibers.
• Hand-wash or dry clean when necessary—some fabrics, especially wool, silk, and embellished garments, require extra care to maintain their integrity.

5. Using Hot Water for Every Load

While hot water is great for removing heavy stains and disinfecting laundry, using it too often can cause unnecessary damage. High temperatures weaken fabric fibers, causing shrinkage, fading, and premature wear. Delicate materials like lace, satin, and bright-colored clothing are especially prone to damage when exposed to heat. Additionally, excessive hot water usage leads to higher energy bills.

The Fix:

• Use hot water (60°C or above) for towels, bedsheets, and heavily soiled items like gym clothes to eliminate bacteria and stubborn stains.
• Use warm water (30-40°C) for everyday clothes like jeans, t-shirts, and mixed fabric loads to ensure effective cleaning without excessive wear.
• Use cold water (20°C or below) for delicates, darks, and brightly colored clothes to prevent fading, shrinking, and fiber breakdown.
• Choose the right detergent—many modern detergents are designed to work efficiently in cold water, making it an eco-friendly and fabric-safe choice.

6. Skipping Stain Pretreatment

A coffee spill, ink stain, or grease smudge won’t disappear just by tossing your clothes in the washer. In fact, washing without pretreatment can set stains permanently, making them nearly impossible to remove. Certain stains, such as red wine or blood, require special treatment before they go into the wash.

The Fix:

• Act quickly! The faster you treat a stain, the easier it is to remove.
• Blot, don’t rub! Rubbing a stain can spread it further and push it deeper into the fabric.
• Use a stain remover or liquid detergent and let it sit for 10–15 minutes before washing. This allows the solution to break down the stain.
• For stubborn stains, soak the item in cold water before laundering. Some stains, like ink or grass, may need extra soaking time to loosen before washing.

READ ALSO: How to Remove Stains Like a Pro

7. Washing Clothes with Open Zippers and Buttoned Shirts

Ever noticed tiny holes in your t-shirts or frayed fabric in your laundry? The culprit might be open zippers or buttoned shirts. Open zippers can snag on other garments, leading to tears, while buttoned shirts experience extra strain, causing buttons to loosen or break.

The Fix:

• Zip up all zippers before washing to prevent them from catching on delicate fabrics.
• Unbutton shirts before laundering to reduce stress on the buttons and prevent thread damage.
• Use laundry bags for extra protection—especially for delicate items like bras, lace garments, and clothes with embellishments.

8. Overusing Fabric Softener

Fabric softener makes clothes feel soft and smell fresh, but using too much of it comes at a cost. Over time, it leaves a waxy buildup on fabrics, reducing their absorbency and breathability. This is particularly problematic for towels, which become less effective at drying, and athletic wear, which loses its moisture-wicking properties.

The Fix:

• Use fabric softener sparingly—a small amount is enough to keep clothes soft without causing buildup.
• Switch to wool dryer balls as a natural, chemical-free alternative to soften fabrics and reduce static.
• Add white vinegar to the rinse cycle—it helps break down detergent and fabric softener residue while keeping clothes fresh.

9. Not Cleaning the Lint Trap and Dryer Vent

A clogged lint trap doesn’t just reduce dryer efficiency—it’s a serious fire hazard. Lint buildup restricts airflow, forcing the dryer to work harder, leading to longer drying times, increased energy consumption, and potential overheating.

The Fix:

• Clean the lint trap after every load to maintain airflow and prevent lint buildup.
• Inspect and vacuum the dryer vent every few months to ensure proper ventilation and reduce fire risk.
• If drying takes longer than usual, check for lint blockages—slow drying times are often a sign of restricted airflow due to accumulated lint.

10. Allowing Wet Clothes to Sit

We’ve all been guilty of it—throwing a load in the wash, getting distracted, and completely forgetting about it. But leaving wet clothes sitting in the washing machine for too long can cause mildew and musty odors to develop. In some cases, the damp environment can even encourage bacteria growth, making your freshly washed clothes smell worse than they did before.

If you’ve ever opened the washer and been hit with an unpleasant, damp smell, that’s a sign your clothes have been sitting for too long. Leaving wet laundry unattended for several hours or overnight can make the smell harder to remove, sometimes requiring multiple washes to fully freshen up your clothes again.

The Fix:

• Set a timer or reminder on your phone to move your laundry as soon as the cycle finishes.
• If your clothes smell musty, rewash them with a cup of white vinegar or baking soda to eliminate odors.
• If you can’t dry them immediately, at least spread them out instead of leaving them crumpled in a pile.
• Make it a habit to check the washer before bed—you don’t want to discover a smelly surprise the next morning!

Final Thoughts: Get Laundry Right Every Time

Laundry mistakes may seem small, but they can lead to faded, damaged clothes, higher energy bills, and even safety risks. Avoiding these common pitfalls keeps your garments in top shape, extends the life of your appliances, and makes laundry day easier.

For businesses, proper laundry care is even more critical. ACE Commercial Laundry Equipment Inc., Southern California’s leading Huebsch® Laundry Dealer, provides industrial washers, large-scale dryers, and tailored commercial laundry solutions to ensure efficiency and durability. Whether at home or in a commercial setting, getting laundry right means better results and a smoother process.