Tips for pre-sorting laundry and pre-treating stains

Sorting clothes should be easy. Darks go in one pile, whites in another and light colours in a third. That's a good start, but if you really want to do it right — and keep your clothes looking their best — also sort by similar fabrics and dirt level.

• Separate whites from colours and light colours from dark colours.
• When in doubt, read care labels. If the label in a particular garment says to wash separately, that is because the dye colours will run.
• Even tiny amounts of dye can transfer to other fabrics, making the clothes look discoloured and dingy.

• Separate heavily soiled or greasy items from lightly soiled ones.
• Lightly soiled clothes will pick up the extra soil and grease, making whites look grey or yellow and colours look dull.

• Separate out clothes that are loosely knit or woven and clothes that have delicate trimmings or unfinished seams that can fray. Wash those on a shorter cycle that features more gentle agitation.
• Also separate lint producers, such as fleecy tracksuits, chenille items, new towels and flannel pajamas, from lint attractors, such as corduroys, synthetic blends and dark things.

• Always try to remove stains when they are fresh. But if a stain doesn't come out, you need to address this before washing.
• If you let clothes pass through a washing cycle (or the dryer), the stains may become permanent.
• If you treat them beforehand with the right stain-removal solution, you stand a good chance of removing the stains for good.

• These stains include egg, milk, feces, urine, blood and the like.
• Soak for at least half an hour, and then run the stain under cold water, gently rubbing the fabric together with your hands to loosen the stain.
• Avoid warm or hot water, which can cook the proteins, setting the stain permanently.

• Use liquid laundry detergent or pre-treatment spray.
• Apply the detergent or spray directly to the stain.

• This includes stains such as coffee, tea, soft drinks and jam, for half an hour in a solution of 5 ml (1 tsp) of liquid laundry detergent (preferably one containing enzymes) per 2 litres (2 quarts) of warm water.
• Do not use soap or a soap-based product, as soap can make the tannin stain harder to remove.

• Check to see whether the stain has gone.
• If it hasn't, do not dry — heat can permanently set the stain.
• Try again to remove the stain and then repeat washing.