Doing laundry is an everyday chore that most people don’t think carefully enough about. This can lead to extra wear and tear on your clothes, and even clothing damage in the long run. If you want to make sure that your laundry habits aren’t damaging your clothes, consider the following common 11 laundry mistakes that you might be making.

Mistake #1: Throwing stained items in the washer without treating them

It can be tempting to simply throw stained items in the washer without treating them beforehand. Treating stained items takes time, and even consideration, since you will need to research the type of stain and the best way to treat it.

But not treating your stains before you put them in the washer can lead to damaged fabric, since the stain is less likely to come out when it is not pre-treated. Always treat your stains before you wash them to ensure the best possible stain removal.

Mistake #2: Throwing in darks with whites

Another mistake people make is throwing in dark colors with white colors. Anyone who has thrown in a red shirt with white clothing knows that this is a mistake which will potentially damage your clothes permanently. Dark colors can leak dye onto white clothing, even if they are not new items. Always separate your darks from your whites before you do a load of laundry.

Mistake #3: Drying certain types of clothes in the dryer

Not everything can be put into the dryer. Delicate clothing, clothing made with the elastic, as well as clothing made with material like spandex should not be put into a dryer. These types of items should be hand dried or air dried, as putting them in the dryer can actually ruin and destroy the fabric. It will take more time, but your clothing will last longer when you understand that not everything can simply be tossed into the dryer.

Mistake #4: Not emptying out your pockets

Have you ever had a pen explode in the washer or dryer? If so, you know how much of a hassle it is when this occurs. Always make sure to empty out your pockets of anything in them before you put them into the washer or dryer. Items like coins, pens, money, or anything else should never be put through the washer and dryer. In some cases, these items could actually damage your machines. Or, for delicate items like money or paper, you could be ruining your personal items.

Mistake #5: Keeping zippers loose

Most people do not think much about zippers when they are doing laundry. But loose zippers can actually snag on fabric and rip your clothing. Always make sure that any items with zippers are zipped up before you put them in the washer or dryer. This includes shirts, pants, jackets, dresses or anything else with a zipper on them.

Mistake #6: Putting in too much laundry at one time

It can be very tempting to do large loads of laundry because you want to save time, and theoretically, water. However, putting too much in your washer and dryer can strain the machine and actually caused damage overtime which could break your washer and dryer down. You should only be filling the washer and dryer to the appropriate level as indicated on the machines instruction guide. Yes, you will likely have to do more than one load, but you will be saving your machine from potentially permanent damage.

Mistake #7: Washing your clothes with water that’s too hot

Most people think that the hottest water setting is the best. After all, hot water is going to kill germs and remove dirt, right? Unfortunately, water that is too hot is going to break down fabric far quicker than water on a cooler temperature setting. Most modern clothes can be washed in lukewarm or even cool water, but you will need to double check the fabric here instructions ; As well as the instructions of the detergent you are using. Some detergents must be used with warm or hot water, while others can be used with cool water.

Mistake #8: Rubbing treated stains too harshly

Pre treating stains is important. However, you should not be rubbing treated stains harshly before putting them in the washer. This will damage the fabric, potentially even causing rips far earlier than expected. Always gently scrub or rub stains, never scrub them harshly or with too much force.

Mistake #9: Forgetting about the lint trap

When is the last time you cleaned your dryer’s lint trap? Most people forget to clean the lint trap regularly, which is actually very dangerous. Lint is flammable and not cleaning out your lint trap is a recipe for a house fire. Always clean out your lint trap every time you do a load of laundry, especially if you are drying towels or an otherwise large load.

Mistake #10: Ignoring the tag instructions

Never ignore the tag instructions on your clothing items. Many people think that they don’t really matter, and that you can simply wash clothing on one setting and be done. However, this can lead to gradual damage which will destroy your clothes over time. Always carefully read the tag instructions to determine whether or not certain items should be washed on hot or cool settings; whether something can be put in the dryer; whether something needs to be turned inside out; And so on.

Mistake #11: Not using delicate garment bags

Most people do not use delicate garment bags for delicate items such as lingerie, items made with lace and other delicate materials. These items should always be placed in mesh garment bags to protect them from damage over time. Drawing delicate items in with the laundry is a surefire recipe for damaged items, torn fabric and worn out material.

Laundry is an everyday errand . That doesn’t mean that there aren’t common mistakes that you should avoid. Keep the above mistakes in mind when doing laundry to protect your clothing for as long as possible.