6 reasons why you should wash clothes inside out
There are many reasons to turn clothes inside out when washing them, like helping to preserve the appearance of your garments. Use this guide to learn the benefits of turning your clothes inside out before washing them to help you better care for your family’s clothes.
Why wash clothes inside out?
Turning your clothes inside out before washing them can help protect the fabric during the wash cycle to help keep your clothes looking new for a long time. Explore the benefits of washing your clothes inside out so you can best protect your clothes on laundry day. Always remember to consult your clothing’s laundry care label before washing to avoid damage.
1. Reduces pilling
Although your washing machine isn’t the culprit behind fabric pilling, it can exacerbate the problem if a clothing item has already begun to pill. Many washing machines rely on friction and agitation to remove soils and stains, which can make fabric pilling worse. Turning your clothes inside out protects the outside of your clothes from that agitation, helping to maintain its smooth appearance.
2. Prevents color bleeding
Dark or vibrantly dyed fabrics tend to bleed during the wash cycle. The washing process can agitate or loosen dyes and hot water temperatures are typically known for causing color bleeding. Turning your clothes inside out before washing can help to reduce fading.
3. Protects decorative designs
Embellishments like screen prints, rhinestones and embroidery tend to be more sensitive to the elements of a wash cycle. When you wash your clothes inside out, the decorative designs are more protected from the friction of the wash cycle to help them look new for longer periods of time.
4. Helps to avoid odor retention
Garments that frequently come into contact with sweat and body odor, like jerseys, baseball caps, sports bras, leggings and sweat socks, may retain some of that odor even after a wash cycle. Washing clothes inside out in addition to pretreating odors may help to improve cleaning of the dirtiest areas of your clothes as the interior of your items come into direct contact with sweat.
5. Reduces risk of detergent stains
Detergent stains occur when laundry detergent does not properly dissolve during the wash cycle. Most detergent stains are not permanent, but they can be frustrating. When you wash your clothes inside out, you prevent the risk of a detergent stain landing on the outer layer of your items and affecting their overall appearance.
6. Helps prevent color fading
Washing your clothes inside out helps prevent fading by allowing the inside of your garments to take the brunt of agitation and color fading that occurs during a wash cycle. This helps to protect the outside dye of your shirt or pants by reducing friction and contact while still ensuring a thorough wash.
Do clothes dry better inside out?
When you dry your clothes inside out, you’re helping to prevent color fading and lint buildup on the outside of the items that may occur from tumbling in the dryer. Drying your clothes inside out helps to prevent damage to the garment as a whole.
Should you wash your socks inside out?
Yes, you should wash socks inside out in addition to pretreating the fabric as it can reduce odor retention. The interior of your socks can come into direct contact with dirt and sweat. Turning them inside out before washing allows the detergent to attack odors head on, which may provide you with a more thorough clean.
Do you wash baby clothes inside out?
It is recommended to wash baby clothes inside out as it can help protect the fabric and seams from general wear and tear. To help maintain the longevity of your baby’s clothes, you should also button all buttons and close any zippers before tossing them in your washer.
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