12 Things Martha Says You Should Always Do Before Starting Laundry

Read the Labels

Manufacturers often put a dry-clean label on garments made of wool (and related fibers, such as cashmere), silk, and rayon. But unless it actually says "dry-clean only," you will likely be able to wash them successfully at home. A garment suitable for machine- or hand-washing must be: Colorfast, which you can test by dampening the fabric in a discreet spot (such as an inside seam) before blotting with a white cloth to see if color appears; made of a single material, meaning no lining, beading, or trim; and constructed simply, so it won't collapse when wet.

Select the Right Detergent

For general washes, liquid and powder detergents are acceptable—they work great on oils, spots, and stains, and as ultra-concentrated varieties, they're very strong. You only need a small amount for a bigger load. Powder detergents can help irrigate dirt and clay, whereas light-duty detergents are best for cleaning delicates, baby clothes, and other elegant fabrics. If your detergent is marked "high efficiency," its designed to be used with front-loading machines, which use less water overall.

If you're interested in doing laundry while reducing your ecological footprint, consider environmentally friendly laundry detergent. Its surfactants are derived from vegetable oils, often coconut. Look for labels that say "coconut oil-based surfactant" instead of "cleaning agents" and "fragrance derived from lavender oil" rather than "fragrance."

Sort, Sort, Sort!

Each time you wash your clothing, some dye is released into the water. Dyes such as indigo, for example, which colors your favorite blue jeans, are actually intended to fade and will do so throughout the life of the garment.

Unless you take care to wash like colors together, your laundry will become dingy in short order. Besides the obvious—separating light-colored clothes from dark and brightly colored ones—you should sort by soil level, fabric type, and lint properties.

Remove Bits and Bobs

Be sure to remove pins or buckles from clothing items before placing them in the washer—zip the zippers on your clothing, close snaps and hooks, and secure Velcro to prevent snags and abrasion. Don't fasten buttons, however, which can cause stress on the buttons and buttonholes.

Empty Pockets

Empty pockets and turn them inside out, unfurl socks, and unroll cuffs. Just like fastening buttons could lead to stress on the garments, leaving pockets tucked into your jeans or pants could lead to accidental tears and won't effectively clean that area, either.

Pretreat Stains

If you act quickly, you can prevent long-lasting effects from a serious spill or stain. Martha says to blot liquids with a white cloth and to work from the outside in so you don't spread the stain to other areas of the garment. If you've dropped food or sauce on yourself, scoop up any solids—if it's oil-based, sprinkle cornstarch onto the area and wait 15 minutes before removing it.

Be sure to dab stains—don't rub or press with force—with cool water, which can lighten most spots and remove others altogether.

Tie Loose Strings

Tie sashes and strings to prevent tangling. In most washers, a loose string (think: jackets, hoodies, necklines, waistlines) can become tangled in the washing mechanism's agitator, which could ruin your garment.

Prepare Your Delicates

Place delicate items like bras, stockings, and fine knitwear in zippered mesh bags. Containing these items can prevent color transfer and wear and tear in the machine's drum during the spin cycle.

Turn Clothing Inside Out

Delicates, sweaters, and cotton T-shirts should be turned inside out to prevent pilling. Dark, fade-prone clothes should also be turned inside out, as abrasion from rubbing against other clothes can cause fibers to fray, making clothes look faded.

Open Up Button-Downs

Keep the collars open to reduce any wear along the folds when the clothes are being washed in the machine. You'll also want to keep your buttons undone when ironing a collared shirt as well.

Mend Tears

It is important to fix tears or ripped hems before laundering clothes. The washer's agitating and tumbling action can make them worse. With a few tools and knowledge of basic stitches (along with a little patience), you can tackle snags and rips of all kinds.

Presoak Heavily Soiled Clothing

Even stains that have had time to set will loosen somewhat while they soak in water. Pre-soak laundry from the "very dirty" basket or clothing with perspiration odor for an hour in an enzyme detergent dissolved in water before running the regular cycle. You can soak laundry in the washer, a large bucket, or a utility sink.