Mixing Things Up: When Is it Okay to Mix Colors? - Speed Queen (2024)

FAQs

Is it okay to mix colors in the washing machine? ›

Although it might save you some time and energy, taking a shortcut such as washing different shades of colors together is not a good idea when doing laundry, since the color bleeding can ruin your clothes easily.

While it may seem OK to mix the different types of fabrics and different colored clothes to wash your laundry, doing so is actually not a good idea. Dark and light colored clothes should be washed separately in cold water. Washing clothes in cold water will mostly prevent color bleeding between clothes.

Use the shortest wash cycle you have when combining darks and lights, being sure to only fill the washing machine one-third of the way full. The shorter the wash cycle is, the less chance there is that the dye from darker clothing will bleed onto lighter clothing. Never stuff your washing machine completely full.

Light colored fabrics are sensitive to darker dyes and can absorb them and look faded, so it's best to keep colors and darks separate for both washing and drying. Keep light colors like pinks, lavenders, yellows, light blues and light greens separate from grays, blacks, reds, navies and other dark colors.

Not a good idea, say the experts. 'Drying clothes with colors can cause the colors to bleed and mix,' says Maria Mooney, brand director and cleaning expert for Truly Free. 'It's best to dry whites and colors separately to ensure the quality of your fabrics stays intact. '

Clothes with deep colors are more likely to bleed dye when washed. To avoid damaging other clothing, sort laundry according to color, grouping dark, medium and light colors separately. Wash deep colored clothing like indigo jeans or red sweatshirts by themselves for the first few washings.

Painters' subtractive primary colors are red, yellow and blue. These three hues are called primary because they cannot be made with mixtures of other pigments."

Can you mix and match more than 3 colors? I know that there's this classic fashion rule that says you shouldn't have more than 3 colors in one outfit. I don't think it's such great advice as it limits our self-expression. I believe you can use 1 color or 5 colors and still look amazing.

Use complementary colors: Colors that are opposite each other on the color wheel, such as blue and orange, are complementary colors. When used together, they create a striking contrast that can add interest and depth to your outfit. For example, pairing a red top with green pants creates a strong and vibrant look.

Sanitizing your towels will require warmer water than what you might normally use—something that could be detrimental to your clothes. Washing your towels and clothes together risks damage to your clothes and potential bacteria transfer—so it's best to keep them separate!

Can I just wash all my clothes together? ›

It isn't necessary to separate washing, but it is the best way to properly care for a range of clothing. Separating washing can maintain the colour and quality for a longer time. To wash clothes without separating them, don't use hot water, otherwise the fabric will be damaged and colours will bleed.

Drying clothes with colors can cause the colors to bleed and mix, which can ruin both the clothes and the dryer. When you put wet clothes in the dryer, the heat causes the fibers of the fabric to open up and release any dye that is still present in the fabric.

You can generally wash light and dark colors together as long as they are similar in color and have been washed before to prevent bleeding. It's also a good idea to separate delicate fabrics from heavier ones to avoid damage.

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.

Wash jeans inside out and by themselves

Turn your jeans inside out when washing them to help protect the fibers on the outside of the jeans from friction and direct exposure from detergent, which helps prevent fading. However, it's not rare for jeans to bleed dye, especially if they're new.

In the case of a larger load made up of color groups, these can be tackled in separate laundry loads, where bright clothes, such as purples, reds, oranges, and bright yellows can be washed together and bright blues and greens can also be washed together in a different batch.

Yes, Colors CAN Still Bleed In The Dryer

The science behind the leakage is similar to the science behind temperature in the washer. If you aren't already familiar with this process, check out our blog post on choosing the best water temperature for different types of loads.

Be sure to wash white clothes separately from anything with colour, such as dark items or brights. Even lightly dyed items and older clothes can leech dye during a wash cycle, which can stain your whites or give them a dull, grey appearance.

Don't mix colors: If you are washing more than one item, don't mix colors because one item may not be colorfast and may cause dye transfer.